Liberty hosts LB in Region III rematch

Lord Botetourt, which travels to Bedford tonight to take on Liberty in the first round of the Region III, Division 3, playoffs, could be one of the best 3-7 football teams in the state of Virginia.

The Cavaliers are, in Liberty coach Chris Watts’ estimation, an improved squad from last year’s 4-6 team that lost to the Minutemen 47-14 in Daleville.

“They’ve had a tough schedule,” Watts said, noting the Cavaliers’ losses include those to Salem, William Fleming, Brookville, the top-rated team in Region III, Division 3, and Pulaski County, the top-rated team in Region IV, Division 3. “They beat Blacksburg early in the year and played a close game against Salem (so) they’re not a bad football team by any stretch.”

The Cavaliers beat Blacksburg, a team that dealt Liberty an early-season 28-13 defeat, by a 20-17 score with nationally recruited placekicker Troy McNeil providing the margin of victory.

LB features Emory Straub, a third-year starter at QB, and a sizeable offensive and defensive line.

“They’re big all the way across the front,” said Watts, who starts an entirely new offensive and defensive line from the last time the two teams met. “They worried me last year and they worry me this year.”

If the Minutemen take care of business and do the things they do well, they should be the favorite tonight, though perhaps not by as large a margin as last year.

“Last year, we got rolling offensively and took advantage of some opportunities,” Watts said, including an interception return for a touchdown by Anthony Reynolds. “We just have to make sure we play our best football and let things take care of themselves.”

After veering away from the running game in last week’s loss to Jefferson Forest, the Minutemen need to establish that early against the area’s other Cavaliers.

“We’ve known all along, we’ve got to be able to run the football, especially as we get into the playoffs,” Watts said. “It opens the pass for us. We didn’t do a real good job coming off the football Friday against JF. Offensively, we’ve got to be quick off the ball, especially against teams that play good defense. If they don’t respect the run, that puts more pressure on the quarterback and receivers to make plays.”

Liberty lost Kordero Thompson, their third-leading tackler at safety and third-string quarterback behind Tyler Bowyer and Reynolds, to a knee injury on the first play of last week’s game against JF, but hopes he will be available tonight.

“He’s a great kid and has been a great asset to our program this year,” Watts said, noting the senior playing his first season on varsity is also Liberty’s second-leading receiver behind Boo Payne. “He’s done a tremendous job on offensive side of the ball and defensive side of the ball. When we took him out of the mix, we definitely missed him.”