Late field goal lifts Liberty to title game (photo slideshow)

Published 10:41 am Monday, November 30, 2009

It was the most important moment of the Patriot football team’s season, and Liberty coach Steve Valach couldn’t bear to watch.

Instead, as Dean Byron lined up a 43-yard field goal with one second left in a 14-14 state semifinal game at the Tacoma Dome Friday, Valach looked towards a player’s mother in the crowd.

“I thought, ‘She’s going to let me know,'” he said. “I watched her and all of the sudden she’s going crazy and I thought, ‘I can’t believe it. He made that kick.'”

On the strength of Byron’s career-long kick, Liberty (12-1) beat Lakes 17-14 and advanced to the 3A state title game Friday against Bellevue.

“My line did it all for me,” Byron said. “My long snapper, Henry Kohm, my holder, Peter Wiggum. I had the easy job.”

Lakes took a 14-0 lead through the first three quarters on touchdowns by two touchdown runs by Teddy Cotton.

Liberty’s offense didn’t find much success against Lakes’ stifling defense until the final play of the third quarter when Trey Wheeler connected with Jake Bainton for a 54-yard reception. The play put the Patriots in good position to score and, more importantly, gave the team momentum heading into the final quarter.

Wheeler found Baiton again for an 11-yard score to complete the drive. Wheeler finished with 264 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, Liberty senior Alex Kaser was making plays of his own. He picked up two sacks and multiple quarterback pressures in the final quarter as Lakes dropped back to pass more than earlier in the game. Kaser finished with 10 tackles and never doubted the Patriots’ ability to come back.

“At this point we’re almost more comfortable trailing late in the game,” Kaser said. “I was able to read the offensive tackle and from then on I just played on fire.”

Later in the quarter, Wheeler found Chandler Jenkins for a 57-yard touchdown to bring tie the game. Jenkins caught five passes for 122 yards.

Liberty’s defense again held strong and gave Byron the chance to kick the winning field goal.

After two double-digit, fourth-quarter comebacks and a triple-overtime win in the playoffs, it will be hard to ever count the Patriots out until the clock hits zero.

“To believe you can come back you have to have done it once… or twice… or three times,” Valach said with a smile. “If there’s time on the clock we can it done.”

Liberty plays Bellevue at 7:30 at the Tacoma Dome Friday in the 3A state championship game. The Wolverines beat Liberty 27-21 on Oct. 23.

• Byron had to skip a major soccer tournament to be at the semifinal game.
• Lakes hadn’t allowed any points in the postseason and just 14 total points in the past eight games.
• The Lancers’ Jamaal Kearse blocked a 21-yard field goal by Byron minutes before Byron’s winning field goal in the fourth quarter.
• Liberty’s Josh Gordon blocked a Lakes field goal on the Lancers’ first drive of the game.