By Brian Ptashinski @BPtashinski on Twitter
Bethlehem- The Liberty Hurricanes sent a message to the remaining teams in the D11/2/4 subregional bracket, that they are going to be a team to reckon with going forward. They played their most complete game of the season demolishing Stroudsburg at BASD Stadium 44-0 Saturday night.
The Mounties had little success in slowing down the potent offensive attack of the Hurricanes. Liberty QB Doug Erney threw for three score and ran for another which totaled 183 yards passing, ran for 58 yards and had a score. The offensive line opened up some big holes for the running backs all night.
Liberty managed three touchdowns and a field goal on their first four possessions of the contest taking a 23-0 lead at intermission. Erney connected with Victor Santiago for a 54 yard strike on opening drive of third quarter to extend lead to 30-0.
“I was very pleased with the way we played on both sides of the ball tonight. We played a complete game both offensively and defensively. We just need to keep this momentum going forward, It’s going to get tougher deeper in the playoffs,” said a satisfied Liberty coach John Truby after the contest.
Stroudsburg tried to control the ball and the clock and keep the potent Hurricane offense off the field. That plan took a hit when Mountie RB Jamal Brome left the game in the first quarter and did not return.
“Their speed was a concern, no question, coming into tonight. We knew we were going to have to keep the score close if we were going to have a shot. Liberty is a good team, well coached. It was going to take our best effort to get the win. It just didn’t happen,” said Mountie coach Jim Miller.
Liberty will now face a team they know little about, Wyoming Valley West. The Spartans, from District 2, defeated Nazareth Friday night 51-34 and come into the contest unbeaten. That game will be played at Spartan Stadium in Kingston Friday night.
Erney summed up next week, ”We will watch film on them and make sure we come out with the same intensity that we had tonight. We know they are good and they’ll be ready for us as well. We will have a long bus ride up there Friday. We need to make sure we come out on fire when game starts.”
