Eagles take down Bears

The Willow Springs Bears traveled to Mountain View Friday. The Liberty Eagles welcomed them for Homecoming night. The game marked the halfway point of the regular season. Both teams were coming off three-game skids after opening the season with wins. In the end, the Eagles were able to force their will and defeat the Bears. 

The game started with Liberty receiving the opening kickoff. It didn't take long for the Eagles to find the end zone as Tanner Ripko returned the kick for 85 yards and a Liberty score. The two-point conversion run was stopped by Willow, and Liberty held a 6-0 lead.

After a Willow three and out, the Eagles scored on a nine-yard Drew Ripko scamper and two-point conversion. 

Willow was unable to get anything going on their next drive and punted the ball back to Liberty. 

Eleven plays later, the Eagles struck on a Tanner Ripko 14-yard run. The two-point conversion pass from Drew Ripko to Noah Jester was good to push the score 22-0.

During the Bears’ next drive, Liberty's Lucas Frazier intercepted a Willow pass. Kal Acklin would add a touchdown reception from Gavin Reese. 28-0 Liberty. 

Another Willow punt gave the ball back to Liberty early in the second quarter. A few snaps later, Willow's Scooter Osborn came up with a big sack, and Liberty was forced to punt. 

Scooter would make another big play moments later in the form of a fumble recovery for the Bears to end the Eagles next drive. 

After several nice runs by Willow's Gavin Ferguson, Nate McDaniel put the Bears on the board from three yards out. The kick was good 28-7, Liberty. 

The Eagles would strike one more time before the half on a Kal Acklin 43-yard touchdown catch-and-run from Ripko. 

In the second half, Liberty's Gavin Reese threw for two more touchdown passes. One to Jester, the other to Frazier. Final score: Liberty 50 Willow Springs 7. 

Up next, Liberty will travel to Mountain Grove for a matchup with the 3-2 Panthers. Willow is on the road too. They face-off with the 0-4 Salem Tigers.