Whitehall defense shuts down Liberty on Saquon Barkley Jersey Retirement night 30 to 6 ! @ZephyrsFootball @LIBERTYATHCLUB @LibertyHigh @saquon

Tagged under: District 11, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News

Daniel Reed | September 11, 2021

Game MVP RB-Nigel Linton
114 yards and 3 touchdowns on 15 carries

Whitehall would start the game with Bryce Bashore receiving the opening kickoff, returning it to the Zephyr 19 yard line, from there, Whitehall would march down field only to have their drive stopped when Liberty LB Kyndred Wright would intercept the pass from Quinn Wentling at the Liberty 7 yard line. Liberty would get a couple first downs on their opening drive eventually having to punt back to the Zephyrs. From there, Whitehall would take control and get the games first score when Zephyr QB Wentling would take the ball himself 6 yards to the endzone, putting Whitehall in the lead 7 to 0 with :15 seconds to play in the first quarter. After the game, Linton would say, ” I wouldn’t have gotten the yardage I did, or the touchdowns I scored without my offensive line, they do a great job opening holes, and I just follow them, and hit the holes. ”

In the second quarter of play, Liberty had no answer for the Zephyr running game lead by junior RB Nigel Linton, who would put Whitehall ahead by 14 when he would scamper 10 yards for his first of 3 touchdowns of the game with 7:22 to play in the quarter. Liberty would begin to move the ball until the drive would stall out, and would turn the ball over on down after the Zephyrs would stop Liberty on fourth down at the Whitehall 28 yard line with about 4:15 left to play in the half. The rest of the second quarter was a quick back and forth battle between these two talented programs to which the score at the half would end up 14 to 0 Whitehall.

During Halftime, there was a special ceremony taking place as former Whitehall standout player, former Penn State star, and current NY Giants stud RB Saquon Barkley would have his Zephyr jersey retired with his family by his side.

Liberty would receive the second half kickoff but, unfortunately I was still down in the weight room, at the press conference for Barkley. When I returned to the field, the score was still 14 to 0 Whitehall until just as I made my way to the other end of the field, the Zephyrs would add to their lead when Nigel Linton would take the handoff and race 6 yards for his 2nd score of the night, putting Whitehall ahead 21 to 0 with :51 seconds to go in the 3rd quarter. On Liberty’s next possession, Bryce Bashore would intercept the pass by Liberty’s QB Mason, giving the ball back to Whitehall at the Whitehall 47 yard line with 11:47 to play in the game but would have to punt after 3 quick plays. On the ensuing drive for Liberty, they would fumble the ball, turning it back over to the Zephyrs at the Hurricanes 29. With 10:24 to play, the Zephyrs were rolling, a third and final score of the night for RB Linton, took the handoff and raced up the middle about 12 yards to the endzone, after the failed point after, the Zephyrs would lead 27 to 0. Later in the final quarter, Whitehall would add 3 more points to the board when they would kick a 23 yard fg to extend the lead to 30 to 0 with just 5:07 to play. Liberty would eventually get on the board with just under 3 minutes to play when Hurricanes QB Mason would connect on a 29 yard strike to WR Tyshawn Jack in the endzone for their only score of the game, the point after was no good, and the Zephyrs would lead 30 to 6. Whitehall ran a few plays, then QB Quinn Wentling would take a few knees to run the time off the clock and end the game, with Whitehall, now 3-0, defeating Liberty, now 1-2 30 to 6.

MORE GAME OFFENSIVE STAT LEADERS for the ZEPHYRS:
Wentling ran for 86 yards, 1 touchdown, and completed 13 of 20 passes for 144 yards.
Whitehall Damonte Foreman gained 67 yards on 17 carries and senior Thomas Buskirk hauled in five catches for 60 yards.

Liberty: N/A at time of publish

Whitehall travels to (2-0)Emmaus who plays ACC(2-0) today, while Liberty will host (1-2)Stroudsburg next week.

SAQUON BARKLEY “FULL” PRESS CONFERENCE