L-B gets big plays early, routs Columbus Grove

COLUMBUS GROVE – Liberty-Benton's football team came into Columbus Grove Friday night with a couple of things on its mind. The players certainly remembered last season's matchup at L-B, when the Bulldogs routed the Eagles 42-14. "Last year left a sour taste in our mouth," said L-B running back/linebacker Zach Elchert. But Eagles coach Scott Garlock said there was something else that the team wanted to show against the Bulldogs. "We came here and we were physical with them," Garlock said after Liberty-Benton dominated and beat Columbus Grove, 41-3. "We're tired of hearing how not physical we are at Liberty-Benton." Liberty-Benton's defense forced the Bulldogs to punt on each of their first four offensive possessions. Meanwhile, Liberty-Benton hit a big play the first time it had the ball. Facing a third and 15 from his own 37, Eagles quarterback Connor Barbara dropped a perfect deep ball down the left side for receiver Seth Elchert. The University of Toledo commit caught the ball and took it into the end zone. "We talked all week, everybody talked all summer about how (Seth) Elchert was gonna get the ball," said Columbus Grove coach Andy Schafer. "Sure enough, he did." The second time the Eagles offense was on the field, it was the Seth Elchert show again, as he fought off a Columbus Grove defender to haul in a 45-yard completion. Three plays later, Seth's brother Zach ran in a seven-yard score, and it was 13-0 Liberty-Benton. "We told (Seth) we were gonna give him some shots tonight, let him make plays, and that's what he's good at," Garlock said. "We trust in him, and he came down with some big ones." L-B scored another first quarter TD when Zach Elchert plowed in from a yard out. The Eagles were up 27-0 heading to the second quarter. "First quarter was the game," Schafer said. Seth Elchert set up the Eagles fourth touchdown when he hauled in a 17-yard pass that came just before Barbara scored from the 3. Trailing 27-0, Grove's offense put together a drive, going 12 plays deep into L-B territory. Gavin Barraza had a 17-yard completion, and a 7-yard run by Landon Best pushed the Bulldogs to the Eagles 10 with about five minutes left in the half. But that's where the drive stalled. Schafer opted to send kicker Evan Verhoff out for a 27-yard field goal, which he drilled. Liberty-Benton led 27-3, and carried that advantage into the second half. "I don't question going for the field goal; I think it was the right move," Schafer said, "but it'd have been nice to get a touchdown there. That could have changed it a little bit more." As it was, Liberty-Benton took the second half kickoff and immediately hit a big play. This time, it was a 65-yard run by Zach Elchert that got the Eagles down to the Bulldogs' 13. Two plays later, Zach Elchert ran the ball eight yards to the end zone. Zach Elchert added another touchdown in the fourth quarter, this one from 16 yards. He finished the game with 159 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 13 carries. He also had an interception on defense. He now has seven rushing touchdowns through the first two games. "This is just the beginning," Zach Elchert said. "I can see us going far in the playoffs, and I'm really excited." Seth Elchert finished with six catches for 156 yards and a score. Barbara completed 8 of 12 passes for 170 yards. He was intercepted by Columbus Grove's Brady Basinger late in the first half. Liberty-Benton is 2-0, and has outscored its opponents – Columbus Grove and Ottawa-Glandorf -- 76-3. "We take pride in not letting people score," Garlock said. As for Columbus Grove, Barraza had seven catches for 56 yards. Landon Best was 11 of 19 passing for 85 yards. It was the Bulldogs first loss at home since falling 14-11 to Allen East on Sept. 20, 2019. And it doesn't get any easier for 0-2 Columbus Grove. The Bulldogs travel to 2-0 Patrick Henry next week. "We knew going into this that the first three games might potentially be the three toughest games of the year, but I really think it's going to prepare you for conference play," Schafer said. "We're gonna watch film, we're gonna see what we need to fix, we're gonna get better." L-B 20 7 7 7 -- 41 Columbus Grove 0 3 0 0 -- 3 FIRST QUARTER L-B – Seth Elchert 63 yard pass from Connor Barbara (kick blocked) L-B—Zach Elchert 7 run (Jairo Colina kick) L-B – Z. Elchert 1 run (Colina kick SECOND QUARTER L-B – Connor Barbara 3 run (Colina kick) CG – Evan Verhoff 27 field goal THIRD QUARTER L-B -- Z. Elchert 8 run (Colina kick) FOURTH QUARTER L-B – Z. Elchert 16 run (Colina kick