Liberty's Season Ends at Ava

The District Championship game between the Liberty Eagles and the Ava Bears was a one-sided contest. Ava used their powerful rushing attack and daunting defense to control every aspect of the game, triumphing 48-6. 

Liberty's opening possession ended at mid-field when Ava stopped them on fourth and three. Zach Richards opened the scoring for Ava with a six-yard run.

The Bears' Hunter Adams would score the next four touchdowns on the night. Richards would add another just before the break, as Ava held a commanding 41-0 lead at the half.

Liberty's lone score came from a fourth quarter touchdown reception by Drew Ripko to bring the final score 48-6.

For Liberty, it was a season of up and down. Often in high school football, staying healthy is crucial for success. Although injuries were rough on the Eagles, they dealt with those absences quite well. In fact, a total of four different quarterbacks started for the Eagles throughout the year.

After a 1-3 start, Liberty won 6 of their last 8 games to finish up with a 7-5 record. The finality of high school sports is real as many seniors will never play another snap of football in their life. And, for the exception of one team in the state, that final game will be a loss. Ava continues its quest for the title next week against the familiar Lamar Tigers.