LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) The Liberty University Flames held their first football game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 4.

For the first time in two years, they were able to fill their stadium and allow full capacity.

Fans packed the stands despite the University recently reporting a large number of coronavirus cases.

Thousands of fans lined up to see the Liberty University Flames season opener against Campbell University.

Were here to celebrate Liberty and to cheer on the Flames, and were so excited, said Meghan Voogd, Liberty University alumna.

Weve been practicing safe distancing and stuff but just being outside but we feel pretty good just excited to be out and doing things again, said Tyler Voogd, a Flames fan.

Last week, Liberty University reported their quarantine annex was full due to a large number of COVID-19 cases.

According to their dashboard, they have 430 active student cases and 58 active cases among faculty and staff.

But that didnt stop folks from celebrating game number one.

Freshman, Lauren Harder said she hopes this is one of many large on-campus gatherings.

It feels amazing just to be with everybody, and all the friends I made so far is insane since the 2 weeks Ive been here. I can already hear the music, and Im excited to cheer on my team, expressed Harder.

The University is expected to end its campus-wide quarantine on Friday, Sept. 10.

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The rest is here:

Liberty University allows full capacity at first football game of the season - WFXRtv.com

September 3, 2021 : By Ryan Klinker - Office of Communications & Public Engagement

Spread out across the bleachers and field of Williams Stadium, Liberty University students spent the first Convocation of the academic year celebrating the universitys 50 years of Training Champions for Christ and listening to renowned pastor Dr. Tony Evans outline what it means to be a representative of Gods Kingdom in the world today.

Members of the Liberty Worship Collective and LU Praise led a variety of worship songs before a video, narrated by Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell, illustrated the God-inspired vision and tremendous growth of the university over the last 50 years. Liberty Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell then reenforced the idea that the day was a culmination of something his father spoke of when Liberty began in 1971.

What you just saw was talking about vision, a vision that came from the heart of God and was given to the heart of a man, and that man was simply saying, God, here I am, use me, Falwell said. We sit here now today 50 years later and we see what God can do with anyone who says, God, here I am.

Falwell pointed out that while the Convocation was a time to look back at the schools beginnings, it was also a moment to look toward what lies ahead.

We celebrate, this fall, 50 years on this mountain, 50 years of what God has done through Liberty University, and while we take a moment to look back at what God has done in the past, what we really need to be focused on is what God is going to do in the future through you (students), he said. Were excited about what is ahead for Liberty University, but we are more excited about what is ahead for each and every student who is a part of this campus today as they are becoming Champions for Christ in our world today.

He then introduced Evans, who is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas and author ofover 100 books, booklets, and Bible studies.One of his children, Christian recording artist Anthony Evans, graduated from Liberty in 2000, and he has two grandsons who are current students.

Evans began with an analogy that he would carry on throughout his message, using the venue and timely event of Liberty Footballs home opener against Campbell, set for Saturday at 6 p.m., as a demonstration of the clashing teams that gather in todays world every day. In addition to the two football teams that take the field, Evans said a third team would also be present: the referees. Set apart by their striped uniforms and rule books that they follow regardless of what the other teams say, this third team is a representative of the established guidelines of the game.

For three hours there is going to be a conflict on this field. These two teams are going to clash and they are not going to agree. They are going to be headed in two different directions, Evans said. This officiating team will be on the field but they will not be of the field. They will be in the middle of the conflict but not part of the conflict. You are living in a world of conflict racial, political, class, social but what God has called you to do is be a part of His third team, be a part of the crew who do not join the teams on the field, but represent the team up (in Heaven) in the chaos down here.

In the Great Commission, Jesus said, All authority is given unto me on Heaven and on Earth, and Evans explained that because of this, as Christs followers, we have been given Kingdom authority. Just as a football referee has been given a whistle and a yellow flag to show the presence of the league, Christians have been given authority from God to represent Him on Earth.

Jesus also called for his people to make disciples, people who are visible and verbal followers of Christ, and Evans noted the difference between someone who believes in Christ and those who carry their identity in Him and influence the world around them as members of His Kingdom.

