It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Samuel and Emma A. Ranshaw House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in North Liberty, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Always Best care for all the support your caregivers have provided to my mother. She was very pleased with the care she received. I confidently recommend Always Best Care to all.”
“Always Best Care in Cedar Valley IA realy helps me a lot. They have Reliable Caregivers who helped me to take care of my loved one for several years. They are highly trained and managed well the daily routines and activities like bathing and dressing. Caregivers of always best care is dependable and passionate to their work. I am satisfied and so glad that I chose their service. Highly recommend whoever needs their caregiving service!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Centennial Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Tin Roost or visit Cornerstone Nature Area, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in North Liberty, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in North Liberty, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in North Liberty, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Go on a communitywide hunt for a plethora of prizes, with new prizes and clues each Tuesday in November (plus a bonus drop on Black Friday), as part of the Golden Turkey Hunt.The five WsWhat to expectStarting Nov. 5, each Tuesday (plus a bonus drop on Black Friday, Nov. 29) at 9 a.m. we’ll release a clue on northlibertyiowa.org, Facebook and to those ...
Go on a communitywide hunt for a plethora of prizes, with new prizes and clues each Tuesday in November (plus a bonus drop on Black Friday), as part of the Golden Turkey Hunt.
Starting Nov. 5, each Tuesday (plus a bonus drop on Black Friday, Nov. 29) at 9 a.m. we’ll release a clue on northlibertyiowa.org, Facebook and to those subscribed to our special event emails to find a hidden medallion located somewhere on public property in North Liberty. The first person to find the medallion and return it to the Recreation Department’s front desk will win the week’s prize. If the prize isn’t claimed in the first 72 hours, we’ll release a second clue at noon on Day 3 (usually a Friday). One prize package per household.
This medallion was located in Fox Valley Park.
Clue #1: And Maggie Makes Three 6:13
Clue #2: On a warm summer night legend has it you can still smell the fires.
Clue #3: Keep your eyes on the ground. Don’t look up. Don’t ever look up. Watch your step and don’t fall in like I did.
This medallion was located in the public land north of West Zeller Street across from West Lakes.
Clue #1: Triple West but also North
Clue #2: Not around the sidewalk
This medallion was located across the street from Quail Ridge Park near a city maintenance shed.
Clue #1: North Liberty _0_1_
Clue #1:
Visit northlibertyiowa.org to get the latest clue. Do some thinking. Go out hunting, but stay on public property.
Dogs are welcome as long as they are on a leash and stay under the caretaker’s control and you clean up after them.
The use of tobacco, nicotine, vape and other electronic smoking devices are prohibited in North Liberty parks, trails and public recreation areas.
This event is part of the City Slate. The yearlong schedule of events is made possible by A2Z Heating and Plumbing, Centro, Inc, Collins Community Credit Union, The Eastern Iowa Airport – CID, Hills Bank, MidWestOne Bank, South Slope Cooperative, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Urban Acres Real Estate and Veridian Credit Union.
Share your photos with us on Facebook and Instagram. Stay connected with the City by subscribing to the North Liberty Bulletin or signing up for news alerts.
We’re committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation at our events for individuals with disabilities.
For accommodations, please reach out to [email protected] or call (319) 626-5726.
This event is part of the City Slate, a compilation of North Liberty’s largest and free city-produced events. Explore the schedule at northlibertyiowa.org/cityslate.
Campus confident of filling openings amid worker shortageVanessa Miller Why you can trust The Gazette The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.Just months ahead of opening its new $525.6 million hospital in North Liberty, University of Iowa Health Care is ramping up hiring amid a national heal...
Campus confident of filling openings amid worker shortage
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Just months ahead of opening its new $525.6 million hospital in North Liberty, University of Iowa Health Care is ramping up hiring amid a national health care worker shortage for the campus — promoting “innovative opportunities” across a range of disciplines in the state-of-the-art facility.
“The new campus includes a three-level hospital and five-level medical office building, and spaces to support medical education and research,” UI Health Care said of the 60-acre site, which is scheduled to open this spring.
Among the 70-plus open positions UIHC is “currently accepting applications for” on its up-and-coming North Liberty campus are jobs in nursing, the emergency room, respiratory care, central sterilization, environmental services, pharmacy, physical therapy, radiology, engineering and safety and security.
Specific jobs postings include third-shift mechanic earning up to $62,481 a year; patient care technician, making up to $50,157; sports medicine nurse making $60,589; and food service manager, with the potential to earn a six-figures salary Additional job postings are “coming soon,” according to the university — including guest services, food and nutrition and additional nursing and ER positions.
The UIHC expansion — and its influx of staffing needs — comes amid a national health care worker shortage, with a deficit of 100,000 projected industrywide by 2028, according to a study released in August and promoted by the American Hospital Association.
