Liberty High School's new girls' flag football program made an emphatic debut Tuesday, blanking Sierra 31-0 in a game that marked a historic first for both schools.
The game at District 20 Stadium was Sierra's first as a program as well, but the Stallions could not stop a dominant Liberty team, which scored 23 points at the half.
At the center of Liberty's offense was a sophomore who already competes at an elite level in another sport. A shortstop for U-15 Team USA, the Pine Creek sophomore plays wide receiver for Liberty's first-year flag football team. In the Lancers' season opener, she finished with three touchdowns, an extra point, and an interception.
She scored the first touchdown in program history on the opening play with a 40-yard carry and added another before the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, sophomore Zariyah Willis earned a safety for Liberty to set up another touchdown before the break. With momentum on the Lancers' side, the receiver opened the third quarter with an interception, though Sierra managed to force a turnover on downs. Liberty's Lola Gartner then ran in for a touchdown with six minutes left in the quarter to record the final points of the game after a scoreless fourth quarter.
A large part of the Lancers' success Tuesday was the connection between freshman quarterback Morgan Vanhorn and the standout receiver — a pair who did not know each other before joining the team but have built a friendship that translated on their home field. "She's a great thrower, and knows the playbook well," the receiver said of Vanhorn. "We are lucky to have her."
The current roster stands at 33 players and consists of both Liberty and Pine Creek students, who quickly became close when workouts began two months ago. "These girls are such hard workers, and it will only get better from here," Liberty coach Cody Jamison said after the game.
The standout sophomore had already helped the Eagles to a 14-2 softball win earlier in the day, underlining the demanding schedule she is managing as a two-sport athlete. "We couldn't have asked for a better start," she said. "We were just out there having fun together and played the best we could."
The team faces a quick turnaround with a matchup at The Vanguard School on Wednesday night.