Elsinore ends Liberty's standout first varsity season, 28-20

Liberty High quarterback Anthony Quinones throws under pressure from the defense. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Liberty High football team closed out its 2022 season with a 28-20 loss to Elsinore High in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 8 playoffs Friday night.

In a nailbiter of a final drive, the Bison were within just 20 yards of the tying touchdown before a turnover on downs ended their last possession. Although the last drive doesn’t show it, with two incomplete passes and two sacks of the quarterback, Liberty had made adjustments throughout the game that allowed the Bison to stay within winning distance.

Where they normally utilize a tough running offense, the Bison were forced to work out a longer passing game after star running back Anthony Ruelas was injured early in the third quarter. Running backs Andre Skelton and Eddie Smith ran for a combined 76 yards but had an increasingly difficult time moving the ball as the Tiger defense read their plays more efficiently and forced three Bison fumbles in the fourth quarter.

“They made it difficult in the run game; it got tight,” said head coach Kraig Broach. “Some mistakes here or there, but they outplayed us tonight overall.”

But before the injuries and play adjustments, the Bison looked like the team they’ve been nearly all season long.

Quarterback Anthony Quinones was able to throw for over 145 yards, finding targets Troy Dulyn and Zachary Velasco a combined three times for more than 35 yards each throw.

“I can’t give credit to myself. I have to give credit to my line for blocking and obviously Troy and Zach for making those catches,” Quinones said. “It’s just about trusting each other to make those plays.”

“Sometimes as a coach you need players to bail you out in a way, and it was nice to have them be able to do that,” Broach said of Quinones and his deep passes to move the ball.

Starting off early with a forced fumble return for 36 yards by Smith on the third play of the game, the Bison scored in just four plays, putting the first points of the night on the board. But Elsinore had an answer in seven plays more, with a quick under four-minute drive that had the game tied.

Liberty then met some trouble with three different penalties throughout their next drive, but the Bison were able to capitalize on 60 gained yards and a field goal from Thiago Scapinelli to put them up 10-7 in the second quarter.

Elsinore saw the lead for the first time in the next drive with over 49 yards of the gains brought by running back Jamari Jones, and the last push from running back Mykai Skinner to the end zone to take the 14-10 lead. 

On the next drive, in spite of three consecutive penalties that moved them back 15 yards, Liberty scored largely due to two big passes from Quinones, for 42 and 13 yards respectively.

Elsinore missed a field goal attempt in their last possession of the half, keeping the Bison on top going into the third quarter. But that would be the last time they saw the lead in the game.

A forced punt for the Bison gave the Tigers the chance to score within the first six minutes of the half and take the 21-17 lead.

Scapinelli completed another field goal for the Bison on the next drive to cut the margin down to just one point, which looked like the perfect setup for the Bison, especially considering the fact they forced a punt on Elsinore’s next possession—allowing only 20 total yards from that drive.

But three consecutive fumbles make a tough hill to climb, and the Bison never did recover from there, while Elsinore capitalized on the opposition’s mistakes with a 41-yard drive to give themselves a 28-20 cushion.

“There’s always things that could have gone differently,” Broach said. “But at the end of the night, the better team won.”

Broach and the Bison finish their season with a 9-2 record, having played their first full-varsity schedule this year with no seniors on their roster.

At the end of it all, Broach said this was his most fun season of football yet, thanks to a school that has something special he can’t quite put his finger on.

“It’s just a special place here at Liberty; people know it by now,” Broach said. “I’m proud to be part of it, and sad that it’s over for now.”

Andre Skelton wards off an Elsinore defender to pick up yardage on a kickoff return. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Eddie Smith outruns the defense on a key play for Liberty High. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)