Liberty quarterback Ryan Doty, right, rests his hands on his hips during practice Aug. 27. Doty makes a 50-minute drive from Sandy Valley to play for the Patriots.
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 | midnight
Late touchdown lift Patriots
- Carlos Tautoto's 7-yard touchdown run with four minutes to play Aug. 29 lifted LIberty to a 21-14 come-from-behind victory against visiting Rancho in the season opener for both schools.
- The Patriots trailed 14-7 at halftime but held Rancho scoreless the final 24 minutes and scored 14 points in the fourth quarter.
- "It was a great game," Liberty coach Lou Markouzis said. "We made it interesting, that is for sure."
- Shawn Murray had a pair of touchdowns for Liberty, including a 25-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Doty to even the score at 14. He also had a 6-yard touchdown run.
- Liberty, which opened in 2003, is looking for its first-ever playoff berth. A win in the first game is a good step, Markouzis said.
- "This win gets the monkey off our backs sort of speak. It gives us momentum," the coach said.
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It's about a 50-minute drive from Sandy Valley to Liberty High School — a commute Patriots senior quarterback Ryan Doty makes each day to be part of a team he says will make history this fall.
It's a journey he believes will be beneficial come the first week of November. That's when Doty plans to lead Liberty on the field for its first-ever playoff game in six years of existence.
"Reaching the playoffs is really important to me," Doty said. "In the three years I've been here I haven't been on a winning team. I think that's all ready to turn around."
Residents of Sandy Valley, a town of 1,800 residents in west-central Clark County, can attend the nearest Clark County School District school, which for high school is Liberty.
"That's pure commitment," Liberty coach Lou Markouzis said. "There's not too many kids in the city that can compare with Doty's commitment level. He's been making that drive for four years and he never complains.
Doty completed 78 of 164 passes last year for 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns, but an inexperienced offensive line limited Patriots rushers to 702 yards and offered Doty little protection. The Patriots averaged only 14 points per game as they complied a 1-8 record and didn't win a Southeast Division game.
"I've seen our team in practice and I think we're ready to go," Doty said. "The offensive can give me protection I haven't really had in the past."
Junior receiver Anthony Norris will be Doty's No. 1 target.
"Ryan is a real good passer and a good leader," Norris said. "He knows how to take control on the field."
Jared Harmon is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8922 or [email protected].
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