St. Johns FL- What a year it’s been for the Liberty Pines Middle School Football team. After an undefeated 7-0 regular season, the Wolves did something no other Liberty Pines team has ever done. They won a middle school football championship. They faced Valley Ride Academy, a team at 5-2 who had defied the odds by making it to the championship game. It was their first time in the championship game, while Liberty Pines was attempting to make of for last year’s defeat in the title game. The Wolves did that and more on the evening.
It wouldn’t take long for the determined team to strike. Led by quarterback Jaden Weatherly, the Wolves mixed run and pass to move down the field. Weatherly hit Marco Lanza on a swing pass that Lanza took deep into Valley Ridge Territory.
The play set up a beautiful touchdown pass by Weatherly, who found his wide receiver Drew Watson in the corner of the end-zone for the game’s first score. Watson made an incredible catch, back peddling to the pylon and nabbing the grab. Liberty Pines led 8-0 after the 2-points conversion.
Valley Ridge would mount an offensive response thanks to quarterback Aiden Pfifer. His pin point passing and leadership guided the Hawks down field. He found one of his favorite targets Braden Felder for first down in the first half to keep his team in it early.
Yet Liberty Pines defense was incredibly stingy. Led by linebacker Cody Boshell, the Wolves swarmed like a pack wolves against Valley Ridge stopping them in their tracks.
With the defense stifling Valley Ridge, Jaden Weatherly and the Wolves went to work on this evening. Liberty Pines would real off an incredible seven straight touchdowns en-route to a 46-0 victory.
It was Liberty Pine’s first championship as they hoisted the SJMSAA D2 Trophy. The MVP was undoubtedly Jaden Weatherly. He had 4 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing TD, and a 2 point conversion in the championship game.
As an area middle school champion, Liberty Pines will be honored at a Jacksonville Jaguar game this year along with other area middle school football champions.
