For most high schools, football seasons come and go with low expectations, very little spirit, and hopes for a 5-5 season. The Blountstown Tigers and Liberty County Bulldogs have built winning programs over the years and expect more. They work harder in the weight room. They set goals of district championships and playoffs.
In recent years, the plan has worked for both schools and it has again this year. Liberty County claimed the District 4 title after finishing at 7-3 overall and 3-0 in district play. Blountstown finished at 8-2 and 3-1 in district play and runner up in district 3.
For the third straight year, Blountstown and Liberty County will meet for the second time in a season to see which team’s season ends and which team advances to the next round of the playoffs. During the regular season Blountstown overcame an early Bulldog lead and cruised to a 54-21 victory. Friday night’s game will kickoff in Bristol at 7:30 E.T.
In 2012, Liberty County beat the Tigers 14-7 to advance to the State Semi-Final against Northview. In 2013, Blountstown defeated Liberty County 40-6 to face Port St, Joe and defeat the Sharks 34-0. In 2014, the Tigers won the rematch with Liberty 25-10 to face the Sharks, but lost that one 6-0.
Both teams have shown improvement as the season progressed and Friday night’s contest should be a good one. Liberty County raced to a 55-39 win over Baker last week in Bristol. Blountstown cruised to a 34-3 victory over Vernon is the winner of District 2 and Baker is the winner of District 1. Both will be hosting playoff games.
When the Tigers and Bulldogs face off, it’s always a battle for bragging rights and playoff games are extra special. This one will be no different.
For the Tigers’ 13 seniors, it was a great season having defeated Liberty County, Baker and Vernon, all District champs. The Tigers’ only losses were to undefeated AAAA Walton and defending State Class 1A Champion Port St. Joe.
“Liberty County has been playing great football in the past few weeks. They’ve put up a lot of points against good teams. We’ve got to control the line of scrimmage and not let them get outside on us,” coach Greg Jordan said Monday.
The Tigers used a strong defense to hold Vernon to 99 rushing yards while running up 323 of their own enroute to a 34-3 victory before a loud senior night crowd at Bowles Field.
The Tigers controlled the ball for over 30 minutes in the game while Vernon was limited to just over 17 minutes.
A Derek Eberly 42 yard field goal, touchdown runs of 5 and 13 yards by Tristen Burke and a 32 yard sprint by Cole Skipper propelled the Tigers to a 24-0 halftime lead.
Eberly kicked a 29 yard field goal in the third period and Vernon got their only score of the night in third on a 27 yard field goal. Quarterback Chasen Roulhac raced 59 yards for the Tigers’ final score midway the fourth quarter.
Eberly missed on field goal attempts of 43, 50, and 51 yards.
Cole Skipper had a big night running the ball racking up 163 yards on 17 carries. Tristen Burke added 54 on 9 carries, Trevon Matthews had 65 on 7 attempts, and Chasen Roulhac added 47 on 6 rushes.
Roulhac connected on 3 of 8 passes for 27 yards. Vernon completed 3 of 11 for -1 yard and two intercepted, one by Chasen Roulhac and one by Jamal Howard.
Tracy Carillo led the Tiger defense with 11 tackles followed by Ayers Hassig with 10. Trevon Matthews was in on 8 tackles while Tucker Jordan and Cole Skipper were in on 6 each.
