Photo Credit: David Smith/Special to PrepsKC 
In a clash of Show-Me State titans, Liberty North’s lock-down defensive effort set the tone and helped start a new era on a winning note.
With nine returning starters on defense, the Eagles (1-0) stymied a talented Lee’s Summit North team from the outset on the way to a 17-7 victory between two programs that both made it to the semifinals a year ago.
And ultimately, Liberty North’s opportunistic offense put points on the board when they had the chance, allowing first-year head coach Andy Lierman to kick off his tenure with a momentous victory.
“You always want to win game one. There’s no doubt about that, get off on the right foot,” Lierman said. “I’m super excited for the kids. Their work and their preparation to get to this point was second-to-none. All the credit goes to them.
“It’s like I tell them. They’re magic.”
Sure enough, the Eagles’ defense conjured a stellar start by forcing Lee’s Summit North (0-1) into three consecutive three-and-outs to start the game. The Broncos didn’t help themselves much after some fumbled snaps and costly penalties hurt their own cause, but Liberty North took full advantage of the miscues.
On the team’s second drive, Liberty North took advantage of a short field when MicahJo Barnett rumbled in for a 15-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Then midway through the second quarter, Eagles’ quarterback Sam Van Dyne delivered an aerial strike to Keelan Smith, who raced away from the Broncos’ secondary for a 62-yard score – the longest play of the game.
Lierman credited the offense for cashing in on the chances they had, especially considering his team was up against top-tier talent like Williams Nwaneri, Jamir Conn and many other standouts.
“That defense of Lee’s Summit North is incredible. They’ve got a great front, and they do some things that make it difficult to move the football,” Lierman said. “Our offense did a great job of capitalizing when they needed to and giving us enough of a cushion to be able to win that ball game.”
Turnovers and miscues also played a factor, as Liberty North snagged two interceptions – one each by Eric Henkel and Dakota Hanna. The Eagles, meanwhile, never turned the ball and only committed four penalties, while Lee’s Summit North had a highlight-reel touchdown catch-and-run by Tanner Howes erased by a holding penalty during the first half.
Two of the Broncos most threatening drives happened on back-to-back possessions in the first half, but each time, Liberty North forced a turnover on downs around their own 40-yard line.
As always, junior linebacker Melvin Laster played a massive role for the Eagles with seven tackles, including two for loss, and a sack, and he said the team’s pre-game preparation made all the difference when it came to slowing down an explosive Broncos offense.
“Our coaches set us up for success with all the stuff they have for us, all the film,” Laster said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have had any of that.”
Eagles’ kicker Blake Craig gave his team a 17-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter with a 37-yard field goal, and Lee’s Summit North quarterback Elijah Leonard prevented the shutout with a bruising, 10-yard touchdown scamper in the final minute.
Leonard, who transferred from Liberty North after last season, led the team with 43 rushing yards and split time at quarterback with Maxxwell Ford, who threw for 56 yards.
For the Eagles, Barnett took over the role of lead running back and delivered the most significant performance for Liberty North, rushing for 117 yards on 22 carries against a tough defensive front. Van Dyne amassed 70 yards and the crucial touchdown to Smith that gave the Eagles a two-score lead for good.
But Laster said defeating one of the team’s biggest rivals in the season-opener will provide a major building block for the long season ahead.
“We feel amazing that we were able to come out in the first game beat, basically, a rival, a team that we think is the most difficult,” Laster said.
