Patriots roll on
It was business as usual for the Liberty Christian football team Saturday, as the Patriots routed Republic 64-12 in the Class 1B quarterfinals at Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco.
The game was never in doubt, as Liberty Christian — led by senior standout John Lesser — scored on all six offensive possessions in the first half.
That included three touchdown runs by Lesser, and three TD passes to the Godwin brothers — two to Mitch and one to Cameron.
In the middle of all of that, Mitch Godwin also picked up a fumble and returned it 39 yards for another touchdown.
Lesser added another TD pass to Mitch Godwin in the third quarter, and he finished with 214 yards passing and 186 yards rushing.
Mitch Godwin caught seven passes for 177 yards, and he finished the day with four touchdowns. That Lesser-to-Godwin connection worked all day.
“We have a route, where depending on where the defense plays, I go outside or inside,” said Mitch Godwin. “(John and I) haven’t missed one of those plays yet. We practiced it all summer together. We’ve been best friends ever since we met each other.”
All of those offensive numbers are impressive.
But there were two things that stood out after this win: the Patriots’ intensity about getting back to the Tacoma Dome; and a great defensive effort by Liberty Christian.
Lesser was blunt about the first subject. Last year’s 56-38 loss to Neah Bay in the state 1B title game is still fresh in his mind.
“We’re on a mission,” said Lesser. “We have to get back to the Dome, and bring that (championship) trophy back to the east side.”
Pats defense shines
If the Patriots continue to play defense like they did Saturday, a state title is a true reality.
“Our defense played phenomenal,” said Liberty Christian head coach Craig Lukins. “In 8-man football, if you can hold a team to one or two offensive touchdowns, that’s a great defensive effort. So for us to give up just one offensive touchdown was great.”
It helps to have good athletes on the field. When you’ve got guys like Lesser, Mitch Godwin and Connor Mote — who Lukins calls the heart of the Patriots defense — it makes it pretty tough for a team to score on Liberty Christian.
“We focus a lot in practice about tackling, and staying in your lane,” said Mitch Godwin, who also had an interception. “Staying in your lane is important in 8-man football because the field is so big. But we work on our tackling all of the time.”
Meanwhile, before the Patriots can even think about a potential rematch with Neah Bay in a few weeks (the Red Devils routed Seattle Lutheran 62-12 on Friday and must play rival Lummi Nation in the semifinals next weekend), they must take on Almira/Coulee-Hartline next Saturday in the state semifinals.
ACH held off Touchet 30-22 in another quarterfinal game Saturday in Moses Lake.
Time, date and location will be announced on Monday.
Republic | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | — | 12 |
Liberty Christian | 32 | 24 | 8 | 0 | — | 64 |
SCORING PLAYS
LC — John Lesser 51 run (Lesser run)
LC — Lesser 1 run (Nico Shupe pass from Lesser)
LC — Mitch Godwin 39 fumble return (Lesser run)
LC — Lesser 35 run (Lesser run)
LC — Cameron Godwin 37 pass from Lesser (Lesser run)
LC — M.Godwin 51 pass from Lesser (M.Godwin pass from Lesser)
Rep — Adrian McCarthy 25 run (pass failed)
LC — M.Godwin 11 pass from Lesser (Shupe pass from Lesser)
LC — M.Godwin 32 pass from Lesser (Shupe run)
Rep —McCarthy 81 fumble return (pass failed)
STATISTICS
RUSHING — Republic, Trevor Remien 12-68, Aaron Fritts 6-27, Adrian McCarthy 2-24, Daniel Phillips 2-11, Aaron Helms 2-9, Blake Phillips 1-4. LC, Lesser 12-186, Shupe 10-48, Konnor DenHoed 6-36, Parker Stephenson 1-minus 1.
PASSING — Republic, Fritts 3-5-1-52, Remien 1-2-0-18, Taylor Campbell 0-1-0-0. LC, Lesser 8-11-0-214, K.DenHoed 2-3-0-17.
RECEIVING — Republic, Campbell 2-37, McCarthy 1-18, Remien 2-15. LC, Mitch Godwin 7-177, Cameron Godwin 1-37, Stephen Carter 1-13, Shupe 1-4.
Jeff Morrow: 509-582-1508, @morrow_jeff
This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 11:16 PM with the headline "Patriots roll on."