Liberty needed all it’s stars to shine in order to take out three-time defending state champion Skyline Sept. 3. The Patriots got that, and more, on the way to a come-from-behind 39-34 win.
Liberty trailed 28-20 heading in the half, but never stopped believing.
“There was some magic tonight for sure,” Liberty head coach Steve Valach said. “Our group, how they will be defined, is how they respond to adversity… and I love the way they handled adversity tonight.”
Liberty’s Jacob Daniels sacked Browne on the Spartans’ first play, but the Skyline offense got on track quickly. Browne passed for four first-half touchdowns on the way to a 418-yard, five-touchdown day.
Jordane Simone was the benefactor in the first half as he caught all four touchdown passes while Liberty rolled it’s coverage to stop standout receiver Kasen Williams.
Junior Josh Gordon covered Williams most of the night.
“I knew my teammates had my back,” he said. “I knew if I did my job and they did their’s, we would come through.”
Gordon also did damage on offense. He caught a 71-yard pass from Wheeler for a touchdown in the third quarter to pull Liberty to within one point. Later in the quarter he outjumped Williams for a 37-yard strike from quarterback Trey Wheeler to give the Patriots a lead.
Gordon finished with four catches for 169 yards and the two touchdowns. Wheeler went 16-for-26 for 342 yards and four touchdowns. He looked composed in the pocked and made all the right plays.
“The first game of the year you’re always going to have some jitters, that rings true for everybody,” Wheeler said. “You just have to slow things down and see what they’re trying to do on defense.”
Chandler Jenkins rushed 29 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. His tough running allowed the Patriots to speed up the clock and keep the lead.
“I just put my head down and got the yards,” Jenkins said. He also moved to safety later in the game when senior Jake Bainton left with an injury. “Jake just brings an energy on the field so the coaches told me I had step up and be more vocal back there.”
Bainton caught five passes for 56 yards, but left the game with a shoulder injury in the second half. Valach said Tuesday Bainton will be a game time decision for Liberty’s next game.
Scott Dean caught Wheeler’s fourth quarter touchdown from four yards out. Jay Chakravarty got Liberty on the board with a two-yard rushing score in the first quarter. Drez Henfield picked up 1.5 sacks on defense.
“This is great,” Gordon said. “We get to celebrate this tonight, then tomorrow dial it back up for Issaquah.”
The Patriots face Issaquah at home Friday at 7 p.m.
