Liberty Football Secures Playoff Berth With 21-3 Win Over Inglemoor

Liberty football entered the postseason on Tuesday night after defeating Inglemoor 21-3 in the second leg of a three-team tiebreaker. The game was played at Issaquah High School on October 27. This victory secured the final 3A KingCo playoff slot for the Patriots, who finished the regular season with an 8-2 record. Inglemoor fell to 7-2 with the loss.

The tiebreaker format required Liberty to win two of three games to advance. The team lost its first opportunity to Mercer Island 10-7 in overtime. That loss occurred 20 minutes before the start of the second tiebreaker match. The final contest against Inglemoor consisted of four 12-minute quarters, a shortened schedule compared to the standard game length.

Senior quarterback Colton Hollerbach started at the position following an injury to freshman Myles Motley during the October 24 regular season game against Inglemoor. Liberty trailed 3-0 after Inglemoor scored on its first drive. Hollerbach responded with a quarterback sneak to give Liberty a 7-3 lead. The Patriots held that advantage for the remainder of the contest.

Danny Grabowski, a junior defensive back and wide receiver, provided a key play in the second game. He had fumbled the ball during the loss to Mercer Island earlier that day. Against Inglemoor, Grabowski intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. That play extended Liberty’s lead to 14-3. Head coach Steve Valach described the interception as a major moment for the team.

Valach noted that the group of players displayed strong mental resilience during the tiebreaker. He stated that the performance tested the team's mental toughness. Liberty added a touchdown in the final moments of the fourth quarter. The defense stopped Inglemoor in the final minute to end the game.

Liberty will play its week 10 playoff game against a team to be announced. The opponent has not yet been determined. The Patriots advanced to the postseason despite falling in their previous meeting with Inglemoor on October 24, a game Liberty lost 10-3.