Liberty/Stratton wins 6-man football championship over Hi-Plains
VONA — After being ousted from last year’s playoffs in the quarterfinals on a last second play, the Liberty/Stratton Knighted Eagles got revenge and won the 6-man football state championship on a beautiful November Saturday afternoon.
Liberty/Stratton held off a last-minute score to hold on for a 44-40 title win, their first in 6-man, but seventh in football.
The Patriots wanted to close out Jim Smith Memorial Field with a state championship win as they are building a new school and a new football field next year in Seibert and this was the last game to be played at the Vona field.
It wasn’t meant to be.
Liberty/Stratton senior quarterback Trevor Thompson hit senior Clay Corliss on a 36-yard pass for the first score. The Patriots blocked the extra point attempt.
The Patriots answered quickly with senior Alex Nelson’s 14-yard run, and, with senior Avery Marzolf’s kick, the Patriots took a 8-6 lead.
The next play from scrimmage, Thompson found MC Griffin for a 60-yard touchdown to regain the lead, 12-8, after another missed PAT.
Alex Nelson gave the Patriots a lead with a three-yard scamper. Marzolf extra point kick gave the Patriots a 16-12 lead.
Justin Miltenberger’s interception as time ran out in the half stopped the Knighted Eagles threat of scoring.
In the third, Liberty/Stratton’s Griffin scored from nine yards out to switch the lead to 20-16.
Liberty/Stratton junior Kyle English dashed 50 yards and Flint Corliss’ kick gave the Knighted Eagles a 28-16 lead.
The Patriots answered right back with Nelson taking the kickoff return 64 yards to narrow the gap 22-28.
The Patriots got the turnover they needed when Miltenberger intercepted a Thompson pass and took it 20 yards to tied it up at 28 with 43 seconds left in the third.
With 7:12 left in the game, Liberty/Stratton’s Thompson again connected with Clay Corliss to go up 36-28 after the extra point kick.
The Patriots answered with senior Logan Henry hitting Miltenberger for a 19 yard TD strike. Liberty/Stratton’s Thompson blocked the extra point to keep the lead at 36-34 with just under 5:00 left in the game.
The Eagles wanted to put it away and answered with a Thompson to Clay Corliss 26-yard pass and, with the extra point kick, went up 44-34 with only 3:38 left in the game.
The Patriots came back with what could have been a touchdown pass but a fumble in the end zone and a Liberty/Stratton recovery gave the Knighted Eagles the ball back and took away a Patriots score.
The Patriots held the Eagles and took over on downs with 1:53 left in the game and quickly made it a one possession game with Nelson hitting senior Clay Cordell for a 28-yard touchdown, but still trailed 44-40.
The Knighted Eagles were able to run out the clock to claim their first ever 6-man title.
