FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: Liberty at Buckeye

Since Arizona high school football adopted its current division alignment in 2005, the majority of Valley prep pigskin fans haven’t paid much attention to the 4A-II Skyline Region.
Friday night that all changes, thanks to a program that’s been making steady progress for years and a young program that’s grown up faster than almost anyone could have expected.
Liberty (8-0, 2-0) hopes to take control of the Skyline in its first chance, when it visits Buckeye (7-1, 2-0) tonight. The Lions took care of business through the softer middle of their schedule, but players admitted they’ve had an eye on this game for a while.
“We’re excited to earn some respect out here, that’s the main thing, to win a region championship,” senior linebacker Jeff Haney said. “It’s been a date that we’ve had circled. We’ve been taking care of if week by week and now it’s time.”
To take the title in its first year of region play, Liberty must beat the two-time defending Skyline champion on their home field. And the general consensus is, this Buckeye team is a level above the ones that made four consecutive playoff appearances.
“We like to feel our program is on the upswing,” Buckeye coach Bobby Barnes said. “We’re happy to have someone in this region that allows us to play a game of this magnitude.”
The implications go beyond region bragging rights. Both teams are in the three-way tie for No. 5 in the 4A-II power rankings (along with Tucson Palo Verde).
Buckeye started the season with a major test, a 28-19 loss to Peoria. The Hawks’ current seven-game winning streak included and impressive 34-13 victory over Phoenix Arcadia. Conversely, it’s the first time Liberty is in a big game.
“For us it’s a chance to compete with one of the best around,” Liberty coach Dan Filleman said. “They’ve been there before, that’s (Buckeye’s) big advantage.”
Other than Buckeye’s edge in big-game experience, the teams appear very evenly matched. Both squads have several fast playmakers on both sides of the ball — they just use them in different ways.
“This is the first team that we’ve played all year that can match us in terms of speed,” Barnes said.
Liberty’s offense is paced by senior running back Dan Mihelich, who is second in the state with 1,628 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. The Lions spread option game also provides many opportunities for running quarterbacks — and Liberty has two.
Senior Keegan Whipkey started the season behind center, and he’s rushed for 322 yards. However, Whipkey is also the Lions best defensive back, punt returner and slot receiver. Enter Andre Gattie.
The sophomore took over at quarterback in week four against Glendale, and his play has added a dimension to the offense and freed Whipkey to focus on other roles. Gattie has hit 63 percent of his passes and thrown four touchdowns, while running for 554 yards and nine touchdowns.
“Last year we gave Keegan breaks on defense,” Filleman said. “Gattie comes along and he improved faster than we thought, so it allows us to get all of our fastest guys on the field. (Friday) Keegan won’t come off the field on defense. (Gattie’s emergence) is a nice thing that was unexpected.”
Liberty’s speed and elusiveness stood out to Barnes on film. The Buckeye coach also pinpointed the Lions advantage. Much like fellow unbeaten 4A-II newcomer Gilbert Williams Field, Liberty has a group of starters that have been playing together and in the same offense for several years.
Barnes said Liberty usually executes its blocking schemes very well. To stop an offense averaging more than 47 points a game, Buckeye’s best athletes will have to contain Liberty’s best athletes in one-on-one scenarios.
“We’ve just got to defeat them in situations where it’s just us and them,” he said.
The same will be true on the other side of the ball. Buckeye also operates a spread offense, but the Hawks gain more of their yardage through the air.
Barnes said he’s most pleased with the complete nature of this year’s offense. The line has given skill position players ample time, and the result has been an offense that averages nearly 400 yards and 35 points per game.
Senior Kody Karjala is the trigger man, passing for 1,683 yards, 24 touchdowns and only three interceptions. His top targets are seniors Randy Hale Jr. (25 catches, 512 yards and seven touchdowns), David Banks (28 catches, 498 yards and five touchdowns) and Andrew Holden (13 catches, 341 yards and six touchdowns).
“Glendale did that to us and Independence did, but we haven’t seen two receivers like they have with Hale and Banks,” Filleman said. “Those guys are legit, and (Buckeye) can throw the deep ball.”
Hale (333 rushing yards) also helps out senior Adam Chavez (479 yards) in the running game.
Still, the key for Liberty will be using its athletic, pressure-heavy defense to not allow Karjala time to throw the deep ball. Seniors Mason Simmons (10.5 sacks) and Mitchell Kullos (five sacks) are being counted on to disrupt Buckeye’s timing.
“We have a fast guys over here that can keep up with their wide receivers,” Haney said. “If we get some pressure on them, we’ll be looking good.”