Liberty hoping to continue its recent gridiron success

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011 | 1:39 p.m.

One point.

That is all that separated the Liberty High football program from advancing to the state championship game last year in a 7-6 loss to Reno’s McQueen High in the semifinals.

That one point provided all the motivation Liberty’s players needed in their offseason training program. The turnout each afternoon in the weight room often included more than 50 players — significantly higher than most schools in Southern Nevada.

“The kids have put in so much time in the offseason to avenge what happened to end the season,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said.

Despite the tough ending in the semifinals, where Liberty was denied on a 2-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter on a snowy day in Northern Nevada, Liberty’s 2010 campaign was the best in the school’s nine-year history.

Liberty was perfect in the Southeast Division with a 6-0 record, physically dominated power Las Vegas High in the Sunrise Regional title game and established itself as one of the area’s elite programs.

In the two years since Muraco took over the program, Liberty has a 19-6 record. Last year, the Patriots’ two defeats were by a combined four points.

“The first year I took over, we made the playoffs for obviously the first time in school history and we felt awesome with everything we accomplished,” Muraco said. “Last year, there was a push to prove we weren’t a fluke and that we have an elite program. Now the kids expect to win and that is what I envision for the program year after year.”

Liberty returns several key contributors from last year’s squad, highlighted by two-way lineman P.J. Taeao. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Taeao has been a starter since his freshman season and is part of the all-Sun preseason team.

Senior linebacker Jared Tuilagi (6-foot-2, 220-pounds) is also part of the preseason team and will play a significant role in the offense at tight end. Pass rush specialist Kimo Seau (6-foot-2, 240-pounds) will be a three-year starter who was often overshadowed last year by Sam Tai, Liberty’s top defender who is now playing for UCLA.

In the secondary, senior safety Jeremy Lagasca (6-foot, 165-pounds) is one of the region’s top players.

Offensively, junior running back Niko Kapeli already holds the school’s all-time record for rushing, gaining 1,340 yards and 13 touchdowns last year a sophomore. His older brother, Jordan Kapeli, is the fullback.

Junior quarterback Kai Nacua rushed for 13 touchdowns and passed for 11 last year as sophomore, and should have plenty of time to pass with Liberty’s highly respected offensive line. California transfer Cole Morgovii (6-foot-1, 265-pounds) is called the best center in school history by Muraco, and Aaron Hudman (6-foot-3, 275-pounds) lifted 185-pounds more than any other play in the area at an evaluating event in the spring.

Liberty plays Friday in one of the most anticipated non-league games of the season. It hosts Arbor View at 7 p.m. in a battle of top-5 local teams.