Liberty’s big plays overwhelm Whitmer
FINDLAY — If Olentangy Liberty awarded helmet stickers for outstanding plays, the coaching staff might have had to scramble to keep up with the high demand after what everyone on the roster from A to Z accomplished in the Division I, Region 2 championship game.
The effort got usually stoic coach Steve Hale choking back emotions before he could talk about what he had seen.
“That’s how much I care about them,” he said. “They care as much as any team I’ve ever seen — even rivaling last year. They are just amazing to watch. Our kids, it’s important to them. They really care about each other.”
Tailback Matthew Webb ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns, quarterback Mitchell Okuley threw for three touchdowns and ran for 92 yards, the defense had four sacks and Troy Oehler and Lucas Campbell each had an interception in a 34-7 victory over top-seeded Toledo Whitmer on Friday night at Donnell Stadium.
The prizes for the Patriots (11-2) were a second straight regional title and a date against Mentor (12-1) in a state semifinal.
An example of how Liberty players picked each other up came when Webb lost a fumble on the second play of the game at the Patriots’ 36-yard line. Six plays later, with Whitmer (12-1) at the 9, Oehler intercepted star quarterback Riley Keller in the end zone.
Then Webb got into rhythm with a 62-yard run that set up his 1-yard plunge for a touchdown with 5:00 left in the first quarter.
“I had that fumble, but Troy picked up the energy with the interception — so did my run,” Webb said. “We just kept it up the entire game.”
There were more big plays on the second drive when Okuley ran 37 yards to midfield on third-and-24 and Webb had a 42-yard run to the 8. The capper was a 6-yard touchdown pass from Okuley to Jacob Sincek for a 14-0 lead.
“Okuley is an athlete, and athletes make big plays,” Webb said.
Keller came into the game having thrown for 25 touchdowns, but was limited to 12 of 25 for 129 yards. Liberty allowed only a 28-yard touchdown reception by Patrick Mappe with 54 seconds left in the first half.
“We didn’t worry about making plays,” linebacker Nicholas Paolo said. “Everyone had to do their job. Our d-line was really aggressive. They caged the quarterback and tried to get sacks.”
Webb said the season turned after a 42-0 loss to Pickerington North the fifth week.
“After that, everything was 100 miles per hour in practice,” he said. “We said, ‘Forget about me. I love you guys.’ “ Completed 9 of 14 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns and added 94 yards rushing in a 34-7 victory over Toledo Whitmer. Rushed for 156 yards on 23 carries and scored on runs of 1 and 6 yards in Liberty’s win over Whitmer.
Rushed for 149 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns and threw a 59-yard touchdown pass in a 31-14 victory over Pickerington North.
Rushed for 126 yards on 15 carries in a 34-7 loss to Wheelersburg.
Rushed for 93 yards on 16 carries in a 13-9 loss to Tri-Valley.
Caught four passes for 96 yards and a touchdown in the win over Whitmer.
Caught seven passes for 88 yards and a touchdown in the win over River.
Rushing yards for Toledo Whitmer, on 26 carries, and the number of sacks by Olentangy Liberty in the Patriots’ 34-7 victory.
Turnovers committed by West Jefferson, including four interceptions — one resulting in a touchdown — in a 42-7 loss to Madison.