On August 28th, Liberty High School held its first varsity football game against Kettle Run. To kick off the season, Liberty held a “Dress Like a Minion” spirit night. The student section was energetic and loud for the game. New Head Coach, Kaleb Heppe, noted that “Athletics plays a vital role in shaping culture. It brings people together around a shared goal and generates energy that can ripple through an entire building. When students and staff have a reason to chase success, they often find it, not just on the scoreboard, but in the classroom, in relationships, in personal relationships, and in personal growth. Athletics has the power to unite a school community and create momentum that goes far beyond wins and losses on a Friday night.”
Liberty is starting this season fresh, due to the team having a new coach. Liberty has been conditioning all summer long, and they were looking forward to a good first game and the rest of the season. Heppe stated that the athleticism is strong, but he is also excited to work on the mental part of the game. “Our greatest strength lies in our athleticism. We have exceptional speed and a roster full of versatile athletes who can play multiple positions. That flexibility allows us to show opponents a variety of looks throughout the game, keeping them off balance and constantly adjusting. What I’m most excited to develop, though, ties back to our focus on culture: a winning mentality. Winning is contagious, just like losing is. That’s why building resilience is so critical. Life, like football, isn’t always easy. But it’s resilience that gives you the ability to rise after a setback. That mindset, getting back up when you’ve been knocked down, is what we’re aiming to instill in our team every single day.”
In the first quarter, Kettle Run and Liberty faced off, with Kettle Run scoring a touchdown followed by a field goal, while Liberty failed on fourth down attempts. Kettle Run had a small number of penalties, including unsportsmanlike conduct and a false start. Kettle Run had an additional touchdown and field goal, ending the quarter with a 14-0 lead over Liberty.
In the second quarter, Kettle Run scored three total touchdowns. Liberty managed to intercept a pass, but Kettle Run fumbled the ball. Kettle Run recovered the ball, and the score was 28-0 in favor of Kettle Run.
The third quarter started off slower, but Kettle Run managed to score again. The score after the third quarter was 35-0 with Kettle Run having a commanding lead. Liberty was having a very difficult first varsity game; they practiced during the summer, but they weren’t prepared for Kettle Run.
In the fourth quarter, Liberty was so close to getting the first touchdown of the game, but sadly, they didn’t get it. The game was going slowly, and luck was not on the side of Liberty’s varsity team. The student section was very loud and supportive, but the team tried very hard even though they couldn’t get the win. “The first varsity game was for us to learn and get better,” said AJ Nemeth, 9th grader and JV football player. Even though the team lost, the team will be using this as a learning experience. “There wasn’t one specific challenge that stood out; instead, the game served as a valuable learning curve”, stated Heppe. “It showed us how far we’ve come since day one, and just as importantly, where we still need to grow. While the final score might not reflect it, there were a lot of positives to take away and build upon moving forward. The biggest takeaway? A reminder that Rome wasn’t built in a day. This is a process. Growth takes time, and we’re committed to putting in the work each day to get where we want to be.”
Coach Heppe also shared that while the score wasn’t great, it’s more than just the game. “This year, our goal is to cultivate a culture that drives immediate success both on and off the field, while laying the foundation for a future full of boundless possibilities. We are committed to building a standard rooted in excellence in all that we do. Our mission is to deliver a program that not only inspires our athletes but also reignites pride and excitement throughout our school and community.”
After a game, the team will meet together and talk about their mindset. “Saturday mornings are an important part of our process. Win or lose, we come together to eat breakfast and watch films as a team. It’s a chance for us to stay grounded, reset, and reconnect. By doing this, we make sure that when Monday comes, it’s a fresh start, and we can attack the new week with a 1-0 mentality. Our focus is always on having a team-first mindset. When our motivation comes from doing it for each other, not just ourselves, it pushes us to be better. Because when it’s not about “me,” the entire team wins.” Coach Heppe said.
To get the team motivated about the loss, Coach Heppe shared a message with the team to lift their spirits. “The message was simple: One of my favorite quotes in life is, ‘The only time you truly lose is if you do not learn.’ After a game like that, we have two choices: we either learn from it, or we lose from it. The outcome won’t be defined by the scoreboard; it will be defined by how we respond moving forward. That response will show who we are and who we’re becoming.”
Liberty is hoping for a more positive outlook on the rest of the season, as well as more growth and a unique culture that is being built up. “The team is looking for progress, not perfection”, Coach Heppe explained. ”We’re opening the season against two incredible football teams, arguably one of the toughest starts of any team in the state. We’ve been thrown into straight fire, and while we may not be fully battle-tested yet, these early challenges are exactly what we need to show us where we stand and what it will take to compete at the highest level. This kind of start will reveal a lot, not just our team’s ability, but also about the culture we’re building. Now is when we learn who we are, what we are made of, and how committed we are to the standard we’ve set.”
