Liberty falls behind in second half, loses to Vista del Lago

Liberty's Jaylen Skelton picks up yardage during Friday night's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Liberty High School football team lost its Homecoming game against Vista del Lago 43-26 Friday night.

After the Bison held the lead for the majority of the first three quarters, the Ravens had a 15-yard touchdown five seconds into the fourth quarter that put them within five points. But it was their onside kick that followed that really changed the momentum of the game.

After recovering their own kick just 40 yards from the end zone, Vista took just three more plays to gain the lead for the first time since the first quarter, then completed a two-point conversion to make it 29-26.

Liberty head coach Adam Contreras said that sequence of events is where he thought the team started feeling downtrodden.

“The momentum kind of switched and I think maybe the guys could have been thinking ‘Here we go again,’” Contreras said. “We were just looking for something in that second half after that and we just didn’t find it.”

The Bison were a quick three-and-out in their next two possessions after that last Raven touchdown, which put Vista in a position to widen the margin twice. And they capitalized on each chance they were given, bringing the score to 43-26 with just a minute and a half left in the game.

Although Liberty controlled possession for the remainder of the game, quarterback Anthony Quinones couldn’t quite get anything to the end zone to keep his team within reach.

Quinones said he felt his job was to make a play to motivate the team, and even though he didn’t find a way to make it happen in the last minute or so, he didn’t think once that they were out of the game until the final whistle blew.

“When I play until the end it’s because I truly think we always have a chance,” he said. “It’s really how I see it, so it’s not a fake or an act. I just play like we’re always right there in the game.”

Quinones, a senior who is committed to Eastern Washington University next fall, was a leader his coach said they needed out on the field throughout the game -- starting with his first-half execution of their plans.

After Vista scored on its first drive of the night, Liberty’s Jaylen Skelton ran in an answering touchdown. Then the teams swapped one more touchdown each before two field goals from Bison kicker Thiago Scapinelli put some distance between the teams before halftime.

Junior Parris Peacock, who was responsible for one of the first-quarter touchdowns for Liberty, ran a touchdown into the end zone just before the third quarter ended, making the halftime score 26-14.

Peacock, who ran the most yards of anyone on the Liberty sideline on the night, said running is just one way he tries to keep his team’s momentum up throughout the game.

“I just try to get my team excited and hyped,” Peacock said. “I try to make sure I’m being motivating on the sideline when I talk to them.”

Though Peacock and Quinones were ready to fight with and motivate the team to a win, Vista had more answers in the game and finished ahead.

Looking forward, Contreras said he has to remind the team that they played a really tough opponent and that as long as everyone is willing to come back and start fresh on Monday, he still sees the remainder of the season going well for the Bison.

“Vista is a good team and we knew they were going to grind like that,” Contreras said. “But we saw a lot of fight in our kids too and that’s what we need to remember and work with. I am going with my coaches to the drawing board on Monday ready to work, so we’re hoping the guys will come ready, too.”

Liberty is now 2-4 overall and 0-1 with this being their league-opening game. They will host Orange Vista Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in their second league game of the season.

Parris Peacock tries to elude the grasp of a Vista del Lago tackler. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

Quarterback Anthony Quinones prepares to let go of a pass. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 

Caius Nile picks up yardage after making a catch on Friday. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Trent Hallis moves in to make the tackle during Friday's game. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)