(PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
ONE HANDED EFFORT … Wyatt Gericke of Archbold tries to pull in a pass with his left hand in the second half. VIEW 122 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
LIBERTY CENTER (September 13, 2024) – Some wondered if there would be a drop-off for Liberty Center after graduating a good portion of last year’s state runner-up team. Through the first four games of the season, it’s safe to say the Tigers have reloaded.
The Tigers needed just five plays to put two touchdowns on the board in the first six minutes of the game for a 14-0 lead and they never looked back in a dominating 51-0 win over Archbold.
Liberty Center struck first on their second play from scrimmage as quarterback Grady Miller dropped the snap and then took off untouched for a 61-yard scamper to make it 7-0, less than two minutes into the game.
It took three plays to find paydirt on their next possession as Miller connected with a wide-open Noah Hammontree on a play action pass for a 39-yard completion and a touchdown.
The flood gates opened in the second quarter starting with a two-play drive as Miller ran for 42 yards to set up a three-yard TD run by Waylon Rentz.
The Tigers then scored through the air on a one-play drive following an Archbold punt as Miller went over the middle to Garrison Kruse and he took it all the way for a 57-yard connection to push the lead to 28-0.
Archbold’s offensive problems would carry over to the special teams with the Tigers blocking a punt inside the Archbold five-yard line which the Streaks fell on in the end zone for a safety to make it 30-0.
Cam Kahle’s big return of the Archbold free kick following the safety gave the Tigers the ball deep in Archbold territory and it was Kruse scoring from three yards out to make it 37-0 with 7:17 left in the half.
Liberty Center tacked on one more touchdown with another three-play drive ending with a Kruse 33-yard sprint to the goal line for a 44-0 lead and ending a 30-point second quarter by the Tigers.
Liberty Center ended the game, which was played with a running clock in the second half, with 471 yards of total offense, 355 of those coming on the ground.
Kruse wound up with 111 yards on seven attempts and three touchdowns and Miller ran two times for 102 yards and passed for 98 and two scores.
Archbold quarterback Kurt Kruger completed 7/18 passes for 81 yards with Morgan Harris hauling in three catches for 43 yards.
UP NEXT: September 20 – Delta (4-0, 1-0 NWOAL) at Archbold (2-2, 0-1 NWOAL) 7pm
ARCHBOLD 0 0 0 0 – 0
L. CENTER 14 30 0 7 – 51
LC – Miller 61-yd run (Rosebrook kick)
LC – Hammontree 39-yd pass from Miller (Rosebrook kick)
LC – Rentz 3-yd run (Rosebrook kick)
LC – Kruse 57-yd pass from Miller (Rosebrook kick)
LC – Blocked punt (safety)
LC — Kruse 3-yd run (Rosebrook kick)
LC – Kruse 33-yd run (Rosebrook kick)
LC – Oelkrug 9-yd run (Rosebrook kick)
AHS LCHS
First Downs 4 17
Rushing Yards 16-17 41-355
Passing Yards 91 116
Passing 8-26-1 4-7-0
Total Yards 108 471
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties 3-25 4-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Archbold – Rufenacht 3-20; L. Center – Miller 2-102; Kruse 7-111; PASSING: Archbold – Kruger 7-18-1-81; L. Center – Miller 3-4-0-98; RECEIVING: Archbold – Harris 3-43; L. Center – Kruse 2-59; Hammontree 1-39