PHOENIX – For the third time in the last fifteen months, Liberty and Hamilton matched up on the gridiron with the state watching.
Unlike the first two matchups in north Peoria, this Open Division semifinal took place at the far from neutral site of Mountain Pointe High School on the border of Chandler, Tempe and Phoenix.
Even with a packed crowd of Husky fans in the visiting stands, the Lions dominated Hamilton for the second time. The 56-24 win that continued Liberty’s two year streak of running roughshod over Arizona teams.
“You can’t let someone else dictate how you play, you have to be able to play any style,” said Liberty Coach Colin Thomas.
To repeat as Open Division champs, which has only happened one other time in its six year history, #4 Liberty (11-1) must win a matchup three years in the making.
Each of the last two seasons, Liberty was the #1 seed in the Open and Chandler Basha was #2. In 2022 Liberty was upset in the semifinals and Basha won the title. Last year Basha fell in the semis and Liberty won the Open.