With a lopsided loss in their final regular-season football game Friday night (Nov. 7), the Washington-Liberty Generals finished third in the Liberty District standings.
The host Generals (7-3, 4-2) were blown out by the Langley Saxons, 42-7, in the high-school contest.
Next for Washington-Liberty will be a first-round away playoff game in the eight-team 6D North Region tournament on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. against the host Westfield Bulldogs (7-3). The Generals defeated Westfield on the Bulldogs’ home field during the regular season.
Washington-Liberty finished second in the region last season after winning a second straight district title. The playoff berth will be the fourth straight for W-L.
Against Langley on Friday evening, the Generals were never competitive. The Saxons moved the ball well on the ground and through the air, amassing 391 total yards. They scored on their first possession on a long drive and led 21-0 at halftime — a lead that swelled to 42-0 in the second half.
“The just dominated us,” W-L coach Josh Shapiro told ARLnow. “They beat us up. Langley has some good athletes and they are good up front. They have some legit linemen.”
The Generals’ lone score came with 1:11 to play on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Flint-Steinig to Trevor Fullen. Landon Jones booted the extra point.
The Generals were hurt by multiple turnovers, some that Langley converted into touchdowns after being set up in good field position. The Saxons returned one interception for a touchdown.
The Generals never established much of a running game as they tried to pass to catch up. Leading rusher Brayden Black was held to just 23 yards rushing on just 12 attempts. Black finished the regular season with 1,182 yards rushing.
Flint-Steinig was sacked multiple times as he closed out the regular season throwing for 1,951 yards and 14 TDs. He was 14 of 21 for 164 yards against Langley, with Fullen having seven catches for 113 yards. Black had three catches and Gavin England two.
On defense for Washington-Liberty, Miles Whitaker and Gabe Salmeron had interceptions. Black, Salmeron, Maximus De La Vega, Gabe Salmeron, Peter Manouilidis and Lando Reed were tackling leaders.
NOTE: Washington-Liberty defeated Langley twice last season, once in the regular season and the second in the region-tournament semifinals.
