Liberty High Football

« Older

Photo: Liberty High School lineman Jarvis Polu during pra

Wisconsin's Polynesian pipeline could include Liberty lineman Jarvis Polu: Thursday, May 23, 2013; high school recruiting: The 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive end and offensive tackle was offered last week by the Big 10 Conference power; By Ray Brewer; Liberty High incoming senior lineman Jarvis Polu was a mid- to low-level college football recruit most of the spring, receiving scholarship offers from UNLV, UNR, Idaho and Army. Things quickly changed late last week when Wisconsin offered the 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive end, immediately changing his status from an under-the-radar prospect to a solid three-star recruit by evaluating site Rivals.com. That’s what happens when a national power from the Big 10 Conference offers a scholarship. Wisconsin, and other Big 10 schools, rarely scout the area.

Photo: Bishop Gorman players, coaches and cheerleaders si

Gorman, others prepping this spring to make national splash in August: Thursday, April 11, 2013; high school sports: Coronado and Spring Valley will play in Idaho, Liberty has three games against out-of-state teams; each want to represent Nevada; By Ray Brewer; This will be a chance for Las Vegas area high school football teams to make a statement. During a three-week stretch at the end of August and into early September, nine area programs will open the season against out-of-state competition in games coaches say carry much significance. In addition to getting the players ready for the challenges of league play, they are more than aware of the obvious: The local brand of football is gaining respect nationally each year, meaning teams will be playing for more than the school name on the front of their jersey. They’ll also be representing ...

Photo: Liberty coach Richard Muraco yells to his players

Liberty schedules games with powers in California, Arizona for next two years: Tuesday, January 15, 2013; high school football:; By Ray Brewer; The Liberty High football team has been a Las Vegas-area power the past two seasons. Starting next year, coach Rich Muraco will put his team in position to make a splash nationally. The Patriots’ nonconference schedule the next two seasons will feature games against tough out-of-state competition, including a home-and-home series against Arizona state champion Hamilton.

Photo: The Bishop Gorman Gaels football team poses for ph

Gorman's dynasty, which now includes four straight titles, far from finished: Saturday, December 1, 2012; high school football: Gorman's underclassmen have a hand in five TDs in helping Gaels beat Liberty 63-10 for state title, set table for future championship runs; By Ray Brewer; This wasn’t the first time Bishop Gorman High quarterback Anu Solomon completed a long touchdown pass in a big game. Seconds before halftime Saturday in the Division-I high school football state championship game against Liberty at Sam Boyd Stadium, Solomon connected on a short pass to tight end Alize Jones. Jones did the rest in outracing the Liberty defense for a 78-yard touchdown and 18-point Gorman lead at the break. The completion gave Solomon more than 10,000 passing yards for his four-year career. He would finish with 199 yards and four touchdowns, leading Gorman to its fourth straight state championship ...

State championship live blog: Gorman wins fourth straight title

State championship live blog: Gorman wins fourth straight title: Saturday, December 1, 2012; high school football: Liberty no match as Gorman rolls to 63-10 victory; By Case Keefer; Sam Boyd Stadium has transformed into a party site for those in orange, gray and blue. The Bishop Gorman players, coaches and fans are celebrating a fourth consecutive Nevada state championship.

Photo: The Bishop Gorman footabll team takes to the field

Bishop Gorman's football dynasty by the numbers: Friday, November 30, 2012; high school football: The Gaels, which play Liberty in the state finals Saturday, have won the past three championship games by an average of 41 points; By Ray Brewer; When looking at the following figures, it’s tough to find a flaw in the Bishop Gorman High football team’s dynasty. The Gaels at 12:15 p.m. Saturday will take on Liberty in the state championship game at Sam Boyd Stadium, looking to become the first Nevada team since Reno in the 1950s to win four straight titles. Here’s a look at the dominance:

Photo: Liberty players sing their fight song after defeat

This game against Bishop Gorman will be under different circumstances for Liberty: Friday, November 30, 2012; high school football: The state championship game is a rematch of the first home game in Liberty history — a 70-0 loss to Gorman in 2003; By Ray Brewer; This game was over before it started. That was the theme on several Friday nights for the Liberty High football program in the school’s initial seasons, struggling because housing developments near the Henderson school were still being constructed and enrollment numbers were too low to be field competitive athletic teams. One game stands out for Patriots’ coach Rich Muraco: In the first home game in school history, they were defeated by Bishop Gorman, 70-0.

