Liberty repeats as Arizona AIA Open Division title, knocks off Basha: Live score updates recap

Dominic Lombardo rushes for three touchdowns, defense bends to hold off top junior QB Broderick Vehrs, tough Bears squad

Liberty's Dominic Lombardo (9) celebrates a touchdown with teammate Nicholas Spence (78) during a game against Desert Edge at Desert Edge High School in Goodyear on Aug. 30, 2024. Lombardo and teammates had three more chances to celebrate on Saturday night en route to second straight Open Division title. / Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Basha high school football team doesn't just have a championship win, but it has a score to settle.

The xx, who play the Liberty Lions for the AIA Open Division title Saturday at Mountain America Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University, have lost two straight games to Liberty, including a season-ending 38-20 loss in the state playoffs two years ago.

• LIBERTY VS. BASHA: AIA Open Division preview

Game time is set for 6 p.m. local time.

This season the Bears have outscored opponents 475-226 including a wild 40-35 semifinal win over ALA-Queen Creek thanks in part to 6-foot, 185-pound junior quarterback Broderick Vehrs who threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He's had a terrific junior campaign with 191 completions in 260 attempts (74%) with 25 touchdowns and just one interceptions. He spreads the ball beautifully to five different receivers, led by Arizona-signee Gio Richardson (53 catches, 929 yards, eight touchdowns). Sophomore running back Noah Roberts has already come into his on with 1,042 rushing yards and 19 TDs. Defensively, junior linebacker Eli Cramer-Cronin is one of the state leaders in tackles with 169 while sophomore Marc Duerson III has 106. Edge rusher Bleu Dantzler (Oregon State signee) and OL Samuel Garcia (New Mexico State) are other top recruits.

• AIA SCORES: Final round scores

Offensive tackle Nick Spence (6-6, 280), a Minnesota signee, is Liberty's top senior recruit along with Colorado State-bound defensive lineman Caden Branston, while linebacker Hudson Dunn and safety Zeth Thues, an ASU commit, are top junior recruits. Senior QB Hayden Fletcher has thrown for more the 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns, 11 of them going to favorite target sophomore Braxton Huynh (60 catches, 1,032 yards). The Lions run by committee, however near the goal line they give it to Dominic Lombardo (18 touchdowns).

Liberty has won eight straight, with their last competitive game being a 32-29 win over Pinnacle on Oct. 11. Likewise Basha has won eight straight, losing a 31-28 game to California power Mission Viejo.

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Liberty vs. Basha Arizona High School Football State Open Division final: Live score updates

Game is starting a little late. Stay tuned.

1ST QUARTER

BASHA STRIKES FIRST! Mikey Barth boots 28-yard field goal keyed by a 14-yard run by Brodie Vehrs. Basha 3, Liberty 0.

LIBERTY TOUCHDOWN! Fletcher fires a 15-yard touchdown to Brody Pilegaard. 0:11 1Q. Liberty 7, Basha 3.

SECOND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN BASHA! Vehrs somehow escapes a massive pass rush, finds Kash Brock on a 19-yard touchdown. Brock catches ball at 10, evades a tackler and scoots into end zone. Basha 10, Liberty 7.

TOUCHDOWN LIBERTY! The Lions respond immediately. A 38-yard pass completion sents up 1-yard TD run by Dominic Lombardo, who scored 19th TD of the year and sixth in the postseason. Liberty 14, Basha 10. 8:10 2Q.

TOUCHDOWN LIBERTY! Lombardo again! His second of the game, 20th of season and seventh in postseason, he scores on 3-yard run to put Liberty in command. Liberty 21, Basha 10. 0:35 2Q.

HALFTIME: Liberty 21, Basha 10

THIRD QUARTER

LIBERTY TOUCHDOWN! Esteban Demby-Iames 6-yard touchdown run puts Lions firmly in command. Liberty 27, Basha 10. 4:21 3Q.

BASHA TOUCHDOWN! No quit in Bears. Thing come right back, Vehrs with a beautiful 40-yard touchdown pass to Noah Roberts. Liberty 27, Basha 17. 3:05 3Q. Great response.

FOURTH QUARTER

LIBERTY, LOMBARDO AGAIN! Dominic Lombardo with his thrd touchdown of the game, his 22nd of the season and eighth of the post season. That should probably do it!. 5:25 4Q. Liberty 35, Basha 17.

LIBERTY HOLDS! Despite a long run by Vehrs, the Lions hold. Ball back to Liberty. This one officially over now.

LOMBARDO LONG RUN! Another long run by Lombardo, Lions take a knee. Ball game.

FINAL SCORE: Liberty 35, Basha 17