Gallery by Heather Belcher
Shortened quarters and running clocks were commonplace for Independence last year in the run to the Class AA state football title.
Friday night in the Battle of ’76 against county rival Liberty, it was more of the same.
Scoring a touchdown on all ten of their possessions, the visiting Patriots rolled past the Raiders 68-0 in the 2023 season opener at Glen Daniel.
“We just got overpowered. Our kids have to learn they have to get in the weight room. We have to get stronger and we will get those results,” Liberty head coach Mark Workman said. “(Independence) gets in the weight room and they are big and strong up front. We are fairly young front as well.”
While Liberty was struggling to find any offense all night, Independence was striking paydirt from all directions.
Following a three-and-out for the Raiders, the Patriots used a short field to go 46 yards in five plays for the first score. Tyler Linkswiler capped the drive with a three-yard dive for a 6-0 lead.
On the second drive for the defending champions, a holding penalty left them with a third-and-16 from the Liberty 46 yard line. Quarterback Trey Bowers dropped back and launched a dart down the sideline to sophomore Silas Nelson. Nelson gathered in the perfect strike from Bowers for a 13-0 lead.
“We knew Silas was going to be good. We like the other ones too, (Brady) Rose and RaSean Simms who comes in with Rose,” Independence head coach John Lilly said. “Tonight was (Silas’) night, he had the match-ups that we thought we would have. They put three different guys on him. We probably could have thrown it more, but we wanted to work on some things for next week.”
The next series it was former Liberty tailback Connor Bradford’s time to shine when he raced 54 yards for a score on his former team.
“I was really pleased with Tyler and Connor coming in there and getting reps. On a hot night like tonight you need two tailbacks,” Lilly said. “They are both unselfish kids and that is even more of a blessing that both of them get along and are good friends.”
Linkswiler added his second score of the quarter on a 29-yard run and scored a third touchdown in the second half.
After playing behind Kennedy Award winners Atticus Goodson (2021) and Judah Price (2022) the shifty redhead was happy to get his shot at running the ball.
“I was proud of the whole team. First of all I have to thank my O-line and thank God. He gave me all of this ability to do what I need,” Linkswiler said. “I am happy that I finally got to show everybody that I can do just as good as the other guys did. I couldn’t wait for this day. I have been itching for it.”
Linkswiler carried the ball 14 times Friday for 138 yards and had three touchdowns, but chose to pass the praise on to his teammates.
“I didn’t get touched on the carries until I was in the secondary. It’s all my O-line and my wide receivers blocking down field for me,” Linkswiler said.
The second quarter was the Trey Bowers show as the the senior quarterback ran for three scores and hit Nelson for another touchdown pass from 58 yards out.
“He is so good with his feet. He is one of those dual threat quarterbacks that you hate to really face. He can do it with his feet and he has a big arm,” Workman said about Bowers.
Bowers ran the ball eight times for 73 yards and three scores. Through the air he completed six passes on nine attempts for 200 yards and two more touchdowns.
“The guy took us to Wheeling Island (Stadium), so you have to lean on him until we grow up,” Lilly said.
Nelson was named the Pioneer Community Bank Most Valuable Player for the game and was the recipient of all six passes from Bowers.
“It felt great tonight being my first game ever as the starting receiver. It was fun and I had a blast,” Nelson said. “Trey, he is a dawg. He bombs the ball, but it is all practice. We practice it everyday.”
Sophomore Lucas Waddell capped the Independence scoring in the second half, which was shortened to four-minute quarters, with a 26-yard run.
“When you have three backs like they have, you give them a crack and they can go a mile,” Workman said. “It is not the outcome that we wanted, but we will rebound. These young kids will work and we will be back to work Monday after school. We will get it fixed.”
“Offensively I thought our kids came out and executed,” Lilly said. “We have been working really hard on the offensive line, but they came out and played really well.”
While Liberty turns its attention to a home game next week against PikeView, Independence is back on the road at Class AAA Oak Hill Friday.
“I know Oak Hill is extremely good and we have our hands full because they are much improved,” Lilly said. (First year head coach) Davon (Marion) is doing a great job and we know what is coming. We have to grow up real fast.”
I: 27 27 14 0 – 68
L: 0 0 0 0 – 0
First quarter
I: Tyler Linkswiler 3 run (kick no good)
I: Silas Nelson 46 pass from Trey Bowers (Micah Cuthbert kick)
I: Connor Bradford 54 run (Cuthbert kick)
I: Linkswiler 29 run (Cuthbert kick)
Second quarter
I: Bowers 1 run (Cuthbert kick)
I: Bowers 25 run (Cuthbert kick)
I: Nelson 58 pass from Bowers (Cuthbert kick)
I: Bowers 4 run (Cuthbert kick)
Third quarter
I: Linkswiler 1 run (Cuthbert kick)
I: Lucas Waddell 26 run (Cuthbert kick)
Rushing: (I) Linkswiler 14-138-3, Bowers 8-73-3, Bradford 2-75-1, Waddell 3-46-1; (L) Isaac Williams 5-3, Brayden Houck 11-(-8); Riley Marty 2-(-3), Trenton Clay 1-(-2), Chase Shea 1-(-1).
Passing: (I) Bowers 6-9-0-3-200; Houck 3-13-0-0-9
Receiving: (I) Nelson 6-200-2; Kris Bowman 2-3, Marty 1-6
Takeaways: (L) Chris Bowman (fum)
