Leopards in limelight

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LIBERTY -- The Liberty High football team went undefeated this season for the first time in school history.
The reward? A first-round playoff game on the road.
Then the Leopards trounced Parma Heights Holy Name, 22-0, last Friday in the first round of the playoffs.
The reward? A date with top-seeded Mentor Lake Catholic.
"I guess that comes with the territory," Liberty coach Jeff Whittaker said. "You've got to face them somewhere down the line."
Few people expect the Leopards (11-0) to beat the Cougars (10-1) in Friday's Division III regional semifinal at Solon, but, then, few expected Liberty to beat Ursuline in last year's Div. IV regional semifinal.
"You know, honestly, it doesn't matter to us," Whittaker said, when asked about the lack of respect. "We've been in that situation so much, we're just used to it.
Not piqued
"We're not surprised by it or offended by it or disgusted by it. We just try to prepare and go play."
The Leopards opened a lot of eyes last season when they won their first two playoff games and came closer to beating Mooney than any team in Div. IV.
But Liberty lost several top players to graduation, including Division I college recruits Marcellus Bowman (Boston College) and Keith Forestal (Toledo) and quarterback Brian Jones, a three-year starter. They also moved up a division.
And yet, they're right back where they were at this time last season.
"Obviously, it helps to have some good players, but it's more important to have good people," Whittaker said. "Woody [Hayes] said it best, 'You win with people.' The kids are unselfish, they work hard in the offseason and we've got a good coaching staff.
"You put all those elements together and you have success."
Liberty's biggest strength is its defense, which has surrendered less than 6 points a game with three shutouts.
Linebacker John Humphrey, a Purdue University recruit who also handles the punting and kicking, is the heart of a defense that holds opponents to less than 200 yards per game.
Whittaker has led Liberty to the only three postseason appearances in school history, but he's usually too busy to enjoy it.
Immersed in work
"When you look back on what you've experienced, then it's a sense of pleasure," Whittaker said. "We're just too busy right now.
"You've got to enjoy the preparation, what they're doing and what we're going to do to counteract them. That whole process is a pleasure."
He also enjoys the reaction of the school and the community, which makes playoff time that much more special.
"It's always a pleasure to see the community come together with some excitement," he said. "They're all focused on one thing, the game, and they come together. It's a nice source of pride."
scalzo@vindy.com