Skelton caps off a great night for Liberty defense, 13-6

Liberty defensive players Angelo Serena (22) and Eddie Smith (10) cut off a West Valley runner. (Staff photos)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Liberty High’s football team had only 23 offensive plays against host West Valley Friday night, but it didn’t matter. Thanks to a tough defensive stand, the Bison came away with a 13-6 victory.

Bison linebacker Andre Skelton tackled West Valley running back Drew-sene Amisone for a loss on the last play of the game, preserving a victory in Liberty’s Mountain Pass League opener. Skelton’s third-quarter 1-yard touchdown run also proved to be the scoring difference for the Bison, who are 5-1 overall.

West Valley (4-2) had a chance to send the game to overtime after driving 86 yards to the Liberty 9-yard line with 10.1 seconds remaining. That field position was set up by Aryan Sanchez’ 16-yard sideline catch on a dive to keep his feet in bounds. But then quarterback Jason Ramirez just missed a touchdown pass on a ball that was tipped twice by receivers in the end zone.

After each team took a timeout with 5.4 seconds left, West Valley tried a pitch play that had worked several times earlier. But Skelton broke through the line and dropped Amisone as time expired.

Skelton said he wasn’t really surprised that the Mustangs chose a running play in an attempt to pick up nine yards with time running out.

“I noticed they were having so much success with that little pitch play,” he said. “I knew that’s a play they were comfortable with, so I did my best to shoot the gap and make the play.”

“They’d been hurting us with that play all night, and they decided to get it into a playmaker’s hands again,” said Heritage coach Adam Contreras. “I was a little bit surprised. I thought they would pitch it to him and then pitch it back and throw it.”

That play was a frustrating end to a West Valley drive that had started on their own 5-yard line after an excellent punt by Eddie Smith pinned the Mustangs deep in their own territory. Amisone, who finished with 87 yards rushing, had consecutive gains of 13, 17 and 2 yards early in that drive to keep the Mustangs’ hopes alive.

West Valley almost ran out of downs near midfield, but a 37-yard pass play on fourth down moved the ball to the Liberty 34, setting up the final frantic moments.

“It was a back yard brawl,” said Contreras after the game. “We told our guys this week that West Valley was going to come hit us in the mouth, really bring it. They came to play.

“We were battling all night. They’re just a resilient bunch of young men. They rallied to the football. They could’ve easily given up or gotten down at the end, but they found a way to win. You had great players making great plays. Andre Skelton’s play at the end … that’s a varsity football play right there.”

Although they didn’t have the ball nearly as long as the Mustangs did throughout the game, the Bison took advantage of their opportunities. Anthony Ruelas ran 10 yards for a touchdown to cap an 83-yard drive that included a 50-yard run by Smith in the second quarter. The PAT kick failed, however.

Liberty’s other score came on the first possession of the third quarter. Helped by runs of 21 and 15 yards by Ruelas, the Bison moved the ball to the 1-yard line, where Skelton punched it in. The PAT kick made it 13-0.

West Valley’s only touchdown of the game came at the end of a 58-yard drive on a 1-yard dive by Ramirez. The pass on a two-point conversion attempt was intercepted by – who else? – Skelton.

“You look at Andre as an offensive player, but he’s also versatile and he can play defense,” Contreras said. “He was able to take on a couple blocks and go make the tackle on their stud.”

Liberty head coach Adam Contreras watches the action from the sidelines.