Depleted by COVID, Liberty shows depth in rout of Crusaders — PHOTOS

Liberty shot manager Rich Muraco ne'er has been 1 to backmost down successful the look of a challenge, and Friday nighttime was nary exception.

With fractional his roster retired due to the fact that of COVID-19 protocols, Muraco called up his inferior varsity squad, and the Class 5A second-ranked Patriots had nary occupation defeating Faith Lutheran 37-7 for a homecoming and Mountain League-opening triumph astatine Liberty.

Brody Clark rushed 16 times for 143 yards and a touchdown to pb the Patriots (5-1).

“I loved our effort,” Muraco said. “We had astir 40 kids out, truthful we had to bring the JV up. I’m precise arrogant of their effort, and I emotion the extent of our program.”

The roster fiasco was ne'er obvious, arsenic Liberty took power early, utilizing a 14-play, 79-yard opening thrust to spell up 7-0 erstwhile reserve backmost Colin Gregorio connected with Germie Bernard for a 4-yard TD pass.

“We knew we had to tally the shot better,” said Muraco, whose discourtesy kept the shot connected the crushed for 13 of its archetypal 14 plays. “We’ve got to beryllium capable to found the run, and that’s a large absorption for america close now.”

Clark made it 14-0 with a 44-yard scoring sprint down the near sideline midway done the 2nd quarter, and Liberty started pulling distant aboriginal successful the 3rd erstwhile Bernard returned a punt 71 yards for a TD and 22-0 lead.

Faith Lutheran (1-4) had respective sustained possessions but repeatedly came up empty, including a 17-play third-quarter thrust that fizzled connected the Patriots’ 17-yard enactment erstwhile the Crusaders were incapable to person a fourth-down attempt.

Liberty extended its pb to 30-0 connected a fourth-quarter walk from Gregorio to Landon Bell earlier the Crusaders mounted a 10-play thrust to people connected a 1-yard Drais Bellamy tally midway done the 4th quarter.

But Liberty got the points backmost erstwhile Gregorio connected with Logann Britt for an 8-yard TD walk 5 minutes later.

“It’s bully to cognize that erstwhile thing similar this happens, you’ve inactive got immoderate truly bully players who tin measurement up,” Muraco said.

Gregorio completed 13 of 22 passes for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Bellamy carried 23 times for 90 yards rushing for the Crusaders.