By Tommy Mann Jr.

Leader Correspondent

ORANGEFIELD — A leaping interception by a Panthers defender late in the game, and deep in Liberty territory, broke the hearts of the Bobcats faithful and sealed the win for the visiting team.

The Liberty Panthers outlasted the Orangefield Bobcats by a score of 24-16 Friday night at F.L. McClain Stadium in Orangefield on a night when both teams were both plagued by ill-timed turnovers.

The Bobcats had just scored a touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Christian Louvier to Blake Bradley to make the score 24-16 with 2:03 left in the game. Orangefield moved deep into Liberty territory courtesy of a sensational tip-drill deflection. Louvier rolled left and zipped the ball to receiver Dylan Williams who used a volleyball-like swat to deflect the ball to oncoming teammate Bradley who made a sensational, bobbling catch and run down the sideline for 28 yards inside the Liberty 20.

Following the touchdown, the Bobcats attempted an onside kick but Liberty recovered and looked to run out the clock. However, Panthers quarterback Bailey Brown mishandled the snap from center on the second play and put the ball on the ground which the Bobcats defense recovered.

Orangefield went into hurry up mode and Louvier quickly powered a pass for 15 yards to Bradley over the middle. On the next play, Louvier dropped back and appeared to have put perfect touch on the ball towards another Bobcats receiver who had gotten behind the Panthers defense by a step. However, a Liberty defender leaped up and snagged the ball with his fingertips to intercept the pass and seal the game.

Liberty (5-1, 1-0) used its high powered ground game to churn out 271 yards on the night, which included 150 yards on 23 carries by running back Jeremiah Guillory. Guillory also scored all three Liberty touchdowns on runs of 9, 11 and 26 yards.

Orangefield (1-3, 0-1) fought for every yard it gained on the evening and accumulated 176 rushing yards, which included 58 yards by Louvier and 49 from sophomore Quy Tsan.

Liberty will host Hamshire-Fannett next Friday, while the Bobcats will have a bye week before traveling to Hamshire-Fannett on Friday, Oct. 27 to face the Longhorns.

 

Liberty           24

Orangefield   16

LIB   7     10   0     7   — 24

OF   6     0     0   10   — 16

Scoring Summary

L – Jeremiah Guillory 9 yard run, Jesus Landeverde kick (7:30)

O – Christian Louvier 1 yard run, kick failed (1:00)

L – Guillory 11 run, Landeverde kick (7:54)

L – Landeverde 25 yard field goal (0:00)

O – Jacob Rainey 28 yard field goal (10:28)

L – Guillory 26 yard run, Landeverde kick (5:19)

O – Blake Bradley 6 yard pass from Louvier, Rainey kick (2:03)

Lib             OF

First downs           20               15

Rushes-yards       41-271         41-176

Passing                   43            55

Total yards           314           231

Comp-Att-Int       3-8-1       4-9-1

Fumbles-Lost       3-3           2-2

Penalties-yards     5-36           3-35

INDIVIVUAL STATS

Rushing: Liberty, Jeremiah Guillory 23-150, J.J. Slack 11-110, Keegan Turner 4-10, River Lucy 1-1, Bailey Brown 2-0; OF, Christian Louvier 13-58, Quy Tsan 5-49, Blake Bradley 9-31, Cade Grozier 4-18, Heston Puckett 3-16, Zach Dishler 2-3, Dylan Williams 1-3, Chase Broussard 1-1, Kadeon Evans 2-(-3);

Passing: Liberty, Bailey Brown 3-6-0 43, J.J. Slack 0-2-1 00; OF, Christian Louvier 4-9-1 55

Receiving: Liberty, Jarius Hill 2-15, J.J. Slack 1-28; OF, Blake Bradley 3-49, David Ochoa, 1-6