By Rick Pedone

Sports Editor

Liberty has three more chances to earn a Class 4A regional playoff berth, beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. when undefeated East River (5-0, 2-0) visits.

If the Chargers win, and follow with victories against district foes St. Cloud and Poinciana, LHS could slip into the playoffs as a runner-up.

Liberty, 4-3 and 0-2, rolled over Palm Bay Heritage Christian for homecoming, 41-13, as quarterback Greg Hankerson ran for one touchdown and threw for three more.

The key, Coach David Benson said, was Hankerson’s continuing growth at quarterback. The sophomore ran for 116 yards and was nearly perfect throwing: 11-of-13 for 162 yards.

“He’s making all the right reads. He’s getting the full grasp of the offense,” Benson said.

Hankerson threw TD passes to Greg Hayes, Evan Claudio and Ameer Thompson.

Steven Langdale and Jalen Benn also ran for scores, and Randy Gil kicked five PATs.

The Chargers defense turned in a solid effort, the coach said.

“(Defensive back) Kason Hooks did a good job, and Langdale did a good job making the calls,” Benson said. “They played well as a unit.”

Friday’s game will pit  teams with contrasting styles. The Chargers use their quickness to make their spread offense work, while East River goes old school with a pro-set offense behind a huge line that averages 280 pounds.

“They just line up and come at you,” Benson said.

Benson hopes linebacker Evan Durand can return from a high ankle sprain that he suffered two weeks ago.

Benson said the Chargers’ defense can handle East River’s power game.

“Our defensive line is pretty quick and we feel like we can exploit that and get in the gaps,” Benson said.

The Chargers coach thinks that his team can move the ball against the Falcons.

“With Greg and Jalen and J.J. (Elisis) back there, we have more options than some of the other offenses they’ve seen,” Benson said. “It could come down to where the last team with the ball wins. In a game like this, there’s going to be a big game-changing play, and how the teams handle that will dictate who wins.”