Liberty-Eylau Takes Top Playoff Seed After 58-25 Rout of Quinlan Ford
QUINLAN — Liberty-Eylau left no doubt in the second half.
The Leopards wrapped up the top playoff seed from District 7-4A, Division I with a 58-35 thrashing of Quinlan Ford on Friday at Lytal Memorial Field.
Decorian Phillips threw for four TDs and 344 yards on 19-of-28 passing, and Mahleik Darty had 96 yards receiving on five balls, taking three for touchdowns.
Isaiah Cross added eight catches for 153 yards, and El-Amin Greer caught a 25-yard strike to put the Leopards up two scores in the third quarter.
Kelston Joseph rushed for a 2-yard TD after Shannon Roy's 58-yard punt return to the Panther 2, and Roy ran 35 yards on his only carry for a touchdown.
Phillips and Darty had three touchdown connections in the first half to stake the Leopards to a 21-7 lead, but Ford came back in the second quarter and sandwiched scoring drives around a three-and-out to knot the score.
Phillips was 17-of-25 passing for 315 yards in the first half, and Darty had five grabs for 96 yards and the trio of TDs before halftime.
Cross caught seven balls for 149 yards in the first half, including an 81-yard shovel pass to set up Crabtree's 15-yard score with 7:21 left in the half.
Darty had scoring catches that covered 11, 45 and 30 yards, with the only Panther first-quarter TD coming on a muffed punt that was recovered by Eli Chambers in the end zone.
Dylan Jackson ran 19 yards for a Ford score early in the second quarter, and Beierschmitt got free for 44 yards to tie the score with 7:57 left. Crabtree scored 36 seconds later, followed by another Panther scoring drive, capped by Beierschmitt from the 8.
Phillips finished off the ensuing Leopard drive with a 28-yard scamper, which he took off on after not seeing any passing openings. The QB changed directions twice and knifed his way to the end zone.