Published: Sunday, 11/9/2014 - Updated: 3 minutes ago

BY DONALD EMMONS BLADE SPORTS WRITER

FINDLAY Liberty-Benton entered the Division V first-round playoff game against Delta on Saturday night with some baggage.

A first-round loss a year ago weighed heavily on the Eagles during the week of preparation for the Panthers.

It proved to be good motivation for Liberty-Benton. The Eagles posted a 28-0 shutout of Delta by containing the Panthers wing-T attack.

Liberty-Benton will face Marion Pleasant in the second round on Saturday.

We knew they wanted to run the ball, so we just had to come out and stop them from doing what they wanted to do, said Nathan Craft, the Eagles starting quarterback/safety. We just had to be aggressive and our offense had to move the ball.

Craft led Liberty-Benton (11-0) on three scoring drives in the first half to help the Eagles take control with a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Liberty-Benton went up 7-0 on its second possession when Craft finished off a six-play, 66-yard drive by connecting with B.J. Lawson on a 41-yard touchdown strike with 1:52 left in the opening quarter.

It was a play-action pass play and he threw a good ball and I ran underneath it, Lawson said. It was a good play.

Originally posted here:

Liberty Benton stifles Delta in win