The nursing assistant shortage is expected to be especially severe, at a 73,000 projected deficit nationwide by 2028, according to the report from Mercer, a health care consulting company.
When looking across just the UIHC, more than 730 health care-related jobs are open — including more than 460 nursing positions.
In applying to the State Health Facilities Council in 2021 for a certificate of need to build the new North Liberty hospital, UIHC officials raised worker shortages as a reason to approve the project. Highlighting its academic function in teaching and training providers, UIHC said it was struggling to keep up with the demand due to its limited capacity.
“There is currently a statewide shortage for health care providers that affects all hospitals and their patients,” according to the university’s application, reporting that at that time Iowa ranked 42nd nationally in physicians per 100,000 population.
Today, Iowa ranks 44th nationally in active physicians per 100,000 people, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges.
“The statewide shortage of health care providers is anticipated to worsen over the next decade,” according to the university’s 2021 application. “UIHC does not have sufficient infrastructure capacity to expand its learner and training programs. Only with additional infrastructure capacity that can simultaneously accommodate the clinical and academic missions … can UIHC increase the number of health care providers trained for Iowa.”
In promoting jobs on its North Liberty campus, touted as the university’s new “home to our nationally ranked Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation,” officials have promoted career opportunities for “professionals with various levels of experience and skill sets to grow, learn, and make a positive impact.”
In the university’s original 2020 application for a certificate to build the hospital — which was denied, compelling UIHC to return to the state with a revised application — administrators projected the North Liberty campus would need the equivalent of 535 full-time employees.
That total included 65 in the operating room, 67 in the emergency department and 50 to staff the inpatient rooms. To the state’s request for evidence that enough personnel would be available, UIHC pointed to its service as a “training site for approximately 3,000 aspirating health care professionals annually” across its colleges of medicine, dentistry, nursing, public health and pharmacy.
“These programs have historically proven to be very beneficial in providing well qualified candidates to fill new or vacant positions,” according to the 2020 application. “There is no concern with recruiting positions for this facility based on UIHC's traditional hiring methods.”
The revised 2021 application — which was approved — lowered the projected worker needs to 454 FTEs for the new hospital that will offer up to 48 inpatient beds, 84 clinic exam rooms, 14 emergency care rooms and 12 operating rooms.
“UIHC has a strong record of recruiting health care providers and staff from outside of the state who wish to work at a tertiary/quaternary center, and UIHC anticipates that it will be able to fill a substantial number of the positions in this manner,” according to that 2021 application.
UIHC — across all its campuses, including a new Downtown Campus it acquired through Mercy Iowa City’s bankruptcy auction — boasts more than 20,000 staff members, including more than 1,200 doctors and dentists.
In the 2023 budget year, the system recorded more than 33,000 inpatient admissions and more than 52,000 ER visits. It performed more than 36,000 major surgeries, more than 190,00 minor procedures and more than 1.2 million clinic visits.
In its 2021 state application, administrators reported more than half the existing 850 inpatient beds were in double rooms — which are “not recommended in the interest of patient safety, infection control, and patient experience.”
With an occupancy rate often above 96 percent, UIHC annually turns down 2,200 to 2,400 transfer requests.
“Projections indicate that UIHC needs capacity to treat an additional 6,031 inpatient encounters by 2039,” the application states.
When asked about staffing and recruitment for the North Liberty campus, including whether travel nurses and temporary workers will be used, UIHC spokeswoman Laura Shoemaker told The Gazette, “We have ramped up recruitment and retention efforts accordingly, as we recognize our talented team members are central to our ability to fulfill our mission as the state’s academic medical center.”
“We take our commitment to serving Iowans very seriously, and when we need additional staff to maintain patient care services, we may seek temporary support from travel staff until we can permanently fill open roles,” she said. “The number of agency staff working at UI Health Care fluctuates by the week based on patient care needs and available staff. We continuously review current and anticipated staffing needs and look for opportunities to reduce agency needs.”
Regarding North Liberty, specifically, she said, “We anticipate hundreds of new full-time staff across all departments will eventually be hired, and we expect that to happen over an extended period of time as we ramp up operations.”
Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.
Comments: (319) 339-3158; [email protected]
Jennie Garner has worked at the North Liberty Library for nearly 30 years and served as its director for a decade.Danny EnrightJennie Garner has never held a job in any other library than the North Liberty Library....
Jennie Garner has worked at the North Liberty Library for nearly 30 years and served as its director for a decade.
Jennie Garner has never held a job in any other library than the North Liberty Library.
For 27 years, Garner has seen the library move and expand in size and staff. What once started as a 1,200-square-foot building with just three staff members has grown to an 18,000-square-foot library with a staff of 21.
