Home Care In Liberty Center, OH

CANTON, Ohio — Playing in its first state football final in 25 years, Liberty Center spilled out every last bit of energy, guts, and sweat on the field against top-ranked Perry on Saturday.

But, in the end, it was not enough for the Tigers, who came up short in a 21-14 loss in the Ohio Division V title game before a crowd of 5,439 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Coach Casey Mohler's second-ranked Tigers (15-1) took a 14-7 lead with 7:54 left in the third quarter, when Landon Amstutz hit Colton Kruse on a 4-yard touchdown pass, capping an eight-play, 69-yard drive.

But, the big-play Pirates (16-0) — whose closest previous game all season was last week's 22-8 semifinal win over Canal Winchester Harvest Prep — seemed to jump to life after falling behind.

Jeremy Wadsworth Photo Gallery: Liberty Center vs. Perry D-V state football title

They responded with two touchdowns in a span of 1:56 midway in the third, and held on in the closing minutes to capture their school's first state football championship.

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“I'm grateful for these seniors, and what this team did,” Mohler said. “I'm very proud of them. Obviously, this stings right now, but the only thing we've ever asked them to do was to play as hard as they can for 48 minutes.

“I thought they did that today. They left everything on the field, and we just ran out of time. [Perry] made a few more play than what we did.”

First, Perry moved 80 yards on five plays, the last a 37-yard catch-and-run by Luke Sivon on a pass from the team's biggest big-play man, speedy senior Brayden Richards. That score tied the game at 14 with 6:03 left in the third.

Then, after the Pirates’ defense forced a three-and-out Liberty Center punt, Richards bolted 60 yards around left end for what proved to be the game-winning TD with 4:07 to go in the third.

“We knew we were going to have to bottle [Richards] up, and the Sivon kid,” Mohler said. “That's a lot easier said than done. He made some tremendous plays and, obviously, they made some good calls.

“It's my job to have these guys in position to make plays, and I didn't do that, so this is on me. Players win games and coaches lose them. I didn't put these guys in the positions they needed to be in to make those plays.”

Steve Junga Championship game rewind: Revisit the Division V football state final as it unfolded

The Tigers would have two more legitimate opportunities to even things.

A possession that began after Perry's go-ahead score moved 47 yards to the Pirates' 21 before stalling on a 4th-and-1 play with 10:05 remaining.

Forced to punt on their next chance, Liberty Center's Max Walker pinned the Pirates back on their 1 with a 59-yard punt with 5:49 to play. Perry got out of that potential jam quickly, with Richards running for 18 and then 2 yards, and quarterback Walter Moses finding Owen McKoon on a 43-yard pass to the Tigers' 24.

But, with Perry poised to put the game out of reach, the Liberty Center defense rose to the moment, and the Pirates turned the ball over on downs at the 23 with 3:23 left.

From there, the run dominant Tigers were forced to take to the air, and used 10 plays to reach their last first down on the Perry 22.

An near TD pass from Amstutz was just out of the reach of a diving Colton Kruse at the goal line. Then, after a 5-yard false-start penalty, three final passes to the end zone from Amstutz fell incomplete, leaving Perry just 19 seconds to kill and seal its title.

“What worried us coming in was their big-play ability,” Mohler said. “But, probably one of the things I'm proudest of about these guys is that we kept battling. We just kept coming out, taking those punches, and staying in there and not backing down.”

Perry grabbed a 7-0 lead when Moses threw deep to Sivon for a 42-yard touchdown with 4:51 left in the first quarter.

Following three straight three-and-outs to open the game, Liberty Center grinded out a 13-play, 80-yard drive that took 8:17 off the clock and culminated in a 33-yard touchdown run by Trenton Kruse that tied the game 7-7 with 2:09 left in the half.

That big play — in which Kruse broke free over left tackle on 4th-and-2 — came after the Tigers had failed to gain more than six yards on any one of their previous 21 plays from scrimmage.

In this game of starkly contrasting styles, Perry topped the Tigers 437 to 275 in total offense, with the Pirates passing (12-of-18) for 280 of their yards, and Liberty Center rushing 46 times for 238 yards.

Richards ran 11 times for 124 yards, caught two passes for 46, and completed two passes for 61. Moses was 9 of 14 for 219 yards.

“It's great being here, but it sucks [losing],” Liberty Center's All-Ohio two-way lineman Landon Bockelman said. “We worked all season to get here.”