Our issue is we have plenty of Christians, but what we dont have is enough disciples people who understand that their whole identity is to be absorbed in their relationship to the risen Christ, Evans said. (A disciple) is not merely a person who is a Christian on their way to Heaven. Its a Christian who has grabbed Heaven, brought it down to Earth, and is living it out as a full-time follower of Jesus Christ.

Applying this idea even further to the lives of Liberty students, Evans outlined how every profession is a different area to be a representative of Christ.

Youre supposed to represent Christ in every sphere of life so that that sphere of life is introduced to your Savior through your expertise, he said. This is what makes Liberty University so great, as you celebrate your 50 years. Young men and young ladies have gone out into every sphere and discipline, not just in church work but in church life, and have manifested the Kingdom of God in the chaos of man.

If we are going to save our culture its got to be folks like you who adopt Heavens view as representatives of Jesus Christ in the marketplace of life, Evans added. I hope that here (at Liberty University) in your 50th year that we dont just have great students and great Christians, but that we wind up with a generation of disciples of Jesus Christ who dont mind other folk knowing where you take your stand.

In the final moments of Convocation, Falwell shared that each Convocation and Campus Community would offer a new insight into what it means to be a Champion for Christ.

Every Convocation, every Campus Community, is going to be an explantation of what it means to be a Champion for Christ, and we want you not to miss any of them.

Read this article:

Tony Evans helps kick off Liberty's first Convocation of the school year, 50th Anniversary celebration Liberty News - Liberty News

The Delta variant story keeps getting bigger and bigger, which means that debates between anti-vaccine activists and mainstream science and government leaders are getting hotter and hotter.

There are plenty of religion-news angles there, of course. There are plenty of articles to read about COVID-19, vaccines and fights in pews.

With that in mind, lets connect several dots while on our way to this weekends think piece which is a David French essay with this double-decker headline:

Its Time to Stop Rationalizing and Enabling Evangelical Vaccine Rejection

There is no religious liberty interest in refusing the COVID vaccine.

Start here, with this passage near the end of my GetReligion post earlier this week that ran with this headline: Was this a story? Why? Mississippi governor talks about heaven and Southern anti-vax trends.

When thinking about religious liberty and those seeking exemptions from vaccine mandates, remember that for decades the U.S. Supreme Court has said that government can ask tough questions about religious beliefs and actions when they involve fraud, profit and clear threats to life and health. Watch for discussions of that third factor in these public-policy debates.

The fact that there are bitter debates on this topic in conservative pews is a sign of DIVISION on the topic, not that Black and White believers are UNITED against vaccines and masks. The press coverage keeps implying unity here and that is the opposite of what the facts show.

Now, it is becoming clear that some religious leaders are going to test these religious-liberty arguments with employers and then in courts.

As you would expect, this is causing heat among Southern Baptists, the nations largest non-Catholic flock of believers. You can feel the various tensions in a new Baptist Press feature: Vaccine mandates raise religious liberty questions.

You see, there are people who are pro-vaccines, but question the need for government and employer mandates. This passage is long, but essential.

The SBC Executive Committee has received numerous inquiries from Southern Baptists around the country about authorizing religious exemptions for vaccine mandates, said Jonathan Howe, the SBC ECs vice president of communications. However, this is not an assignment given to the EC by Southern Baptists due to the autonomous nature of our Convention.

Evangelical ethicists and legal scholars agree that many followers of Christ object to the COVID-19 vaccines, but theyre split on whether any of the objections commonly articulated among believers constitute religious objections. The distinction between religious liberty objections and more general objections could become a key issue as more businesses require employees to be vaccinated.

The SBCs Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission says the COVID vaccines are safe and effective and has cautioned pastors against endorsing hasty appeals to religious liberty by vaccine skeptics.

We must not allow or give support to mere personal or political preferences masquerading as religious liberty claims,wrote Jason Thacker, ERLC chair of research in technology ethics. Indeed, doing so is not only morally disingenuous but also can do long-term damage to the credibility of pastors, churches, and Christian institutions in our communities. At the same time, pastors should graciously and patiently consult with those seeking such exemptions or accommodations in order to determine whether the request is predicated on sincere religious grounds.

ERLC trustee Jon Whitehead, a Missouri attorney who specializes in religious liberty cases, expressed a similar perspective.

