Jose Garcia
Multimedia Contributor
jgarcia@azpreps365.com

Another potential Liberty signature win slips away

September 23, 2023 by Jose Garcia, AZPreps365

Liberty coach Colin Thomas talks to his boys after Friday's disappointing road loss in California. (Jose Garcia/azpreps365)

Corona, Calif. -- Another signature victory slipped from Liberty's grasp. 

The Lions squandered a 14-point lead after turning the ball over in its three final fourth quarter possessions against arguably Southern California’s premier public school, Centennial. Centennial had its own turnover issues but scored when it mattered most—on its final drive.

Highly touted running back Cornell Hatcher II’s fourth touchdown, a 14-yard run, with 31.5 seconds left, and Centennial’s ensuing two-point conversion, rewarded the team with a 42-35 home win. Centennial sealed the victory after picking off its second pass of the second half.

The eventual game winning drive went 90 yards after Liberty turned the ball over on downs. With 4:27 left, Liberty (4-1) had a 1st and goal at the 8-yard line but failed to score.

Liberty went ahead 35-21 after Jon Wilson’s 36-yard catch and run on 2nd and 22 in the first play of the fourth quarter. But Centennial immediately responded with a touchdown.

Centennial’s speed caused problems, and allowed it to rally when it trailed in the game a couple of times. But failing to recover a Centennial pooch kick and throwing its first interception in the fourth quarter also hurt Liberty.

Despite throwing three interceptions and its two turnovers on downs and two fumbles, 3-2 Centennial still managed to defeat a Liberty team that led most of the game.

“Our kids fought their tails off,” Liberty coach Colin Thomas said. “Proud as heck of them. We have to get healthy next week, and we’ll be back.

“It’s a really quality team you’re playing on the road. So obviously we took this game to get us prepared for the Open playoffs. We’ve been in these type of games many a times now. Unfortunately it hasn’t always gone our way. So we have to find a way as a staff and team to finish the job.”

Jon Wilson scored four touchdowns for Liberty, which will be off next week to regroup and prepare for region play. 

 

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