Does anyone know if there is any radio broadcasting or a video stream of the game for Friday night?
Handley vs. Liberty
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Handley, Liberty square off for district lead
Handley’s Leland Walkling (25), Stephen Daley (center) and Jayden Vardaro will look to slow down Liberty's attack as the Judges (7-1, 4-1) take on the Eagles (8-0, 5-0) in Bealeton tonight.
WALT MOODY/The Winchester Star
Handley is looking to do something tonight that none of its area counterparts have pulled off — beat Liberty.
And if they do, the Judges (7-1, 4-1 district) will be sitting pretty in the playoff chase in the Class 4 Northwestern District.
But the Eagles (8-0, 5-0), who host tonight's game in Bealeton, have proven to have just enough when it counts. Last week, they rallied to top Millbrook 20-14. Earlier in the season, Liberty rallied to edge Sherando 20-13.
Handley coach Dan Jones is not surprised by Liberty's success.
“They're well-coached,” Jones started. “They're physical. They're fast. They've got everything you need. They're well-balanced on offense. On defense, they keep everything in front and force you to drive the ball. They're tough and you've got to be disciplined and patient against them.”
Offensively, Liberty can beat you in the air or on the ground with multiple players doing the damage. Mason Gay rushed for 178 yards against Millbrook last week. Markkel Newman and Freddie Harris also get carries in the backfield.
Quarterback Dylan Bailey threw four TD passes in a 50-21 win over James Wood. The junior has four different targets — Tre'Von White, Justin Lawson, Jordan Hicks and Wyatt Hicks — who present challenges with speed, size or precision.
“They have two kids in [White] and [Lawson] who can beat you deep,” Jones said. “[White] runs great routes and catches things underneath. Their quarterback reads defenses well and does a lot of RPOs (run-pass options). Their running backs — they have like three of them — come in and out and all of them are different in their own way.”
To slow down the Eagles, Jones said it is critical to get pressure on Bailey.
“You've got to,” Jones said. “It's just like Millbrook. You have to put pressure on the quarterback. You're not guaranteed anything because he's very athletic and does good things. You're definitely better off putting on pressure than letting him sit back there and pick you apart.”
Toward that goal, the Judges might get some help. Linebacker Stephen Daley, who has nine sacks, has missed the past two games after being injured early in the second half against Millbrook. Jones said early in the week that he is “95 percent” sure Daley will play tonight.
Jones likens Daley to his big-play quarterback Malachi Imoh.
“He changes a lot of things,” Jones said. “It's like Malachi on offense. If things are going well for Malachi, our offense and defense gets excited. With Stephen, it's the same thing. He makes big plays and gets everybody a little more excited.”
Jones lauded the play of Caleb Metzger and Nikqui Williams in Daley's absence, but admitted it is tough when missing one of the Judges' top players. “It's kind of when you leave your phone at home or something,” Jones explained. “Even though it's not a big deal, it bothers you a little bit.”
The Judges are coming off of a 28-21 triumph against winless Kettle Run in which the Cougars controlled the ball and somewhat frustrated the Judges offense.
“We felt like we weren't being successful because we weren't out there very often,” Jones said. “Their offense did such a great job of sustaining drives even when they did not score. They took chunks of time off the clock and kept us off the field. We felt frustrated after the game, but after watching the film it turned into more like when we have our opportunities we have to do a better job of keeping the ball and not turning it over or having to punt.”
Handley's offense will face a stiff test against a Liberty defense that is solid in all three levels.
“They're well organized,” Jones said. “They do a great job not giving up the big play.”
The big play is what Handley has specialized in with Imoh this season. The senior has rushed for 1,505 yards and 22 scores and had a 72-yard TD run last week.
Jones said winning tonight will come down to a few key things.
“We have to be patient, but aggressive on offense,” he said. “We have to take our chances when they are there. Defensively, we have to rally to the ball and not give up the big plays. We can't give them big plays.
“They punt the ball a lot,” he added of the Eagles. “They're not real aggressive in a sense. They like to be just conservative in a sense and get what they get. They are patient knowing that the defense plays so well.”
With two games left, Jones says the Judges “control our own destiny” in the district race, which will decide four teams to earn regional berths. Beating Liberty would guarantee one of those spots.
“They're 8-0 and it's at their home field,” Jones said. “It's a big game for us. It's another step for us as program if we can win this game.”
