No mercy for Mercer Island as Liberty football dominates

Published 2:15 pm Friday, October 31, 2025

Last season, Liberty High School won just three football games, including two over the same opponent. But this year’s Patriots put the finishing touches on an 8-1 season, and have lived up to their 2025 mantra: Earn it.

There was a point of emphasis on accountability and leadership from the top down in the Liberty program. The Patriots all season have credited their senior leadership for their success.

“Coach (Andy) Hall kind of set up a leadership program in the offseason. It was about what the standards are and how we keep each other accountable. This group of captains really took that seriously. It makes a difference,” Head Coach Steve Valach said. “I think the biggest part is they are clear about what they are and clear that they are going to hold each other accountable.”

Liberty dominated Mercer Island for the second time this season in the KingCo week nine crossover game. The Patriots dismantled an Islander team that was a ghost of its 2024 self, 48-0, at Liberty High School on Oct. 30.

“We just got a great group of leaders. It’s a really good senior class that brings us all together,” sophomore Tristan Klein said. “They are so inclusive and nice to everyone. They really are inclusive with us sophomores and younger guys. It makes everyone confident.”

For the second time this season, Liberty hung over 40 points on the Islanders. Their only blemish was a missed extra point on their lone touchdown of the second half. But for the entire game, the Patriots dominated just as they had done a month prior.

In eight quarters of play against Mercer Island, Liberty has scored 97 points to Mercer Island’s 0. In just the first halves, Liberty has out scored the Islanders 84-0. Liberty’s defense has been on another level since Oct. 18 against North Creek. Against the Jaguars, Highline and now Mercer Island, the Patriot defense has allowed zero points scored. Issaquah was the last team to score points and they managed just 12 back on Oct. 10.

“It’s awesome. When you get a shutout you have a pretty good shot of winning,” Valach said.

The Liberty players are feeling the momentum.

“We are fearless and determined. That’s another one of our standards, flying around to the ball and taking the ball away. We are playing with full effort and just playing free,” Marek Wright said.

Now, kickoff was delayed on Thursday night. As the football game began following a playoff soccer game that began at 5 p.m. and with the late kickoff, it felt like it was possibly the coldest night of the year so far.

“They can handle the curve balls. You only get so many opportunities to play, so let’s not waste moments. They’ve established a standard. It’s really not dependent on who you are playing or what the score is. It’s about doing what we have been doing,” Valach said.

From play one, the Patriots were rearing to go and executing at a high level.

Marek Wright got the scoring started as he rushed for his first touchdown of the night, the first of two touchdowns. His second was a touchdown from his longtime teammate Dawson Durham, who he has shared the field with since sixth grade.

“It’s been years and years of playing together. That connection is something you can’t break. I trust him, he trusts me. It’s something no one can take away from us,” Wright said.

On the second Mercer Island drive, Tyke Hamilton intercepted a Luke Christofferson pass and ran it back 20 yards for his sixth interception of the season. Hamilton also made a diving interception later in the first half for his seventh of the season.

“He’s one of our best leaders on our team. I think he takes pride in that. Last year, he was a baller for us, but this year he has gained so much confidence in himself,” Wright said.

Hamilton is a first team defensive back and has shown that he can cover and make plays with the best in the state. He also leads this team from the front and is a catalyst for the turnaround this season.

“Last year we were like, ‘There is no way he is going to be our starting cornerback.’ But he’s making plays. He just has a nose for the football. He’s a good football player and a competitor,” Valach said.

Running back Tristan Klein led the way for Liberty on the ground with 135 yards and three touchdowns. He is third on the depth chart behind Spencer Bogh (4 carries, 45 yards) and Hudson Xavier (1 carry, 16 yards). But Klein has emerged as a solid option with some sneaky speed. The sophomore broke off a 64-yard touchdown run against the Islanders as the only touchdown in the second half.

“He runs hard, he’s kind of a one cut guy. He’s a really good number two, there is no doubt about it. He’s tough and he’s just a sophomore. He’s a really good football player,” Valach said.

Klein took advantage of his opportunities, especially since now he’s only playing offense after an ankle injury took him away from the defensive side of the ball.

“It felt really good (to score three times). I was just focusing on offense and trying to run hard and score touchdowns,” Klein said.

Quarterback Dawson Durham has a case for the best “feel good” story of the 2025 season. Durham was the third string quarterback last season. In 2025 he was named First Team KingCo Crest quarterback. He led his team to an 8-1 season without throwing an interception.

“It’s fun to see guys like Dawson. There’s a guy if you want to talk about keep showing up,” Valach said.

He rushed for a touchdown in the first half and sat the entire second half once Liberty breached the 40-point lead.

Liberty now waits for the seeding committee, an 8-1 team with one loss being to a 8-0 Lake Washington side should be good enough for a top 10, maybe even top 8 seed in week 10. A win there shoots Liberty football to the state tournament, where they haven’t been since 2015.

“At this point, they are a special group. Who knows what they can do. Our mindset is here we go,” Valach said.

Liberty is on the outside looking in of the AP Poll, receiving 5 votes, the most of any non-ranked team in the poll. As far as the RPI metric, they are eighth, and they are one of four teams to be inside the top 10 of the RPI and outside of the AP poll.

“We are the kind of team that grows on doubt. I am so excited to see us prove the doubters wrong. ‘You want to doubt us? OK, we’ll show you.’ It’s the best feeling in the world to show the doubters they are wrong,” Wright said.