By Don Nelson
Using a powerful ground game, the Liberty Bell High School varsity football team ran over Waterville, 40-22, on Friday (Oct. 8), running its record to 4-1 in the Mountain Lions’ first season playing eight-man football.
Liberty Bell threw only a handful of passes but rang up 433 rushing yards on Waterville’s home field, assistant coach Chad Sharp said.
Enrique White led the Mountain Lions’ running corps with 189 yards on just eight carries and scored three touchdowns, Sharp said. Seth Stevie added 53 yards and Andrew Reggiatore romped for 70 yards on only four carries.
“The offensive line did a great job,” Sharp said. Playing on a wet field, with the running game going so well, the Mountain Lions didn’t need to pass the ball much, Sharp added.
Meanwhile, Liberty Bell’s defense held Waterville scoreless in the first half on the way to an 18-0 lead. Waterville scored eight points in the third quarter and added 12 more in the fourth quarter, when Liberty Bell’s younger players were on the field.
Jacob McMillan had an outstanding game on both sides of the ball. He forced a fumble on a kickoff, intercepted a pass and scored on a 15-yard pass from Derek Alumbaugh.
“It was a hard-hitting game,” Sharp said. “Our kids played well.”
Liberty Bell’s next two games are against the same opponent. The Mountain Lions travel to Yakama Nation on Friday (Oct. 16), then host Yakama Nation on Oct. 23 in the annual homecoming game. After spending most of their season on the road, the Mountain Lions finish up with home games against Wellpinit on Oct. 30 and Waterville on Nov. 6.
Because Liberty Bell doesn’t play in a league this year, it is not eligible for playoffs.