Handley’s Leland Walkling (25), Stephen Daley (center) and Jayden Vardaro will look to slow down Liberty's attack as the Judges (7-1, 4-1) take on the Eagles (8-0, 5-0) in Bealeton tonight.
WALT MOODY/The Winchester Star
Handley is looking to do something tonight that none of its area counterparts have pulled off — beat Liberty.
And if they do, the Judges (7-1, 4-1 district) will be sitting pretty in the playoff chase in the Class 4 Northwestern District.
But the Eagles (8-0, 5-0), who host tonight's game in Bealeton, have proven to have just enough when it counts. Last week, they rallied to top Millbrook 20-14. Earlier in the season, Liberty rallied to edge Sherando 20-13.
Handley coach Dan Jones is not surprised by Liberty's success.
“They're well-coached,” Jones started. “They're physical. They're fast. They've got everything you need. They're well-balanced on offense. On defense, they keep everything in front and force you to drive the ball. They're tough and you've got to be disciplined and patient against them.”
Offensively, Liberty can beat you in the air or on the ground with multiple players doing the damage. Mason Gay rushed for 178 yards against Millbrook last week. Markkel Newman and Freddie Harris also get carries in the backfield.
Quarterback Dylan Bailey threw four TD passes in a 50-21 win over James Wood. The junior has four different targets — Tre'Von White, Justin Lawson, Jordan Hicks and Wyatt Hicks — who present challenges with speed, size or precision.
“They have two kids in [White] and [Lawson] who can beat you deep,” Jones said. “[White] runs great routes and catches things underneath. Their quarterback reads defenses well and does a lot of RPOs (run-pass options). Their running backs — they have like three of them — come in and out and all of them are different in their own way.”
To slow down the Eagles, Jones said it is critical to get pressure on Bailey.
“You've got to,” Jones said. “It's just like Millbrook. You have to put pressure on the quarterback. You're not guaranteed anything because he's very athletic and does good things. You're definitely better off putting on pressure than letting him sit back there and pick you apart.”
Toward that goal, the Judges might get some help. Linebacker Stephen Daley, who has nine sacks, has missed the past two games after being injured early in the second half against Millbrook. Jones said early in the week that he is “95 percent” sure Daley will play tonight.
Jones likens Daley to his big-play quarterback Malachi Imoh.
“He changes a lot of things,” Jones said. “It's like Malachi on offense. If things are going well for Malachi, our offense and defense gets excited. With Stephen, it's the same thing. He makes big plays and gets everybody a little more excited.”
Jones lauded the play of Caleb Metzger and Nikqui Williams in Daley's absence, but admitted it is tough when missing one of the Judges' top players. “It's kind of when you leave your phone at home or something,” Jones explained. “Even though it's not a big deal, it bothers you a little bit.”
The Judges are coming off of a 28-21 triumph against winless Kettle Run in which the Cougars controlled the ball and somewhat frustrated the Judges offense.
“We felt like we weren't being successful because we weren't out there very often,” Jones said. “Their offense did such a great job of sustaining drives even when they did not score. They took chunks of time off the clock and kept us off the field. We felt frustrated after the game, but after watching the film it turned into more like when we have our opportunities we have to do a better job of keeping the ball and not turning it over or having to punt.”
Handley's offense will face a stiff test against a Liberty defense that is solid in all three levels.
“They're well organized,” Jones said. “They do a great job not giving up the big play.”
The big play is what Handley has specialized in with Imoh this season. The senior has rushed for 1,505 yards and 22 scores and had a 72-yard TD run last week.
Jones said winning tonight will come down to a few key things.
“We have to be patient, but aggressive on offense,” he said. “We have to take our chances when they are there. Defensively, we have to rally to the ball and not give up the big plays. We can't give them big plays.
“They punt the ball a lot,” he added of the Eagles. “They're not real aggressive in a sense. They like to be just conservative in a sense and get what they get. They are patient knowing that the defense plays so well.”
With two games left, Jones says the Judges “control our own destiny” in the district race, which will decide four teams to earn regional berths. Beating Liberty would guarantee one of those spots.
“They're 8-0 and it's at their home field,” Jones said. “It's a big game for us. It's another step for us as program if we can win this game.”
Liberty Eagles up 14-0 over the Handley Judges at halftime.
