Lancers advance to playoffs despite change in coaches
If mathematics were applied to football, the equation would be: Losing record the year before plus a new coach equals a rebuilding season. That equation was tossed aside by the Liberty High School Lancers this year, though, as Liberty rebounded to a 7-2 mark and a berth in the B-11 playoffs this season.
“It feels real good to have a serious team effort in our senior year,” said senior running back and linebacker Jeff Baird. “We have four starting seniors, and we had somewhere around six or seven seniors come out.
“We had a big turnout, comparatively. It’s pretty nice to be back where we’re supposed to be.”
With longtime head coach Rod Fletcher retiring after last season, the Lancers turned to former assistant Rick Johnson, who returned to Liberty after a head coaching stint at Morton (Wash.) High School.
“It was an honor for me to work with coach Fletcher,” said Johnson. “I learned a lot from him in those five years I was there.
“I was looking forward to coming back very much. It was an easier transition having been here before. I knew the kids and the teachers.”
One of those players Johnson coached three years ago was Baird, who was glad to see his former coach return to the Lancers.
“We knew the coach coming in, Mr. Johnson,” Baird said. “It was a good feel, a good fit for us, and we knew he’d work us.
“He was there my freshman year. He’s an awesome coach. He works us hard. He’s really intense and motivated. He’s strict to a point … then lets you learn.”
The learning curve was eased a bit, too, as Johnson decided not to entirely overhaul the offensive and defensive schemes of the Lancers.
“I tried to keep a lot of the terminology the same for the guys, but I did the change the offense up some,” said Johnson. “I didn’t do a total overhaul. I think they picked it up pretty good.
“We had a good summer camp, and they did a lot of learning there. They’ve just had the greatest attitudes, and they’re all working extremely hard.
“(Assistant) Coach Kimball and coach Lopez are outstanding. Those guys were not here when I was here before – they’re new to me – and they’ve both done a great job.”
The Lancers quickly adapted to Johnson’s teachings, and it resulted in a winning start for Liberty at the beginning of the season.
“It built a lot of confidence in the team as a group,” said Baird. “We believed in ourselves. We believed we could win and accomplish things.
“We have a lot better attitude as a team. We don’t look for individual stats anymore. For example, against Republic, we only had 86 yards, but we won. That’s what we counted on.”
Baird, who leads Liberty in rushing touchdowns, has been a key part of the Lancers’ comeback story this season.
“He’s an extremely hard runner, and he runs as hard as he can every play,” said Johnson. “We use him all over the field.”
“Pretty much before every game, I try to get the best out of myself,” Baird said. “All it is, is a team effort, and the line blocks, we do our assignments.
“We have an awesome team and we have a lot of talent. Without my line and without my fullback, I wouldn’t go anywhere.”
The senior running back hopes his football career doesn’t end this week in the playoffs.
“I would like to play in college,” Baird said. “There are a couple of community colleges, a couple of four-year schools I’m looking at. I’d like to go run for WSU because I know one of the guys there – my buddy Matt Mullinnex (a freshman defensive end at WSU).
“I’d ultimately like to work with Matt. He was my mentor for three years (at Liberty). He said the experience there is great. It would be fun.”
But first, Baird and the Lancers open the playoffs with the top-ranked team in B-11 football, DeSales (9-1), in Walla Walla this week. Despite a loss to Reardan to end the regular season, Liberty is looking forward to the challenge the Irish present.
“DeSales is a real tough team that’s ranked number one in the state,” Baird said. “We’re just pretty happy to have the opportunity to play them.
“It would be nice to have an upset, but we know it’s going to be tough. We’ve got to work for it.”