Douglas Miles

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – Graham Beckman certainly looked healthy.

A week after missing the second half of Liberty High’s 29-28 thrilling victory at Burlington with a thigh bruise, the junior quarterback returned to the field to close the regular season at home against Clinton.

His breakout season continued.

“It is a little sore after a game,” Beckman said after throwing for 269 yards and four touchdowns as the Class 4A fourth-ranked Lightning routed Clinton, 42-7. “But during the game with all the adrenaline, especially with temperatures warming up, it kind of goes all away and it kind of gets loose. … I warmed it up before the game. If I don’t focus on it, I think it really all goes away and I am just out there to play.”

Beckman upped his season totals to 2,128 passing yards and 27 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has already visited Iowa, is set to visit Drake next month and is also talking to Nebraska and North Dakota State.

According to his coaches and teammates, what most consider a breakout season is no surprise at all.

“He is a special young man,” second-year Liberty Coach James Harris said. “I believe he can do a lot of things. He is smart and it is his work ethic. He is smart, he is big, he is talented, he has got the skills, but the work ethic sets him apart. And the wanting to always get better is what sets him apart.”

Beckman fired three touchdown passes in the first half as the Lighting led at halftime, 28-0. Senior receiver Wyatt Williams collected the first touchdown with a 41-yard reception in the first quarter and finished the game with four catches for 80 yards.

Senior tight end Christian Barney collected a 13-yard scoring toss from Beckman in the second quarter, while senior receiver Lucas Meyer posted touchdown receptions of 31 yards in the second quarter and 56 in the third to push the Lightning lead to 35-0.

“We have got an awesome group of seniors who have bought in to be leaders and get us going in the right direction,” Harris said.

The victory clinched the first outright district championship for Liberty (8-1, 5-0 District 3) and earned the Lightning a home playoff game next Friday in North Liberty.

Given the fact that this program won just three games last season, that is pretty heady progress in year two under Coach Harris.

“It means so much,” said senior tailback/linebacker Trey Gregoire, who ran for a short touchdown in the second quarter. “We knew we were this good of a team in the offseason. We just knew we had way better skills. It helps not having a first-year coach.”

The Liberty defense forced a pair of turnovers as both junior linebacker Devin Anderson and junior defensive back Carter Meyers recovered fumbles.

For the fourth time in the last six games, the Liberty defense held its opponent to seven points or less.

“Defense, really, staying healthy is a big one,” said senior defensive back Garrett Gregoire, Trey’s identical twin brother. “Keeping the energy up. I feel like with our defense, we can stop anybody as long as that energy is coming through and make sure we make plays.”

Quarterback Addison Binnie had a touchdown run and an interception on defense for Clinton, which ends its season at 2-7 overall and 0-5 in 4A District 3.

Liberty High should be considered significantly battle-tested for whichever team is tasked with visiting the Lightning in next week’s 4A playoff opening game.

Of the nine Lightning opponents, three are ranked and three more are receiving votes in the most recent Associated Press poll.

“The biggest thing is just staying locked in,” Beckman said. “Knowing that it is playoff time, so for everybody, their next loss and they are done. So staying in and not overlooking anybody and just doing our thing, especially during practice. And then when it gets to game, just watching film and all those little things to get ready for Friday night.”

Clinton                       0  0  7  0  –   7

Liberty High            7 21 7  7  –  42

ICL – Wyatt Williams 41 pass from Graham Beckman (Hayden Saul kick)

ICL – Lucas Meyer 31 pass from Beckman (Saul kick)

ICL – Christian Barney 13 pass from Beckman (Saul kick)

ICL – Trey Gregoire 2 run (Saul kick)

ICL – Meyer 56 pass from Graham Beckman (Saul kick)

CLI – Addison Binnie 8 run (B.J. Cooley kick)

ICL – Cody Nichols 33 run (Saul kick)

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.