Despite Verrado's 24-6 lead at halftime, the Liberty Lions stormed back to stun the Vipers at home, 30-27. 

Liberty's senior kicker, Cole Nixon, helped cap off a 24-3 run with his 30-yard game-winning field goal with 55 seconds on the clock. 

Verrado looked deflated in the second half after an impressive first half, and Liberty capitalized on it. The Lions held the Vipers scoreless in the third quarter, when Liberty added a score courtesy of senior quarterback Andrew Magri's 31-yard touchdown pass to senior wide reciever Mike Wilson.

After that score, the momentum shifted to the road team.

Verrado led off the fourth quarter with a touchdown, but a holding call negated the touchdown. The Vipers settled with a field goal from senior kicker Jose Gonzalez, extending their lead to 27-12.

With just under ten minutes to play, the Vipers' 15-point lead seemed safe. But a Liberty touchdown made it 27-19 with 8:35 left.

The defense was relentless on the next drive, and an errant snap that went over the punter's head allowed the Lions to take over on Verrado's 18-yard line. 

Less than a minute after that, the Lions again rode their momentum into the end zone. The successful two-point conversion tied the game at 27-27. 

The Lions then forced another three-and-out, and took the ball on their 49-yard line with 4:16 left to play. Liberty was able to march down the field and into Nixon's range, where he delivered the dagger that concluded the incredible comeback win. 

After last week's loss against rival Sunrise Mountain, it looked as if the Lions were headed toward their third loss in its first four games of the season. 

Although the Lions jumped out to an early lead with a touchdown on their first drive, the Vipers scored 24 unanswered points, starting with a 60-yard touchdown from senior quarterback Maverick Gamez to junior wide receiver Marcus Rivera, to conclude the first half.

Fresh off of a loss of their own, against Williams Field last week, it was critical for the Vipers to get out to an early lead.

"After that first score, our focus became sharper and we really started to execute as a team and as an offensive unit," Verrado senior wideout Jacob Neal said.

The loss dropped Verrado to 3-2.  

Next week, Liberty (2-2) travels to Paradise Valley to play the Trojans (2-3). After two straight losses, Verrado can benefit from its upcoming bye-week before Deer Valley (1-3) comes to town. 

Fabits covers Verrado High athletics for azpreps365.com.