The heartbreak is finally celebration for Liberty.

After three years of semifinal nightmares, the Lions are celebrating a dream finally come true with an Open Division State Championship Trophy.

After a slow start Saturday night, No. 1 seed Liberty was able to take down its crosstown Peoria rival and  No. 3 seeded Centennial, 33-21 to capture its first Open Division Crown at Mountain America Stadium.

It was the school’s second football championship. The first came in 2019, winning the 6A title the same year the Open Division was implemented in Arizona. But after enduring three consecutive seasons of gut wrenching losses in the Open semifinals, it’s safe to say this one hit quite different.

“I can’t describe how good this feels,” Liberty quarterback Navi Bruzon said after the game.

“I’ve been on the painful side of this for three years, so it feels so good to finally bring it home. These are my guys for life, so I’m happy to win it with them.”

Bruzon threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night–relatively modest numbers by his standards. When Liberty (12-1) hosted Centennial (11-2) in week 10, Bruzon amassed over 500 yards of total offense in a 36-17 victory. Saturday’s rematch was a reminder of the depth and talent of Liberty’s roster. Centennial jumped out to a 14-6 lead a few minutes into the second quarter, but the Lions struck back quickly in all phases of the game.

“Everyone stepped up tonight,” Bruzon added.  “When we have the kind of options like we do offensively, one day it might be another person’s game.”

Special Team, Special Timing 

Liberty seniors Ryan Jezioro and Jon Wilson each scored two touchdowns for the Lions. Jezioro hauled in a pair of scoring receptions from Bruzon in the first half, while Wilson helped put things away in the second half with scoring runs of five and three yards. But the game’s most timely play was executed by a sophomore Cannon Garday.

After Bruzon’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Jezioro cut the Coyotes lead to 14-12, Liberty made another defensive stop and forced a Centennial punt. That’s when Garday broke through and blocked the punt, which Liberty recovered at Centennial’s 29. 

“That was our third blocked punt in two games,” Liberty coach Colin Thomas said, referring to a pair of blocked punts against Highland in last week’s semifinal.

Three plays later Bruzon found the endzone on a four yard run, and Liberty took a 19-14 lead just before halftime, and the momentum would eventually help put Centennial away in the second half.

Liberty took the opening drive of the third quarter 85 yards in 13 plays, capped by Wilson’s five yard run. The Lions defense started clamping down as well, holding Centennial to one first down in the quarter.

Bruzon engineered another long scoring drive in the fourth quarter, marching the Lions 71 yards before Wilson finished things off again with a three yard scoring run. Liberty led 33-14 with seven minutes to play, leaving Centennial too little time and too much of a deficit.

“Our defense was terrific in the second half,” Thomas added, getting emotional as he celebrated with his team.

“I think this championship is just validation for our program. We’ve been so close, and I truly believe we are the best program in Arizona and we proved it tonight.” 

Liberty entered the weekend ranked 18th nationally by maxpreps.

Small but fierce

Centennial seniors Kenny Worthy III and Noah Carter did much of the heavy lifting for the Coyotes this season on both sides of the ball. Sophomore quarterback Kainnan Manna evolved into a valuable leader for Centennial as well. At 5-9, 150 pounds, Manna played big through the playoffs and especially Saturday night, throwing for 223 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His 44-yard touchdown pass to Worthy midway through the second quarter gave Centennial a 14-6 lead. Manna led a 63-yard drive late in the first quarter which Owen Reynoso finished with a short touchdown run. Angelo Matamoros caught Manna’s other scoring pass from seven yards late in the game. That touchdown would provide the game’s final scoring.

Centennial quarterback Kainan Manna looks downfield during Saturday night's championship game against Centennial. Photo by Jake Jurado

"I thought our preaparation was outstanding, I thought our effort was magnificent," said Centennial coach Richard Taylor after his 12th title game appearance.

"(Liberty) is just a little better than we are."

 

Ben Stapley is a staff reporter for AZPreps365. Follow him on 'X' @AZPreps365Ben. For human interest story ideas, contact him at bstapley@azpreps365.com