While they dealt with losing many seniors they also had to deal with many more injuries than last year. The first loss to injury this season was senior Matt Rice. Rice started the first few games at fullback and outside linebacker, but was sidelined after a shoulder injury. Fellow senior Ray Mamuzich replaced him at both positions and had a good season on both sides of the ball.

The next injury was to senior wide receiver/cornerback Ray Olivo. Olivo, who led the Hurricanes in catches and touchdown receptions and was third in interceptions, injured his leg in the second Easton game. He was replaced offensively by junior Justin Rivera and defensively by the Associated Press’s Pennsylvania 4A player of the year, Dan Persa. Then, during the semi-
final game against Pennsbury, Hitchings was injured by a Pennsbury player.

Many players and coaches feel that injuries played an important part in the team’s 47-13 loss to Upper Saint Claire.

“It was tough; they are a very good football team. It’s tough to play a states game without two of your key players, Mike Hitchings and Ray Olivio,” said Moncman.

“Injuries took away at least three of our starters away. I think we could have done a lot better if they were playing,” Rice added.

“[Injuries] definitely had an affect. We were down to our third and fourth string linebackers,” said Mark Pastor, who is one of the team’s many assistant coaches.

Though the team is disappointed that they were unable to win states, they are very optimistic about how their season went.

“Nobody gave us a shot [to win districts]. We lost 22 seniors [from last season]. Just making the playoffs was an accomplishment, and then we ended up winning districts [again],” Orlando stated. “It’s always an honor to go to states in back-to-back years.”
The team is losing many of its best players due to graduation, including Persa, who was a four year starter at Liberty and was one of the best players in the state the past two seasons. Losing players of that caliber is always difficult, but the team has many talented underclassmen who are very capable of stepping up next season.

Orlando and fellow junior wide receiver/safety Justin Rivera both had good seasons and are expected to be impact players on both sides of the ball next year. Junior Chris Smith filled in at center a few times during the season. If Ahkeem Smith, who wasn’t even the starter at the beginning of the year, can continue to be a reliable rusher and scorer, the team will be in good shape next season and could be contenders again next fall.
Some might think the seniors are leaving behind a legacy. Most football players never make it to the state championship once, let alone twice. The two year run that Liberty had is something that will never be forgotten.

Moncman said, “In the end it’s tough to lose but great to be back for a second year.”