Found a radio doing PBP ...
https://www.iheart.com/live/fox-sports-1550-4229/
Found a radio doing PBP ...
https://www.iheart.com/live/fox-sports-1550-4229/
40-27 Liberty takes Northwest District title off the back of their defense. All night the defense was clicking on all cylinders until the very end when they game up 14 points easily and the offensive line had the push all night. Running the ball gained big chunks of yards but the QB had the worse game he’s played all year. Not giving the WRs much of a chance to catch the ball. Along with giving up unnecessary sacks that backed them up.
Liberty clinches district title with win over Handley
Handley quarterback Malachi Imoh is warpped up by Liberty's Colby Lewis (left) and Matthew Sloan (background) during the first half of Friday's game in Bealeton. Unbeaten Liberty clinched the Class 4 Northwestern District title win a 40-27 win over the Judges.
Handley's Josiah Duffy (10) hits Liberty quartback Dylan Bailey as he throws past the leaping Stephen Daley during the Judges' 40-27 loss against Liberty on Friday.
BEALETON — Handley brought some weapons to its Class 4 Northwestern District football showdown on Friday.
Liberty brought an arsenal.
The unbeaten Eagles scored on offense, defense and special teams and took control from the start in clinching the district crown with a 40-27 triumph against the Judges. Liberty (9-0, 6-0) grabbed a 14-halftime lead in a dominating first half and did not let the Judges get any closer than two touchdowns over the final two quarters.
"It just shows that our kids are learning in all three phases," Liberty coach Travis Buzzo said of his team's balance in the triumph on a chilly evening. "We've really improved on offense and defense this year, but our biggest improvement has been on special teams."
"They're a great team," Handley coach Dan Jones said. "Travis has done a great job with them and brought them back to where they used to be. They're sound all of the way around."
The Eagles, who went 5-5 last fall, were ecstatic to celebrate a district crown and the No. 1 district seed heading into the Region 4C playoffs in two weeks.
"It means a lot," said Liberty's Justin Lawson, who had a receiving touchdown and returned a kickoff for a score. "We hadn't done that in a long time."
"It does mean a lot to us," echoed Mason Gay, who rushed for 144 yards and score on 27 carries. "We worked hard, practiced hard and practiced well."
Handley (7-2, 4-2) can clinch one of the remaining three playoff spots with a win over James Wood on Nov. 9 at James R. Wilkins Jr. Stadium.
The Judges, who came in averaging 37 points a game, were held scoreless in the first two quarters. Handley entered the half with as many first downs as turnovers — two.
One of those turnovers led to a late first-half touchdown and a 14-0 halftime deficit that the Judges could never dig out of.
"They did a great job," said Dan Jones, whose squad committed four turnovers in the contest. "They are a great defense. They were a step ahead of me tonight. I couldn't get us going. It was my fault. The kids played great. It was my fault."
The Judges' defense, buoyed by the return of linebacker Stephen Daley from injury, played well for most of the night until wearing down in the second half. Handley held Liberty on downs four times in the first half, but was constantly on the field as the offense struggled.
"The defense played great," Jones said. "We just kept them on the field too long."
Liberty broke through on its third series thanks to a spectacular play by Lawson. On first down from the Handley 30, Lawson took a short pitch from quarterback Dylan Bailey and ran toward the right sideline. Bottled up by the Judges' defense, he went left, picked up a couple of blocks and raced in for a score. Bailey's conversion toss to Wyatt Hicks made it 8-0 with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.
"I saw the defense collapsing down on the jet [sweep], so I decided to see what I could do with the ball or not," Lawson said. " reversed field, saw openings and blocks and made it happen."
The defense bailed out Handley late in the half after Malachi Imoh was picked off at the Judges' 20, but on the first play after the stop Noah Hendrickson fumbled and Matthew Sloan recovered at the Handley 14.
Six plays later, Gay plunged in from the 2 to make it 14-0 at the half.
"It was really important," Lawson said of getting the two-touchdown lead since Liberty has often had to rally this season. "Usually, we trail in the first half."
The Eagles would score twice again to start the third quarter without its offense having to take the field.
After the break, the Judges got a first down, but Imoh threw high and a tipped ball landed in the hands of Tre'Von White, who took his second interception of the game 44 yards down the left sideline for a score. Bailey's conversion run made it 22-0.
