Ke’Mon Freeman, Liberty-Eylau Hold Off Atlanta in Thrilling 44-43 Victory

TEXARKANA -- Atlanta gave Liberty-Eylau all it had Friday night, but Ke'Mon Freeman and the Leopards came out on top in the end.

Freeman scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and Liberty-Eylau captured its fourth consecutive victory after beating Atlanta 44-43.

Freeman ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 308 yards and another score to help Liberty-Eylau (4-1) end its non-district schedule on a high note.

The Leopards overcame a banner night by Atlanta quarterback Layton Henson, who completed 15 of 24 passes for 264 yards four touchdowns. He threw two scores in the fourth quarter, but the Leopards held a nine-point lead after a crucial two-point conversion and sealed the win.

Freeman scored on touchdown runs of 3 and 74 yards in the fourth quarter.

Liberty-Eylau broke a 13-13 tie with consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter, both by Freeman. He scored on a 14-yard touchdown run and connected with Thurman Morbley for a 28-yard touchdown to put the Leopards up 28-14 at the half.

But Atlanta would dominate the scoreboard in the third quarter and tied the game at 28-28 entering the fourth after Henson hit D'Corey Larry and Jacobi Hamilton for touchdown passes. Henson followed with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Hamilton early in the fourth quarter to give the Rabbits a 36-28 lead.

Tyrell Phillips, who ran for 118 yards on 26 carries, scored two touchdowns in the first quarter for Atlanta (2-3).

Lamont Byrd scored on an 11-yard touchdown run and Donald Caldwell returned a blocked punt 3 yards for a touchdown to Liberty-Eylau's first-quarter scores.