Most Baptists will listen to Scripture, facts, and experts they trust and decide to take the vaccine. I am among them, Whitehead said. Many vaccine objections are grounded in Constitutional interpretation, concerns about government power, or even about how to analyze data. Some of these concerns might be prudent, but not religious.

People who dont understand religious liberty might fear that religious accommodation opens Pandoras box. But that fear isnt supported by the long legal record in the United States, he said. Baptists believe in protecting religious liberty for all. Baptists should remain united against government religious discrimination. And Baptists should oppose government retaliation against people who ask for exemptions.

This brings us to the French essay.

When reading this, it helps to remember that he is (a) an evangelical, (b) a Harvard Law School graduate and (c) a veteran of many, many court cases in which he has defended the religious liberty rights of religious believers, including many conservative Christians.

Journalists need to read what he has to say because, as I mentioned earlier, religious liberty cases linked to disputes about a clear threat to life and health are some of the most agonizing First Amendment cases that exist. There will be headlines. There will be mistakes and stereotypes, too.

French is making a case for the vaccines, of course, but also AGAINST clergy and activists attempting to play the First Amendment card in this fight. Thus:

There is a scramble by Christian Americans to seek religious exemptions from employer vaccine mandates. Ive received correspondence from Christian religious liberty ministries who report a sharp rise in requests for legal assistance to secure religious exemptions. One ministry indicated in an email to affiliated attorneys that it had been inundated by requests for help. A pastor in a large church in California haspromised to hand out religious exemption formsto anyone who attends the church and asks.

Theres the news hook. Now read this:

I fear that the relentless right-wing political focus on religious liberty has obscured two realities that our liberties have limits when they collide with the rights of others, and that the exercise of our liberty carries with it profound moral responsibility.

The idea that liberty has limits is inherent in the American social compact. Think of our founding Declaration that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Through more than two centuries of controversy and progress, our classical liberal legal system is learning to harmonize these three unalienable rights.

I have liberty, yes, but my liberty does not extend to taking or endangering your life (this is one reason whyRoe v. Wadeis such a profound violation of our founding principles). In addition, my liberty doesnt extend to materially impairing your ability to pursue happiness. Even if COVID doesnt kill, the frequent infliction of painful, long term illness can sap a person of hope and joy and deprive sick Americans of economic opportunity and the psychological benefits of social participation in American life.

In more prosaic legal terms, the state is able to regulate even the strongest of liberties when it possesses a compelling governmental interest and places those regulations in proper limits. And what are some legally recognized compelling interests? Foremost among them are protections for life and health.

Read all three, if you have the time. But reporters will want to underline and file some of the names and terms in the Baptist Press and French pieces.

Be careful out there.

FIRST IMAGE: A popular anti-vax button on the market.

Read more here:

Thinking about fights over religious liberty and 'religious exemptions' from COVID vaccines - GetReligion

After starting the season 5-1, the New York Liberty were the toast of the league.

It looked like New Yorks all-in offseason moves trading the No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft for the rights to 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Howard, signing 2020 Most Improved Player Betnijah Laney and signing two-time WNBA champion Sami Whitcomb were just what the organization needed to elevate the team from the bottom of the WNBA standings into the playoffs.

Since the calendar turned to June, things have not looked quite as ideal for the Liberty. Month by month, New Yorks monthly win total has dwindled. Five wins in May turned into three wins in June, which turned into two wins in July. In August, the Liberty won a single game. Currently, they are a riding a six-game losing streak.

For the season, New York is 11-18, falling out of the playoff picture after Thursday nights loss to the Seattle Storm.

So, can the Libertys season be considered a success?

The drop off from May to September suggests the hot start was unsustainable, a product of incredibly hot shooting more than the teams structural changes. However, it is important to remember that the Liberty were 2-20 last season, struggling through the wubble season as a noncompetitive cellar dweller. Comparing 2020 to 2021 signals that the Libertys season is a clear success, even if they do not sneak into the playoffs.

Taken together the progress from last season and the stumbles after a strong start this season the overall state of the Liberty is a bit of a mixed bag. They are successful, but, considering the win-now moves they made, are they successful enough? And, most importantly, are they set up for more success next season and in seasons beyond?

