Liberty scores twice in final minute of first half to beat Silverado

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 | 1:10 p.m.

The Liberty football team scored 21 points Thursday in about 20 seconds of game time, turning a close contest against visiting Silverado into a 51-6 victory.

Ethan Dedeaux had three touchdowns for the Patriots, including a 50-yard scoring strike from Kenyon Oblad seconds before halftime to extend the Liberty lead to 23-6.

Silverado had time for one last play before the half, heaving a long pass toward the Liberty end zone. Preston Pavlica intercepted the pass and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown and 30-6 halftime lead.

“That was a huge momentum changer,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said of the interception. “It went from being a close game to 30-6.”

Then, on the opening kickoff of the second half, Bryan Roland raced for a 96-yard touchdown to pad the Liberty lead.

Linebacker Mario Garcia added an interception return for the Patriots, who improve to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the Northeast League.

After losing three weeks ago to Canyon Springs to snap a 40-game winning streak against Sunrise Region opponents, Liberty has won by a combined 105-6 in the past two weeks.

Dedeaux, a sophomore, scored Liberty’s first touchdown on a kick return of about 70 yards in the first quarter for a 9-0 lead. Liberty’s initial points came seconds earlier when it blocked a punt, and the ball traveled out of the end zone for a safety.

Spencer Wilson added an 87-yard touchdown return for the Patriots, who won’t return to action until Oct. 30 at Las Vegas.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21