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Photo Credit: Jeff Stead/PrepsKC

Liberty North coach Greg Jones stood at 20-yard line on the South end of Bud Hertzog Stadium at Lee’s Summit High School and addressed his team after another blowout win.

Jones looked around at his team and asked if they were perfect. The answer was a resounding no.

Take it for what you will, but the Eagles played yet another near flawless game against a Lee’s Summit team that has steadily improved throughout the season.

“Coach (Eric) Thomas and his staff do an amazing job,” said Jones, whose team improved to 8-0 after defeating the Tigers 38-7. “That offense keeps you on your edge because of what they can do and what they do, do. … Credit to our kids, they just came out and played extremely hard.” 

After both teams failed to score on their respective opening drives of the game, it was the Eagles who drew first blood, as they scored not one, but three touchdowns in a row, the first two were called back because of penalties.

The third attempt was successful as senior quarterback Jake Van Dyne threw a 29-yard touchdown to Davis Rockers on the sixth play of the drive to give the Eagles a 7-0.

Van Dyne, who finished the game 13 of 20, passed for 148 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing).

As impressive Van Dyne was, it was the dynamic rushing attack that led the way for Liberty North on Friday as the combination of Zac Willingham-Davis and Keshawn Turner proved to be too difficult to defend. The duo carried the 26 times for a combined 199 yards, each scoring one touchdown.

“We have two great running backs, and more importantly we have an offensive line that is playing really, really well right now,” Jones said. “We talk to them all the time (about not becoming complacent). We’ve got to keep working and continue to get better week after week.”

After Blake Craig drilled a 42-yard field goal to extend Liberty North’s lead to 10-0 midway through the first quarter, Lee’s Summit offense came to life as Micah Manning scored on 4-yard run up the gut to trim the Eagles’ lead to 10-7.

Liberty North didn’t wait long to respond. This time it was Van Dyne who scored as he capped off an eight play, 80 yard drive with 1-yard quarterback sneak.    

Things turned from bad to worse on Lee’s Summit next drive.

Facing a third-and-long, Lee’s Summit quarterback Darrius Pearsall threw pass into triple coverage and was intercepted by Casey McFall.

Unable to capitalize on the turnover, the Eagles were forced to punt, but the ball bounced off the returner and the ball was recovered by Liberty North and six plays later it was Willingham-Davis who lunged his was into the end zone with a 2-yard run.

“Zac and Keshawn, they go to town for us,” Van Dyne said.  “Especially because it opens up our passing. Teams have to worry about our run and our pass because both are elite.”