Even with Natasha Howard playing in only two early season games due to a late arrival from overseas and a subsequent knee injury, the retooled, more experienced Liberty appeared ready to support the anticipated star ascendance of sophomore Sabrina Ionescu.

In the month of May, Betnijah Laney demonstrated that her 2020 Most Improved season was not her ceiling. She was an MVP candidate, scoring 22.3 points per game as she drained nearly 50 percent of her 3.6 three attempts per game. She also added four rebounds and five assists per contest.

Laney paired with Ionescu to form a dangerous, dynamic duo. In May, Ionescu looked like the player who showed some spectacular flashes during her very short rookie season. After nailing the game winner in the first game of the season, Ionescu averaged 16.1 points, 7.1 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 26-point, 12-assist and 10-rebound triple-double in a win over the Minnesota Lynx. Like Laney, Ionescu also was on fire from deep, shooting 45.5 percent from behind the arc.

Laney and Ionescus opportunities were made easier by Sami Whitcomb, who instantly announced herself as a certified 3-point sniper as she served as a threatening floor spacer by converting almost 47 percent of her more than six 3-point attempts per game. Whitcomb also fulfilled her reputation as a scrappy defender, snagging more than a steal per game.

Things were going so well that the Liberty cut the leader of their 2020 team, Layshia Clarendon.

However, closer analysis suggests that this early success was not sustainable.

Not only were Laney, Ionescu and Whitcomb all shooting better than 45 percent from 3-point range, but the Liberty as a team also shot 43.2 percent from three, an absurdly good percentage. At the same time, their opponents shot less than 30 percent from deep in the month of May. So, while they were swishing almost 12 triples per game, their opponents were making an average of 6.3 treys per game.

The Libertys early season success was an illustration of the power of the 3-pointer. Their subsequent steady swoon, in contrast, has highlighted the danger of 3-point dependency.

As indicated by their personnel, the Liberty were designed to be a high-octane offense that did enough to survive on defense. With the WNBAs tenth-ranked defense, they must be hitting on all cylinders on offense in order to consistently find the win column.

Since June 1, New York has shot 34.3 percent from deep, while their opponents have shot 33.5 percent, thus nullifying the extreme 3-point shooting advantage the Liberty enjoyed in the early going.

While Sami Whitcomb has continued to stroke it, making a league-leading 70 triples at 43.8 percent, Laney and Ionescus hot shooting from long range did not sustain. For the season, Laney is shooting 31 percent and Ionescu 32 percent from three. Outside of Whitcomb, Rebecca Allen is the Libertys only high-volume above-average 3-point threat.

Turnovers also have undermined the Liberty. They own the leagues worst turnover percentage at 20.6 percent, as they relinquish the rock 16.9 times per game.

A potentially bigger issue for the Liberty has been the struggles of Ionescu. Expected to be the center of the Libertys offensive universe, she has not played like the future face of the league.

Since June 1, Ionescu has averaged 9.4 points per game, shooting 26.4 percent from three and 35.8 percent from the field overall. Although her assist and rebounding numbers have been solid, Ionescus shooting efficiency must improve if she is to become the star she has been imagined to be.

It is worth noting that Ionescu tweaked her ankle in early June, an injury that required her to miss three games and possibly has contributed to her subpar shooting since her return. Similarly, Natasha Howard has struggled with her scoring efficiency since coming back from a more extended injury absence.

Thursday night was a positive sign for Ionescu. Although the Liberty lost to the Storm, she had one of her most efficient games of the season, scoring 20 points for the first time since May as she shot 8-of-16 from the field. She also had seven assists to only two turnovers.

Although the trajectory of their season has been disappointing, the overall outlook is still trending upwards for the Liberty.

With a Howard who is ready to play a full season and improvement by Ionescu, in combination with continued excellence from Laney and Whitcomb, New York has a playoff-quality core four. A solid supporting cast further raises their ceiling.

While Jocelyn Willoughby has been out all year with an Achilles injury and nagging injuries have stunted the seasons of second-year players Jazmine Jones and Leaonna Odom, New Yorks rookie additions have impressed. Not only is Michaela Onyenwere the front runner for Rookie of the Year, but DiDi Richards also is looking like a keeper, rounding out her pro-level defensive potential with intriguing improvement on the offensive end.

