SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Liberty Ranch Hawks exorcised their demons Friday night with a hard-fought 28-21 victory over Bradshaw Christian, securing the league championship and ending a two-year drought against their private school rival.

For the past two seasons, Bradshaw Christian – a private school not bound by the same enrollment boundaries as public schools – had dominated league play. The last time Liberty Ranch had defeated the Pride and claimed the league title was in the 2022-23 season. Friday night’s showdown carried championship implications, and the Hawks knew it.

“The boys played with a lot of heart and determination against a quality opponent,” said Head Coach Warren Schroeder. “Even after losing one of our starting linemen, they demonstrated tremendous resiliency and grit.”

 

Joe Lara runs the ball while a Bradshaw player tries to contain him.

Liberty Ranch came out firing, jumping to a 13-6 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 20-13 by halftime. The Hawks’ ground game was relentless, accumulating 316 rushing yards on 52 carries. Junior running back Andrew Quinn led the charge with 134 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, surpassing the 100-yard mark. Joe Lara added 97 yards on 16 attempts, while Wyatt Corriea contributed 65 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Junior quarterback Ryan Ogas was efficient through the air, completing four of five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Lara hauled in two receptions for 22 yards, including the touchdown catch. Corriea added an 18-yard reception, and senior Cole Maguire caught one pass for 15 yards.

The third quarter proved challenging for the Hawks. Bradshaw Christian scored eight points while Liberty Ranch was held scoreless, giving the Pride a 21-20 lead heading into the final period. The momentum had shifted, but the Hawks refused to fold.

 

Quarterback Ryan Ogas hands off to Andrew Quinn.

“They put their heads down and drove and drove until they got that final score,” shared Tanner Swafford, our photographer on the field. “It was a nail-biter for sure.”

Liberty Ranch’s offense, powered by its junior-laden roster, marched down the field in the fourth quarter. Quinn punched in his second touchdown of the night, and the Hawks added a two-point conversion to take a 28-21 lead they would not relinquish.

The offensive line – featuring juniors Jayden Sedlacek (two pancake blocks), Cutler Perez (four pancake blocks) and Deshaun Jackson (three pancake blocks), along with junior D. Swearingen (four pancake blocks) – dominated the line of scrimmage throughout the contest.

 

Wyatt Corriea has space to gain some yards.

Defensively, the Hawks were equally impressive. Corriea led the team with eight total tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. Quinn matched him with eight tackles and added three tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. Senior Daniel Sosa recorded an interception and broke up three passes, while Lara contributed six tackles and three pass breakups.

The defensive front generated consistent pressure, recording three sacks for seven yards in losses. Senior Gabe Onuegbu had one sack and two hurries, Jackson added half a sack and two hurries and senior Eston Tucker contributed half a sack. Seniors Cesar Becerra and Landon Peterson recorded five and three tackles respectively, while senior Soni Takafua added two tackles.

In the kicking game, senior James Rangel converted two of three extra points and handled kickoff duties, averaging 21.2 yards on five attempts. Quinn showcased his versatility with two punts averaging 51 yards, including a 59-yarder with one downed inside the 20-yard line. He also returned one kickoff for 16 yards.

As Coach Schroeder was being interviewed by the television crew following the victory, several of his linemen snuck up behind him and dumped a Gatorade bucket over his head in celebration, knowing they had secured the league championship and made history.

With a roster dominated by juniors, the Hawks’ future appears bright. But on this Friday night, they weren’t thinking about next season; they were savoring a championship earned through heart, determination and an unwillingness to be denied.