Liberty scores 42-0 victory in first varsity home game

Liberty defensive back Zach Velasco knocks the ball loose from a Miller player Friday night. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

As a squad in just its second year of competition and with no seniors, the Liberty High School football team is new to a lot of things.

But not to winning.

First there was last year’s inaugural season, when the Bison posted a 9-1 record playing a JV schedule. That was followed by a 28-27 victory at Valley View last week in the school’s first-ever varsity game.

Even so, Bison head coach Kraig Broach was still waiting to see what his team could do in a varsity home game before a local crowd. Friday night, that crowd packed their side of the stands and had the players “nervously excited”, according to Broach, who, knowing the community support for the team, was not surprised to see such a crowd.

The Bison did not disappoint their fans, scoring a 42-0 victory over Miller High of Fontana.

"Liberty's a pretty special place," said Broach. "You see JV games and how many people show up and the freshmen games too ... there's a culture here that is building up, kind of like the football team."

That team-building is what Broach said led to multiple Bison scores in the victory. From the first play of Liberty's first possession – a touchdown run by Anthony Ruelas – to the end, the Bison saw four scorers throughout the game, with all but one touchdown starting in the hands of quarterback Troy Dulyn.

The bulk of the scoring happened in the second and third quarters, with an 80-yard run from Andre Skelton (left) and a short catch-and-run by the same player just five minutes later; a tricky catch from Brett Burroughs just a foot outside the end zone after a defender tipped the pass; and a 27-yard touchdown from Ruelas again.

Ruelas wouldn't take credit for his two touchdowns, though.

"I feel like it was a really well-executed play. It was a great blocking scheme from my linemen, and honestly all the credit goes to them," Ruelas said about one of his touchdown runs.

To top off a night of Bison scoring, with just under a minute to go in the game, reserve defensive back Jeremiah McClure recovered a fumble and ran it nearly 75 yards for the last touchdown.

"He's been working really hard, so to see him have that play was really exciting," Broach said of McClure's touchdown.

Liberty's defense also forced three turnovers on downs and three punts as well as one missed field goal attempt in the game.

The Bison will play at Hemet next Thursday.

Quarterback Troy Dulyn releases a pass while under pressure from Miller's Jared Brieske. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

Zach Velasco hauls in a long pass in front of the Miller defense in Friday's game. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

Liberty's Eddie Smith finds some running room during the Bison's victory Friday. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 Brett Burroughs leaps between defenders to haul in a pass in Friday's game. (Photo by Rick Rowell)