By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

There is much riding on the outcome of Friday’s St. Cloud at Liberty football game for the Bulldogs as the 4A District 7 playoff race builds to a conclusion.

The Bulldogs, 2-6 and 1-2 in the district, remain faintly alive for a potential playoff berth.

“I’m not sure of all the scenarios, but I know we have to win out to have a chance,” Bulldogs Coach Bill Buldini said.

St. Cloud Monday forfeited victories against Osceola and Stuart Martin County for using an ineligible player, but that action has no bearing on the district standings.

Liberty, 4-4 and 0-3, can only play spoiler after its 6-0 loss to district co-leader East River (6-0, 3-0) last week at Chargers field.

East River scored all of the game’s points on its first possession – a 1-yard touchdown run by Deshawn Dexter. Liberty blocked the PAT.

The Chargers had plenty of scoring opportunities in the first half. Liberty moved 60 yards to the Falcons 3 on its first possession, but a fourth-down pass from quarterback Greg Hankerson fell incomplete. Hankerson hit Randy Gil for 22 yards one play earlier on a third-and-24 to set up the scoring opportunity.

In the second quarter, Hankerson was sacked and fumbled on a first-and-goal from the 10 and East River recovered.

“That was clearly a pass, his arm was moving forward,” Liberty Coach David Benson said.

With 11 seconds left in the half, Hankerson found J.J. Elisis for a 46-yard screen pass to the Falcons 3. But, time expired before Liberty could run another play.

“That hurt. We had our opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage of them,” Benson said.

The Chargers defense, after surrendering 126 yards during East River’s first two possessions, clamped down. The Chargers held the Falcons to just 18 yards for the rest of the half and only 234 total for the game.

“On the first series, our linebackers weren’t playing their gaps. (Defensive coordinator) Coach (Ray) Hines saw that and made the adjustment,” Benson said.

Linebacker Evan Durand’s return after missing several games with an ankle injury also made a difference.

“He brings that energy and that competitiveness with him,” Benson said.

Durand had 15 tackles, second to teammate Steven Langdale’s 16. Akia Farruya made 10 tackles and had a sack. The Chargers defense came up with a pair of turnovers in the second half. Dario Bennett’s third-quarter interception set up the Chargers at the East River 25, but back-to-back penalties killed the drive.

In the fourth quarter, Liberty’s Jalen Benn knocked the ball free from punt returner Chris Street and Diovante Bedford recovered at the Falcons’ 32.

Again, the Chargers couldn’t convert and turned it over on downs.

The Chargers offense, which rolled up 176 yards in the first half, managed only 7 yards in the second half.

“We weren’t making our blocks for some reason,” Benson said. “I wasn’t sure whether it was something East River did, but we just didn’t execute our assignments. That makes a difference.”

East River ran a fake punt on fourth-and-8 from midfield with two minutes to play to run out the clock.

St. Cloud enters after a 40-6 win over Poinciana last week that saw quarterback Phillip Steinmetz throw three touchdown passes, two to Cole Harvey. Irving Huggins, the county’s leading rusher (1,027 yards) scored a touchdown.

Buldini said Liberty is a good football team.

“Their defense played a great game. They’ve got the size and speed to create a lot of problems,” Buldini said. “Hankerson can throw and run. They’ve got some game-breakers in the backfield. It’s going to be a tough game, but I think our kids understand what’s at stake.”

Harmony must beat East River Friday for St. Cloud to have a chance to reach the playoffs.

Liberty remains bowl eligible with a victory.