In October, Garner was recognized for her 10 years of leadership as the North Liberty Library’s director with the 2024 Distinguished Leadership Award from the Iowa Library Association — a recognition that was long overdue, her staff says.
Garner described her journey to the helm of the North Liberty Library as “accidental librarianship.” After graduating, Garner was introduced to a job at the North Liberty Library first through volunteering there and then eventually getting a part-time job there.
This experience unlocked her passion for libraries, and she decided that was the career she wanted to pursue. Once making it through undergrad, Garner got her master’s in library and information science at the UI, and the rest is history.
Garner said winning the award was humbling. She has been involved in leadership programs and positions for her entire career, ranging from being former president of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries to speaking at library conferences around the world.
Sam Helmick, past president of the Iowa Library Association and president-elect of the American Library Association, said Garner has had a broad impact both on libraires generally and within more rural communities.
“As past president of the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, I saw her bringing resources back home and ideas back home to support small and rural,” Helmick said. “And I really want to honor that because that work is hard.”
These experiences have shaped how she leads, Garner said.
RELATED: Iowa City librarian wins state award for children’s services contributions
“It’s important to me that we have a really positive culture here,” Garner said. “When we build trust within and have a space where people feel comfortable and safe, then that automatically rolls outward, so our community trusts us to deliver the services that we do here and to be spot on with those things.”
This culture of trust within the North Liberty Library has been an empowering and rewarding experience for library staff and the entire community, Jennifer Jordebrek, the library’s assistant director, said.
“We want to empower our staff, from the part-timers on up. Everyone has a seat at the table. Everyone’s voice is listened to,” Jordebrek said. “I still, to this day, appreciate every day being able to come work here at the library.”
Jordebrek said the leadership award for Garner has been a long time coming, but Garner does not ever work expecting praise. Garner has been instrumental in breaking down barriers to accessing the library’s services, such as getting rid of fines such as late fees, Jordebrek said.
In terms of what’s in store for the future of the North Liberty Library, Garner said she has been collaborating with libraries across Johnson and Linn counties to hold a staff training day in February for over 200 library staff in the area. This training will be the first of its kind for the area, she said.
No matter what situations arise, the North Liberty Library will continue to work to serve its community and meet its needs, Garner said.
“Libraries are really resilient. We change a lot, and we change pretty fast, and especially small and rural tend to be able to do that a little more nimbly because of our size and not having to jump through a lot of red tape,” Garner said. “So, I just see us continuing to serve the community in whatever ways they need.”
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Offensive threats like Dallas Miller and Sutton Koller added defense to their duties for the Lightning, who play Friday night in a Class 5A state football playoff semifinal against 3-time defending champ Southeast PolkJeff Johnson The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.NORTH LIBERTY — It’s not necessarily about the X’s and O’s, so much as the Jimmys and Joe...
Offensive threats like Dallas Miller and Sutton Koller added defense to their duties for the Lightning, who play Friday night in a Class 5A state football playoff semifinal against 3-time defending champ Southeast Polk
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
NORTH LIBERTY — It’s not necessarily about the X’s and O’s, so much as the Jimmys and Joes. A few wise coaches have pointed that out.
So Iowa City Liberty has its Jimmys and Joes on the field virtually all the time. On both sides of the football and some special teams.
Take Dallas Miller, for instance. He’s the Lightning’s leading receiver out of the slot, their main punt and kickoff returner.
He also is a starting cornerback.
Take Sutton Koller, for another instance. He’s Liberty’s second-leading rusher, its third-leading receiver, a dude who has accounted for 18 offensive touchdowns as a scat-back type.
He also is a starting free safety, his team’s leading tackler.
“This year our coach said we were going to play some guys both ways, so in the summer, we had a few guys playing offense and defense only. But maybe about five guys, not even 10,” Koller said. “So we knew we’d have some guys playing both ways, and I was really, really happy about that decision.”
Here’s the thing about Koller and Miller. They’d never played defense before.
That’s the way generally it is for the better programs at the Class 5A level. There are enough players for guys to platoon, be only on offense or defense.
But go back to that Jimmys and Joes thing.
Other prominent skill-position, two-way guys for the Lightning include Owen Drapeaux, their leading rusher and one of their top defensive players at linebacker. Landon Bell has three touchdown catches as a tight end and is their second-leading tackler.
“Kickoff, punt, PATs are the only time I’m not on the field,” Miller said. “I don’t mind that. I’d rather be on the field the whole time. I think we have the best chance of winning when our best players are on the field all the time.”
“I’ve always wanted to do more,” Koller said. “I’m never satisfied, really, with how I play. Of course, I love scoring touchdowns, all that stuff, but I’m always looking for more. What else can I do? Every game, every moment.”
