WIAA 1B football championship preview: Liberty Bell vying for back-to-back titles

In what could be final season in 8-man football, Mountain Lions have one more hill to climb - first-time finalist Wilbur-Creston-Keller

Editor's note: This Class 1B preview package was written up by SBLive WA staff for the WIAA state program. Game predictions made by reporters Todd Milles, Hailey Palmer and Tri-Cities-based Evans Rankings' founder Matt Evans.

---

Last December, Liberty Bell took a nostalgic trip through the Class 1B playoffs for its first WIAA football championship.

And this week at Husky Stadium? The Mountain Lions are the been-there, done-that group going for back-to-back state titles.

In their way is a newcomer to the WIAA title game - Wilbur-Creston-Keller, which had never made it past the quarterfinals until this fall.

"For us, it has completely flipped over the past year," Liberty Bell coach Jeff Lidey said. "This year, I've laid it out that every team in eight-man football looks at us as the top dog, so remember when you take the field, you are the No. 1 team - you are the champions."

At this point, nobody would dispute that, especially with what this prolific offense has produced in nine games - a whopping 4,315 yards and 73 touchdowns - led by the Paz brothers, Lucien at quarterback and Remington at running back and wide receiver.

"Our young talent has gotten a year older," Lidey said.

The Wildcats might be in a state championship game for the first time, but are "grounded" facing this opportunity, said longtime coach Darin Reppe.

He has his own stable of backfield playmakers in quarterback Kallen Maioho and running backs Kalub Dreger and Preston Michel, who have combined for nearly 4,700 rushing yards this season.

Reppe also has seven-time state championship coach Jeff Nelson (Lacrosse-Washtucna, Odessa) on his sideline as the team's defensive coordinator.

In fact, a Nelson-guided Odessa squad is the last in-state team to defeat Liberty Bell - 42-22 in the 2022 season opener. Since then, the Mountain Lions have reeled off 21 consecutive victories against Washington teams.

"Jeff has been there, done that," said Reppe, who was also a volunteer coach at Touchet for four WIAA title games. "He is a valuable resource."

---

CLASS 1B CHAMPIONSHIP PRIMER

Photo by Lane Mathews

NO. 2 WILBUR-CRESTON-KELLER WILDCATS (12-0) vs. NO. 1 LIBERTY BELL MOUNTAIN LIONS (9-0)

11 a.m. Friday at Husky Stadium, Seattle

Coaches: Darin Reppe is in his 12th season at Wilbur-Creston-Keller (66-51 record). Jeff Lidey is in his fifth season at Liberty Bell (38-9 record).

WIAA championship history: This is Wilbur-Creston-Keller’s inaugural trip to the state finals after winning its first semifinal game in school history last week. Liberty Bell defeated Neah Bay, 50-12, in the Class 1B finals last season for its first state football championship.

Road to 2023 Gridiron Classic: No. 2 Wilbur-Creston Keller defeated No. 10 Naselle in the quarterfinals (98-40) and No. 3 Mossyrock in the semifinals (66-22). No. 1 Neah Bay defeated No. 8 Wellpinit in the quarterfinals (76-14) and No. 5 Neah Bay in the semifinals (64-34).

Statistical leaders: Wilbur-Creston-Keller —QB Kallen Maioho (47-64, 947 yards, 15 TDs; 47 carries, 652 yards, 16 TDs), RB Kalub Dreger (173 carries, 2,428 yards, 35 TDs), RB/WR Preston Michel (212 carries, 1,580 yards, 26 TDs; 32 catches, 480 yards, eight TDs) and LB Adam Oates (119 tackles, 14 TFL, 14 sacks). Liberty Bell — QB Lucien Paz (96-137, 1,764 yards, 33 TDs; 104 carries, 838 yards, 15 TDs), ATH Remington Paz (66 carries, 853 yards, 13 TDs; 47 catches, 975 yards, 22 TDs), WR Brodie Barnhart (18 catches, 299 yards, two TDs) and DL Alex Ramsey-George (47 tackles, 12 TFL, eight sacks).

Palmer's pick: Liberty Bell, 55-54.

Milles' pick: Liberty Bell, 46-37.

Evans' pick: Liberty Bell, 60-36.

---