Photo: Bishop Gorman High football coach Tony Sanchez and

A state championship win Saturday would put Bishop Gorman in exclusive company: Thursday, November 29, 2012; high school football: Three-time defending state champions Gaels looking to become first team since 1950s to win four straight titles; By Ray Brewer; The Bishop Gorman High football team could re-write the record books Saturday in the state championship game. The Gaels can become the first Nevada school since the 1950s to win four straight large-school titles Saturday when they take on Liberty in the championship game at 12:15 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Photo: Liberty High's Kai Nacua celebrates with teammates

Liberty makes quick work of Coronado for Sunrise title, has confidence it can compete next week against Gorman: Saturday, November 24, 2012; high school football: Blowout victory against Coronado gives Liberty its first appearance in the state title game, where they'll face three-time defending state champion Gorman; By Ray Brewer; Kai Nacua could have easily been rattled. The Liberty High quarterback fumbled on the first play of Saturday’s Sunrise Regional championship game against visiting Coronado, committing a turnover that was scooped up by a Coronado defender and returned for a 13-yard touchdown. Just eight seconds into the game and the two-time defending region champion Patriots trailed by a touchdown. But, with Nacua guiding the offense, the deficit lasted just a few minutes. Nacua backed up claims that he’s one of the state’s best players, accounting for seven touchdowns and single-handedly taking the game over in a 59-20 Liberty win.

State or bust: Liberty hopes the third time is a charm in state semifinals: Thursday, November 22, 2012; high school football: Liberty has lost the past two years in the state semifinals, will face rival Coronado at 1 p.m. Saturday with a berth in title game at stake; By Ray Brewer; When Rich Muraco took over as the Liberty High football coach in 2009, the Patriots had never made the playoffs and had won just 14 games in the school’s previous six years of existence. Some four years later, they will play for their third straight Sunrise Regional championship at 1 p.m. Saturday against visiting Coronado. The goal was simple during Muraco’s first season: Make the playoffs.

Photo: Canyon Springs running back Donnel Pumphrey is tac

Liberty shuts out Canyon Springs, one game away from third straight Sunrise title: Saturday, November 17, 2012; high school football:; By Paul Delos Santos; Late in the second quarter, Canyon Springs High had a golden opportunity to tie the game against Liberty High. The Pioneers were on the Liberty 8-yard line, and were seemingly ready to score behind the legs of senior running back Donnel Pumphrey.

Photo: Liberty quarterback Kaimana Nacua runs out of the

Nacua, Patriots advance with win over Silverado: Friday, November 9, 2012; high school football:; By Paul Delos Santos; Kai Nacua rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns to lead top-seeded Liberty High to a 33-14 victory over Silverado High in the Sunrise Region quarterfinals.

Liberty outclasses Foothill in 48-25 victory: Friday, November 2, 2012; high school football:; By Paul Delos Santos; Liberty High extended its division winning streak to 22 games, following a 48-25 win over Foothill High on Friday.

Photo: Liberty running back Niko Kapeli spins away from P

High School Football Top 10: Which team do you think will win the Sunrise Region?: Tuesday, October 30, 2012; high school football:; By Ray Brewer; It’s safe to assume the players on the Liberty High football team are looking in the rearview mirror. Although the No. 2 Patriots are the two-time defending Sunrise Region champions, and extended their Southeast League winning streak to 20-plus games last week by beating No. 9 Basic, the general consensus is they will be challenged come next month’s playoffs.

Photo: Liberty football players Jay Mitchell, Christopher

Liberty proves itself with win over Basic: Friday, October 26, 2012; high school football:; By Paul Delos Santos; The Patriots got a late score from star running back and UNLV commit Niko Kapeli to emerge with a 28-22 victory Friday over the Wolves.