Trenton Kruse topped the Tigers with 164 yards on 25 carries, and brother Colton had 68 yards on 17 rushes.

The senior Kruse triplets — Trenton, Colton, and Landen — were instrumental in the Tigers' success all year long as productive two-way starters. Each reacted to their finals experienced afterward.

? Trenton: “It was an amazing feeling playing here. I wish we could have ended the game a little different.”

? Colton: “We've worked for this since our freshman year. Our goal for this season was to get here. We didn't have any other goals.”

? Landen: “We worked hard in the offseason, and that's what got us here. The senior class did a great job of leading the underclassmen. They responded in a great way, and it was great experience and opportunity for our team.”

Third-year Perry coach Bob Gecewich delivered a philosophic message in the postgame news conference, choosing to avoid a breakdown of the game in favor of honoring the value of small-town football teams.

“People say, 'What's the difference between D-I and D-V, or whatever it is?' ” Gecewich said. “That's the difference, that it's a community, and that it matters to everyone there. You saw it out there with Liberty Center [during trophy presentations].

“Those tears weren't from losing, they were from giving absolutely everything that they had for their families and their community, and that's what I'm so proud of with our guys right now.”

Liberty Center's last title-game appearance was in 1998, a 28-7 loss to Versailles in the D-V final. That followed the Tigers' 1997 D-V state championship run, when they defeated Amanda-Clearcreek 49-8 in the title game.

LC also lost 17-14 in overtime to Steubenville Catholic Central in the 1993 D-V title game, and has reached five other state semifinals (1992, 1999, 2000, 2018, and last year).

“I was born and raised in Liberty Center, and Liberty Center football is all I've ever known,” Mohler said. “This is how our community has been for my entire life. It's one of the reasons why I raised my family there. I just feel bad that we couldn't get it done for them.”

LIBERTY TWP., Ohio — A new restaurant and bar at the Liberty Center is bringing the best of Texas barbecue and karaoke to the Tri-State.

Cowboy Sally's, which is located at 7521 Gibson Street, held its grand opening Wednesday morning.

According to the restaurant's website, Cowboy Sally's has "an atmosphere of a Texas saloon, gone wild" — in fact, the bar's tagline is "Giddy up."

The restaurant itself is lit up with pink and blue neon lights, and even has a reflective, disco ball-esque horse statue in the middle of the dining room.

The restaurant and bar is also setting the atmosphere with the fun of karaoke (and yes, it's even fun when it's painfully bad). Guests can unleash their inner superstar while they're enjoying their meals.

In terms of food, Cowboy Sally's menu focuses on everything meat related. Customers can expect everything from brisket and baby back ribs to pulled pork, burnt ends (they also have smoked tofu burnt ends) and smoked sausages. Whatever meat customers choose can then be served via taco, hoagie, on a plate or a la carte. There's also house-made sauces to pair with whichever meat choice.

The restaurant's menu also features other food options, such as deep-fried deviled eggs, pimento cheese fundito, loaded Texas nachos and more. Guests can expect southern-inspired desserts as well with Aunt Mae's peach dump cake, banana pudding, cinnamon bacon caramel rolls and more.

Alongside food options, Cowboy Sally's promises "cheap, strong drinks that keep the good times rolling," the restaurant said. Drink options include a spicy margarita, Texas spiked tea and an Ole Smoky peach tea whiskey slushee, among others. The restaurant's bar also has a decent list of wine offerings, as well as draft and bottled beer.

Food and drink choices will also be served to guests by state-of-the-art delivery robots instead of the presumed cowboys on horses.

Cowboy Sally's is located directly across the street from Kona Grill and offers dine-in, takeout and catering services. The restaurant is set to be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., as well as 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

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CANTON, Ohio — Perry and Liberty Center left little doubt they were the state’s top two high school football teams in Division V.

Ranked atop the Associated Press state poll for much of their year, neither has lost on their way to the final day of the season, which is Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Perry (15-0) is in its first state championship game in school history, while Liberty Center (15-0) — located 36 miles southwest of Toledo — has not been here since 1998.

Both fell short last year of this stage, falling to Canfield South Range in the OHSAA regional finals and state semifinals. Perry avenged that loss two weeks ago, setting up Saturday’s matchup at 3 p.m.

