Eagles stumble against Indians

Opening night of the high school football season saw sweltering heat across Missouri. In fact, most games were moved back later in the evening for player safety. Liberty's opener at Strafford was no exception. The 8:00 p.m. kickoff time definitely helped, but the Eagles wore down faster than the Indians. In the second half, a combination of cramps, injuries and missed opportunities doomed the Eagles, and they ultimately fell 24-6.

Strafford received the opening kick and started the drive at their own 14-yard line. After several first downs, Strafford faced a fourth-and-one at the Liberty 37-yard line. A Silas Morton run was stuffed, and Liberty took over possession. From there, Liberty chewed up over five minutes of game time. Their drive ended when Carter Pruett found Chris Sharr on a fourth-and-six from the Strafford ten-yard line for a touchdown. The two-point pass attempt failed, and Liberty was up 6-0. 

Another long drive for Strafford culminated on a fourth-and-one deep inside Liberty territory. This time, Cody Voysey knocked through a 33-yard field goal to put Strafford on the board 6-3.

The next several possessions went back and forth. The sequence saw Liberty's Jaren Rutledge block a punt and Strafford's Bradlee Mullins intercept a pass. The game's next score didn't come until 57 seconds remained in the half, when Strafford quarterback Jourdyn Edelstein found Mullins for an 11-yard touchdown. With the extra point, Strafford held a 10-6 halftime lead. 

Liberty received the second half kick, and this drive seemed to be a turning point in the game. First, Gavin Reese, one of Liberty's big playmakers, went out with an apparent shoulder injury. In spite of the injury, Liberty was putting a drive together, moving the ball all the way down to the five-yard line. Strafford stuffed Pruett's run attempt on fourth-and-one and took over possession. 

From there, Liberty had players cramping up all over the field. With back-up players rotating in to fill the holes, Strafford took advantage. Edelstein found Mullins again, this time for a 37-yard touchdown. Strafford running back Morton would add on a 35-yard run to ice the game midway through the fourth quarter. 

Next up for the Eagles, they welcome in last year's Class 1 State runners-up, the Adrian Blackhawks. Kickoff time is set for 7:00 p.m. Friday night.