Liberty Center 35 Wheelersburg 3


 

The Pirates kicked off to get the state final game started, and all of those sitting near me were waiting on Cooper Heimbach to boom the ball deep, maybe into the end zone, but he kicked a short line drive-type kick that the Tigers handled easily, giving their offense a much shorter field to work with, as the kick only went 25 yards and was returned by Brady Badenhop to the Tigers' 45-yard line.

The Pirates' defense was up to the task as they stopped the Tigers' offense, forcing a punt after surrendering 7 yards. When the Pirates offense took the field, they managed just 16 yards before being forced to punt.

After one series it appeared the defenses were evenly matched, but that would change a lot as the game chugged on, with the Tigers' offense easily moving the ball while their defense suffocated a potent Pirate offense.

Things started changing as soon as the Tigers offense hit the field for their second drive. Kaden Kreinbrink struck with his arm, completing an Ethan Gray pass good for 13 yards and a first down. Garrison Kruse picked up 12 yards with two runs. Then Kreinbrink hit Kruse for a short four yards. After a holding penalty negated a 13-yard Kruse run, Kreinbrink found Isaiah Badenhop for 34 yards. Kruse ran three times, picking up 14 yards. Kruse goes 6-2, 220, and he seems to punish would-be tacklers and the domination. His offensive line was putting on the big, strong, and talented Pirates D-line, making things very easy for the big back. Thomas Mohler plowed in from a yard out for the score that was followed by the PAT from Max Walker to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.

The Pirates offense would run five plays, picking up just 10 yards on their next drive that ended with Heimback punting the ball 46 yards.

The Tigers' offense had no problems going 54 yards, needing just four plays to make this a 14-0 game. The points came on a Kreinbrink pass to Jaxton Lawniczak, who was wide open and easily scored from 44 yards out with 10:27 left in the half. I was talking to a couple of people in the press box, and we all agree that the Tigers in this game were faster, stronger, and seemed to be much better prepared for what they were going to face compared to the talented Pirates.

The Burg had a nice drive going that started with Braylon Rucker finding Stephen Hall for 9 yards. Then Hall picked up 28 yards with a nice run. Elijah Brown picked up 8 yards. After Rucker threw an incomplete pass, the Pirates faced fourth and two, trailing 14-0. After a timeout, Heimbach came in and easily nailed a 45-yard field goal, making this a 14-3 game. Even with the point, those near me in the press box thought the Pirates were deflated afterwards and never recovered and never scored again in this one. There was still 8:41 left in the half.

Libert Center put the game away if there were any doubts left in the outcome when they came back on the field after the field goal. They basically ran behind their dominating offensive line 15 straight times, picking up 71 yards minus ten when they were called for holding. The 18-play, 72-yard drive ended when Kreinbrink threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Lawniczak, making this a 21-3 game. The drive ate up 8:27 off of the clock.

The Pirates got the ball to start the 2nd half but lost 3 yards on the drive and had to punt the ball away after just three plays. Liberty Center picked up 8 yards before punting the ball away. The Burg picked up just 2 yards on their second drive of the second half.

Liberty Center was able to get things going on their next drive with Mohler outrunning the defense for a 41-yard gain. Kruse ended the 5-play, 60-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run to make this a 28-3 game.

The Pirates seem to have woken up on offense as they were moving the ball, but a sack by Lucas Navarre was followed by an interception by Kellen Wymer.

Libert Center started the next drive in the third quarter and ended it with 6:12 left in the game. The drive went for 80 yards, taking 13 plays, with 12 of them being running plays as the offensive line was having fun making things so easy for the running game. The pass play picked up 18 of the 80 yards on the drive. The score came on a Kruse 3-yard run, making this a 35-3 game, and that would be all of the scoring.

Some official stats

Liberty Center

359 yards

Wheelersburg

143 yards

Rushing yards

Liberty Center

223

Wheelersburg 72


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