By Sean McNamara
CLARKSBURG – The North Marion Huskies defeated the Liberty (Harrison) Mountaineers on Friday in Clarksburg, 62-20, securing the top seed in the Class AA postseason.
The 2023 postseason will mark only the second time the Huskies have had the top seed in the playoffs (1980) and while the opponent is not yet official, NMHS coach Daran Hays and his team are excited to play the postseason at Roy Michael Field.
“It means a lot to just be among that crowd of the top teams in the state,” Hays said. “We’ve played what I think is a really competitive schedule and I think the strength of schedule component really benefited us. I told (the team) at the beginning of the week that I was going to be blunt – in my mind we’re the No. 3 team in the state at best. We lost a game and there’s an undefeated team out there before tonight.”
With the loss, Liberty ends the 2023 campaign with a 5-5 record and no postseason berth.
As a unique and difficult season comes to a close with so much uncertainty surrounding Liberty High School’s future amid consolidation rumors, coach AJ Harman explained the adversity his team faced all year.
“It’s been a very emotional season,” Harman said. “It’s been a challenge, not only for the coaches to keep the players motivated and fighting on the field just because we’ve had such a fight off the field. This school and this program and this community mean so much to us. We were able to use that to drive us the first part of the season.
“Last week, we wanted that RCB game bad. It just felt like all of the life we had we left out there last week.”
In Friday’s game, North Marion forced five Liberty turnovers and outgained the Mountaineers, 619-336, in total yards.
The Huskies came out sharp to start the game Friday, getting a quick Liberty three-and-out before scoring a few plays later on a Minor 7-yard TD run.
Over the course of the next seven minutes, North Marion saw Landon Frey intercept Isaiah Heflin – the first of two in the game for Frey — and score twice more, the first coming on a Minor 26-yard TD pass to Jeff Cowger and the second coming on a Minor 24-yard run. After Brady Anderson knocked in his third PAT in as many tries, NMHS was up, 21-0, on Liberty.
The Mountaineers were able to halt the North Marion momentum, however, as Heflin swung a third-down screen pass across his body to Quinten Hillard who raced 80 yards down the sideline for the TD, making the score 21-7 after Jensen Dodd’s PAT.
Ready to continue to seize the opportunity, Liberty recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and was right back in business.
After moving the chains to start the drive, Heflin floated a pass down the left sideline for Dodd that was intercepted by Brock Martin.
As the second quarter began, the Huskies took full control of the game, scoring three touchdowns in the period to extend the lead to 42-7 at the break.
The first second-quarter score came on a Minor 66-yard TD pass to Martin, which was followed less than three minutes later by a Minor 40-yard TD pass to Noah Hess, his first catch and first touchdown of the season.
With 11 seconds left before the half, Aaron Hoffman capped off the second quarter with a 6-yard run, sending the visitors from Rachel to the locker room with a big lead.
The North Marion advantage quickly ballooned in the third quarter as a pair of Liberty fumbles – both recovered by NMHS’s Denver Hudson – helped set up three Husky TD runs from Trevor Mullett (37 yards), Elijah Armour (3 yards), and Cole Morris (5 yards).
Liberty scored twice late in the game on a 65-yard run by Hillard and a 2-yard run by Heflin, making the final score 62-20, Huskies.
“They’ve got an outstanding team,” Harman said. “Coach Hays has built a great program and those boys are primed and ready for the playoffs. We were just a little outmatched tonight.”
Minor finished the game 10-of-16 passing for 259 yards and three touchdowns with an interception that was picked off by Dodd. Minor added 77 yards and two scores on the ground.
Leading the rushing attack for North Marion was Hoffman who collected 152 yards on 11 carries while Martin caught five passes for 138 yards and a touchdown to lead the Huskies, who will now prepare for their playoff opponent once it is announced.
“It’s a memorable time,” Hays said. “They’re part of a very special group. They’re probably one of five teams (in NMHS history) that has gone undefeated or had one-loss regular seasons and the second-ever top seed entering the tournament. But it really doesn’t matter where you enter.”
Hilliard posted team highs in rushing and receiving with 83 and 86 yards, respectively, for Liberty.
Heflin finished 10-of-23 passing for 152 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.
NORTH MARION 62, LIBERTY 20
NM;LIB
First Downs;20;13
Rushing Yards;360;184
Passing Yards;259;152
Total Yards;619;336
Passing;10-16-1;10-23-3
Fumbles;0;3
Fumbles Lost;0;2
Penalties;8-68;2-15
Individual Stats
Rushing: NM: Aaron Hoffman 11-152 1 TD, Casey Minor 6-77 2 TD, Trevor Mullett 3-65 1 TD, Elijah Armour 3-21 1 TD, Cole Morris 3-24 1 TD, Robert White 1-9, Cyrus Collins 1-5, Isaiah Carpenter 1-3, Colby VanGilder 2-0, Blake Edgell 1-3. Totals: 32-360. LIB: Quinten Hilliard 7-83 1 TD, Isaiah Heflin 8-56 1 TD, Christian Davis 7-37, Landon Clevenger 3-7, Luke Greathouse 1-5, Brock Benedum 3-(-4). Totals: 29-184.
Passing: NM: Casey Minor 10-16-1 259 3 TD. LIB: Isaiah Heflin 10-23-3 152 1 TD.
Receiving: NM: Brock Martin 5-138 1 TD, Landon Frey 3-55, Jeff Cowger 1-26 1 TD, Noah Hess 1-40 1 TD. LIB: Quinten Hilliard 3-86 1 TD, Jenson Dodd 5-63, Landon Clevenger 2-3.
NM;;21;21;20;0;;62
LIB;;7;0;7;6;;20
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
NM – Casey Minor 7-yard run (Brady Anderson kick)
NM – Jeff Cowger 26-yard pass from Minor (Anderson kick)
NM – Minor 24-yard run (Anderson kick)
LIB – Quinten Hilliard 80 yard pass from Isaiah Heflin (Jensen Dodd kick)
Second Quarter
NM – Brock Martin 66-yard pass from Minor (Anderson kick)
NM – Noah Hess 40-yard pass from Minor (Anderson kick)
NM – Aaron Hoffman 6-yard run (Anderson kick)
Third Quarter
NM – Trevor Mullett 37-yard run (Anderson kick)
NM – Elijah Armour 3-yard run (pass failed)
NM – Cole Morris 5-yard run (Anderson kick)
LIB – Hilliard 65-yard run (Dodd kick)
Fourth Quarter
LIB – Heflin 2-yard run (run failed)
