Liberty stifles Ava 32-0
Wed, 09/21/2022 - 4:15pm
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By:
Andrew Snider, sports correspondent
The Liberty Eagles traveled to Ava for one of the most anticipated matchups of the week in southern Missouri. The Eagles used a combination of four Ava turnovers and a relentless defensive effort to drown the Bears 32-0.
Ava opened the game kicking off to the Eagles. It took just one play for the red and blue to take the lead it would never relinquish. Carter Pruett dropped back and threw a beautiful pass into the outstretched arms of Drew Ripko, for a 52-yard bomb. The kick failed, but Liberty held the 6-0 lead early.
Ava then had their first chance with the ball. After a couple of first downs, the Eagle defense tightened up and forced an Ava punt.
After a Liberty 3-and-out, Ava took the ball over at the 35-yard line and proceeded to slowly and methodically drive down the field. The promising Bear drive ended at the two-yard line when the Eagles were able to punch the ball out, and Lucas Frazier came up with the huge fumble recovery.
To start the second quarter, it was Carter Pruett on a 24-yard touchdown run, capping off the 98-yard drive. The two-point conversion was no good, and Liberty lead 12-0 with 8:04 left in the half.
The teams then swapped possessions after both teams came up with defensive stops.
The first half ended as Ava ran out of time with the ball at the Liberty 17-yard line.
Ava's second drive of the third quarter saw them fumble the ball away at their own 14-yard line. That's when Pruett found Gavin Reese in the back of the end zone for a touchdown strike. The kick made it a 19-0 Eagle advantage.
Liberty's defensive effort continued for the rest of the game. Luke Vandevort and Kaden Farrell teamed up on a sack to end one Bear drive, and Ashton Stanley, along with Farrell, ended another one.
The Eagles scored twice more on the night, with a Pruett five-yard run and a Reese to Kal Acklin 26-yard pass, making up the final 32-0.
Up next, the Eagles will try to improve on their 4-0 record, when they travel to Willow Springs for a conference match-up with the Bears.