Handley finally got on the board on its next possession thanks to two big plays from Dayvon Newman. The junior receiver caught a 14-yard pass from Imoh on a third-and-11. Then two plays later, he took a reverse to the right sidelines, made a spectacular spin move to shake one tackler, juked another who was left grasping at air and rumbled 32 yards for a score. After a penalty on Liberty, Handley went for two points and Imoh plowed over to make it 22-8 with 7:55 left in the third.
The momentum was short-lived, though. Adam Pollak's kickoff bounced high and off Lawson's hands as the Liberty speedster retreated inside the 10 to retrieve the ball. Lawson picked it up, made a quick cut and was gone down the right sidelines for a 92-yard return that made it 28-8.
"I hit the sideline, got a good block and it was off to the races from there," Lawson said.
Handley kept scrapping and would not let Liberty pull away.
Imoh lofted a perfect 51-yard strike to Jayden Vardaro, who beat Lawson, to make it 28-14 with about a minute left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Judges had the ball with a chance to cut the deficit, but Imoh's long pass downfield was picked off by Bryan Barnes at the Liberty 38.
The Eagles, behind 48 rushing yards from Gay, marched downfield and Bailey capped the drive with an eight-yard strike to tight end Jordan Hicks to make it 34-14.
Imoh, held under wraps for most of the game, broke loose on a scramble to his left, faked out a tackler on the sidelines and raced 66 yards for a TD that made it 34-21 with 4:17 left.
But the Judges tiring defense could not hold Liberty as backup quarterback Samuel Marouse carried four times for 37 yards and scored from the 1 to make it 40-21.
Imoh swept right and scored from 16 yards out for the final margin. Imoh finished with 146 yards on 19 carries, nearly all of it in the second half. He was 5 of 14 for 135 yards.
"I thought we really played well for 2½ quarters," Buzzo said of his defense. "Our first half was phenomenal. Our defensive game plan was to have Handley beat us and not let [Imoh] beat us. He got a couple toward the end of the game when we got tired. We've got to figure that out a little bit."
Jones, who got outstanding efforts from Leland Walkling and Josiah Duffy on defense, was proud of the way his kids scrapped though being down nearly the entire game.
"Our kids fought all of the way until the end," Jones said. "That's what we ask — to compete for four quarters — and that's what we did. I've got to do a better job of being prepared."
The Judges now face a likely must-win scenario against the Colonels.
"If we don't bounce back, we're probably going to get bounced out," Jones said.
Handley quarterback Malachi Imoh is warpped up by Liberty's Colby Lewis (left) and Matthew Sloan (background) during the first half of Friday's game in Bealeton. Unbeaten Liberty clinched the Class 4 Northwestern District title win a 40-27 win over the Judges.
- WALT MOODY/The Winchester Star
Handley's Josiah Duffy (10) hits Liberty quartback Dylan Bailey as he throws past the leaping Stephen Daley during the Judges' 40-27 loss against Liberty on Friday.
- WALT MOODY/The Winchester Star
BEALETON — Handley brought some weapons to its Class 4 Northwestern District football showdown on Friday.
Liberty brought an arsenal.
The unbeaten Eagles scored on offense, defense and special teams and took control from the start in clinching the district crown with a 40-27 triumph against the Judges. Liberty (9-0, 6-0) grabbed a 14-halftime lead in a dominating first half and did not let the Judges get any closer than two touchdowns over the final two quarters.
"It just shows that our kids are learning in all three phases," Liberty coach Travis Buzzo said of his team's balance in the triumph on a chilly evening. "We've really improved on offense and defense this year, but our biggest improvement has been on special teams."
"They're a great team," Handley coach Dan Jones said. "Travis has done a great job with them and brought them back to where they used to be. They're sound all of the way around."
The Eagles, who went 5-5 last fall, were ecstatic to celebrate a district crown and the No. 1 district seed heading into the Region 4C playoffs in two weeks.
"It means a lot," said Liberty's Justin Lawson, who had a receiving touchdown and returned a kickoff for a score. "We hadn't done that in a long time."
"It does mean a lot to us," echoed Mason Gay, who rushed for 144 yards and score on 27 carries. "We worked hard, practiced hard and practiced well."
Handley (7-2, 4-2) can clinch one of the remaining three playoff spots with a win over James Wood on Nov. 9 at James R. Wilkins Jr. Stadium.
