Photo Credit: David Smith/Special to PrepsKCLiberty North Eagles wins the Missouri Class 6 Championship. The Eagles defeated CBC, 38-7. The Eagles dominated on offense, defense, and special teams.
The title game was not without controversy. The game was called with 3:15 left in the 4th quarter. When Christian Brothers head coach, Scott Pingel met Eagles head coach, Andy Lierman, at midfield. The two coaches spoke for a moment, and Pingel, turned to his sideline and waved to his team, that the game was over.
The play before that, quarterback Nicolas McClellan, was scrambling, looking for a receiver, and as he was throwing downfield, he was hit by Ryan Hutson. This play led to two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, on CBC. Cooler heads prevailed and the game was called.
CBC got on the scoreboard first. Quarterback Cole McKey threw a long pass down the right sideline, Doreon Dubose, out jumped his defender to make a circus catch, and fall into the end zone, for a 43-yard touchdown. Simon Kacich nailed the point after, and CBC led 7-0.
After both teams exchanged punts, the Eagles went to work. Quarterback Tillman Martin used his legs, as well as his arm. Martin picked up a big first down, running right up the gut. Martin capped off the drive, finding Keelan Smith over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown. On the play, Smith got behind the linebacker, and split the two safeties, for an easy pitch and catch. Kicker Bleu Renfrow, made his conversion.
The Eagles special teams, made the next big play, blocking a punt and giving their offense the ball on their opponents 8 yard line. MichahJo Barnett scored on a 3-yard sweep, that featured a huge stiff arm. The Eagles led at halftime, 14-7.
Coming out for the second half, the Eagles defense only needed :39, to score. Cole McKey and his receiver were not on the same page, and Cole Young made McKey pay for the mistake. Young made the interception and headed for the goal line. A 40-yard pick-six, took the wind out of, CBC.
The special teams for the Eagles, was then, part of history. Bleu Refrow, calmly walked, onto the field, and made a new, Show-Me Bowl record, 52-yard field goal.
The Eagles defense, continued to dominate. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Eagles offense, only needed one play to score. Barnett scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from 30 yards out.
The last score of the game, matched the first score by the Eagles, but this was a much longer play. Tillman to Smith again, for 80 yards.
Post-game, coach Lierman, was asked about, beating the two-time state champs.
“We’ve fallen short a couple of times,” Lierman said. “We’ve been in the semis, the last three years. This is the fourth year in row, that we made it there, and we just kind of fallen short. Before the season, these guys, set a goal out, and they knew what they wanted to do. They set the goal, in front of them, and they just kept marching towards it, each and every day. I am just proud to be their coach.”
With the loss, CBC finishes the season with a record of 11-3. The Champs finish their season, with 13 wins, and only 1 defeat.
