TRR photo by Richard A. Ross Liberty players rejoice in the long-awaited glow of success following their win over Eldred.

Football

Blood, sweat and tears

Liberty shows immeasurable heart edging out Eldred in a football classic

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIBERTY NY—Football is about a lot of things. But in the end, it’s mostly about desire. No other sport requires quite the same combination of unyielding physical contact and unbridled will.

For the past two seasons, Liberty has endured ravaging defeats since its program was reinstated in 2005, going 1-17. But coach Jim O’Connor and his staff have marshaled a group of high school football players through the ranks of modified, junior varsity and varsity and tried to instill in them the belief that if they worked hard and sacrificed enough, they could turn the corner and begin to steer the Indians back towards the zenith Liberty once occupied.

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Football

Phoenix rising

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY—NFL Hall of Famer andformer New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor once said, “It’s not a crime getting knocked down. It’s a crime if you don’t get back up.”

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Soccer

Lady Panthers on the prowl

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—Both Eldred and Monticello struggled in 2006, so the agenda in their season opener on September 4 was to improve their ability to pass, mark up, play strong in the midfield and control the flow of the game.

The two teams are regular contenders in the annual Tri-Valley tournament, but this year’s game was far more competitive than last year’s 9-0 rout by the Lady Panthers. Monticello had a pre-season scrimmaging against John S. Burke Catholic, but for this was Eldred’s first chance at live action.

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Also in this issue:

• Reboot
• Lady Bears bedeviled
• Lady Indians open with big win
• Tri-Valley shuts out LMR