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WNBA: Assessing the 2021 New York Liberty as playoffs approach - Swish Appeal

Who is Malik Willis? If you haven't paid attention to the Liberty superstar quarterback in college football, he should receive a lot more buzz soon as a prized NFL prospect in the 2022 draft.

Sporting News has Willis going No. 2 overall (to the lowly Lions) in our latest NFL mock draft for next year as both seasons this year are about to kick off.Willis (6-1, 215 pounds) is a lot more than adual-threat QB with a dazzling small-school highlight reel. Hecan flat-out throw the ball at an NFL leveland matches that with exceptional speed to the point he will excite pro teams looking for a franchise passer the way the 49ers became enamored with North Dakota State's Trey Lance.

2022 NFL DRAFT: SN's big-board ranking of top 50 prospects overall, best by position

Willis transferred from Auburn to Liberty in 2019to play foroffensive-minded coachHugh Freeze, also an SEC transplant (Ole Miss).Since becoming the Flames' starter in 2020, Willis has been on fire. His numbers from last season (2,260 yards passing, 64.2 completion percentage, 8.5 yards per attempt, 156.2 passer rating, 944 yards rushing, 34 total touchdowns) are just scratching the surface of his upside. Now withreal starting experience, expect the efficiency and overall numbers to shoot up, translating into a high NFL ceiling.

Although Willis doesn't have the same size as Lance (6-4, 224 pounds), he has some of the same dynamic characteristics for a league that's embracing arm and athleticism and going away from the traditional pocket passer. When watching standout plays from Willis' junior season, he showedgreat arm strength but also touch and accuracy. His ball placement on deep shots often looked like long handoffs He zipped short passes well into tighter windows.

Then there's the running. It's easy to see that Willis has some of the lightning-fast qualities of Michael Vick (6-0, 210 pounds), but Vick isn't the best comparison.

Willis also brings quickness and toughness to his elusive style. He looks bigger in action, which makes himsimilarto the late Steve McNair (6-2, 230 pounds), the Alcorn State great who became an NFL MVP with the Titans.

The raw skills to be an NFL superstar are there, and Willis' weaknesses are coachable.

He needs to become steadier throwing the ball to the right places and makingbetterdecisions. That includes getting rid of the ballor choosing totake off and runmore quickly. Willisthrew sixinterceptions during Liberty's 10-1 season and took 19 sacks in those 11 games,including several multiple-sack outings.

The mental mistakes should drop in 2021. Willis has confidence he can make a big play every time by buying time, but he needs to make the necessary little plays instead of letting pressure get to him and forcing hurried throws.

Outside of Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler, Willis is the highest-upside QB in the 2022 draft because of his physical skill set. Should he smooth out a few parts of his game, he will be at least the No. 2 QB on the board with a chance to challenge Rattler.

NFL teams are leaning to swing for the fences at quarterback, looking more for ceiling than floor with the bar raised so high and fewer "have-not"teams at the game's most important position.

Liberty doesn't play in prime TV spots. The only current top-25 opponent on its schedule is Louisiana, with Syracuse and Ole Miss being the Flames' only Power 5 competition. The goal each game day for Willis will be to put out the most jaw-droppingtape possible so more attentive NFL evaluators can add gloss to their scouting reports.

The 2022 QB draft class offers strong competition, so Willis needs to take advantage of every scouting showcase. He has a much better chance of living up to the hype than letting down and seeing his stock fall as fast as it has risen.

View post:

Why Liberty's Malik Willis will be the Trey Lance of 2022 NFL Draft - Sporting News

Weve all wanted to chuck a club after hitting a lousy shot, and many people have given in to temptation and heaved one down the fairway. It feels good, even if you know you shouldnt have done it as you walk to wherever the club landed and retrieve it.

Rory McIlroy has tossed a couple in his career, including his 3-wood after hitting his tee shot on the ninth hole at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, during a Monday finish at the Northern Trust. After hitting his tee shot with the TaylorMade SIM2 Max 213 yards, a shot that failed to reach the fairway and left McIlroy still 269 yards to the hole, Rory flung the club into the trees on the right side of the teeing ground.

