Liberty Ranch edges Bradshaw Christian, stays perfect in SVC football race
Head football coach Warren Schroeder called it one of the best wins in Liberty Ranch history.
“They definitely, definitely felt inspired,” Schroeder said of his players after his Hawks improved to 8-0 and 5-0 in league play with a 28-21 road victory Friday against Bradshaw Christian to put them in the driver’s seat for a Sierra Valley Conference regular season championship.
The pivotal match up between the top two teams in the conference came down to the final minute.
Bradshaw Christian had three attempts from the 16-yard line to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining, but all three passes fell incomplete, and the Hawks escaped with a win against the Pride (6-2, 4-1), who dropped their first game against a league opponent.
Schroeder’s brief post-game scrum with reporters and television cameras was interrupted by his players dumping the water cooler over his head. Liberty Ranch, which opened in 2009, could clinch a league title with wins against Rosemont (6-2, 3-1) and Galt (1-7, 0-5) in their final two regular season games. They’re headed toward a top seed in the Sac-Joaquin Div. VI section playoffs.
The game was won with heavy hearts.
Offensive linemen Daniel Swearingen left the field in an ambulance with an apparent leg injury, which led to both teams joining around him for a prayer before he was taken off on a stretcher. Schroeder said game ball will be delivered to him at the hospital later Friday night with every players’ signature in Sharpie, along with the final score.
“Just so proud of our boys and proud of the effort they gave, especially with our guy going down,” Schroeder said. “They played in (the second half) after he got carted in an ambulance. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
“We’re going to deliver that game ball to him because he deserves it and we’re thinking about him right now.”
The Hawks won with their typical ground-and-pound approach and hard-nosed defense. They controlled time of possession and got two touchdowns from junior running back Andrew Quinn, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter followed by a key 2-point conversion.
Junior quarterback Ryan Ogas opened with a touchdown pass to junior Joe Lara, while fellow junior running back Ryan Corriea added a touchdown in the second quarter.
The game had two lead changes in the second half, with Bradshaw Christian taking a 21-20 lead in the third quarter on a fake 2-point conversion where the holder jetted around the right tackle into the end zone. The Hawks responded with Quinn’s second touchdown to ensure the Pride would need a touchdown to tie the game late.
For Bradshaw Christian, who was celebrating homecoming, speedster Devin Hatcher had 71- and 38-yard touchdown runs, while bruising running back Mason Pisarski had a 62-yard score on the Pride’s first possession.
Bradshaw Christian will look to rebound next week against Argonaut (4-4, 3-2) before the regular season finale at Rosemont on Oct. 31.
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 11:22 PM.
