Prep Sports Now
Second-round showdowns
Ray Brewer and Case Keefer discuss the next set of matchups in the playoffs, and wonder if the upper level can produce some closer games.
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Crishaun Lappin was Liberty High football team’s best defensive player tonight in a 30-10 victory against visiting Foothill in the Sunrise Regional semifinals. The UNR commit had three sacks and an interception to help the Patriots hold off an upset bid by the Falcons.
Lappin was also Liberty’s best offensive player, rushing for about 120 yards and a touchdown.
“He was a one-man wrecking crew,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said.
Lappin, though, wasn’t Liberty’s most valuable player.
That honor goes to center Villiami Taiese, who injured his ankle on the first play but only briefly came out of the lineup. Taiese was so hobbled that he stayed at the line of scrimmage while teammates huddled.
It was the second time Foothill gave Liberty, the seven-time defending regional champions, a contested game. Foothill led 7-0 after the first quarter and only trailed 17-10 in the fourth. But Liberty played arguably its best defensive game of the year with three interceptions.
“Foothill is a well-coached football team. They have us another great game,” Muraco said. “We needed that. That’s how it will be (the rest of the season).”
And Liberty should feature a balanced offensive attack the rest of the way. Kenyon Oblad, the state’s all-time leader passer, passed for less than 100 yards and a touchdown, as the Liberty rushing attack pounded out the win.
“We felt like we needed to focus on the running game moving forward,” Muraco said.
Liberty hosts Green Valley next Friday in the Sunrise Regional championship game.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21