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Huge surge leads Williams Field to title
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MOVING FORWARD: Williams Field’s J.D. Layton is tackled by a Peoria Liberty defender during the second half of their game Thursday in Gilbert. Williams Field beat Liberty 49-21 to claim the state independent title.
Julio Jimenez, Tribune
Gilbert Williams Field struggled early but scored 49 unanswered points Thursday night to beat Peoria Liberty 49-21 in the state independent football championship at Williams Field.
Slideshow: View photos from the game
The Lions went up 14-0 in the first quarter with a couple of touchdown passes from Liberty’s Dan Mihelich.
Despite going down 14-0 in the championship game, “they didn’t panic” said soaking-wet Williams Field coach Steve Campbell after his team showered him with the remaining contents of a Gatorade cooler.
With 7:42 left in the first half, the Black Hawks came alive. Quarterback Nick Gaylord capped off an eight-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown run.
On the very first play of their next possession Brandon Warren ripped off a 50-yard run for a touchdown to tie the score at 14-all.
After a 50-yard fumble return by the Lions, it looked as though Williams Field had stopped its scoring surge.
But then on Liberty’s first play of the ensuing drive, Dylon Koch intercepted a pass over the middle and took it 70 yards for a touchdown with 1:29 to go in the half.
Williams Field wasn’t done.
On the last play of the half, Gaylord stepped up in the pocket and tossed the ball to Eric Rendon down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown pass.
Rendon’s score gave his team a two-touchdown lead as they entered the locker room.
“One person stepped up at a time and said 'I’m going to make a play’ and once you start doing that it’s contagious and it takes off like wildfire,” Campbell said.
Williams Field rolled off 49 points before Liberty responded late in the fourth quarter with its first touchdown since the game’s opening minutes.
Gaylord stood out on the night with 7-for-9 passing for four touchdowns (two passing, two running) and 159 total yards.Warren rushed 13 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns for Williams Field.
The independent state title wraps up the Black Hawks’ first year at the varsity level.
Next season, the school will field its first team with a senior class and will compete in 4A as a full-fledged member of the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
“It’s just great for the program and it’s great to see these kids grow this year,” Campbell said.
Mihelich finished with two touchdown and 42 yards passing as well as 121 rushing yards for the Lions.
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