Two huge and memorable Open Division playoff games figured to vault Liberty football into the limelight statewide and permanently.
The Lions defeated Centennial on a late two-point conversion in the quarterfinals, then nearly stunned nationally ranked four-time defending state champion Chandler, erasing a 28-7 halftime deficit before falling 35-34 on a failed two-point conversion in overtime. Despite returning more than half its starters, this program is still more on the fringes of Open Division discussion than on the short list.
Far from using a perceived lack of respect as a rallying cry, the Lions are a bit bemused. Players do not seem to mind being overlooked in preseason since they keep proving their legitimacy every regular season.
