MOUNTAIN VIEW, Mo. — Josh Pruett wasn't feeling too hot before game time. Maybe some start-of-fall allergies?
Not likely, given the 80-degree kickoff temperature.
The Liberty senior just felt some nerves, given the stiffest test he and the Eagles had yet to face, fourth-ranked Mountain Grove, was in town. He answered them with a five-touchdown, 347-yard performance as the No. 2 Eagles won their sixth straight meeting against the Panthers, 33-20.
The win puts Liberty (6-0) at the head of the line for their fourth straight South Central Association Championship and the top seed in their district, which they now share with Mountain Grove.
"This was big tonight," head coach Darin Acklin said. "Anybody would like to play their playoff games at home."
Because of the prospect of facing the Panthers (5-1) a second time, Acklin told his team to stay "blue" this week, a.k.a not to get too high or low. The Eagles looked calm out of the gate, outscoring Mountain Grove 21-7 in the first quarter via three Pruett keepers.
"I didn't expect to come out and score that quick," he said. "Most games we've played, we haven't scored too much in the first half and then we'd explode in the second half. This time, it was the exact opposite."
Dealing with injuries to some bigger bodies, the senior's runs of three, five, and 55 yards helped settled everyone, especially himself.
"That made me feel a lot better. Having two guys out and some younger guys in, it helped putting points on the board early."
When the Panthers then found themselves backed up near their own goal line midway through the second quarter, Chance Barbe provided a much-needed boost. On the first play of the drive, he busted a 94-yard scamper to the end zone, cutting the deficit to 21-13.
Trystan Short, one week after becoming the Panthers' all-time leading rusher, provided the other Mountain Grove touchdown in the first half with a 44-yard run.
To the surprise of Panthers coach Rich Adkins, those long rushes came in short supply. His team had trouble building momentum with three of their four turnovers coming before halftime, including a pair of fumbles.
"That's something that we haven't had to deal with so far this year," Adkins said. "We got their offense on the field too much. You can't beat a team like Liberty putting it on the ground."
The Eagle defense, which allowed Ava to rally from a 28-0 halftime deficit to make it a one-score final two weeks ago, showed growth by halting Mountain Grove twice in the red zone.
It was the script that Acklin expected to follow, and his players delivered.
"The turnovers and defensive stands were something we were worried about after last year when they were able to move the chains on us all night long," he said."
Pruett helped Liberty capitalize on those mistakes with touchdown passes to Koel Orchard and Brenton Bush. The latter man racked up 86 yards on seven receptions to go along with an interception and 13 tackles.
As far as his quarterback, Acklin reiterated he tends to have performances like this, and against another 5-0 team, he was simply "the man."
"He's our leader and if he goes, we go."
Mountain Grove still has a shot at a high district seed that could included a second date with the Eagles, this time with the season on the line.
One Liberty fan said he would dread that thought.
"We told the guys: no matter what tonight, win or lose, there's a lot of season left and we've got a lot to play for," Adkins said. "It's a great measuring stick for where we are as a team and hopefully we get to play these guys again.
For Acklin and the Eagles, who have Cabool, Salem, and Houston standing between them and back-to-back perfect regular seasons, it's another message to the rest of Class 2.
"I've got a bunch of young kids who are playing but they're buying into our program," he said. "Our system is proven so we keep saying to just believe in it."
Mountain Grove 20, MV-BT/Liberty 33
Mountain Grove 7 6 0 7 — 20
MV-BT/Liberty 21 6 6 0 — 33
First quarter
Liberty – Pruett 3-yard run
Mountain Grove – Short 44-yard run
Liberty – Pruett 55-yard run
Second quarter
Mountain Grove – Chance Barbe 94-yard run
Liberty – Pruett 20-yard pass to Brenton Bush
Third quarter
Liberty – Pruett 10-yard pass to Koel Orchard
Fourth quarter
Mountain Grove – Otwell 6-yard pass to Andy Amos
