There is always something to be gained from a loss. Last week defending 6A champ Liberty opened its season against defending Open Division champ Chandler and took a 44-10 defeat from the nationally-ranked Wolves.

Did that help this week in the Lions' 6A title-game rematch on the road with Red  Mountain?

"Speed of the game for sure," Liberty coach Colin Thomas said. 

With that Week 1 test behind it, but in the forefront of its memory bank, Liberty pulled away in the second half Friday night in beating the host Mountain Lions, 30-0.  Red Mountain had an easy time in its opener, a 43-0 triumph over Westwood.

Liberty's quick defense and a key stop in the first quarter after Liberty's only turnover of the game set the tone for the Lions' bounce-back from last week's loss. Liberty's defense held Red Mountain to under 150 yards of offense for the game. Red Mountain had two rushes for more than 10 yards and both came in final minutes of the final period.

"Our defense played great tonight, and came up big early," Thomas said. "Keeping them from scoring after our turnover prevented them from getting early momentum....

"This was a team win. A lot of guys chipped in. We need to stay the course."

Liberty (1-1) led, 10-0, at halftime thanks to a 22-yard field goal by Shane Pitts and a 13-play, 53-yard drive that shaved nearly six minutes off the clock in the second period. Senior receiver Cailin Knapp capped the drive with 1-yard run.

Liberty spread the ball around on offense, utilizing several receivers and backs (eight) with touches. The LIons' offense got key receiving plays from three receivers - all in the second half -aas it gradually pulled away from Red Mountain.

Liberty's senior quarterback Brock Mast hooked up with Grant Brunelle on a 55-yard play that set up the first touchdown of the second on Liberty's first possession of the third period.. The other two big gainers were TD tosses. The first as the fourth period opened was a 28-yard strike to Jordon Guevara. A litte less than four minutes later, Mast collaborated on a 20-yard TD toss to tight end Sam Wolfer that ended the evening's scoring. Bruenelle led his team with six catches for 100 yards. Knapp had five receptions for 44 yards and Guevara three for 40.

Mast operated Liberty's offense efficiently - one emphasizing a short-passing game for the most part. Mast completed 18 of 21 passes for 217 yards, two TDs and one interception. 

Red Mountain (1-1), which was shutout for the first time in 113 games dating back to 2010, hurt itself with penalities at critical times along with a sputtering offense. On a 50-yard interception return in the first period by linebacker Skylar Edmonds, a block in the back shortenend the return. Red Mountain had a motion penalty thwart the drive later in the red zone and a 26-yard field goal try ended up wide.

On both of Liberty's scoring drives in the first half, Red Mountain was whistled for roughing the passer on fourth down (field-goal drive) and a personal foul for a late hit on a 3rd and 11 after an incomplete pass (touchdown drive). 

After completing 10 of 15 passes for 100 yards in the first half, Red Mountain quarterback Evan Svoboda was just 5 of 14 for 24 yards after intermission. Drake Boren was Red Mountain's top receiver with three catches for 62 yards. Red Mountain couldn't step up on offense in the second half, enduring a miserable third period in trying to rally. The Mountain Lions netted four yards of offense in the quarter. 

Liberty heads home next Friday for a game against sister-school and 5A Sunrise Mountain (2-0), which beat Mesquite, 46-40.. Red Mountain travels to Mountain View for its Brown Road rivalry with the 2-0 Toros. Mountain View remained unbeaten blanking Dobson, 42-0.