“I think it was a measuring stick for us to see how we grew over the last year,” Gecewich said Tuesday during the OHSAA coaches teleconference. “Was that victory big? Absolutely.”

Liberty Center had come close in recent years, falling four straight times in the state semifinals under seventh-year coach Casey Mohler.

His defensive front brought back two starting linemen and two linebackers from a year ago.

“Those front six have really been outstanding,” Mohler said. “We had those four coming back, plus our starting middle linebacker — who’s been out with injury — played about a third of the snaps on defense, so we had five guys in that front six we knew we could count on.”

Liberty Center hasn’t given up more than 14 points in any game this year and has four shutouts. Ten times it kept opponents to single digits.

Perry’s defense has been similarly unforgiving with six shutouts on the year. Eleven opponents have been kept to single digits, including the last two with South Range and Harvest Prep.

Gecewich credited defensive coordinator Scott Niedzwiecki, a former St. Edward coach who also spent time at Youngstown Ursuline, for his leadership on that side of the ball.

“He does an amazing job,” Gecewich said. “The way he teaches our kids and they learn their responsibilities, it’s awesome to watch.”

RELATED: Banner year for CVC with Perry and Kirtland in state finals.

Perry (15-0) vs. Liberty Center (15-0)

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton

What to know: Liberty Center has one state championship, coming in 1997 with a return to the big game a year later. This is the Tigers’ third trip in program history after 35-0 loss last year to eventual champion South Range in the state semifinals. They edged Germantown Valley View, the state’s sixth-ranked team, last week with a 14-10 victory in which it took the lead late in the third quarter after a Garrison Kruse sack and forced fumble that teammate Landon Bockelman recovered at the 1-yard line. It allowed Landon Amstutz to score on the next play, as that defense took care of the rest of it. Trenton Kruse — part of senior triplets on the team with Colton and Landen Kruse — complemented that effort with 184 yards on 30 carries, mostly in the second half after facing a 3-0 deficit through two quarters.

“The triplets are just uber competitive at everything,” Mohler said. “It can be academics and football or anything. If you challenge them, they want to compete. They’ve been competing their entire lives.”

They have a younger brother, Garrison, who is a freshman on the team. His arrival reminded Mohler of what it was like at Liberty Center when the triplets came up.

“They were 130 or 140 pounds as freshmen,” he said. “They didn’t look like football players, but they didn’t back down from anybody. Their competitiveness was something everyone noticed.”

While Liberty Center’s strength is on its defense, that is nothing new for Perry. The Pirates just faced a Harvest Prep defense that Gecewich called the best his program has faced in his three years at Perry. However, Perry was just that much better in a 22-8 win, bookended by two big Walter Moses to Brayden Richards touchdowns. Harvest Prep managed to slow Perry’s stout run game and senior Jayden Studio, but Owen McKoon managed 65 yards rushing with another 34 yards receiving, including a TD pass from Moses, who finished with 145 yards. Richards also led the Perry defense with eight tackles and four assists.

This is Perry’s deepest run since making the Division IV state semifinals in 2016.

How to watch: Spectrum News 1 will broadcast the finals, which can be streamed from the OHSAA for $9.99. It is free for Spectrum subscribers.

The Division V state championship game between Perry and Liberty Center slated for 3 p.m. Dec. 2 has all the makings of a high-level prize fight.

Both teams are undefeated at 15-0. Perry is the top-ranked team in Division V, according to the Associated Press poll, while Liberty Center is ranked second. Both teams combine an impressive offensive arsenal with a punishing defense.

All that’s missing is a bell clanging ringside and Bruce Buffer bellowing, “Let’s get ready to ruuuumble!”

“We’re pretty stoked to be here and pretty excited for the opportunity,” said third-year Perry coach Bob Gecewich on an OHSAA conference call earlier this week. “Perry’s a small, closed-enrollment community, so to be able to do it with our kids has been pretty awesome.”

Both teams have breezed through the playoffs — and the regular season for that matter. Perry has outscored the opposition thus far by an average score of 37.2-6.2, while Liberty Center has chalked up a 44.2-7.1 advantage.

The Pirates have allowed only four teams to score double digits on them this season, a run that included a 24-6 win over Division VI state finalist Kirtland in Week 3 to halt the Hornets’ 57-game regular-season winning streak. The Tigers have allowed only five teams to hit double figures on them this season, with their marquee wins being a 62-0 win over state semifinalist Patrick Henry and a 17-7 regional final win over tradition-rich Coldwater.

