District 11’s strife is o’er; Liberty claims first PIAA title in OT
Written by: Josh Funk on Sunday, December 14th, 2008. Follow Josh Funk on Twitter.
HERSHEY, Pa. – There’s an old hymn which begins the opening stanza with the words, “The strife is o’er, the battle won.” To say that District 11 “AAAA” football teams were in some strife in three recent state finals was an understatement. They had been outscored 117-23 in those games.
Liberty ended the strife and won the battle. For their efforts, they hoisted the golden football.
Anthony Gonzalez ran for 205 yards and three touchdowns, but it was his one-handed interception in overtime that sealed the Hurricanes (15-1) 28-21 overtime victory against WPIAL champion Bethel Park (15-1).
Liberty avoided joining an infamous duo – Woodland Hills and Blackhawk – as the only PIAA reps to lose three state championship football games.
“It’s just an amazing thing,” Hurricane head coach Tim Moncman said. “It’s unbelievable. We didn’t realize it until he (Gonzalez) picked the pass off.”
In reality, the game should not have gone to overtime. Liberty drove deep into Black Hawk territory on its opening drive, but failed a fourth down conversion attempt.
Bethel Park then grabbed a 7-0 lead on a quick-strike style drive. Rock Vomer scored from 22 yards out, capping a drive highlighted by a 36-yard reception by wide receiver John Schademan.
It appeared that it would be more of the same for District 11, that is, until Gonzalez took Liberty on an 11-play drive which he capped with a one-yard run.
The Black Hawks and Hurricanes traded touchdowns in the second quarter – Lyle Marsh gave Bethel a 14-7 lead with a seven yard run, and Gonzalez made it 14-13 on a 35-yard jaunt down the Bethel sideline. Liberty missed the tying extra point.
The Hurricanes then took its first lead of the game with 7:04 left in the third period. Gonzalez (9-of-20, 97 yards, 2 INT) connected with Jarrod West (2 rec., 35 yards) to the BP 7. West fumbled, but Devin Street (5 rec., 52 yards, TD) picked up the fumble and ran in from a yard out. Liberty nailed the two-point conversion to make it 21-14.
“He’s really good,” Bethel Park head coach Jeff Metheny said of Gonzalez. “He can throw it or he can run it…very well.”
Was Gonzalez the best “AAAA” quarterback Metheny saw this season?
“I think he might be,” he said.
Bethel Park, though, was not going to let the game end there. Lyle Marsh answered the Liberty touchdown with his second of the night – this a 55-yarder down the right hash, knotting things at 21.
That’s how it stayed until regulation ended. Liberty scored on its possession, a Gonzalez one-yard run, his fourth total touchdown accounted for.
On 3rd and goal, Erik Olson’s (8-of-14, 114 yards, 2 INT) fell into Gonzalez’ left hand, and Liberty stormed the field in celebration. Gonzalez got caught under a pile of his teammates on the field in the celebration.
“We just had to prove that in the East, we’ve got good teams too,” #8 said. “We’re the first (Liberty) team to win here in Hershey Stadium. I’m just so proud.”
Moncman was equally proud of his quarterback.
“He’s done that all year,” a soaking wet Liberty boss said. “He’s a special kid. How (the heck) can he not have a scholarship offer yet?”
Scholarship offers are bound to come in for the junior field general. Until they do, Liberty can bask in the spotlight of bringing state gold back to the East.
The strife is o’er after all.
NOTES: The game marked the sixth overtime game played in state finals history – the second in the “AAAA” title game. The other occurred in 2000, when Cathedral Prep defeated Central Bucks West 41-35.
The loss sent the WPIAL to 0-3 in state title games which end in overtime. Canevin Catholic and Pine-Richland lost overtime games as well.
This latest match-up between District 11 and the WPIAL in the “AAAA” title game marked the first time that the final score was a margin less than 20 points.
District 11 won it’s 10th overall PIAA title, but just the second since 2003. Prior to that year, District 11 had been 8-1 in state finals.
The WPIAL falls to 29-34 all-time in PIAA finals.
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December 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Gonzales was Liberty’s ” only weapon ” ? I watched two dropped td passes that were right on the money as well as some very nice running from their backs. Marsh actually was BP’s ONLY threat the entire game in retrospect. Liberty pretty much controlled the entire game as it had almost ten minutes advantage in top. A good solid win for Liberty over a team that wasn’t as strong as North Penn but a very capable opponent that played with great desire and intentsity. Congrats to both teams.
December 20th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
you guys are saying that the only player Liberty had was Gonzales. In saying that do you realize that you are saying the whole Bethel Park team was not good enough to stop 1 guy??
December 18th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Check out the Video Recap, Congratulations to Liberty!!
http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/maxprepstv.mxp/videoid-eda1173f-93b1-40f1-9f4a-33403d02bbf8
December 15th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
congrats to both teams. Personally i think bethel should have dominated this team, which besides for the score they did. Gonzalez was Libertys only weapon, without him it would have beeen a blow out game for Bethel Park. I think when Bethel attempted the field goal in the 2nd half and liberty jumped offsides they should have then went for it. Lyle Marsh wouldnt have been stopped he was not stopped for a loss the whole game and 2 yards was nothing for him. So i think if they would have went for it on 4th down it would have been a completly different game. Congrats to Liberty on a good win, and also to Bethel Park for a SLEEPER season
December 15th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Great Game. I was there, #8 is the only weapon for Liberty. Bethel Park run and threw all over Liberty. Poor play selection lost BP the game. But did anyone notice that when the game was over, Bethel Park’s Team stood like men and waited for Liberty as they celebrated their victory and both teams shook hands as it should be. Congrats to both teams.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:38 am
im so glad liberty won because bethel park wasnt deserving of winning after the game against wilson WL…it would of been a great game if it would of been wilson vs liberty..congrats liberty
December 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
congratulations, i watched the game from my house and was yellin the whole time, u finally won it!
December 14th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Liberty proved that they weren’t going to be denied this time. They left some points on the board that wouldn’t have allowed it to be so close, but their heart of a champion…allowed them to still pull together! Great job ‘Canes you did it…
Bethel Park had a nice season, but it wasn’t meant to be….great game though!
December 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
That was a great game, I was there and Liberty played a average game and still won liberty should have won by three touchdowns. Bethel parks only defense was a dropped pass and a penalty in the first quarter. But bethel park had a great season,good job blackhawks.GO CANES!!
GREAT SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!