The Judges, who came in averaging 37 points a game, were held scoreless in the first two quarters. Handley entered the half with as many first downs as turnovers — two.
One of those turnovers led to a late first-half touchdown and a 14-0 halftime deficit that the Judges could never dig out of.
"They did a great job," said Dan Jones, whose squad committed four turnovers in the contest. "They are a great defense. They were a step ahead of me tonight. I couldn't get us going. It was my fault. The kids played great. It was my fault."
The Judges' defense, buoyed by the return of linebacker Stephen Daley from injury, played well for most of the night until wearing down in the second half. Handley held Liberty on downs four times in the first half, but was constantly on the field as the offense struggled.
"The defense played great," Jones said. "We just kept them on the field too long."
Liberty broke through on its third series thanks to a spectacular play by Lawson. On first down from the Handley 30, Lawson took a short pitch from quarterback Dylan Bailey and ran toward the right sideline. Bottled up by the Judges' defense, he went left, picked up a couple of blocks and raced in for a score. Bailey's conversion toss to Wyatt Hicks made it 8-0 with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.
"I saw the defense collapsing down on the jet [sweep], so I decided to see what I could do with the ball or not," Lawson said. " reversed field, saw openings and blocks and made it happen."
The defense bailed out Handley late in the half after Malachi Imoh was picked off at the Judges' 20, but on the first play after the stop Noah Hendrickson fumbled and Matthew Sloan recovered at the Handley 14.
Six plays later, Gay plunged in from the 2 to make it 14-0 at the half.
"It was really important," Lawson said of getting the two-touchdown lead since Liberty has often had to rally this season. "Usually, we trail in the first half."
The Eagles would score twice again to start the third quarter without its offense having to take the field.
After the break, the Judges got a first down, but Imoh threw high and a tipped ball landed in the hands of Tre'Von White, who took his second interception of the game 44 yards down the left sideline for a score. Bailey's conversion run made it 22-0.
Handley finally got on the board on its next possession thanks to two big plays from Dayvon Newman. The junior receiver caught a 14-yard pass from Imoh on a third-and-11. Then two plays later, he took a reverse to the right sidelines, made a spectacular spin move to shake one tackler, juked another who was left grasping at air and rumbled 32 yards for a score. After a penalty on Liberty, Handley went for two points and Imoh plowed over to make it 22-8 with 7:55 left in the third.
The momentum was short-lived, though. Adam Pollak's kickoff bounced high and off Lawson's hands as the Liberty speedster retreated inside the 10 to retrieve the ball. Lawson picked it up, made a quick cut and was gone down the right sidelines for a 92-yard return that made it 28-8.
"I hit the sideline, got a good block and it was off to the races from there," Lawson said.
Handley kept scrapping and would not let Liberty pull away.
Imoh lofted a perfect 51-yard strike to Jayden Vardaro, who beat Lawson, to make it 28-14 with about a minute left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Judges had the ball with a chance to cut the deficit, but Imoh's long pass downfield was picked off by Bryan Barnes at the Liberty 38.
The Eagles, behind 48 rushing yards from Gay, marched downfield and Bailey capped the drive with an eight-yard strike to tight end Jordan Hicks to make it 34-14.
Imoh, held under wraps for most of the game, broke loose on a scramble to his left, faked out a tackler on the sidelines and raced 66 yards for a TD that made it 34-21 with 4:17 left.
But the Judges tiring defense could not hold Liberty as backup quarterback Samuel Marouse carried four times for 37 yards and scored from the 1 to make it 40-21.
Imoh swept right and scored from 16 yards out for the final margin. Imoh finished with 146 yards on 19 carries, nearly all of it in the second half. He was 5 of 14 for 135 yards.
"I thought we really played well for 2½ quarters," Buzzo said of his defense. "Our first half was phenomenal. Our defensive game plan was to have Handley beat us and not let [Imoh] beat us. He got a couple toward the end of the game when we got tired. We've got to figure that out a little bit."
Jones, who got outstanding efforts from Leland Walkling and Josiah Duffy on defense, was proud of the way his kids scrapped though being down nearly the entire game.
"Our kids fought all of the way until the end," Jones said. "That's what we ask — to compete for four quarters — and that's what we did. I've got to do a better job of being prepared."
The Judges now face a likely must-win scenario against the Colonels.
"If we don't bounce back, we're probably going to get bounced out," Jones said.
