The Liberty Bell High School football team’s season ended with a 56-16 loss to Almira-Coulee-Hartline (ACH), one of the state’s best 8-man teams, but the Mountain Lions finished the season with a winning record of 5-4. The visiting Warriors raced to a 44-0 halftime lead in the Nov. 2 game, played in a fair amount […]
LBHS football
Mountain Lions’ 36-28 win over Bridgeport extends streak
The Liberty Bell High School football team avenged a season-opening loss to Bridgeport on the Mustangs’ home field last Friday (Oct. 25), rallying for a come-from-behind, 36-28 victory. Both teams opened their season at Mountain Lion Stadium on Sept. 6, when Bridgeport topped Liberty Bell by 32-20. The teams’ fortunes have gone opposite directions since […]
Mountain Lions hold off Wilbur-Creston for 36-34 football win
In a game that saw the Liberty Bell High School football team top 500 yards in total offense, it was defense that saved the day in the Mountain Lions’ 36-34 win over visiting Wilbur-Creston last Friday (Oct. 11). With Liberty Bell clinging to a 2-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Wilbur-Creston picked off a […]
Bucsko steps down as Liberty Bell’s head football coach
After nearly half a century of coaching and three previous “retirements,” Liberty Bell High School football coach Bob Bucsko said this week that the fourth time will be a charm. Bucsko, who coached the Mountain Lions the past two years, announced his retirement just ahead of spring practice. As of early this week, there had […]
Mountain Lions will play 8-man varsity football again this fall
Liberty Bell High School will play 8-man varsity football next season, a move intended to give the struggling program time to rebuild in anticipation of eventual return to 11-man play.
The 8-man proposal, supported by Liberty Bell head coach Bob Bucsko, was approved last week by the Methow Valley School Board.
“I’m really pleased to have an opportunity to rebuild this football program,” Bucsko said this week. “The first step is to give the kids a chance to compete and have some success.”
Liberty Bell Activities Director Michael Wilbur said the Mountain Lions will initially be an independent team and not part of a league this fall.
Liberty Bell High considers return to 8-man varsity football
Liberty Bell High School is considering a return to 8-man varsity football, after another losing season in class 2B 11-man competition.
This time, the Mountain Lions may be able to join a league and participate in post-season play, Liberty Bell Activities Director Michael Wilbur said this week.
Wilbur, head football coach Bob Bucsko and assistant coach Jeff Lidey met with parents, current Liberty Bell players and past players on Nov. 15 to talk about the possibility of returning to 8-man play. Wilbur said the emerging consensus was to explore the 8-man option for next year. “We had a good conversation about the experience we had the last time we played 8-man,” he said.
LBHS rallies but can’t catch Tonasket in 34-14 Homecoming loss
Despite the seemingly lopsided score, Liberty Bell High School’s 34-14 Homecoming game loss to Tonasket last Friday (Oct. 19) could have come down to a few “ifs.”
If the Mountain Lions hadn’t been stopped just short of the goal line on two non-scoring drives. If Liberty Bell could have stalled just one Tiger drive. If senior Brayden White, returning to action after breaking his collarbone in a game earlier this season, hadn’t been sidelined with what appeared to a re-injury. If the home team had capitalized a bit more on a good passing night for quarterback Tanner White and a productive ground game.
Lions claw back at Wildcats before falling, 40-18
On their home field against a 3A opponent, the Liberty Bell High School Mountain Lions scrapped to the finish before falling to the West Seattle Wildcats, 40-18, on a brilliant fall afternoon for football.
The Saturday game was unusual, as was the match-up of 2B Liberty Bell with the larger school. “It was a great game against a 3A school,” said Liberty Bell coach Bob Bucsko.
Liberty Bell can’t keep up with Soap Lake in home field loss
Big plays by Soap Lake and an inconsistent offense stymied the Liberty Bell High School football team last Friday (Oct. 5) in a 34 – 8 loss to the visiting Eagles.
It was the first of four consecutive home games for the Mountain Lions, who played their first five games on the road. The loss to Soap Lake leaves Liberty Bell with a 1 – 5 record for the season.
Mountain Lions welcome Soap Lake for season’s first home football game
The road-weary Liberty Bell High School football team will play before the home fans for the first time this season on Friday (Oct. 5), and the rugged travel schedule has left the team a bit shorthanded.
The Mountain Lions host Soap Lake on Friday with kickoff at 7 p.m., after five away games that produced a 1-4 record including last week’s 54-0 loss at Lake Roosevelt.
