By Tom Williams

Not until Hubbard stalled did Liberty win the AAC White Tier

LIBERTY — Nursing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead, the Mahoning Valley’s top running back had the chance to seal a league championship Friday against rival Hubbard.

But Liberty’s Fitzgerald Toussaint fumbled the ball into the end zone where Chase Myers recovered for the Eagles. It was Toussaint’s only mistake on a stellar night when he rushed for 250 yards on 33 carries.

But it opened the door for a rollicking finish that eventually saw the Leopards prevail, 33-28.

In the fourth quarter, Hubbard’s backup quarterback, Matt Shelton completed 8-of-18 passes for 197 passes yards and three touchdowns to give the Eagles a chance.

But Shelton’s final three passes fell incomplete as the Leopards (8-0, 4-0 All-American Conference White) hung on to remain unbeaten.

“It finished the way we expected it to finish,” Liberty coach Jeff Whittaker said. “We took control of the game, had the opportunity break their back and we turned the ball over in the end zone.

“We started getting worn down a little bit, with all the passing,” Whittaker said. “We had a lot of guys going both ways [but] they are an excellent football team. We knew they were going to open it up.

“Give Hubbard credit — they could have laid down when it was 26-7 and they didn’t.”

Toussaint was limited to 19 yards on six first-half carries. Still, the Leopards led 14-7 at the break.

“We played a good team tonight and got beat [but] I can honestly say I am proud of our team,” Hubbard coach Brian Hoffman said. “They have a great running back and he stepped up tonight [with] a great game.”

Toussaint, keyed by the Leopards’ offensive line, dominated in the third quarter, gaining 159 yards on a dozen carries. His 26-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter put Liberty ahead by 13.

“We missed a lot of tackles, but that also was a credit on his part,” Hoffman said.

Toussaint’s next touch produced a 69-yard score as he broke through the middle of the line for a sprint and 26-7 edge.

Those fireworks were a prelude to the Eagles’ furious fourth quarter that had the Leopards gasping.

“Hubbard came after us at the end,” Toussaint said. “I was expecting it from the get-go. We played pretty [well] too; we stepped it up.”

The Eagles (6-2, 2-1) needed seven plays to march 80 yards for their first touchdown in the final frame. Shelton’s 40-yard touchdown pass to Danny Duvall and Andre Givens’ conversion run reduced Liberty’s lead to 26-15.

“We slipped at some times, but we kept our heads up,” said Liberty defensive back Jamon Wagner, who was impressed by Shelton. “They were spreading out a little more and he was a better quarterback.”

With 5:29 remaining, the Eagles launched a 70-yard drive capped by Shelton’s 26-yard scoring toss to Tommy Jackson. The failed conversion kept the Leopards on top, 26-21.

A squib kick put the Leopards in Hubbard territory and quarterback Anthony Cleveland’s 2-yard sneak finished a 10-play drive for a 33-21 lead with 1:15 to go.

But seven plays later, Shelton found Sam Bellino for a 21-yard touchdown that had the Leopards gasping.

“We slacked on that one — it was on my side,” Wagner said.

Jackson recovered Mike Lopuchvsky’s onside kick at midfield with 20 seconds to go. But the Eagles advanced no further.

“We’ve been running two quarterbacks all season long,” Hoffman said. “We felt we could take advantage of what they were giving us coverage-wise. We put [starter] Sammy [Bellino] in the slot so he could run routes.”

williams@vindy.com