Week 5 Game of the Week: Liberty vs Saguaro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of, if not THE, game of the week this Friday is the Liberty Lions traveling to face the Saguaro Sabercats. Liberty this season so far is 3-0, while Saguaro is coming off a tough lose to Chandler. Saguaro, coming off a State Championship win a season ago, still looks the part if not better. Liberty, the #6 seed last season in the Open, are trying to better that seeding and can do so by going 4-0 after this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some key players to watch for in this matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty Lions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='42912' first='Mykeil' last='Gardner'] (2023) - The Oregon commit is a force on the defensive line. Averaging over 2 tackles for loss a game, he will live in your backfield if you do not gameplan around him. Saguaro is averaging over 132 yards a game on the ground, Gardner must play big Friday night and put a stop to that ground attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='358538' first='Anthony' last='Ruiz'] (2023) - Leading the team in tackles (17) and sacks (4.5), Ruiz is the leader on the Lion's defense. The 2023 outside backer/defensive end plays fast and hard. His speed rush gets him to the QB before they have time to read the defense, and his play down the line in the run is very good. Ruiz is a very, very good player and continues to show it, colleges need to get him on their radars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/anthony_ruiz_22/status/1572630886402891777?s=20u0026t=B8bF00A81pomDoZ8b9t54g","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/anthony_ruiz_22/status/1572630886402891777?s=20&amp;t=B8bF00A81pomDoZ8b9t54g </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saguaro Sabercats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='42909' first='Deric' last='English']+[player_tooltip player_id='42902' first='Devon' last='Dampier'] combination (2023) - English and Dampier might be the most dynamic and scariest QB/WR pairing in the state. English #6 ranked in the class of 2023 and Dampier at #8, they have the ability to carve any defense you put out there. Dampier is the leading passer and rusher on the team, and English is the leader out wide at receiver. Only 88 total points so far in the season, Dampier needs to have a big game and lead Saguaro to points if they want to beat Liberty, and English has to help him out. Can't wait to see English/Dampier vs Gardner/Ruiz as a mini battle within the battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Devonddampier/status/1572400432168988674?s=20u0026t=B8bF00A81pomDoZ8b9t54g","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Devonddampier/status/1572400432168988674?s=20&amp;t=B8bF00A81pomDoZ8b9t54g </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='42952' first='Cole' last='Shivers'] (2023) - Northwestern cornerback commit is quick and plays hard. Shivers plays the run very well as a corner back, and his press coverage on the outside is super fun to watch. Lockdown corner and ranked the #20 best/most athletic corner in the NATION based on his play on the field last week. Shivers will be able to limit the Lions on offense, and ready to avenge the loss Chandler gave them. Allowing only 17.5 points a game this season, and without last week's 31 points scored on them by the Wolves, that would be way lower. Shivers and this Saguaro defense is one of the top defenses in the state, and will show you why Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RAanalytics/status/1574515643843768320?s=20u0026t=B8bF00A81pomDoZ8b9t54g","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RAanalytics/status/1574515643843768320?s=20&amp;t=B8bF00A81pomDoZ8b9t54g </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->