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LIBERTY
August 28, 2014
DRC Football
Liberty ushers in new era under Hundley By Rich Luna For the Denton Record-Chronicle
Barton Hundley patrols the practice field, moving quietly from station to station. He spends a little more time with the defense — it’s hard to break old habits — and he captures the attention of players during team huddles. It may be a new era in Liberty Christian football, but there’s clearly a comfort level with Hundley in charge. For only the third time in school history, there will be a new head coach on the sideline, but Hundley is already well known on the Liberty campus. He had served as defensive backs coach for three seasons when he was promoted to head coach last spring after Greg Price was fired. “The most difficult thing [in transition] was as an assistant coach, there were a whole lot of things I didn’t have to think about,” he said as the Warriors prepared to break fall training at Camp Copass. “I have so many more administrative duties and things that I need to do, so it was nice to get back on the field. I feel more than good, I feel fantastic.” Hundley is clearly at home on the field. He was a standout defensive back at Kansas State and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1986. After his playing days, he coached at Hallsville, Wichita Falls and Lewisville before being hired by Price at Liberty. When the school announced it wanted to go a different direction with the football program, Hundley was selected to replace Price, who coached the Warriors for five seasons, taking them to two TAPPS state semifinal appearances and the championship game in 2009. That was the politics. Now it’s game time and Hundley, 50, has his focus on keeping his players true to the school’s values and to success on the field where the Warriors advanced to the state semifinals last year, losing to district rival Fort Worth Nolan, 55-20. The Warriors will not be rebuilding as much as reloading this season. A strong core of receivers and linebackers will
Denton Record-Chronicle/David Minton
LIBERTY: GREAT EXPECTATIONS
New Liberty head coach Barton Hundley hopes to guide the Warriors to a successful season and the TAPPS playoffs in what is expected to be a tough district. The Warriors’ hopes to reach that goal will rest partly on wide receivers Hunter Griffith, right, and Givon Washington.
provide the leadership and experience. Seniors Hunter Griffith, Jordan Brown and Drew Hunnicutt, and junior Justus Lee combined for 69 catches for 1,122 yards last year. Junior Givon Washington joins the group, adding more depth to the passing game. “I think it’s a good group,” Griffith said. “We’re going to need to be quick off the ball. Camp has been a great experience for us. We came together.” The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunnicutt, possibly the most versatile player on the team, is the top returning passer (23 of 42 for 343 yards and four TDs), but he
may end up at wide receiver, with Nick Starkel (6-3, 170, junior) at quarterback. Ryan Vollenhals is the top returning running back after the Warriors lost JonAaron Howell to graduation. Howell rushed for 1,262 yards and 14 TDs last year, was a first-team all-state selection both at running back and safety. Vollenhals, a 5-8, 165-pound junior, rushed 33 times for 183 yards last season, but Hundley is high on his back’s abilities. “He’s got good vision, he’s quick and elusive,” Hundley said. “He also can run for power. We like what we see there.”
WARRIORS Quick facts
District: TAPPS District 1-1 2013 Record: 9-4 (4-2 in District 1-1) Coach: Barton Hundley (First season) Returning starters: Four on offense, seven on defense Key players: WR/DB Jordan Brown, OL/DL Jaden Cook, WR/LB Hunter Griffith, RB/ILB Kyleb Howell, QB/WR/DB Drew Hunnicutt, RB/DL Jeffrey Hugh, WR/DB Justus Lee, RB/DB Dakota Sanchez, OL/DL Tobyn Steffey, WR/DB Givon Washington. Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4