Liberty’s aim: beat Del Sol at own game

Liberty football coach Rich Muraco looks at this week's opponent and sees a squad similar to his own: tough, physical and willing to wear down opposing teams.

He also sees a team that has been where his Patriots want to be. Third-ranked Liberty (2-1, 1-0 Southeast League) hopes to take a step toward unseating Del Sol as one of the Sunrise Region's premier teams when the two meet at 7 tonight at Del Sol.

"They're kind of the program that we try and emulate and aspire to be," Muraco said. "Every year they're real consistent. They play physical football. And that's who we model ourselves after."

There aren't many better programs to copy. The Dragons (2-2, 0-0) have advanced to the Sunrise Region championship game in each of the last four seasons.

On the way to last year's state title game, Del Sol ended Liberty's season with a 42-13 win in the Sunrise semifinals.

"They knocked us out of the playoffs last year, so obviously it's a big game for us," Patriots linebacker Teddy Efthemeou said. "A lot of kids have a chip on their shoulder."

Muraco said: "They gave it to us in the playoffs, so we realize that if we're to become division champs and Sunrise champs we've got to start with beating them."

To beat the Dragons, Liberty will have to continue to play solid defense. The Patriots have allowed an average of 11.3 points this season and are coming off a shutout of Silverado.

Efthemeou has led the way with 35 tackles.

"I was really worried about our defense coming into the season because we lost a lot of people, our main tacklers and inspirational players," Muraco said. "And Teddy Efthemeou has stepped up and done a tremendous job. He's just everything I could hope for and more out of a linebacker."

Efthemeou and his teammates will be charged with slowing Del Sol's Chris Marshall, who has rushed for 797 yards and eight touchdowns this season and has topped 200 yards rushing in each of the last two games.

The Patriots don't have a player who can match Marshall's numbers, but Ty Byrd (305 rushing yards, three touchdowns), Niko Kapeli (299 rushing yards, one TD) and Teu Tai (85 rushing yards, one TD) have carried the load offensively.

"It's nice to give teams different looks and keep everybody fresh," Byrd said. "Most guys that get 30 carries a game usually end up getting hurt by the eighth game of the season.

"We've got power, we've got speed, we've got everything you can possibly have."

The Patriots also have a huge offensive line that averages 274 pounds and includes massive guards P.J. Taeao (315 pounds) and Tuli Fakauho (330 pounds).

"One of the keys to our success is our size and the physical nature we play with," Muraco said. "Our kids, sometimes they don't always run the plays the right way and they don't always make the right reads, but they definitely go 100 percent every play no matter what the score is.

"That's all you can ask for."

Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587.