Extra point decides it; Liberty sweeps Discovery
MADISON- Liberty’s eighth-grade team trailed the whole game but never quit. Then with less than a minute left Tyreek Walker broke a 50-yard run on fourth down to turn defeat to victory and Liberty celebrated a 7-6 win, their first over Discovery since 2012.
Discovery scored on their opening possession, a 44-yard run by Tony Mitchell. The Panthers moved into Liberty territory again behind their dual-threat quarterback Terrance Salter but the Liberty defense rose up and got a turnover on downs.
Discovery appeared to put the game away when Chase Hittle intercepted a pass with 5:42 left in the game.
But the Lions defense rose up and got the ball back. With the aid of a short punt Liberty moved to midfield.
Twice on the final drive Liberty faced forth down. On third and eight Walker took a short pass from quarterback Bryson Smith and got seven yards then Jordan Blackburn got a big gain on fourth and one. Faced with fourth and short Liberty turned to Walker one more time.
“They had been playing to our strong side so we ran Tyreek on a counter and it broke open,” Liberty head football coach Michael Harper said. “He got the corner, broke a tackle and took it all the way.
I expected a close game that came right down to the last play and that is what we got. This is huge for the fans, players, everybody at Liberty. Both teams had great football players and I’m looking forward to seeing them at James Clemens and Bob Jones.”
Harper was the coach the last time Liberty eighth grade beat Discovery in 2012.
After Walker’s touchdown Aaron Rose calmly booted a perfect extra point for the game winner.
It was the first loss of the season for Discovery eighth grade.
In the seventh-grade game Liberty got two touchdowns from Keenan Walker and shut out Discovery 14-0.
“I was very proud of our defensive effort,” Harper said. “Fred Williams had a big sack late in the game, Andrew Millar has been our leader on defense, Jaime Walker came up and made a big hit on third down, and Keenan had a good game at defensive end.”
Liberty moves on to play Florence in the North Alabama Middle School Championship game.
