Liberty remains perfect

But the Leopards didn't play a perfect game in a 21-6 win.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LIBERTY -- Even in the midst of costly mistakes and failed scoring opportunities, the Liberty High football team showed just how strong and resilient it is, this time against Lakeview.
Despite blowing two touchdowns because of penalties and failing to capitalize on two other scoring opportunities, the Leopards compensated by using the big plays of Robert Hightower and David Ferrell.
Those plus a strong defensive effort helped the Leopards subdue Lakeview, 21-6, to remain undefeated after Friday's Trumbull Athletic Conference game.
Hightower, a quick and hard-running senior halfback, scored two touchdowns on a 74-yard dash and a 38-yard pass interception while Ferrell, a senior quarterback, also tallied on a 63-yard scamper.
Meanwhile, the Leopards' defense controlled the line of scrimmage.
But despite Liberty's big plays, Lakeview was in the game and trailing by only 14-6 until Hightower's last TD on the pass interception finished off the Bulldogs with 1:18 left in the third quarter.
However, outside of Albert's touchdown pass to Scott Sentner in the second quarter, Lakeview couldn't generate much offense.
Hightower is outstanding
Hightower rushed for a game-high 159 yards in 17 carries, including 140 yards in nine carries in the first half.
And he had two TDs nullified because of penalties: an 86-yard kickoff return and a 39-yard scoring dash. The Leopards also blew two drives to the Lakeview 13 and 7 yard lines by missing field goals.
"We had a lot of penalties and mental errors and we had to fight through that and the field conditions," said coach Jeff Whittaker of Liberty (7-0, 4-0), whose Leopards were ranked No. 5 in Region 9 of Division III in the computer ratings and No. 17 in the Associated Press poll.
"Our front-four [offensive line] players did a good job. We had some nice drives. We controlled the ball," Whittaker said. "We did an outstanding job on defense. We controlled the line of scrimmage."
Whittaker said Hightower has "good speed, hip movement and acceleration and can break tackles and accelerate."
"We have a balanced attack," he said. "We get the ball to a lot of players."
Too many weapons
Coach Tom Pavlansky of Lakeview (4-3, 2-2) said Liberty had too many offensive weapons.
"They have speed and hard runners," Pavlansky said. "They have four or five guys that can go the distance. Their speed is tremendous."
Still, Pavlanksy said, "we were in the game until the last drive."
Pavlansky lauded the play of Liberty's John Humphrey, a senior defensive end and tight end who was a standout on defense and also was 3-for-3 in extra-point kicks.
"[He] is a tremendous player," Pavlansky said.
Liberty rushed for 297 net yards in 41 carries and had 11 first downs while Lakeview had 98 yards rushing in 34 carries and seven first downs.
Neither team did much passing, Ferrell went 1-for-8 for 2 yards for Liberty and Albert hitting only 2-for-13 for 28 yards for Lakeview.
Chris Harden added 75 yards in 16 carries and Ferrell 59 yards in three runs for Liberty.
Brett Davenport led Lakeview's ground game with 42 yards in 12 carries while Matt Kohuth had 26 yards in 10 attempts.
Close game early
Ferrell's 63-yard TD run at 5:24 of the first quarter capped a 90-yard, six-play drive.
Albert's 30-yard TD pass to Sentner at 3:57 of the second quarter was set up by a blocked punt that gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Liberty 33, and cut the deficit to 7-6.
But then Hightower sprinted 74 yards to his first TD at 2:18 of the second quarter to cap a four-play, 87-yard march. He sealed the verdict with his 38-yard pass interception late in the third quarter.
kovach@vindy.com