Typically, there would be fans, volunteers and scores of other people nearby to grab the club, but after the remains of Hurricane Henri soaked Liberty National on Sunday and forced a Monday finish, only a handful of people would have been around McIlroy as the club got chucked.

So, for five days, the clubs whereabouts remained a mystery until, as Alan Bastable reports for Golf.com, it was discovered early last Sunday morning by Michael Bongiovanni, a grounds-crew member at Liberty National.

Several people searched the area around the ninth tee in the days after the tournament, looking for the club. According to the clubs general manager, Lee Smith, it was discovered in an area where people had been searching, but the club was likely blown down to a more visible spot from a higher branch in the trees by a storm on Saturday evening.

Smith and his fellow Liberty National staffers are working on finding a spot where the 15-degree SIM2 Max fitted with a Mitsubishi Tensei CK 80 TX shaft and a Golf Pride New Decade Multicompound grip can be displayed.

Were going to do everything we can to keep it out of a case while also securing it, Smith said. Wed like people to be able to touch and feel it, because it really has taken on a life of its own.

Continue reading here:

Rory McIlroy's tossed 3-wood is found at Liberty National - usatoday.com

Zubkoff is a senior at San Diego High School, serves as an intern in the office of Mayor Todd Gloria and is a current Aaron Price Fellow. He lives in Point Loma.

Twenty years ago, our parents, grandparents, teachers and older siblings witnessed the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in the history of the United States. I am part of the first generation born after 9/11, but I am not too young to recognize how much the world changed in its aftermath. When reflecting on the tragic events of that day, Ive noticed many people recall the sense of unity that followed. In their mourning, Americans came together to heal, joined by a shared devotion to our founding principles. In the wake of this terrible attack, America recommitted itself to defending liberty and upholding justice.

Yet looking back on the past 20 years, it is hard not to see betrayal of those ideals at every turn.

Even before the dust had settled, the Bush administration set out seeking vengeance, a vengeance that would shape much of the Middle East. The Iraq War, predicated on lies about weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Husseins non-existent ties to al-Qaeda (not to mention an alleged U.S. interest in Iraqi oil), saw the deaths of thousands of American servicemen and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians over eight years. It was one of the single greatest assists in the Islamic States rise to power. It was a war we never should have been in, and one of two that the government justified using 9/11.

The war in Afghanistan was our generations Vietnam. The Bush administration, followed by those of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, actively withheld and sometimes even fabricated information about a war we have slowly been losing for 20 years.

There were successes such as the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and driving the Taliban from their seat of power yet 20 years after the war began we found ourselves hastily evacuating U.S. personnel as Taliban forces swept through the country almost unopposed. We leave Afghanistan at the mercy of the Mujahideen, with over 2,000 soldiers killed in action along with tens of thousands of Afghan civilians.

In our rush to punishment, America lost sight of the value of justice. Programs and policies like the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) made racial profiling a key aspect of the governments counterterrorism strategy. Operations like the Guantanamo Bay detention camp reached the lowest of lows. Detainees who had not yet been convicted of a crime were subjected to torture, drugging and even sexual assault in the name of justice. It goes without saying that these abuses were unconstitutional, remain illegal, and will forever be wrong.

I have learned about 9/11 and the legacy we have made of it. Of young men denied trial and representation. Of tens of thousands of first responders with respiratory diseases and cancer only just recently offered compensation. Of the sacrifices of brave Americans in foreign wars the government knew we could not win. We must do better, to honor the victims and to honor the vision of what America should be.

Go here to see the original:

Opinion: After 9/11, Americans recommitted to liberty and justice. Today we've lost those ideals. - The San Diego Union-Tribune

When Nasir McLean made the decision to transfer from Catasauqua to Allentown Central Catholic, it also meant hed switch positions from quarterback to defensive back before the 2021 season.

Based on the sophomores performance in the Vikings Week 2 contest against Liberty, both those moves have paid off.

McLean made three interceptions as Central Catholic defeated the Hurricanes 14-7 in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Division matchup at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium on Friday night.

Trailing 14-7 with no timeouts remaining and just 2:30 left in the game, the Hurricanes took over at midfield with one last chance to tie the score.

Junior quarterback Thomas Mason lofted a deep pass over the middle that McLean out-jumped a Hurricanes receiver for and pulled in for his third interception of the game.