Liberty (10-1) plays in a 5A playoff semifinal Friday night against three-time defending state champ Southeast Polk (7-4). Kickoff at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls is at 7.
This is the seventh year of Liberty High School’s existence. It went just 4-5 last season and graduated all-state quarterback Graham Beckman.
But this first season under head coach Scott Chandler, the former University of Iowa and NFL tight end, has been special. Liberty players attended last year’s 5A championship game, watching Southeast Polk beat Ankeny.
They couldn’t have guessed they’d be playing SEP in the UNI-Dome about a year later.
“If you had told me we’d be going to the Dome and playing Southeast Polk at the beginning of the season, I’d have said I probably wouldn’t have believed it,” Koller said. “I remember my dad asked me what I thought our record was going to be in the regular season. I told him 7-2. Maybe we’d lose to Ankeny or maybe Cedar Falls. But once we got past those guys, I knew anything was possible. We’re just going to keep going.”
Liberty went into the playoffs as 5A’s top seed, averaging 40.7 points per game offensively. That ranks second in 5A only to Ottumwa, though Liberty played a much tougher schedule.
The Lightning’s lone loss was in Week 3 to Pleasant Valley, 42-28. Defense has been a struggle at times for Liberty, but it has played arguably its best games on that side of the football in the playoffs.
It beat Waukee in the first round, 35-14, holding the Warriors to 213 total yards. In a 21-13 quarterfinal win over Ankeny, Liberty’s defense limited its opponent to 238 total yards, with a 49-yard Miller pick-6 in the fourth quarter cementing the victory.
“We’ve got to do what the game plan says and make plays (Friday night). We’ve got to stop their run game and just make the plays on offense like we have been,” Miller said. “To be honest, I thought we’d be pretty good this year. A lot of people didn’t. But I didn’t think we’d make it this far.”
The other 5A semifinal Friday consists of West Des Moines Dowling (10-1) and West Des Moines Valley (9-2).
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Lightning will make Dome debut in 7th season as a programDouglas MIles - correspondent NORTH LIBERTY — Iowa City Liberty has earned its Dome debut.In just its seventh season as a varsity football program, Liberty advanced to the state semifinals for the first time after dispatching traditional playoff heavyweight Ankeny, 21-13, in a Class 5A state quarterfinal game Friday night at Liberty High School.“...
Lightning will make Dome debut in 7th season as a program
Douglas MIles - correspondent
NORTH LIBERTY — Iowa City Liberty has earned its Dome debut.
In just its seventh season as a varsity football program, Liberty advanced to the state semifinals for the first time after dispatching traditional playoff heavyweight Ankeny, 21-13, in a Class 5A state quarterfinal game Friday night at Liberty High School.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team,” first-year Liberty Coach Scott Chandler said. “Our defense was kind of maligned early in the season and those guys just kept their nose to the grindstone, kept getting better week by week by week and they showed up tonight. … What a performance by them.”
Liberty (10-1) will play Southeast Polk (7-4) in a 5A state semifinal Friday at 7 p.m. at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
In the first four games of the regular season, Liberty allowed over 37 points per game on defense. In its two playoff wins over Waukee and Ankeny, the Lightning have surrendered just 13.5.
Fittingly, it was a Liberty defender who sealed the game. With the Lightning clinging to a 14-7 lead, senior defensive back Dallas Miller stepped in front of an Ankeny receiver at the sideline, intercepted a pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown with 1:58 to go.
“I knew they were going to run that play, they ran it all game,” Miller said. “I know that receiver is just going to stop like that and I just took it away from him.”
Miller also had a hand in Liberty’s 14-7 halftime advantage when — on fourth down and goal to go — he took an inside handoff from quarterback Reece Rettig, sprinted along the line and then pitched to trailing tailback Sutton Koller for a 4-yard touchdown.
“It doesn’t work in practice, but it worked that time,” Miller said. “I’m just happy we scored.”
With the score tied at 7-7 and less than two minutes until halftime, the Liberty offense stayed on the field for a fourth down and 19 yards to go at the Ankeny 27-yard line. Rettig dropped back to pass and heaved the ball into the end zone, where Collin Decker made a competitive play for the go-ahead touchdown.
“Just a ton of adrenaline,” Decker said. “It was surreal, honestly. But I am just glad I came down with it and was able to secure it for that score.”
Decker led Liberty with six receptions for 43 yards, while senior tailback Owen Drapeaux ran for 90.
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Ankeny (6-5) was denied a fourth state semifinal berth in five years.
“We have just got so much to prove still,” Decker said. “We haven’t won anything yet. Everybody was underestimating us at the beginning of the season. … There were rankings where we were last in our district. We just look at that every day and go back to work.”
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