Football

Slippery rock

Liberty loses fumble fest to powerful Delhi in non-league opening day rematch, VanLieu knee injury makes bleak day even gloomier

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIBERTY, NY — When opportunity knocks, you’ve got to answer the door and seize the moment. For Liberty, hoping to defeat Section Four’s Delhi for the second straight year, the chances to answer the door on September 6 came early and often, as both teams struggled to keep their hands on the rain-soaked football.

In a rematch with Liberty, that won a year ago in an intersectional game Delhi nearly squandered its avenging of last year’s loss as the remnants of Hurricane Hanna caused the football to appear greased as it skittered out of players’ hands the entire day.

Both teams fumbled the ball more than they are apt to for the entire rest of the season, but a stronger Delhi team emerged the 24-0 winner.

By game’s end, 20 fumbles were recorded. Eleven were committed by Delhi. Liberty recovered seven. The Indians also intercepted two passes. But Liberty failed to capitalize on the gifts. Its offense sputtered against Delhi’s big front defensive line and secondary. A significant number of Liberty’s series went three and out.

Liberty was undone by its own miscues. By game’s end, the Indians had committed nine fumbles, losing four of those to Delhi’s defense. Quarterback Chris Lake was also intercepted twice by safety Luke Burns.

But of far more importance was the potential loss of Liberty’s star running back Ryan VanLieu, who was tackled by Burns in the secondary with 6:05 remaining in the game. VanLieu injured his knee and had to be removed to the hospital. As of this writing, there is no assessment as to the nature or seriousness of the injury.

For coach Jim O’Connor and his staff, VanLieu’s health matters more than a non-league game. Liberty’s league season begins next weekend with another set of rabid Bulldogs, namely those from Sullivan West.

O’Connor lauded his team. “I couldn’t ask for a better effort. This was a very sound effort against a very tough team. We won last year. Who knows? Maybe next year will be the rubber match. I’m so proud of my kids,” he added.

Visit riverreportersports.com for game details and an album of pictures.