Liberty is moving on to the Class 6 semifinals, beating Park Hill 30-13 and earning a measure of revenge in the process. And a piece of history, as the Blue Jays make their first appearance in the state semifinals since 1997.

The teams were separated by no more than seven points through most of the first three quarters. But then Liberty’s running game and defense took over to march the Jays onward, and avenging a 21-17 home loss to the Trojans on October 4.

“We started 13 sophomores last year and they had some growing pains,” Liberty head coach Chad Frigon said. “I’m so proud of them and how they are coming together, playing within our system and believing in each other.”

Holding a 16-13 halftime lead, Liberty star running back Jaxon Hicks scooted 12 yards to the end zone for his second score of the day, and a 23-13 cushion with 9:19 left in the contest. Hicks finished with 271 rushing yards, boosting his season total to 2,539 yards.

Liberty picked off a Park Hill pass just 20 seconds later and added a turnover on downs at the 5:03 mark to halt the Trojans.

Junior running back Colt Nolin put the game to rest on a 22-yard run with just 2:51 left in the game. For the game, Liberty racked up 388 rushing yards, and 425 overall, while holding Park Hill to just one rushing yard.

Park Hill got on the scoreboard first with a 65-yard pass from Zane Thomas to Landon Julson just over four minutes into the game. 

Liberty erased that deficit on a 26-yard touchdown run by Hicks with 2:49 left in the first quarter.

A blocked punt by Park Hill led to a 33-yard Tegan Turner field goal to put the Trojans back in front, 10-7.

The Blue Jays took their first lead of the game at 4:45 of the second. Connor Hatfield’s two-yard quarterback keeper made it 13-10. Then Liberty blocked a punt of their own with 16 seconds left in the half, leading to a 45-yard Lincoln Dwiggins field goal for a 16-10 lead at intermission,

Park Hill inched closer in the third with Turner’s second field goal, but the Blue Jays owned the final 12 minutes.

The Blue Jays will play at De Smet (10-2) on Nov. 30 at 1 p.m., with a spot in the state championship on the line.