RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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In case everybody is focused on the three big Chandler high school football teams, there's another one in Peoria that still plays with swagger and confidence. The Liberty Lions believe they can get back to the Open Division championship game or at least be in the conversation.
After the way the Lions handled host Mesa in a 58-18 rout on Friday, Aug. 28, they will be hard to ignore, even with Basha, Chandler and Hamilton all ranked in the top 25 nationally.
"These guys have worked hard, and exctied to earn their chance to be part of Liberty," coach Colin Thomas said.
Many of the names are different from the teams that won back-to-back Open titles in 2023 and '24, and the one that last year lost its only in-state game to Basha in the Open semifinals.
But it doesn't matter. The new guys stepped in, ready to take over where the others left off.
They swarm to the ball on defense. They create turnovers. They tackle with abandon. And they're explosive on offense.
Thomas had to make the difficult decision on who to start at quarterback with senior Kenny Raymond and sophomore Jason Haines battling it out all summer.
Thomas gave the keys to the offense to the sophomore, who immeditately got into rhythm, completing his first six passes, including two touchdowns in Liberty's first two series.
"I was ready to go," Haines said. "Once I got out there, I knew it was my turn to take over."
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Liberty 7-0 on Jason Haines TD pass to Evan Adamczyk pic.twitter.com/5OLq4Es1YX
— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) August 29, 2026
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