WIAA: Liberty Bell Mountain Lions 1B Champions!

12/1/2023

Liberty Bell 68, Wilbur-Creston-Keller 22

(Seattle, WA) T)he 1B Championship featuring 8-man football is a game with lots of scoring expectations and this game followed suit with both teams scoring on their first possession. Wilbur-Creston-Keller got the ball to begin with and scored from the 16-yard touchdown strike from Preston Michel to Kallen Maioho the 2-point attempt failed and with 8:26 to go in the 1st it was 6-0 W-K-C.

Liberty Bell answered taking over on the 49 of the Wildcats Lucien Paz would hit Bodie Thomson who dove for the endzone to make it 6-6. The Mountain Lions converted the 2-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead. From there it was all defending Champs Liberty Bell who would score next 4 possessions.

Their next TD was triggered by an amazing interception by the Mountain Lions Greyden Paz who jumped up to try and knock down the pass but instead grabbed it out of the air for the turnover. L-B’s Lucien Paz would hit Remi Paz on a 30-yard strike, Lucien then found Greyden for the 2 point conversion and it was 16-6 with 5:46 to go in the 1st quarter.

After the Wildcats turned it over on downs Liberty Bell began on the Cats 48 and Lucien Paz hit Remi Paz on a 52-yard bomb, Lucien ran in the 2 point try and it was 24-6. The quarter ended and on the 1st play of the 2nd quarter W-C-K turned it over on downs and the Mountain Lions got it on their own 43. They picked up a big 1st down on 4th and 13 and then Lucien Paz ran it in from 30-yards out for the score but the PAT failed and it was 30-6 with 9:50 to play in the half.

W-C-K does not have a punter and they don’t punt would turn the ball over on their own 24-yard line and in 1 play Lucien Paz would find Bodie Thomson for the 2nd time, Lucien then ran in the 2-points for a big 38-6 lead.

The Wildcats would finally answer on a 65-yard drive that featured a huge 32-yard 4th down pass completion from Maioho to Michel down to the 25 of the Mountain Lions. The Cats would then work it down to the 9 when Maioho and Michel switched and Michel hit Maioho for their 2nd TD of the game with 2:00 to play. The same 2 would connect for the 2-point play and it was 38-14.

The Cats attempted an onside kick and it bounced off one the Mtn Lions but they were able to scramble and get on the loose ball. Liberty Bell worked it down to the 3 yard line and Remi Paz would sweep in for the score around the right side for the touchdown with 29-seconds to play. Lucien Paz then hit Baker Smith on the 2-point conversion and the game would go to the break 46-14 with Liberty Bell in charge.

The Mtn Lions picked up where they left off with an opening 2nd half drive of 45 yards capped by a 39-yard scamper by Lucien Paz. the 2-point conversion was no good and Liberty Bell pushed their lead to 52-14 as the Wildcats avoided kicking in the running clock by stopping the conversion.

Liberty Bell’s Remi Paz then made an outstanding strip and fumble recovery on their own 29. After a 1st down Lucien Paz goes 55-yards for the score. Lucien then bulls forward for the 2-point PAT and a 60-14 lead with 8:45 to go in the 3rd and triggering the running clock.

The Mountain Lions would strike one more time just before the 3rd quarter ended when Lucien Paz connected with Thomson a 3rd time, Lucien then ran in the 2-point PAT for a 68-14.

The Wildcats never gave up and did find the endzone one last time on a Maioho 5-yard run. Kaleb Dreger then ran in the 2-point PAT for a 68-22 final.

This was back-to-back Championships for Liberty Bell and was also the best finish ever for Wilbur-Creston-Keller. The ESN crew named the Mountain Lions Lucien Paz as the MVP as he finished with 314 total yards passing and rushing with 3 rushing TD’s and 4 through the air.

Link to watch full replay on the NFHS Network (Subscription required)

Final Stats

Liberty Bell

Rushing Yards: 223
Passing Yards: 187
Total Yards: 41o

Passing
Lucien Paz 8-9-0 187 4TD

Receiving
Bodie Thomson 3/83 3TD
Remi Paz 3/75 1TD
Baker Smith 2/29

Rushing
Lucien Paz 5/127 4TD
Remi Paz 9/97 2TD
Greyden Paz 2/4
Holden Riggs 1/1

Wilbur-Creston-Keller

Rushing Yards: 186
Passing Yards: 71
Total Yards: 257

Passing
Kallen Maioho 4-15-0 50
Preston Michel 2-4-2 21 2TD

Receiving
Preston Michel 2/36 3TD
Kallen Maioho 2/21 2TD
Kalub Dreger 14/27
Syrius Smoger 2/10

Rushing
Preston Michel 18/77 4TD
Kallen Maioho 14/72 1TD
Kalub Dreger 2/4
Holden Riggs 1/1