By Jimmy Kirby
Courier Sports

jkirby@thepccourier.com

LIBERTY — With a week off to prepare for the final four games of the 2017 regular season, Liberty coach Kyle Stewart has his team primed to finish the season strong and get ready for the playoffs.

Standing at 4-2 just past the halfway mark of the season, the Red Devils do indeed appear ready to make a run to the playoffs. With only two blemishes on their record — a 24-12 season-opening loss to Pendleton and a 27-20 loss to Powdersville on Sept. 15 — the Red Devils have plenty of confidence as they prepare to take on Crescent in the last non-region game of the season this Friday.

Taking a look at how the Red Devils got to where they are at gives Red Devil fans a chance to see that defense is the leading indicator for where their success lies. After six games, the Liberty defense is only giving up 13.8 points per game. The Red Devils have given up less than double-digit points in three games, including a 44-0 shutout against West-Oak in their last game out. In wins on the road against Pickens and Blue Ridge, the Red Devils only gave up seven and eight points, respectively.

The Liberty defense is only allowing 127.3 yards per game on the ground and 95.7 through the air for a total of 222.5 yards per game.

Coming into the season, Stewart was looking to see who would step up as leaders on the defensive to replace Aaron Bates. It appears that Jack Brissey and Gatlin Bell have teamed up to lead the way for

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