Eagles Claw Panthers in District Championship 42-6

In week 6 of the regular season, Liberty played their toughest opponent to date, Mountain Grove. The Panthers led that game 13-7 at the half. From there, Liberty reeled off 20 unanswered points for the victory. In the second half of that game, Liberty's traditional pass-oriented offense gave way to a heavy dose of the ground game. 

In Friday's rematch, this time for the district championship, the Eagles went with the ground game once again. Liberty passed the ball just seven times en route to a 42-6 victory. 

To start the game, Liberty received the opening kick. The Eagles chewed up almost six minutes of clock before Drew Ripko ran in from ten yards out for the 7-0 score. 

On their opening possession, Grove was only able to gain one first down before punting the ball back to Liberty. 

Liberty once again attacked Mountain Grove on the ground. Ripko was able to extend the Eagle lead to 14-0 after a twelve-yard run. 

One first down. Another punt for the Panthers. Another long, time draining drive by the Eagles. This time, Carter Pruett scampered in from 20 yards out. 

Liberty added one more touchdown before half on a Pruett three-yard plunge. Making the score 27-0.

Mountain Grove finally showed signs of life coming from the break. After a nice kick return by Deveyn Martin, the Panthers started their drive at the Liberty 40.

Grove's Tyson Elliott hit Drew Vaughan with a deep pass to set up the Panthers with first and goal. Elliot would run in the score from the three to make it 27-6. 

The Panthers kept momentum and forced Liberty to punt.

Then, things got a little sloppy for both teams. 

The Panthers fumbled at their own 17.

Then, as they were going in for the score, the Eagles lost the ball in the end zone for the Panthers’ touchback. 

Next, Gavin Reese intercepted a Panthers pass and returned it to the three. Pruett would punch it in from there. 

Later, Kal Acklin picked off another Panther pass, setting up the Eagles at the 20. Ripko faked an end around and tossed it to Acklin for the game's final touchdown. 

Liberty now moves on to face Seneca in the State Quarterfinals. The game will be played at Seneca on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.