Football: Liberty beats Lakes, heads to 3A state title game

Published 4:21 pm Friday, November 27, 2009

Liberty found a little more magic and came back to beat Lakes 17-14 in a 3A state semifinal game Friday at the Tacoma Dome.

The Patriots (12-1) trailed 14-0 in the fourth quarter. Trey Wheeler connected with Jake Bainton and Chandler Jenkins for touchdowns to tie the game.

Then, after a defensive stop, Liberty was driving with just minutes left in the fourth quarter. A few plays later, after an incompletion, just one second remained in the game. Dean Byron made a 43-yard field goal to give Liberty a lead for the first time in the game and the 17-14 win.

Liberty will play in the 3A state title game Dec. 4 against either Bellevue or Union.

So far in the playoffs, the Patriots have come back from two double-digit, fourth-quarter deficits and played in a triple overtime game.

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