‘Earn it’ – Liberty HS football 2025 season preview

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Every football season, before the pads come on, the Liberty Patriots senior leadership come up with a phrase or saying that they want to be their identity for the upcoming season.

This year’s phrase is “earn it” — it embodies the underdog mentality that the Patriots feel is ever important in such a talented 3A KingCo league. The Bellevues, Mercer Islands and even the Hazens of the world are tough competition.

“As a senior group we thought last year’s word, ‘togetherness,’ didn’t feel right. We were united off the field, but we weren’t united on the field, and when things got hard we kind of shut down,” senior lineman Troy Platt said.

”We decided to take a new step and say we are going to earn it on and off the field. In the classroom and on the field,” Platt added.

Liberty was defeated 44-7 by Hazen last year in their week one matchup, which is once again their first game this season. An eye opening game a year ago, it hopes to be a tone setting game this season.

“It starts with us. We’ve got to win every rep,” Platt said.

Before week one starts, the Patriots’ goal is to be ready once toe hits leather on that Sept. 5 evening.

“We are totally looking forward to the opportunity. The main part is being prepared. That comes with being prepared for practice every day. How we are going to practice is how we are going to play on the field,” senior Spencer Bogh said.

A big focus from Head Coach Stephen Valach has been toughness and getting his boys to play with an edge. After the first practice session of the year in pads, he saw an energy from his group that leads him to believe this year will be different.

“One of our points of emphasis is being more physical. There is a fine line where if you are too physical you beat yourselves up and lose guys. If you’re not physical enough, we aren’t doing a good enough job at preparing them for game day,” Valach said.

Liberty won just three games last season — two of them over Inglemoor and the other win over Highline.

In that week one loss to Hazen, Liberty was down two quarterbacks and junior Dawson Durham was forced to enter the game. Durham had began his career as a quarterback, then transitioned to wide receiver before eventually becoming the JV quarterback his sophomore year. He was the third string varsity quarterback last season.

”Dawson came in and never gave it (starting quarterback) up. It’s a pretty cool story about showing up every day and not quitting like everybody does now,” Valach said.

Durham took his bumps and bruises in stride last season, and with a full off-season of knowing he can compete for the number one job, he’s jumped in head first.

“Nothing was given to him. He probably is the definition of ‘earn it.’ He still has to earn it as well,” Valach said.

Valach and other seniors like what they have seen from Durham through camp.

“I’ve always been his best friend and have trusted him. It is good to know that I know I have someone who can take the reigns and control this offense,” Platt said.

Quarterback is a position that requires the person to be a leader on the gridiron at all times. Durham sets the tone with his play and work ethic on and off the field.

“He’s a quiet guy,. He is going to lead by example. He’s going to lead by showing up early every day and doing extra work. You’re not going to hear him talk a whole bunch. That’s just who he is and that is okay,” Valach said.

Valach talked a lot about his team playing with a different toughness and really embodying that earn it mentality. That mentality starts in the trenches, and he really believes that his boys up front will take a step forward literally and figuratively this season.

“I think we are solid up front. We have good strength and size, but we need to keep being very physical and finish blocks. There are really good weight room numbers from those guys and we’ve got decent depth. I like where we are up front,” Valach said. “You gotta play that position with an edge and they are getting there.”

Platt is a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines. To better his game, he is making his rest time at practice just as valuable as the actual reps themselves.

“You chose one thing and be intentional with it. If it is your first step, every time you get in line you work on your first step, when you get out of line you do the same thing. You build that muscle memory so when you actually do it, you don’t have to think about it,” Platt said.

On the defensive side of the ball, Hudson Xavier, who is in his junior year, is turning heads through fall camp. The 5’11” mike linebacker is the voice on the defensive side of the ball and has taken strides this off-season to be that person.

“He’s great with the physicality aspect and will do great on the field. He’s one of our captains this year and has totally stepped into that role and filling it great,” Bogh said.

Attempting to set a new standard, Liberty will take on one of their rivals, Hazen on Sept. 5 at Renton Memorial with kickoff at 7 p.m.