“Well, I think what’s gotten us to this point in the year has been our defense,” Coach Casey Mohler said, “and specifically our defensive line. It’s probably our biggest strength along with our linebackers. Those front six have really been outstanding.”

That front group consists of 6-4, 265-pound Landon Bockelman (51 tackles, 25 TFL, 11 sacks, 2 INT), 6-2, 230-pound Seth Navarre, (32 tackles, 14 TFL, 7 sacks) and Zander Zeiter (57 tackles, 16 TFL, 8 sacks), and linebackers Trenton Kruse (96 tackles, 30 TFL), Waylon Rentz (64 tackles, 12 TFL), Colton Kruse (55 tackles, 17 TFL) and Garrison Kruse (40 tackles, 7 TFL).

The Liberty Center defense will be charged with slowing down a Perry offense that has been versatile this year in that it has won with big plays and with a physical running game anchored by Jayden Studio.

Studio has run for 1,356 yards and 20 touchdowns, though he missed a portion of last week’s state semifinal with an injury. QB Walter Moses has thrown for 2,215 yards and 28 scores, with Brayden Richards (42 catches, 791 yards) and Luke Sivon (38 catches, 849 yards) leading in receptions.

“I think versatility is kind of our strong suit, which is going to be 100 percent tested against Liberty Center’s defense,” Gecewich said.

Perry football: Multi-talented Brayden Richards ready for one last run as gridiron standout, more

The sun had barely began to crest the eastern skies when Brayden Richards and his buddies — who hadn’t been to bed yet — decided to get in an early round of golf. Just a handful of weeks had passed since Richards, a junior at Perry, won a Division II state championship in the 300 … Continue reading Perry football: Multi-talented Brayden Richards ready for one last run as gridiron standout, more

Richards is a point of emphasis and concern for the Tigers, Mohler said.

"That's made my life easier when you can throw to a kid who takes a bubble and goes 30-40 yards," Gecewich said of Richards, who is headed to the Air Force Academy on a track scholarship.

Behind an offensive line that averages 6-foot-1, 231 pounds — which dwarfs Perry's defensive front — Liberty Center is led by the rushing attack of Colton Kruse (1,535 yards, 32 TDs), Trenton Kruse (1,270 yards, 25 TDs) and Rentz (567 yards). Landon Amstutz has thrown for 1,025 yards and nine TDs, with Landen Kruse (21 catches, 366 yards) his top target.

The Kruse triplets are a huge focal point for the Perry defense.

"The triplets are just uber competitive at everything,” Mohler said. “It can be academics and football or anything. If you challenge them, they want to compete. They’ve been competing their entire lives.”

“They were 130 or 140 pounds as freshmen. They didn’t look like football players, but they didn’t back down from anybody. Their competitiveness was something everyone noticed.”

Perry will counter with a defense anchored by linebackers Owen McKoon (136 tackles, 21 TFLs, 8 sacks) and Dom LaMacchia (96 stops, 25 TFLs, 8 sacks), with Richards (84 tackles) and others in the mix as well.

Weather should not be a factor, with the rain that is forecasted to drench the three state final games on Dec. 1 expected to push out prior to the Dec. 2 games.

“The key is taking care of the football, and then the game is pretty much won on third downs,” Gecewich said. “The sooner each team feels the other one out and kind of gets a feel for what they can and can’t do, that team is going to give themselves an advantage."

What: Division V state championship game

When: 3 p.m., Dec. 2

Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

Records: Perry 15-0, Liberty Center 15-0

Perry's path: Defeated Crestwood, 56-0, def. Sandy Valley, 34-7, def. Garrettsville, 42-14, def. South Range, 32-0, def. Harvest Prep, 22-8

Liberty Center's path: Defeated Elmwood, 56-14, def. Huron, 41-7, def. Oak Harbor, 45-14, def. Coldwater, 17-7, def. Germantown Valley View, 14-10

CANTON, Ohio — After an historic season in which they won 15 straight games, making it back to the state championship for the first time since 1998, Liberty Center’s season came to an end on Saturday. The Tigers fell in the state final 21-14 to Perry.

"I'm grateful for these seniors, what they did," head coach Casey Mohler said.

"I'm very proud of them. Obviously this stings a bit right now. The only thing that we've asked them to do is play as hard as they can for 48 minutes, and I thought they did that tonight."

