L-B plays 'complete game,' shuts out Vikings

LEIPSIC – Liberty-Benton wanted to play a complete game Friday night at Leipsic. Not only did the Eagles do that in a 38-0 Blanchard Valley Conference win, but one of their standout players – senior Seth Elchert – nearly did it on his own. Elchert caught nine passes – three for touchdowns – and finished with 151 receiving yards. He also intercepted a pass as Liberty-Benton improved to 7-1, 6-0 in the BVC. Elchert also returned a punt 31 yards, though it was called back by a penalty. "He makes plays for us; you just got to throw it up sometimes and let your athletes go make plays, and he did that," said L-B coach Scott Garlock. "Trevin (Lieb) is throwing the ball really well right now. Our offensive line is doing a great job protecting. We can be very balanced, and that helps us." Lieb, who has excelled in recent weeks, completed 17 of 22 passes for 253 yards, He completed five passes to Connor Barbara, for 99 yards. In addition, the Eagles defense was outstanding, limiting Leipsic to just 119 yards of total offense. Marc Kirkendall, the Vikings' impressive freshman quarterback, completed 9 of 17 passes for 85 yards, and was intercepted twice, once by the Eagles Reid Irwin. "To be honest with you, our biggest thing was we wanted our offense and defense to put up a complete game together, and I thought we did that tonight," Garlock said. Leipsic coach Joe Kirkendall agreed. "Physically, they just dominated us on both sides of the line of scrimmage," he said. "Our passing game, we were struggling because they were dropping guys in coverage. We've got to run the football. We're not running it, and it killed us tonight, without a doubt." The Vikings collected just 24 rushing yards on 14 carries. Though Liberty-Benton's running game took a backseat to its passing attack Friday night, it was very effective, especially on its opening drive, when the Eagles gobbled more than seven minutes off the clock before Zach Elchert punctuated the march by bouncing into the end zone from three yards out. It was impressive, but Leipsic had a few chances to get off the field. With the ball on the Vikings' 36 and facing a fourth-and-10, L-B kept things moving when Lieb threw a screen to Seth Elchert, who weaved his way 14 yards for a first down. Leipsic had another chance to stop L-B on its second offensive possession, putting the Eagles in a fourth-and-2 from the Vikings 47. But Lieb and Seth Elchert connected again, this time on a quick 5-yard pattern to pick up the first down. A few plays later, Lieb hit Seth Elchert in the back of the end zone for a 23-yard TD pass. "Early on in the game, defensively, we were making them work really hard," coach Kirkendall said. "We had a third-down and long, a fourth down and short those first two drives. We only had three (offensive) plays in the first quarter, which has been our Achilles heel all year, just not being able to get off the field. Things just snowballed from there." Zach Elchert ran the ball 21 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles, who led 35-0 at halftime. They added a 35-yard Garrett Nealis field goal in the final minute of the third quarter. L-B can clinch at least a share of the BVC next week when it hosts Arcadia. It finishes at home against Van Buren. "This is a huge step in the right direction," Garlock said. "We have two (games) to finish out, we've got to keep taking care of business, keep getting better and keep improving." Leipsic slipped to 5-3, 3-2 in the BVC. It finishes with a pair of road games, against Arlington and Ada. "We know we're gonna be in the playoffs; that's pretty much a given," coach Kirkendall said. "We've been practicing very, very well, but we didn't put it forth on the field, and that's just gonna come down to the men wearing the helmet to bring what we do during the week to Friday. This season's up to them." Liberty-Benton&emsp;7&emsp;28&emsp;3&emsp;0 -- 35 Leipsic&emsp;0&emsp;0&emsp;0&emsp;0 --0 FIRST QUARTER L-B -- Zach Elchert 3 run (Garrett Nealis kick) SECOND QUARTER L-B -- Seth Elchert 23 pass from Trevin Lieb (Nealis kick) L-B -- Zach Elchert 8 run (Nealis kick) L-B -- Seth Elchert 41 pass from Lieb (Nealis kick) L-B -- Seth Elchert 56 pass from Lieb (Nealis kick) THIRD QUARTER L-B -- Nealis 35 field goal