kickoff 2016:

Long-reigning Liberty High could keep crown by slinging ball over the field

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Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Liberty High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Darion Acohido, Ethan Dedeaux, and Will Brewer.

Wed, Aug 24, 2016 (2 a.m.)

2016 High School Football

Members of the Cheyenne High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Corwin Bush, William Federson, John Tarver, and Deriontae Green. Launch slideshow »
Prep Sports Now

Football: There is no close second

Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer ring in the start of football season by discussing some of the valley's top storylines and teams, like Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Arbor View and Desert Pines.

Liberty High has spanned the entire spectrum of offensive strategies during its rule over the Sunrise Region.

The Patriots started their current run of six straight regional titles with a power-run, ground attack. They’ll go for No. 7 this year behind an aerial assault.

“From a coaching standpoint, it’s exciting because we’re going to create some matchup problems for teams,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said. “Sometimes, it’s hard to cover one good receiver. But when you have three Division I kids, not to mention four or five kids that are really exceptional high school football players...”

Junior quarterback Kenyon Oblad, who was one of the city’s leading passers with more than 3,000 yards last season, goes into his third season as a starter with nothing short of an embarrassment of riches. Liberty’s top two receivers from last year, now-seniors Darion Acohido and Ethan Dedeaux, return as it also adds a third weapon that had more touchdowns than the former and more receptions than the latter in 2015.

Junior Marquez Powell transferred into Liberty from Southeast division rival Green Valley.

“All of us kind of have a different good trait about us,” Acohido said. “Marquez is super athletic, tall kid. Ethan is probably one of the fastest kids in the state, and I’m more of a heady player so we just complement each other.”

Liberty should have no problem running the ball either, with its usual massive offensive line in tow. Seniors Malaesala Aunmavae-laulu, Will Brewer and Brendon Sandoval give the line a trio as valuable as the wide receivers.

They’re committed to upholding a tradition that’s seen Liberty produce several major college offensive linemen.

“We look up to those guys,” Brewer said. “I remember watching them while I was in middle school and we just want to represent how they did and we hope the younger generation of kids can do the same.”

Liberty’s ultimate goal is to knock off Bishop Gorman, which hasn’t lost a local game since 2008, off its unbeatable perch. The Patriots have gotten their chance in each of the last two seasons only to suffer a sobering result.

Liberty lost 62-21 to Gorman in last year’s state championship after a 50-0 semifinals ouster in 2014.

“We’re going to get another opportunity this year hopefully, and it just drives us each workout, each time we go out on the field,” Acohido said. “Each play, each rep, we know who we’re trying to beat.”

Liberty is already close to having the offense to compete with Gorman this season. The question is if it can develop the same on defense, where the Patriots are much more inexperienced.

They’re breaking in a swarm of new players up front, meaning they may need to lean on a defensive backfield that features established standouts Ethan Dedeaux, Jake Dedeaux and Allan Mwata during the learning curve.

“We’ve looked at ourselves, analyzed what we’ve done, and we’re going to change some scheme things this year a little bit, kind of go with some more speed,” Muraco said.

Liberty won’t have much margin for error, as it might have the toughest overall schedule in town, especially to start. The Patriots face three of Las Vegas’ top six-ranked teams in just over a month — Arbor View in Week 1, Desert Pines in Week 3 and Green Valley in Week 5 — with out-of-state opponents Westlate (Texas) and Centennial (Calif.) mixed in between.

Those are the burdens and opportunities that come along with what Liberty has built.

“We’ve really established that culture at Liberty where the kids expect to win,” Muraco said. “So we go into games knowing we’re the better team. There’s that confidence and if things don’t go well in the game, we don’t panic.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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