Liberty beefs up roster thanks to transfer policy

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Liberty High first-year coach Rich Muraco is a big proponent of the open enrollment policy between his school and nearby Coronado.

Because of it, the Patriots have seven extra players on this year’s team who transferred from Coronado. Because of the policy, the players are immediately eligible without having to sit out a year.

“If we didn’t have those seven kids, I wouldn’t be anywhere near as optimistic as I am,” said Muraco, who worked as an assistant last year. “They are all going to step up and play a large role on our team.”

Muraco said at least five of the Coronado transfers would be starters. Junior wide receiver Chris Smith and sophomore lineman P.J. Taeao are the headliners of the bunch.

They are part of an offense that projects to be dangerous with five returning starters. Muraco feels his receiving corps is one of the best in the area with the duo of Smith and senior wide receiver Anthony Norris.

The problem comes with finding a quarterback. As of now, Muraco said it was still an open competition.

“We’re struggling at quarterback. That’s going to be the key to the whole thing for us,” Muraco said. “If we get decent enough play with them in getting reads and getting it to our playmakers, then we’ll be pretty decent offensively.”

Last year, Liberty narrowly missed the playoffs when Foothill booted a game-winning field goal against it in the final minute. Muraco still recites the sequence of events flawlessly.

He said he wanted his team to remember the game as well as he does. Using that as motivation, Muraco hopes to guide Liberty to its first playoff appearance in the school’s seven-year history.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or at case.keefer@lasvegassun.com.