BRENTWOOD, Calif. - With 8:36 left in the game and holding a 25-point lead, Liberty was just trying to seal the first round victory so the Lions could move on to league rival Pittsburg in the NCS Division 1 semifinals. They did just that and more as star defender Mason Padilla intercepted a Teddy Booras pass, and returned it over 43 yards for a pick-six.
Two plays later Padilla recovered a fumble that broke open an already sealed game, clinching a 50-18 victory over California.
“Coach Reel put a game plan together for us and we came out and executed. Our backers, our d-line we do our jobs and we finished this game,” said Padilla. “The turnovers felt great. Just to see my teammates celebrate with me, and to be able to get that dub with them is just the best feeling.”
On the offense for Liberty, missing star two-way player and favorite target Justice Jackson didn’t phase the Lions. Both Liberty running backs - Brenden Bell and Darrion Bartley - ran for over 100 yards, in addition to one touchdown run for Bell and two for Bartley. Oregon commit Jay Butterfield threw for three touchdowns, and spread out completions to seven different receivers in the game.
Liberty coach Ryan Partridge attributed the great success to practice and preparation in the past week.
“The extra prep time we got, and us thinking we were going to get Cal High the whole time made a difference," Partridge said. "Our scout team was awesome, for the last two weeks giving us exactly what Cal High does on defense. We felt we could replicate it perfectly, so shout out to the scout team.”
Liberty’s defense completely shut down California in the first half, only allowing 68 all-purpose yards and no touchdowns. The Grizzlies came into the second half with a much better mindset. In their first second-half drive they capitalized with Booras throwing a 19-yard touchdown to Belal Alatasi. Although they achieved more than half of their yards on the ground game, from a three-headed monster of Hasani Savage, Daniel Desoto, and the aforementioned Alatasi, both touchdowns came through the air. The second came on a deep throw from the sophomore quarterback Booras that landed right into receiver Gary Wendschlag's hands.
“We are all dogs, that’s what Cal football's all about. We just battle to the end, play gritty football and give it all on the field,” said Booras.
Meanwhile, Butterfield was on point in the game, not throwing an incompletion until 9:39 remained in the first half. His best throw of the game came after a botched snap that he was visibly upset about. The next play he threw right past the defender, and perfectly to receiver Beau Dionio for a 25-yard touchdown pass, that would put the Lions ahead 21-3.
With this loss ending the Grizzlies' season, coach Eric Billeci was proud of his team’s performance this year.
“I'm proud of my team. We had a really tough schedule, and we made it into a tough eight-team bracket," Billeci commented. "We drew a really tough opponent in Liberty."
The Liberty win marked the school’s first-ever win in football over California. With the game being the Lions' last home game of the season, they will have to go on the road next week to play their BVAL nemesis, Pittsburg, in the section semifinals. The Pirates beat James Logan 41-0 Friday night.
In the matchup earlier in the season, Pittsburg beat Liberty 24-21 in overtime, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit at Liberty to win the league title.
