Emotional Canyon Springs finally defeats No. 2 Liberty

It was only the first league game of the season, but the tear that trickled down Hunkie Cooper’s cheek Thursday night showed just how important it was.

And the Canyon Springs coach was grateful to finally walk off Liberty’s football field with tears and a smile.

The ninth-ranked Pioneers held No. 2 Liberty to 199 yards of offense and ended a six-game losing streak against the Patriots with a 15-0 road win Thursday night.

“I can’t wait to call my son and let him know,” Cooper said of his son, A.J., who graduated without having beaten Liberty.

“To walk off this field every year in tears … it’s some good tears this time.”

The Pioneers (4-1, 1-0 Northeast League), who just a few years ago rarely even attempted extra points, got three field goals from junior kicker Elio Rodriguez, and the defense did the rest.

“I’m so proud of the way they went out and competed tonight,” Cooper said. “The defense was amazing.”

Liberty (4-2, 0-1) drove inside the Canyon Springs 25 three times in the first half but came up empty each time. The last time, Kasey Allison stepped in front of a pass intended for Ethan Dedeaux and picked it off at the 2-yard line to end the drive.

That was the final time Liberty would threaten.

“This whole week we had a game plan and came out and executed,” said senior linebacker Greg Banks, who had two tackles for loss. “We just worked this whole week and were determined to win this game, so we just came out and did.”

Rodriguez nailed a 25-yard field goal with 2:07 left in the first half to cap a 10-play drive that ate up 5 minutes, 22 seconds and gave the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.

Backup quarterback Tre’von Dean came off the bench to guide that drive and provided an offensive spark for the Pioneers. He completed 4 of 5 passes on the drive for 40 yards.

“Tre is an amazing young athlete, and he has a lot of wiggle,” Cooper said. “He’s a kid that never says a word; it’s just work, work, work.”

Zaviontay Stevenson, the team’s leading rusher and an all-state performer last season, had one carry for 1 yard on the drive.

It was the final time he touched the ball, as he finished the game with five carries for 46 yards. He spent most of the second half icing his right knee.

“And we did it without Zaviontay,” Cooper said. “We took the path less traveled, and that was to go right at them and stay on our game plan and go through adversity and then come out victorious. This is a really big win for Canyon Springs, and I’m excited for our guys.”

The second half belonged to starting quarterback Bradley Alexander, who finished 11-for-20 for 170 yards.

He passed for 134 yards in the second half, including a 68-yard TD strike to Banks.

Alexander also saw considerable time at safety. Cooper said he thought he had been too hard on Alexander this season, but the two talked this week to ease the tension.

“He came out and that monkey wasn’t on his back,” Cooper said. “For him to be on the field as many plays as he was and come out victorious, it’s why I coach this game.”

With Canyon Springs leading 6-0, Alexander found Banks open down the right sideline. Banks shrugged off a tackle at the 35 and scored to make it a two-score game.

“It felt good,” Banks said. “It’s just family. We just had to get over the adversity and just come out and play. That’s all I did, come out and play, play for my teammates and get the (win).

“The last three years we’ve just been losing and losing, and it just feels good to just get the win. It’s so great. It’s so great.”

Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587. Follow him on Twitter: @DamonSeiters.