A Tough Start That Built Strength
The Pats opened the season facing some of the toughest competition in the region, and beyond. Preseason battles included matchups against top-ranked teams, including a powerhouse from Denver, Colorado, and a narrow loss to the No. 1 ranked team in the Central Section. Each game tested the team’s character, pushed their limits, and revealed areas for growth.
But instead of breaking, the Patriots built. They leaned on one another, learned from every snap, and embraced the theme that has followed them all year: keep going, keep growing.
Luke Baiamonte put it:
"Our start wasn't what we wanted, but we never folded. We stayed together when it got hard, kept grinding, and stacked days. It's no mistake we're playing our best ball when it matters most."
Injuries, setbacks, and tough losses could have derailed a lesser team. Not this one. The Patriots used adversity as fuel, transforming each challenge into momentum.
Their postseason performance says everything about their evolution. A commanding 49–14 victory over San Joaquin Memorial set the tone, followed by a dominant 35–14 win against Hanford last Friday. The Patriots didn’t just show up, they took over.
Elmo Whitten reflected on the journey:
"We had a lot of ups and downs this season but we never broke, it only made us closer. Now we've earned our way to the valley championship!"
And from Quinn Buckey:
"The early games didn't go how we planned, but we never let it shake us up. We stayed united, kept pushing, and kept leveling up every day. That's the reason we are peaking at the right time."
This is a team that has learned, deeply and authentically, that growth is born from persistence, and that resilience is earned one battle at a time.
This Friday, the Patriots travel to Bakersfield Christian for a 7:00 PM kickoff with a championship on the line. It’s a moment they’ve fought for, prepared for, and grown into.
Now they need you.
Come out and root on our resilient Patriots as they look to bring home a championship to Liberty High School. Fill the stands, raise your voices, and show this team just how proud we are of their journey.
The most important thing learned in competition isn’t found on a scoreboard. It’s the lesson of resilience, the reward of staying positive, and the power of never quitting. This group of young men exemplifies all of that and more.
This season is a testament to what happens when a team chooses growth over excuses and unity over doubt.