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Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Liberty football players perform a haka after Thursday’s game against Silverado. Liberty shut out Silverado 27-0.
Friday, Sept. 17, 2010 | 1:04 a.m.
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As many as five teams could have made a case for why they were the best in the Southeast Division earlier this week.
Liberty presented its argument on live television Thursday night at Silverado. It was convincing to say the least.
The Patriots shut out the divisional rival Skyhawks, 27-0, by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
“They are the first team that we faced this year that had the same type of size we had,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said. “Our kids took a lot of pride in wanting to prove they are the bigger, stronger line. There was an emphasis all week on it.”
Silverado failed to record a carry for more than 10 yards and never reached the red zone.
Two Liberty running backs individually out-rushed Silverado as a team. Senior Ty Byrd had 17 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Niko Kapeli rushed nine times for 64 yards. The Skyhawks ran the ball 18 times for 51 yards.
“We got what we expected from them,” Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said. “We knew they were good. We didn’t play well on offense. I thought we were better than that.”
The best demonstration of Liberty’s style of football came near the end of the third quarter when it led only 3-0. The Patriots started a drive at their opponent’s 29-yard line after junior safety Jeremy Lagasca snagged the second of three interceptions from Silverado quarterback Savon Moniz.
Liberty proceeded to score its first touchdown after a five-minute drive that consisted exclusively of rushes behind the massive offensive line anchored by seniors Senituli Fakauho and Daniel Filimona.
The longest play of the scoring drive was a mere four-yard rush from quarterback Kai Nacua for the touchdown.
“We felt like we had to come through,” Lagasca said. “We came through.”
On a night where Liberty’s best player, defensive end and top recruit Sam Tai, missed his third game in a row with a foot injury, Lagasca surfaced as the team’s biggest star.
Lagasca made his second interception on Silverado’s next offensive possession. He followed it up with a 51-yard touchdown reception on a fake punt to give Liberty a 17-0 lead.
“When we watched film, we saw their man on punt lined up in front and I would have nobody on me,” Lagasca said. “So we just decided to get the ball out to me.”
Muraco confirmed the Patriots put the play in this week to take advantage of the Skyhawks punt formation. The fake punt relied on senior punter Marcos Rivera getting the ball to Lagasca, which he succeeded at.
“Our punter is a really smart kid,” Muraco said. “He has like a 4.8 GPA and is very cerebral. He saw it, I gave him the signal and he went for it. That was the dagger.”
Liberty went on to score 10 more points on a 16-yard touchdown from Byrd and a 47-yard field goal from Rivera.
The Patriots have confirmed their place among Southern Nevada’s elite teams.
“We can do this,” Lagasca said. “We can go to state. We have the power to do it.”
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or case.keefer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
I BELIEVE!! LOL...
It's not called a haka dance. The word haka means dance. That's like Taco Bell's carne asada steak burrito. Carne asada means steak. Just say they performed a haka.
It's simply called a haka. And I was not at the game but I would imagine they performed the ka mate haka; the most known haka.
BTW, what happened to all those skyhawk fans saying they would beat Liberty. You weren't even close.
Reagan21,
I stand corrected. Thank you for clarifying and I will change the caption.
By the way, carne asada means roast meat. Bistec is the Spanish word for steak. But I get what you mean.
Sam
Reagan21 thanks for noticing! But they did not do the "ka mate haka". Liberty performed a Siva Tau (Samoan war dance). It is an original chant written specifically for the Liberty Patriots by one of the coaches. The fans love it and the team lives by it! Ok gotta go... all this talk about steak is making me hungry! LOL!
w1536uy,
I'd love to go to a game just so I could see it. There is nothing like a good haka. I think they should do it before the game, or would that be deemed as showing up the other team?
Sam,
I hope you didn't take offense. Don't worry, you are one of many who call it a haka dance, and it drives me crazy. BTW, carne asade literally translated roasted meat, but the term carne asada means grilled steak. If you went to Mexico, or any other spanish speaking country and asked for carne asada they'd give you grilled steak, not roast beef.
VegasVegas you obviously are not a fan..the boys do the Haka before every game. They then do it again after the game for their fans..let me tell you wheather they are poly kids, black ,white,spanish whatever the kids all appreciate the meaning and love doing the Haka. Who knows your son probably would enjoyed doing it also..its good to have culture in your life.
I've monitored Las Vegas Prep Football for the past two years. I also enjoy the rhetoric contained in the comments. For two years I've read VegasVegas comments as well. It's a shame that someone who seems to have actual football knowledge, uses this site to spout RACIST commentary and then says, "I'm entitled to my opinion." Well he's right. He is just as entitled to his opinion as his fellow KKK brethren. Hopefully, his son is a better person and learns to have respect for all cultures. He sure won't learn it from his father.
CONGRATS TO ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES WHO COMPETED THIS WEEK!!
hahaha VegasVegass. At Palo it was done before and after the game! You probably missed it after the game cuz you were in the bathroom changing your adult diaper after you pooped yourself when Liberty kept the game too close for comfort. Dont be so bitter about a tradition that has become a fan favorite! Liberty fans and even their opponents' fans look forward to seeing it. At Palo you know darn well you watched the pregame haka and screamed yourself into a diaper change before kick off. As for your kid, he practices the haka in his room when you're not home. He loves how the long-haired overweight pansy dancers from Liberty destroy their opponents and wants to be just like them. He's tired of the riverdance you force him to do in your double-wide trailer. He is embarassed by the fact that you were always a spectator yet you spew like you played the game!
But seriously VeggiesVeggies, dont be so mad about the dominant team that is the Liberty Patriots. When my nephew crushed your son on the field at Silverado, it was business...nothing personal. I hope he is okay. Darndest thing I ever saw when my nephew cracked him so hard he did a back flip and landed flat on his face! Just tell him he has to keep his head on a swivel when you play these big bad Polynesians! Tell you what...come on down to Liberty and we can teach you the haka. You can't be so indifferent because you have no rhythm and you're not an athlete! You're probably in your bathroom right now with a long-haired wig on your head beating your chest and flexing in the mirror! See ya there buddy!!
VegasVegas,the only way the "haka" would be perceived as "rubbing it in" would be if they are doing it facing the losing team... like w1536uy says, the fans look forward to seeing it... before every game and after every game, win or lose...its tradition...and simply of you don't like it don't watch it!! and shame on you for calling those kids "long-haired overweight pansy dancers" thats just uncalled for...
What does this have to do with football??? Absolutely Nada...thats Spanish for Nothing!!! Let's talk football not dancing.
Look here P90X or PS3...whatever the heck your name is... everything is relative! In this case, the war dance is relative to football in that it is an exercise performed by the Liberty Patriots prior to the start of a game and afterwards as a celebration! As stated by others...if u dont like what you see or hear, close your eyes and plug your ears...read something else! Sheesh..between you and VaginasVaginas, these blogs are quickly becoming "not fun"!! hahahahaaa
I appreciate the response and the sentiment. However, the subsequent posts clearly indicate that I was not the only person who felt the comment was inappropriate. The reality is that "football traditions" had to begin somewhere. The fact that Liberty chooses to create an additional "football traditon" at their school demonstrates the brotherhood these young men share. It demonstrates the bond they share before, during and after the game. It is to be commended. Having observed the Haka before rugby games, it is a tradition that is respected and appreciated by everyone.
Hope you enjoy the upcoming Gorman-De La Salle game! I'm hoping the game meets expectations.