I was dropping back. I told myself the play before that if (Mason) wasnt going to look off, I was just going to read exactly where his eyes were going, McLean said. I jumped up for it and his eyes took me exactly where the ball was and I got the pick.

While his final pick allowed the Vikings to run the clock out, the sophomores second interception set up their second touchdown of the game.

With just over 2 minutes left in the third quarter, Mason threw a pass over the middle that Central Catholic junior Griffin Patridge deflected and McLean caught before weaving his way inside the Liberty 20.

Seeing (Mason) roll out, my first thought was just run with him and find the nearest receiver. Then, luckily, my teammate tipped the ball for me and I got it. Then the thought was just try and score or get as far as I can, McLean said.

A facemask penalty against the Hurricanes set the Vikings up 9 yards out from the end zone and junior running back Travis Foster scored on the next play with a quick burst up the middle.

I was honestly cramping at first and then I just had to dive into the end zone. I saw the opening and then just wanted to get the play over with and score, Foster said. With our line up front, we just know we can pretty much bully anyone around in the league.

Foster put in a gritty performance out of the backfield, taking 31 carries for 131 yards.

We just had to keep pushing up front and keep our team together and not fall apart when the game got close, Foster said. We just had to keep going because not every play can break big so we had to keep coming at them, get them tired and then keep going down their throat.

Central Catholic opened up the scoring early in the second quarter when junior Conner Aquino connected with Patridge on a 4-yard touchdown pass.

The Hurricanes responded on their next possession as senior running back Kyndred Wright hauled in a 32-yard catch on third-and-11 before Mason threaded a 23-yard touchdown throw to senior receiver Josh Farrell.

The Vikings went three-and-out on their next drive and Liberty took over at the Central Catholic 42. The Hurricanes needed just three plays to reach the red zone and seemed to be finding their groove on offense until McLean snagged his first interception in the end zone on an errant throw from Mason.

McLeans three-interception performance is even more impressive considering the sophomore nearly missed the game after picking up a wrist injury in the Vikings Week 1 win over Dieruff.

We didnt know if he was going to play until yesterday. He was able to practice yesterday. He battled through a little bit of an injury and came up huge in so many different spots, Central Catholic coach Tim McGorry said. We saw during training camp just how athletic he was. Hes just a football player and hes able to understand whats going on and get people lined up, which is why he does a great job at safety for us.

Sophomore Armonie Torres also recorded an interception in the end zone for Central Catholic, which will look to improve to 3-0 next week when it hosts Emmaus (2-0) 2 p.m. Saturday.

Liberty (1-1) will look to get back in the win column when it travels to Whitehall on Friday night.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Desmond Boyle may be reached at dboyle@lehighvalleylive.com.

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No-fly zone: Central Catholic football grabs 4 INTs in win over Liberty - lehighvalleylive.com

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (KWWL)-- According to the US Census, North Liberty had the fastest growing population in Iowa between 2010 and 2020. The U.S. Census only reports the percentage increase for cities with 5,000 or more, so other cities with exponential increases like Tiffin are unreported. North Liberty had a 53% raise, while the other Eastern Iowa cities closest were Marion, Iowa City and Coralville which had less than a 20% raise. Behind North Liberty is Ankeny, Iowa, which saw a 48% population increase. In April 2010, the estimated population in North Liberty was 13,374 and by April 2020 the population was estimated at 20,479.

Mayor Terry L. Donahue says the population boom is hard to miss.

"When I first moved here in 1998, there was barely 5,000 people here," Mayor Donahue said.

"Now it's up to the point where we can serve 30,000 plus people," he continued.

The population demographic of North Liberty has shifted too, with nearly a third of the population under the age of 18. The mayor says this shift has changed the physical map layout for North Liberty.

SEE RELATED: What Eastern Iowa looks like, according to Census data

"The school system here has had to add one, two, three grade schools, a junior high, and North Liberty High School all in really a short period of time," he said.

"We've got so many off-street trails, so many wonderful parks here, we've got an amazing community center, all of those amenities are right in your backyard," City Planning Director Ryan Rusnak said.

"It's nice to know you're working for the community but you're also part of the community, I'm in there in the neighborhoods with my kids running around too," he continued.

