Abilene, Texas— Lubbock-Cooper Liberty came into their game against Graham with a 9-1 record on the season and a decisive win over Monahans to open up the 4A DII playoffs before facing the Steers last night. How would the Patriots fare against a great team that is used to making deep runs in the playoffs, regardless of who they’re playing? Here is a recap of the game below.
Graham and Lubbock-Cooper’s first drives were stalled, but after another punt from Graham, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty scored on a 5-play drive that ended with a 54-yard touchdown reception from Colton Bichard to Levi Walker to put the Patriots up, 7-0 early in the second quarter. Graham then responded on their third drive of the game and scored on a touchdown reception from Jace Gill to Brodie Martin to tie the score at seven.
Liberty then answered with a 76-yard touchdown run from Kaiden Joseph to make the score, 14-7 Patriots before Mike Garcia caught a 48-yard touchdown for Graham to even the score again at 14 with 5:19 left in the half.
After both teams failed to score before the half ended, Lubbock Cooper Liberty scored on a Talon Wilcox two yard touchdown to give the Patriots a 21-14 lead, and that touchdown it was immediately followed by a Gill 62-yard touchdown run up the gut to tie it back up at 21 with 6:39 left in the third quarter.
The Patriots then took their next drive 97 yards to the one of Graham before Bichard threw an interception at the goal line to Jordan Alexander, and that turnover was converted for another touchdown from Gill to give the Steers a 28-21 lead, heading into the fourth finale.
After both teams’ offenses stalled for half of the fourth quarter, the Patriots executed a great drive that featured big runs from Wilcox and Kaiden; who scored the game-tying touchdown with 4:37 left in the game to make the tally 28-28. After that score Graham went right back down the field, and with two fourth down conversions on the drive, took the lead, 35-28 on a touchdown pass from Jace Gill to put the steers in front, 35-28 with 1:19 left in the game.
The Patriots couldn’t muster anything on their last possession of the game as Graham strip-sacked Bichard on third down and then sacked him again on fourth down to secure a win over Lubbock-Cooper Liberty and advance to the 4A DII Regional Round with a 35-28 win. The Patriots finish a great season with a district title and a 10-2 record: great things are coming for Coach Sexton’s squad in the future. Great year, Liberty!
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