Hurricanes end streak, top the Rovers 48-10

by David Mika, EasternPAFootball.com

BETHLEHEM – The big question talked about with the fans this week was can Liberty play and finally beat Easton? This has been in the back of all the Liberty players’ minds since they lost during the regular season against the Red Rovers. The answer is yes! The Hurricanes left know doubt that they are the best team in the Lehigh Valley. They were led by their two top guns Dan Persa and Charles Irvin. Persa threw for 116 yards and three touchdowns. Irvin ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns. With the 48-10 win in front of 7700 fans, the Hurricanes move on in the playoffs to face the District Two Champs Hazleton Area 10-1 next Friday in the PIAA district 2-11 final.

The Red Rovers got the huge crowd going right away on their opening kick-off by throwing a lateral pass on the return. This resulted in the Easton player taking the opening kick-off to around the 46-yard line. Their opening score was set up by a big run by Chris Flournoy to the 7-yard line. The Hurricanes defense stopped the Red Rovers on 4th down, but a personal foul penalty gave the Red Rovers a first down. Easton drove down the field and setup the first score of the game when Jonathan Boyer kicked a 21-yard field goal giving Easton the 3-0 lead.

The Hurricanes would answer on their first drive of the game when Irvin took the handoff on the 35 yard line and sprinted down the field for a 65-yard touchdown run. Jon Mill kicked the extra point was good and with 6:55 to go in the first quarter the Hurricanes led 7-3. The Hurricane defense would settle down and force the Red Rovers to punt the ball on their next possession.

The Hurricanes would strike again in the quarter when Persa hit Richard Jarnagin for a 37-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good when it hit the left upright. The Hurricanes built on their lead 13-7.

The Hurricanes defense came up with a turnover in the second quarter when Mike Souders recovered a fumble giving the Hurricanes a first down on the 44 yard line with 6:27 to go in the half. Irvin would strike again on a 56-yard touchdown run with 6:17 to go in the half. The Hurricanes led 20-3.

The Red Rovers were driving late in the half when Andrew Lee stepped in front of a pass for a Hurricane interception. Liberty ran the clock out in the first half and went into the locker room with a 20-3 lead over the Red Rovers.

The Hurricanes would start the second half with a score on Irvin’s third touchdown run of the night. The 30-yard run by Irvin would extend the Hurricanes lead to 27-3. The Hurricanes defense came up big on a blocked punt giving the Hurricane offense good field position on the 15-yard line. From there Persa hit Ray Olivo who drove in for the 15-yard touchdown pass with 5:56 to go in the third quarter. The rout was on with the score Liberty 34 and Easton 3.

The Red Rovers offense sputtered most of the game. They were without their super star running back Jarred Holley who re-aggravated an ankle injury for most of the game. They did manage to drive down for their only touchdown when quarterback Mike Cummings went in for the one-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good and Easton still trailed 34-10.

The Hurricanes would score on their next drive when Persa hit Brien Ruyak for a 49-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good and the Hurricanes led 41-10.

The Hurricanes would get one more score of the game when backup quarterback Joel Sostre hit Jason Huber for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good and the final score would be the Hurricanes 48 and the Red Rovers 10.

With the win the Hurricanes move to 10-1 and the Red Rovers fall to 7-3. The Hurricanes end their personal losing streak against Easton dating back to 1997.