The Tigers went down early when the Pirates scored first to go up 7-0. After a Liberty Center punt, Perry, on its first play of the drive, lofted up a 32-yard passing TD.

Later, the Pirates were on offense once again when a fumble was recovered by Liberty Center senior defensive standout Landon Bockelman.

"It really shows how much it means to put work in the offseason," Bockelman said. "And the shows the guys who want to work. You can't get here without those kinds of teammates. I was really proud of our underclassman, and how they responded to things and how they stepped up."

In the waning minutes of the first half, the Tigers offense was driving. On a 4th and 2, Trenton Kruse cut through the pile to go 33 yards untouched, making the score 7-7 with 2:09 left in the first half.

"It's an amazing feeling being here," Kruse said. "Wish we could've ended the game differently."

Early in the second half, Trenton Kruse ripped off a 55-yard run to put the Tigers in the red zone.

A few plays later, Landon Amstutz fired a pass to Colton Kruse for a quick sprint to the end zone. Liberty Center led 14-7 with 7:54 in the 3rd quarter.

"We've worked for this since our freshmen year," Colton Kruse said. "Our goal for the season was to get here. We didn't have any other goals. We knew we wanted to be here."

Perry quickly answered back with a screen passing play that turned into a long touchdown. The score read 14-all with 6:03 in the 3rd quarter.

A few possessions later, Perry ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run to go up 21-14 with 4:07 left in the 3rd quarter.

A major gut punch for the Tigers came in the 4th quarter when Liberty Center, on a 4th and 1 play, fumbled and recovered the ball short of the line to gain.

Perry's offense drove to the 22-yard line when the Tigers picked up a critical 4th down stop to get the ball back with 3:23 left. Liberty Center drives down to the 27 when they began to take shots at the corner of the endzone. On 4th down and with 23 seconds remaining, quarterback Landon Amstutz's pass over the middle fell incomplete, effectively sealing the win for the Pirates.

Liberty Center will regroup and reload as they go into a long offseason.

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LIBERTY CENTER, Ohio — Liberty Center may be a small town, but its love for high school football is big.

What You Need To Know

After 25 years of not making it to the state championship game, the Tigers are back and their community is ready to cheer them on. Liberty Center athletics is one of the highlights of the town.

When one sport is doing well, the entire community is rooting for the school. It has been more than two decades since the Tigers have competed for a state title, but according to Liberty Center assistant coach Ryan Miller, community members still remember that exciting day 25 years ago.

“The last few years we’ve been really close in terms of our advancement throughout the tournament, and this year we were fortunate enough to, I guess, get one step farther than what we had before,” said Miller. “And because it was 25 years ago, there’s still a lot of people in the community that remember that.”

Alumna Katy Benson, who works for the Liberty Center public library, still has pride for her school.

“I really enjoyed going to school at Liberty,” she said.

She remembers attending the game back in 1998 when she was a kid.

“I remember the long trip because I was younger and then going in. There are so many people and it was really cold as well. Like it is this weekend. And then just being coming back and being excited to watch it on TV again, like the recap and everything. So I remember that,” said Benson.

Although she was only 11 years old when she attended the game, she also still remembers the town’s support for the team.

“I also remember coming back into town, and it’s still a tradition that we do for all sports, but for big games and stuff. The fire department will come into town and they will have all their sirens and lights going up and the busses will be behind it with the band and the football players just to celebrate their big accomplishment,” said Benson.

From that point on, her love for Liberty Center football grew so much so that she joined the high school marching band.

“I was in marching band, so I went to every football game and I mean it was a lot of fun. So I enjoyed being in marching band, but one of the best parts was going to football games,” said Benson.

Support from community members like Katy Benson doesn’t go unnoticed by the football team.

“The community has given us a ton of support. They just like to watch us and cheer us on,” said Liberty Center football player Trenton Kruse.

That support motivates them to compete to the best of their ability.

LIBERTY CENTER, Ohio — In a sense, Liberty Center football has been preparing to face the Perry Pirates in Saturday’s Division V state championship long before this week of practice.

“For us, we’ve talked about it for probably the last two years,” coach Casey Mohler said. “We have to prepare to beat the best team in the state of Ohio. We don’t know who that is, but that’s how we have to prepare. I think this week we are definitely going to see that team, so if we want to be the best, we have to beat the best.

