By Mike Maltais
A game that shaped up to be a close one going by identical 3-1 win-loss records was anything but last Friday (Nov. 1) as the Liberty Bell High School football team celebrated Senior Night by manhandling the visiting Kittitas Coyotes, 48-8.
Kittitas, a team that pulled off wins over Bridgeport, Lake Roosevelt and Oroville this season, appeared frozen in the glare of the Friday night lights and had no effective defensive or offensive response to the relentless Liberty Bell attack.
Whatever the reason, the Coyotes made little headway with their ground game, only penetrating Liberty Bell territory on three drives.
Kittitas passes were intercepted almost as many times as they were completed. One of those was hauled in by freshman Derek Alumbaugh, who would later score Liberty Bell’s final touchdown.
The Mountain Lions scored in every quarter with Chip Jones, Austin Watson, Milo Holston, Emmett Fink and Alumbaugh each crossing the Kittitas goal line.
Jorge Lara had a good night connecting on six of seven extra point attempts.
“Offensively we were able to consistently move the ball,” said coach Sy Bannick. “Defensively we held them to negative yardage until the middle of the third quarter.”
In addition to honoring the nine seniors, the hometown crowd also congratulated the varsity girls’ soccer team at halftime in recognition of the team’s fifth consecutive Washington Interscholastic Activities Association 2B academic state championship.
Almost an entire team of seniors will be lost to graduation next June. They include Austin Watson, Chase Kurtz, Cesar Dominguez, Milo Holston, Jaymis Hanson, Riley Dickinson, Wes Pilkinton, Colby Smith and Kelsey Jensen.
The Mountain Lions close their regular season at White Swan on Friday (Nov. 8) when they meet the undefeated Cougars and their 400-plus pound running back, Todd Picard.
“We look forward to this challenge,” Bannick said. “Our team is excited to go compete for a chance to earn a state playoff spot and to test ourselves against a very good football team.”
Offensive stats
Chip Jones – 8 carries, 55 yds, 3 TDs; 6/14 passing, 94 yds, 1 TD
Emmett Fink – 10 carries, 66 yds, 1 TD; 1 reception, 15 yards
Austin Watson – 6 carries, 108 yds, 1 TD
Milo Holston – 4 receptions, 72 yds, 1 TD
Derek Alumbaugh – 3 carries, 12 yds, 1 TD
Jacob McMillan – 7 carries, 20 yds; 1 reception, 7 yds
Jorge Lara – 3 carries, 24 yds
Chase Kurtz – 2 carries, 31 yds
Defensive stats
Cesar Dominguez – 6 tackles, 1 sack
Milo Holston – 5 tackles
Jaymis Hanson – 4 tackles
Zane Herrera – 4 tackles
Emmett Fink – 4 tackles
Derek Alumbaugh – 3 tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack
Chase Kurtz – 3 tackles
Wes Pilkinton – 3 tackles
Jose Dominguez – 2 tackles, 1 batted pass
Garrett Jensen – 2 tackles
Jacob McMillan – 2 tackles
Chip Jones – 1 tackle, 1 interception
Jorge Lara – 1 tackle
Eden Davis – 1 tackle
Colby Smith – 1 tackle
Special Teams
Jorge Lara – 6 kickoffs, 331, yds; 4 punts, 203 yds; 6/7 PAT
Jaymis Hanson – 1 kick return, 0 yards
Austin Watson – 1 kick return, 21 yards
