WESTMINSTER — The Liberty Red Devils (5-1) bounced back in a big way following their first loss of the season, going on the road to face the West-Oak Warriors (0-6) and bringing home a 54-0 road win.
From the first quarter on it was the Red Devils all the way as they spent most of the first half in Warriors territory on both sides of the ball, highlighting the rushing attack and defensive prowess that has sustained the Devils throughout the season.
Nick Taylor began the scoring onslaught in the first, breaking away for his first long TD of the night from 48 yards out and giving Liberty the early 6-0 lead. West-Oak would be forced to punt on the next possession and Liberty drove inside the 10 before failing on a fourth down conversion leading to a turnover.
The Red Devils’ defense would respond recovering a fumble at West-Oak’s 2 yard line, resulting in a 1-yard TD run by Gatlin Bell. A 2-point conversion upped the lead to 14-0.
Taylor once again would break away in the first, again from the Warriors’ 48-yard line for the TD and a 21-0 lead. Following another punt, Liberty would drive and Jevon Tabron would get in the act scoring on a 29-yard TD and a 27-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The game was already out of reach for West-Oak before the second quarter began.
Liberty would fumble the ball away and give West-Oak its best chance to get back into the game early but the Red Devils’ defense responded and forced a punt.
Austin Miller highlighted the defensive performance for Liberty in the second, scoring on a turnover and a 34-0 lead. With a minute remaining in the first half, Liberty’s Nick Reeves found Cole Murphy in the endzone for the score and a halftime lead of 41-0.
In the third quarter scores from Shaun Karr and Seth Dover, following yet another Warriors’ turnover on their end of the field, would stretch the lead to 54-0 and close out the scoring on the night.
Liberty will travel to Crescent on Sept. 30.