Liberty North Eagles beat Christian Bros. College for state title in game halted early
Liberty North won the first football state title in school history on Saturday night in Columbia ... in a game that was halted a bit early.
The Eagles beat Christian Brothers College 38-7 in the Missouri Class 6 Show-Me Bowl at chilly, drizzly Faurot Field on the University of Missouri campus.
Christian Brothers College had ended the Eagles’ season the past two years in a row, so tensions were high throughout the game.
And what a game it was, especially for Liberty North.
The Cadets held the lead entering the second quarter thanks to Doreon Dubose’s 43 yard touchdown pass from Cole McKey. But the Eagles were about to get rolling.
Tillman Martin hit Keelan Smith for a 20-yard touchdown pass, MicahJo Barnett rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and Liberty North led 14-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Cole Young scored on a 40-yard return for a pick-six, and it was 21-7 Eagles.
The Liberty North defense held the Cadets to 47 rushing yards and just 191 yards overall.
A 52-yard field goal by Bleu Renfrow, Barnett’s second touchdown and Martin’s second TD pass to Smith — this one covering 80 yards — put the finishing touches on Liberty North’s milestone victory.
The game was ended early by Missouri State High School Activities Association officials. Play was halted with 3 minutes, 15 seconds remaining when a scuffle developed on the field.
After a hit by Liberty North’s defense, two personal foul calls were assessed against the Cadets and the decision was subsequently made to end the game. The teams did not shake hands afterward, as is customary in post-game tradition.
Liberty North takes a 38-7 lead on this long TD pass from Tillman Martin to @KeelanSmith2024 - who celebrates in the end zone by pointing to his ring finger. pic.twitter.com/nedoxcrzET
— Nate Latsch (@NateLatsch) December 3, 2023
FINAL | 3:15
CBC: 7
Liberty North: 38
You’re reading that right.
FINAL, with over three minutes left.
The refs just walked off the field. The game is called shortly after tensions rose on the field.
Never seen anything like this. @FOX2now pic.twitter.com/pahRvQuLdI— Daniel Esteve (@DanielJEsteve) December 3, 2023
Asked why the game was called, CBC coach Scott Pingel said via Gateway Sports Venue (@GSV_STL on X): “I kind of asked if we could stop it because of the nature of what we perceived as dangerous play going on there. I just wanted to make sure we got out of there without anything else happening.”
I have never in my life seen a state championship end this way. With 3:15 left in the game CBC wanted to quit. Liberty north may win by forfeit presumably
Really heated tensions on the field between players. North was leading 38-7 pic.twitter.com/b1Jhw1Yerd— Brock Baldridge (@brock_baldridge) December 3, 2023
Game called with 3:15 left on the clock for safety reasons. Eagles hoist the hardware & will haul it back to KC! DOMINANT PERFORMANCE. Liberty North is your MO 6A Champion. Congratulations Eagle Nation! WAR pic.twitter.com/suhxB9WUEG
— WOWKC (@WOWKCfootball) December 3, 2023
Smith finished with four catches for 133 yards and the two touchdowns for Liberty North. Barnett ran for 120 yards on 20 carries, and Martin was 10 for 20 for 180 yards.
Liberty North’s secondary held Ohio State pledge Jeremiah McClellan to four catches for 52 yards.
Liberty North finished its season 13-1, CBC 11-3.
Kearney also won a state championship Saturday in Columbia, beating Hillsboro 68-28 for the Class 4 title.
Cody Thorn, special to 810 Varsity, contributed to this report.
Missouri football state championships
CLASS 6
Quarterfinals
Christian Bros. College 35, Jackson 23
Liberty North 38, Oak Park 7
Rockhurst 38, Nixa 14
De Smet Jesuit 23, Columbia Rock Bridge 16
Semifinals
Liberty North 28, Rockhurst 27, OT
CBC 31, De Smet 28
State-title game, Saturday at Faurot Field
Liberty North 38, CBC 7
CLASS 5
Quarterfinals
Webb City 49, Grain Valley 35
Cardinal Ritter 68, Ft. Zumwalt North 14
Central (Cape Girardeau) 32, Eureka 29
Republic 28, Helias Catholic 21
Semifinals
Cardinal Ritter 52, Central 22
Republic 21, Webb City 20
State-title game, Friday at Faurot Field
Cardinal Ritter 38, Republic 25
CLASS 4
Quarterfinals
Hillsboro 48, Pacific 35
Lutheran North 70, Hannibal 61
Kearney 35, Nevada 0
Jefferson City 31, McDonald County 28
Semifinals
Hillsboro 34, Lutheran North 12
State-title game, Saturday at Faurot Field
Kearney 68, Hillsboro 28
CLASS 3
Quarterfinals
Seneca 56, Ava 8
Blair Oaks 47, Westminster Christian Academy 29
St. Pius X 42, Odessa 7
Central (Park Hills) 50, St. Francis Borgia 28
Semifinals
Central (Park Hills) 48, Blair Oaks 43
State-title game, Friday at Faurot Field
Central (Park Hills) 48, Seneca 34
CLASS 2
Quarterfinals
Bowling Green 50, East Buchanan 22
Lamar 41, Lafayette County 7
Valle Catholic 47, Lift for Life Academy Charter 14
Fair Grove 27, Father Tolton Regional Catholic 13
Semifinals
Lamar 47, Bowling Green 16
Valle Catholic 51, Fair Grove 26
State-title game, Saturday at Faurot Field
Lamar 35, Valle Catholic 28
CLASS 1
Quarterfinals
Milan 13, Penney 12
North Platte 42, Windsor 6
St. Vincent 45, Crystal City 14
Marionville 17, Portageville 14
Semifinals
Marionville 38, St. Vincent 7
State-title game, Friday at Faurot Field
Marionville 29, North Platte 0
EIGHT-MAN
Quarterfinals
South Holt 60, Plattsburg 58
Archie 82, Lockwood with Golden City 42
Braymer with Breckenridge 84, St. Paul Lutheran 51
Worth County w/NE Nodaway 70, Schuyler County 16
Semifinals
Worth County w/NE Nodaway 40, South Holt 14
Archie 88, Braymer with Breckenridge 20
State-title game, Thursday at Faurot Field
Archie 40, Worth Co./NE Nodaway 26
For scores, brackets, stats, recaps, rankings, broadcasts and more, visit 810Varsity.com.
