Style was, for the most part, lacking from the Liverpool football team’s 2014 season debut – but the substance more than made up for that deficiency.
Going to Corcoran Friday night, the Warriors needed stout defense, a missed conversion and plenty of patience, but it all resulted in a 7-6 victory over the Cougars.
Mid-summer heat and humidity greeted both sides on the Corcoran turf, and perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence that the defenses fared better in these conditions, keeping the game 0-0 throughout the first quarter.
Still, Liverpool was able to establish a running game through Rashon Crenshaw, who gained 33 yards in that opening period. Also, the Warriors gradually shifted field position in its favor.
Then, just 42 seconds into the second quarter, Crenshaw, getting terrific blocks from Liverpool’s front line, broke free and went 42 yards for the touchdown. With the extra point, the Warriors seized a 7-0 lead.
Corcoran sought a response, and got it on the ensuing possession. A 42-yard pass completion from Martia Rufus to Dante Coker put the Cougars in scoring position and, less than four minutes after Crenshaw scored, Isaiah Spann went five yards for an answering touchdown.
Except that, when Corcoran lined up for the extra point, Joe Scro blocked it. Midway through the second period, the Warriors clung to a one-point lead, and would do so the rest of the night.
As the first half wound down, a Liverpool fumble put Corcoran on the Warriors’ 20, and it drove to the goal line with the seconds ticking down. Armstrong tried to go into the end zone, but Liverpool stuffed him, and it went to the break still 7-6.
During the third quarter, Rufus went to the sidelines with an injury, and Liverpool took full advantage, sacking backup Shawn Johnson on back-to-back plays to pin the Cougars deep in its own territory.
Liverpool, trying to add to its lead, moved inside Corcoran’s 20 early in the final period, but quarterback Ricky Sisto was sacked, thwarting that attempt. Another attempt to get to the end zone got stopped when Jonathan Stewart was tackled on fourth down at the Cougars’ 22 with 2:06 left.
One more time, though, the Warriors made sure Rufus (who had returned earlier in the period) did not lead a game-winning drive, as on fourth down Kyle Halladay intercepted a wayward pass at Corcoran’s 35, allowing Liverpool to run out the clock.
Looking to start the season with two road wins, the Warriors will visit Central Square next Friday at 7 p.m. From there, four of Liverpool’s remaining five regular-season games will be on the friendly turf of LHS Stadium.