Both North Liberty leaders don't think the population boom will be changing anytime soon.

""I don't see us slowing down, I see us continuing to grow and continue to be a very sought out place to live," Rusnak said.

And there's a certain area they have their eye on.

"We're getting close to being able to serve our southwest area for utilities so we look at that area as the next big area for big time development," Rusnak added.

The mayor hopes his council will continue to be adaptive to the changes for the city.

"Explore, experiment, don't be afraid to bring new ideas and let's see if we can possibly implement them for the benefit of the total community," Donahue concluded.

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North Liberty has fastest growing population above 5,000 in Iowa - kwwl.com

In a taped interview in June, Gov. Chris Sununu addressed what he called at the time squabbles within the New Hampshire Republican Party arising from the growing presence of libertarians within the caucus in the New Hampshire House.

The Libertarians are not Republicans, Sununu said flatly. They have their own party, their own place. Libertarians are not Republicans. Okay? I know a lot of them like to sign up as Republicans and pass themselves off as Republicans, he continued. But, theyre not. Not even remotely.

Call them what he will, they are the very same lawmakers who control the House Republican caucus and played a strong hand in the state budget Sununu has called transformational, historic and a win for every citizen and family in this state.

The annual Liberty Rating compiled by the NH Liberty Alliance, confirms the dominance of those who some call the Liberty Republicans.

The rating scores how the 400 members of the House and 24 members of the Senate voted on a tranche of selected bills 49 in the House and 25 in the Senate. The system applies an opaque formula with a factor, positive or negative, for each vote and adds a weight for sponsoring and shepherding a bill through the process to calculate a letter grade for every legislator.

Altogether, 150 representatives scored A and another 45 scored B all of them Republicans by voting with the alliance on between 87% and 100% of 49 tracked bills. Among Republicans, only eight representatives received the lowest score of C for those voting with the alliance on between 50 and 60% of votes.

In other words, 195 members of the Republican caucus which numbered 213 when the session began and 211 when it ended, aligned themselves closely with the alliance.

Little wonder that House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, who moved to New Hampshire as part of the Free State Project and an open Libertarian, touted the unity among House caucus members in pursuing its legislative agenda and carrying what either cuing or echoing the governor he also called a transformational budget.

Of the 177 Democrats, 18 were rated D and 24 F while the other 135 were graded CT, or constitutional threat, and considered unfaithful to their oath of office to uphold the New Hampshire Constitution and the principle of liberty.

By contrast, no senator received an A grade. Eight of the 14 Republicans rated B, with one B+, by voting with the alliance on at least 80% of the selected bills while the other six who strayed on at least 30% of votes were graded C+. Likewise, seven of the 10 democratic Senators were graded CT while two rated F and one D.

The alliance describes pro-liberty bills as those protecting individual freedom and promoting personal responsibility.

Anti-liberty bills, according to the alliance, displace voluntary individual choice with compulsory government regulation and compel people and businesses to pay for policies they may not willingly support.

The bills tracked by the alliance included measures to trim the governors emergency powers as well as reverse or forgive penalties levied for breaching them.

A half-dozen bills loosened restrictions on the possession and use of firearms, including one prohibiting the state from enforcing federal regulations imposed by executive order.

Other bills sought to withhold state support from and impose state supervision on municipalities. Among these was a bill that would deprive municipalities of the authority to enact local ordinances on subjects not enumerated by a statute originated in 1846 and instead would require them to be enacted by the Legislature. Another bill sought to strip public officials of immunity for actions taken in good faith while acting within the scope of their authority and responsibilities.

At the same time, members of the House Republican caucus chafed at the governors proposed budget, particularly his family medical leave program and proposed spending level, and with enough dissidents among their number, threatened adoption of the budget until the 11th hour.

Tension between the Republican governor and the Liberty Republicans has marked Sununus second term, peaking when protesters, chafing at his emergency orders to tackle COVID-19, took to the streets and picketed his home. And in December, three dozen citizens, six state representatives among them, presented a bizarre letter discordantly echoing the Declaration of Independence, that branded the governor a tyrant and demanded the dissolution of the state.

These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org.

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'Liberty Republicans' and an evolving GOP - Concord Monitor