“We haven’t been preparing just this week to beat Perry. I think our entire offseason and in-season work has been to get to this point and we’ll get an opportunity to see if we’re good enough to do it.”

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On paper, it’s a dream matchup for a state title game.

Both teams come in 15-0, small-town programs that pack an outsized punch on the football field.

Perry is ranked No. 1, while Liberty Center is No. 2. Each team is battle-tested with quality wins along the way, and each can score at a high rate while relying on an extremely stingy defense. The 3 p.m. kickoff on Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton is the last step towards potential perfection.

The past two seasons, Liberty Center has lost to the eventual state champion — Carey in a Division VI regional final in 2021 and Canfield South Range in a Division V state semifinal last season.

Each loss has given the Tigers a specific area to focus on in the offseason.

“We looked at why were they able to beat us, and what do we have to do to beat a Carey?” Mohler said. “They were bigger than us, and they were more physical. So we put a big emphasis on we have to be more physical. Last year, we played a South Range team that was just a juggernaut. We just didn’t match up real well on the outside with them. So in the offseason, we looked at what do we have to do to beat a team like South Range? So we added on to that.”

After last year’s state semifinal run, Liberty Center graduated a strong senior class led by three All-Ohio selections in defensive lineman Owen Box (first team), running back Matthew Orr (third team), and quarterback Zane Zeiter (honorable mention).

There was plenty of returning talent, however, with the likes of Landon Bockelman (first-team all-state offensive lineman) and the Kruse triplets — Trenton (honorable mention all-state linebacker), Landen (honorable mention all-state defensive back), and current standout running back Colton.

“Last year’s team set a new bar,” Bockelman said. “So the standard is to get to the state semifinals. The reason we got here is because of the underclassmen and all the times they were in the weight room and all the offseason work they put in. Them stepping up and maturing was what got us to the point we’re at now. I knew in my heart with the guys we had on our team, we just had the feeling that we had something special going on here.”

For senior two-way lineman Seth Navarre, two-a-day practices this offseason were a sign of what was to come.

“When those two-a-days roll around, it’s like every man for himself,” Navarre said. “If you’re not strong enough to make it, you’re probably going to leave because it's rough. We do a lot of hitting during two-a-days, and it’s like if you are going to be weak then it’s going to be tough for you. If you’re going to be strong and go through like everyone else it toughens you up mentality-wise to become stronger and better.”

While those two-a-days might generally thin out some of the numbers at some other programs, Navarre said he believes not a single teammate quit on the program after the grueling gauntlet.

“People, they stay with it, because we have a really good community and a great program, and we don't care who you are, we want you out here to play for Liberty Center,” Navarre said.

Mohler pointed to the defensive front as a major strength of the team. Consistent and reliable all season long, the defense has raised its level of play in the playoffs with game-changing plays, most notably by Bockelman and Navarre on the line.

Bockelman’s interception return for a touchdown stands out as a play that shifted the momentum of the 17-7 regional final win over Coldwater and gave a spark to Liberty Center’s confidence from that point forward.

“Sometimes it’s just one play that really determines a playoff game,” Bockelman said.

Perry represents a challenge not yet seen by Liberty Center this year. The Pirates knocked off Division VI state finalist Kirtland (14-1) in Week 3, ending the Hornets’ 57-game regular-season winning streak.

Like Liberty Center, Perry was eliminated by South Range last season in the playoffs. This year, the Pirates returned the favor and took down the Raiders in a regional final win that coach Bob Gecewich said was a sign of his team’s potential.

“I think it was a measuring stick for us to see how we grew over the past year,” Gecewich said. “Was that victory big? Absolutely. I think our very first play we lost two yards, and then we scored two plays later. So I think our guys felt better. I think it was like, ‘Oh man, here we go again,’ and then we’re like ‘OK, maybe this is a little different this season.’”

Perry’s defense has been lights out all season, especially in the playoffs with two shutouts, including one against South Range.

The Pirates try to keep things simple and continuously force the offense to make one more snap, which Gecewich said can eventually lead to an offensive mistake or breakdown.

Staying away from negative plays and controlling the line of scrimmage could be key for a Liberty Center offense that relies primarily on its ground game led by Colton and Trenton Kruse, as well as Waylon Rentz.

