On Saturday, for the first time in what we believe to be in Peoria Unified School Districts history, the school district had two high school teams battling it out for the championship title. The Liberty Lions emerged victorious against Centennial in the 2023 AIA Open Division State Championship football game that was held at ASU’s football stadium.
The Liberty Lions finally returned to the top with the win they had been working towards for the last 4 years. In a 33-21 victory over Centennial, the Lions put an end to three years of heartbreaking postseason losses.
Over the years the competition between Liberty and the Centennial Coyotes have resulted in epic annual matchups. The Lions and the Coyotes have had eleven matchups, with Liberty emerging victorious in seven of them. The Lions managed to win the most significant battle to date, clinching their second state championship.
Colin Thomas, Liberty’s coach, acknowledged the hard work of his players and staff, stating that the success was a result of their dedication.
The Coyotes had difficulty advancing the ball on the ground during their Nov. 3 game versus Liberty. However, a stronger running game enabled Centennial to move the chains and gave them a fighting chance against Liberty.
Coach Richard Taylor of Centennial expressed his admiration for the preparation his team had taken on, adding that the players bought into the game plan as they had done throughout the season. He concluded by conceding that the opposition was simply better on the night.