Liberty High Remains Unbeaten With Homecoming Win Over Linn-Mar
Douglas Miles
Your Prep Sports
NORTH LIBERTY – Reece Rettig continues to make magic on the football field.
The Liberty High senior quarterback – who led the Lightning all the way to the Class 5A state championship game last season – ran for two scores and threw for a third as the 5A second-ranked Lightning overpowered Linn-Mar, 28-7, Friday night at Liberty High School.
“You take what they give us,” Rettig said. “You’re calling quarterback run, that is what they’re going to take if they key on our running backs. Our run game really stepped up today. If it takes me running the ball or it takes someone else running the ball, we’ll just take what they give us.”
While Rettig ran for 58 yards, senior tailback Logan Laubenthal broke through for 114 rushing yards, including a first quarter touchdown of 35 yards. Laubenthal – who celebrated his 18th birthday Friday – entered the night with just 38 rushing yards through two games.
“Cedar Falls and Southeast Polk are tough teams,” Laubenthal said. “We thought we could step it up on Linn-Mar and we did. It felt good.”
Liberty (3-0) used a standout performance from its defense to relieve pressure and allow its offense to flow.
The Lightning defenders allowed just six first downs and 197 yards, including a defensive bust that allowed a short Linn-Mar pass from quarterback Derek Roling to result in a 65-yard touchdown for Tate McEwoen that pulled the Lions within 14-7 just after halftime.
“I thought our defense played really well in the first half,” Liberty Coach Scott Chandler said. “Probably gave up a little too much there in the second half. And then our offense, when we can control the clock, we’ll do it. I thought we did a really good job of that in the second half.”
Liberty High capped the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard touchdown toss from Rettig to Pryce Reiners on fourth down and five yards to go.
Rettig finished with 26 completions for 236 passing yards, while Reiners tallied seven receptions for 56 yards.
“We’re going to go quick,” Rettig said. “We’re going to get lined up and if they aren’t going to align with what we want to do, we are just going to get it out there quick. Take what I see and let the guys make a play. They can break it at any time.”
Linn-Mar (0-3) hosts Cedar Rapids Kennedy next Friday, while Liberty has another showdown at Johnston.
“It’s going to take another great week of practice,” Rettig said. “Stay focused, don’t get stuck on the one we’re on, but move on to the next every time. Keep punting.”
LM ICL
First Downs 6 25
Rushes-yards 18-78 35-194
Comp-Att-Int 9-17-1 27-39-1
Passing yards 119 235
Total yards 197 429
Punts-avg. 3-35.3 1-42.0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-yards 6-45 2-10
Linn-Mar 0 0 7 0 – 7
Iowa City Liberty 7 7 7 7 – 28
ICL – Logan Laubenthal 35 run (Collin Weis kick)
ICL – Reece Rettig 1 run (Collin Weis kick)
LM – Tate McEowen 65 pass from Derek Roling (Bradley Duncan-Porter kick)
ICL – Reece Rettig 9 run (Collin Weis kick)
ICL – Pryor Reiners 25 pass from Reece Rettig (Collin Weis kick)
Individual Statistics
RUSHING – Linn-Mar: Hud Turner 10-62, Cael Fairley 4-22, Derek Roling 4-(-6). Liberty High: Reece Rettig 13-58, Brody Beaver 4-8, Pryor Reiners 1-7, Logan Laubenthal 16-114, Cooper Lester 1-7.
PASSING – Linn-Mar: Derek Roling 9-16-0 119, Cael Fairley 0-1-1 0. Liberty High: Reece Rettig 26-38-1 236, Cooper Lester 1-1-0 (-1).
RECEIVING – Linn-Mar: Tate McEowen 2-65, Bradley Duncan-Porter 2-17, Deklan Thoms 1-0, Cael Fairley 3-32, Chase Bradley 1-5. Liberty High: Pryor Reiners 7-56, Logan Laubenthal 1-15, Leo Rozz 8-75, Jordan Schroeder 3-32, Adrian Clerry 2-12, Cale Baldwin 4-34, Landon Bell 1-12, Reece Rettig 1-(-1).
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