“I think we have to eliminate the negative plays, and when I say negative plays I don’t just mean negative yardage, but I think we have to eliminate plays where we’re not gaining at least three yards,” Mohler said. “If we can do that, I think we can move the ball and hopefully end drives with points. Now that's a lot easier said than done when we’re playing against this defense, because nobody’s been able to score on them, and nobody’s been able to be consistent with them all year.”

Offensively, Perry is led by quarterback Walter Moses with skilled playmakers all over the field, including versatile wide receiver Brayden Richards, an elite all-around athlete — a state champion in the 300 hurdles and a national champion in the decathlon.

“We have to know where he is at all times,” Mohler said, “and we have to get multiple people to the ball when he gets it in his hands.”

This game should be a fitting end to a great season for both teams.

For Liberty Center, this is a big opportunity to add to the program’s storied tradition with a second state championship.

“I’ve been blessed enough to try to carry that tradition on,” Mohler said, “and that’s one of the big motivators to me is to try to live up to that standard. It’s a daunting task, but I’ve surrounded myself with a great staff that is all Liberty Center guys. I have a great community that supports us, and most importantly I’ve got great kids on the team who work hard and are committed.”

First Published December 1, 2023, 8:25am

Division V state football runner-up Liberty Center was well represented on the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association’s 2023 All-Ohio teams released Tuesday.

Coach Casey Mohler’s Tigers (15-1) had two first team honorees, one second team selection, and one third team pick with all three of Liberty Center’s senior Kruse triplets being recognized.

Named to the D-V first team offensive line for the second straight year was 6-foot-3, 265-pound senior Landon Bockelman, who was also a dominant defensive lineman for the second-ranked Tigers, who lost 21-14 to top-ranked Perry in last Saturday’s state championship game in Canton.

Joining him on the first team was running back Colton Kruse, who rushed 96 times for 1,044 yards (10.9-yard average) and scored 22 touchdowns during the regular season.

Brother Trenton Kruse was named to the D-V second team at linebacker after recording 65 tackles (22 for losses) and four interceptions in the regular season. The third triplet, Landen Kruse, was chosen to the third team as a defensive back. All three of the triplets were two-way standouts for the Tigers, who repeated their Northwest Ohio Athletic League title.

Fourth-ranked Northern Buckeye Conference champion Oak Harbor (12-1), which lost to Liberty Center in the regional semifinals, also placed two players on the D-V first team, with senior receiver Jaqui Hayward (61 catches, 795 yards, 20 total TD), and junior defensive lineman Jacob Ridener (84 tackles, 16 sacks) repeating that honor from 2022.

The Rockets also placed junior Michael Lalonde on the D-V second team at defensive back (40 tackles, 4 INT), and senior offensive lineman Scott Smith on the third team. Lalonde was also Oak Harbor’s trigger man on offense at quarterback (1,758 passing yards, 22 TD).

Blanchard Valley Conference champion Liberty-Benton had three players honored, with senior quarterback Mason Modd (1,959 passing yards, 26 TD) and sophomore receiver Seth Elchert (62 catches, 913 yards, 12 TD) each named to the D-V first team, and senior defensive lineman Jake Elchert selected to the second team.

Four seniors from NBC member Genoa garnered third team D-V honors, including quarterback Aiden Brunkhorst, running back Aidan Antry, offensive lineman Caleb Gittus, and linebacker Denver Stewart.

Representing NWOAL runner-up Archbold on the second team were seniors Jack Hurst (RB) and Mason Siegel (OL), and NBC runner-up Eastwood had two third team selections with seniors Caiden Maize (RB) and Ian Sibbersen (OL).

On the OPSWA Division IV All-Ohio teams released Tuesday, NWOAL member Wauseon had do-it-all senior Tyson Rodriguez (49 catches, 908 yards, 16 total TD) named to the first team at receiver. Rodriguez, who was named to the All-Ohio second team at defensive back in 2022, also kicked 29 extra-points and six field goals for the Indians.

Napoleon junior DB Trey Rubinstein (65 tackles, 5 INT) made the first team defense.

Wauseon senior linebacker Austin Kovar (111 tackles) was chosen to the second team. Rodriguez, who was named to the All-Ohio second team at defensive back in 2022, also kicked 29 extra-points and six field goals for the Indians.

The Division II and III All-Ohio teams will be announced Wednesday.

First Published December 5, 2023, 11:34am

LIMA, Ohio — Plainly put, Liberty Center didn't run the ball well in the first half.

