Do-everything Nacua carries torch for Liberty

Liberty quarterback Kai Nacua makes a habit of urging his teammates to be perfect on game days.

The junior certainly did his part Thursday night.

Nacua completed all seven of his pass attempts for 134 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 65 yards on eight carries and scored on a 43-yard interception return as a defensive back to help Liberty roll to a 44-28 home win over Las Vegas in a Sunrise Region semifinal.

Liberty (10-1) eliminated Las Vegas (9-2) from the postseason for the second straight year.

The Patriots will play for their second consecutive Sunrise Region crown at home against Southeast League rival Foothill at 7 p.m. Nov. 18.

“The whole key to our offense is being able to pass,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said. “If we have no threat to pass, then teams can put 11 (men) in the box. We’ve developed some passing plays where they have to keep two or three (safeties) back.

“We know we can be wide open because they’re so focused on stopping the run. It’s important for Kai to hit those receivers, and he did a great job tonight with his accuracy.”

Liberty’s Niko Kapeli ran for 290 yards and three touchdowns on 37 attempts, scoring on runs of 2, 1 and 38 yards. The junior surpassed 2,000 yards on the season.

The Patriots lost three fumbles in the first half, and the game was tied 7-7 at halftime.

But Liberty began to wear down Las Vegas in the second half.

“Niko was phenomenal,” Nacua said. “He tries to put the team on his back, and I try to even it out a little bit so he’s not overwhelmed.”

Liberty took a 10-7 lead on Austin Fitzgerald’s 20-yard field goal with 8:36 left in the third quarter.

Nacua hit Kapeli downfield for a 59-yard pass on Liberty’s next possession, and one play later, Kapeli scored on a 2-yard run to give the Patriots a 17-7 lead.

Las Vegas lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff return, and Liberty capitalized with a 1-yard TD run by Kapeli to take a 24-7 lead.

“We weren’t executing (in the first half),” Muraco said. “At halftime, I told them, 'Relax, we’ve got this game, we’re going to wear them down.’ And Niko had a great second half.”

Nacua found Dakota Mayer for a 45-yard TD pass in the second quarter.

Jordan Kapeli ran for 38 yards on nine carries for the Patriots, and Arthur Wilkens added 32 yards, including an 11-yard TD run, on three carries.

Liberty had 426 rushing yards.

In his final high school game, Las Vegas quarterback Hasaan Henderson passed for 200 yards, including a 29-yard TD strike to Miguel Cerrintino. Henderson rushed for 41 yards, including an 11-yard TD.

Las Vegas’ Farrell Victor ran for 78 yards on 13 carries, and scored on an 84-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.