Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – During it’s back-to-back state semifinal appearances Liberty High has relied heavily on a group of players that share many of the same traits.

Over the past three seasons the Liberty High lineup has been filled with tough, versatile players.

Two-way players.

Unselfish teammates.

Team-first guys.

Those types of players have been the foundation for a Liberty High program that is 28-7 over the past three seasons and will be seeking a third-consecutive Class 5A semifinal appearance when it takes on Ankeny (8-2) in a quarterfinal on Friday at 7 p.m. at Northview Middle School Ankeny Stadium.

Senior defensive back/wide receiver/kick returner Adrian Clerry is another in a long line of Liberty High players that fits that description.

“He’s a winner,” Liberty High coach Mitch Wieland said. “He wants to win, he’ll do whatever it takes, whatever you ask of him to win. There is just something different about him that you can tell that he doesn’t want this to ever end.”

The team-first attitude is something Clerry learned early in his career.

According to Clerry it’s what has the Lightning poised to return to the 5A semifinals for the third consecutive season.

“That’s a big part, a big part, being a teammate, putting the team first, that’s what makes us so good,” Clerry said. “We know we can give the ball to anybody and they will make plays. We trust everyone. It’s a family.”

Clerry is the type of versatile football player that has thrived in the Liberty High system over the past several seasons.

Name a role and the speedy 5-foot-10, 170-pound Clerry like fills it on the field.

A starter on both sides of the ball Clerry is also a weapon on special teams where he leads the Lightning in kick off returns (21.8 yards per return) and punt returns (15.1 yards per return).

“He does everything for us,” Wieland said. “Some of the stuff we use him on is not the most glamourous, he does a lot of the dirty work blocking, a lot of the returns, a lot of the stuff on special teams and defense and he just continues to show up.”

Clerry excelled last season, accounting for 449 yards of offense and seven touchdowns and ranking fifth on the team with 28 tackles while helping Liberty High to an 11-2 record and a 5A runner-up finish.

This season Clerry has upped his production but more importantly has taken on a larger leadership role helping the Lightning to a 7-3 record and a third consecutive quarterfinal appearance.

The most important thing that Clerry brings to the Lightning, outside of his electric playmaking ability, is energy.

Lots and lots of energy.

“He’s just our absolute energized bunny, I don’t think he can turn it off if he wanted to,” Wieland said. “I don’t know if there is a better way than energizer bunny to describe him.”

Clerry has done it all this season for Liberty High (7-3) and done it all extremely well.

He ranks second on the team in receptions and is seventh in tackles while leading the Lightning with three interceptions.

Playing receiver is the preferred spot for Clerry, who has 41 receptions for 497 yards and six touchdowns this season.

“I think receiver is my favorite,” Clerry said. “Getting a touchdown, getting the ball it’s the most exciting.”

Receiver may be his favorite but Clerry relishes every opportunity on the field.

Regardless of the role Clerry is excited to fill it with energy.

“(The energy) just comes,” Clerry said. “Playing the game is fun so it’s easy to have energy it just comes with having fun.”

In addition to his defensive, pass catching and special teams output Clerry has also completed two passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Again, there isn’t much on a football field he can’t do.

“Quarterback is fun,” Clerry said. “Throwing the rock around and even in the back yard, I’d play quarterback in the back yard so I want to have fun and throw it around.”

Clerry was at his versatile best in a 28-14 opening-round win at Indianola last week.

He had seven receptions for 64 yards, added six tackles with a tackle for loss and an interception and returned a kick off 21 yards.

“He is a team over me guy,” Wieland said. “He understands what it takes to win and he is willing to do whatever it takes.”

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