The second half was a different story.

The top-seeded Tigers didn't even attempt a pass in the second half, racking up almost 160 yards on the ground in putting away sixth-seeded Coldwater 17-7 in a Division V regional championship game Friday at Lima Spartan Stadium.

"Actually it was pretty quiet," said Liberty Center coach Casey Mohler of halftime. "Landon Bockelman said some words, but nothing major. We had to get focused. We had 24 minutes left to play. I think our guys were just dialed in and focused."

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Liberty Center, ranked No. 2 in the final state poll, improved to 14-0 and will face No. 6 Germantown Valley View (13-1) in a state semifinal at Sidney High School next week.

It is the second straight regional title for the Tigers.

"I'm excited for these guys and for our community," Mohler said. "Our community is so special. They love football. They come out and support us. These guys are getting the opportunity not everybody gets to do."

The game was tied at 7 at halftime, but the Tigers were dialed in during the second half. Liberty Center opened with a stop defensively against Coldwater (12-2). The Cavs picked up a pair of first downs to get into LC territory, but the Tigers forced a punt.

Liberty Center took over at its own 11 and went straight to the ground game. It didn't matter if it was quarterback Landon Amstutz or backs Trenton Kruse, Waylon Rentz, or Colton Kruse, the Tigers were relentless.

LC only faced a third down once on the drive, but Trenton Kruse picked it up with ease. Trenton Kruse added an 11-yard run, Rentz rumbled 13 yards, and Trenton Kruse tallied a 16-yard run.

Once inside the 10, the Tigers went to Colton Kruse, who scored on an eight-yard run. The extra point by Ian Rosebrook gave Liberty Center a 14-7 lead with 1:06 to go in the third quarter.

"We kind of stuck with what we do," Mohler said. "There were no magic words. We didn't make any magic adjustments. We went out and said we had to clean up the penalties. We had to tackle and control the line of scrimmage, the same things we always tell them."

Coldwater picked up a first down on its next drive, but two incomplete passes and a sack by Seth Navarre forced a Cavs punt on the first play of the fourth quarter.

LC picked up right where it left off with the running game. The Tigers glided down the field, using four first downs to ease inside the Coldwater 10. A false start threw the drive off course before the Cavs made a few stops.

The Tigers were held out of the end zone, but Rosebrook drilled a 30-yard field goal to make it 17-7 with 4:11 to play. The drive consumed 7:37 off the clock.

"We found something that was working and stuck with it until it got stopped," Mohler said. "We were fortunate to keep the chains moving and make plays."

The Tigers made one more big stop to put the finishing touches on a dominant performance. Pass break-ups by Trenton Kruse and Colton Chambers forced a turnover on downs, allowing LC to run out the clock.

"I think we came out a little slow in the first half," Bockelman said. "In the second half, we played up to our standards. We played our football."

Coldwater opened scoring with 8:44 to go in the second quarter on a two-yard run by Jack Ebbing. Set up by an interception of an Amstutz pass, the Cavs scored after converting on a fourth-and-12 pass from Baylen Blockberger to Mason Weisch for 22 yards.

The Tigers looked as if they were going to answer quickly, as LC drove inside the Coldwater 30. Consecutive penalties, however, pushed Liberty Center back and forced a punt that was downed at the 1.

Blockberger hit Braylen Harlament for 35 yards for a bit of breathing room. Bockelman, however, was in the backfield with pressure on the next play, collecting a tipped pass and returning it to the end zone for a 32-yard pick-six.

It was Bockelman's first career touchdown.

"That lit a fire," Mohler said. "What do you say about Landon Bockelman? He's a stud. I wouldn't want to try to tackle him when he has a full head of steam going."

Blockberger finished 13-of-27 for 148 yards. He was just 4-of-12 for 26 yards in the second half. Coldwater tallied just 36 yards rushing on 21 carries for the game.

"[Blockberger] was hard to sack, but we got some pressure on him and made him throw the ball away," Mohler said. "We put our defense in favorable spots to help our secondary out."

Rentz led the rushing game for Liberty Center with 15 carries for 122 yards. Trenton Kruse amassed 14 attempts for 81 yards, while Colton Kruse added eight carries for 32 yards.

"We had a lot of guys banged up this week," Mohler said. "I don't think everybody realizes how many guys we had banged up. They came out and gutted it out tonight."

First Published November 17, 2023, 6:23pm