NWOAL CLASH … Tristan Wyse makes the grab on a fake punt executed by the Bluestreaks in the first quarter. (PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Nate Calvin
ARCHBOLD (September 8, 2023) – It’s no secret that the bread and butter of Liberty Center football is defense and a dominant running game.
Both were on full display at Bluestreak Stadium as the Tigers churned up 250 yards on the ground and two forced turnovers in the third quarter allowed LC to put away a 42-14 win in a battle of unbeatens.
Liberty Center, who has now handed Archbold their first loss in three of the past six seasons, came out of the gate by breaking a tendency on the first play of the game.
Quarterback Landon Amstutz found a wide-open Trent Kruse in the right flat on a play action pass, catching the Bluestreak defense off guard, and Kruse rumbled all the way to the Archbold 20-yard line.
Two plays later it was Kruse again going practically untouched up the middle on a trap play for 22 yards and a score to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead just 1:30 into the game.
The Liberty Center defense stifled the Archbold offense on their first four possessions of the game, forcing four punts.
The next Tigers score came near the end of the first half as they put together an eight play, all runs, 79-yard march ending with 36-yard touchdown run by Kruse to extend the lead to 14-0 with 1:20 left in the half.
The Archbold special teams then provided a much-needed spark on the ensuing kickoff as Chase Miller broke loose and went 94 yards down the sideline for a touchdown to get the Bluestreaks on the board just 13 seconds later.
With momentum on their side, Archbold would get one more chance before halftime starting at the Tiger 32-yard line after forcing the Tigers to punt from deep in their own territory.
On first down, quarterback Cade Brenner fired to the end zone, but the pass went off the hands of the intended receiver and was intercepted by a Tiger defensive back to preserve a 14-7 halftime lead.
Despite Liberty Center controlling the first half, Archbold started the second half with the ball and momentum as they used a 26-yard Brenner to Jack Hurst completion to move to the Tigers 32 in six plays.
Liberty Center’s Cam Kahle would turn in the first of his two big plays in the second half by stepping in front of an Archbold receiver on a third down pass to intercept it and take it 75 yards the other direction for a touchdown and a 21-7 Tiger lead.
Archbold’s next drive ended in another interception, this time by Grady Miller, as he returned it to the Archbold nine-yard to give the Tigers a first-and-goal.
Three plays later, it was Kruse hitting the endzone for third time on the night to seemingly put the Tigers back in control at 28-7.
Archbold battled back with a lengthy drive ending at the Tiger 10-yard line as Brenner was sacked on fourth down to give the ball back to the Tigers.
Liberty Center would go backwards on their ensuing possession and Archbold’s Chase Miller returned the LC punt from their own end zone back to the Tiger two-yard line.
Jack Hurst would then score for the Bluestreaks out of the Wildcat formation on a run up the middle to draw Archbold to within 28-14 in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter.
Kahle then quickly ended any thoughts of an Archbold comeback as he took the kickoff following the touchdown down the middle of the field, streaking 84 yards to paydirt to make it 35-14.
After an Archbold turnover, their fourth of the night, the Tigers put the game on ice with a five play 59-yard drive, culminating with a 31-yard scamper by Colton Chambers for the game’s final touchdown.
Kruse carried the offense with 129 yards on 13 totes and three touchdowns and caught Liberty Center’s only completion of the night for 37 yards.
Brenner finished 10/18 passing for 145 yards and Lucas Dominique ran for 52 yards and caught six passes for 40 yards for Archbold.
UP NEXT: September 15 – Archbold (3-1, 0-1 NWOAL) at Delta (2-2, 0-1 NWOAL) 7pm
LCHS AHS
First Downs 14 16
Rushing Yards 39-250 48-58
Passing Yards 37 151
Passing 1-5-0 19-32-3
Total Yards 287 209
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties 12-81 2-20
LIBERTY CENTER 7 7 14 14 – 42
ARCHBOLD 0 7 0 7 – 14
LC – T. Kruse 22-yard run (Rosebrook kick)
LC – T. Kruse 36-yard run (Rosebrook kick)
A – Miller 94-yard kickoff return (Ramirez kick)
LC – Kahle 75-yard interception return (Rosebrook kick)
LC – T. Kruse 6-yard run (Rosebrook kick)
A – Hurst 2-yard run (Ramirez kick)
LC – Kahle 84-yard kickoff return (Rosebrook kick)
LC – Chambers 31-yard run (Rosebrook kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Liberty Center – T. Kruse 13-129; C. Kruse 13-40; Archbold – Domnique 16-52; PASSING: Liberty Center – Amstutz – 1-5-0-37; Archbold: Brenner – 10-18-3-145; RECEIVING – Liberty Center – T. Kruse – 1-37; Archbold – Dominique – 6-40; Gomez 4-29, Miller 3-25
Nate can be reached at sports@thevillagereporter.com
