Liberty Blue Jays 2023 football preview
LIBERTY, Mo. —
LIBERTY BLUE JAYS
Class: 6
Head Coach: Chad Frigon (13th season as head coach)
Conference: Silver Division of the Suburban Conference
2022 Record: 3-2, Conference (2nd Place) 4-6 Overall
2022 Scoring: Offense 26 PPG Defense 27 PPG
Returning Starters: Offense 5 Defense 3
An outstanding group of players moved on from last year’s team, including All-State performers Eli Ozick (NDSU), Anthony Wenson (Air Force Academy), Nchang Ndifor (Pitt State), and Northwestern University freshman Ricky Ahumaraeze.
But 2022 is over, and the Blue Machine is re-loaded with a host of outstanding players that will step up. Among those looking to make a big impact is starting quarterback Christian Kuchta. At 6-foot, 185 pounds, this dual-threat senior passed for 1,127 yards in 2022, with a 63% completion percentage and an 89 passer rating.
“Going into last year, we had an idea of what he could do,” says head Jays coach Chad Frigon. “As the year went along, right up to when he got injured, he got better each game. I feel like he got a better handle on what is capable of and how he can make our offense hard to defend.”
Returning all-conference Tight-End Ace Bindel, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, 34 pancake blocks in 2022, and 12 catches for 143 yards. He also played OLB. He’s had several college offers already.
“Ace has become a horizontal threat,” says Frigon. “He’s gotten faster. He went out for track last year, and it helped him improve his speed, and he’s gotten bigger and stronger, and we’re expecting a huge year out of him. He’s a great leader, and the team likes and respects him, and it will be a good season for him.”
When the Blue Jays take the field this Fall, they will have Missouri’s fastest high school sprinter lined up on offense. Senior Dominic Revels, 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, finished the Spring track season with a 10.45 100m dash at the state meet. Last football season, Revels averaged 6.4 yards per carry. The all-conference receiver also had 20 receptions for 319 yards.
“He’s just one of those kids that runs effortlessly,” says Frigon. “We feel like last year he got a lot of yards on reverses and bubbles, and we feel like he’s really improved as a receiver; his route running has improved. We are hoping he takes the game to another level with that.”
Another player with some college offers is Jaxon Hicks. The 5-foot-8, 150 running-back has a 4.5 40-yard time and a 4.0 GPA. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2022 and will play a big part in the Blue Jays’ offense in 2023.
“He is going to be our starting tailback,” says Frigon. “He is not a big kid, but he is very quick, very fast. He catches the ball extremely well, makes great cuts, and accelerates through cuts. He has had a good summer playing football.”
“We have some holes to fill, we only returned one starting O- lineman, so we got some work to do in that area, and we have one returning defensive lineman,” says Frigon. “We feel like we have good kids there. It is great to have this sophomore class who were undefeated last year as freshmen.”
Twin brothers, who also compete for the Blue Jays in wrestling, Trenton, 6-foot-1, 270, and Trevor Bindel, 6-foot-4, 260, are in the mix for the offensive and defensive lines. Trenton was the runner-up at 285 pounds in the Class 4 state wrestling championships last season. Trevor was an All-Conference football player at OL and DL in 2022.
Another athlete from the nationally ranked Blue Jays wrestling team that could make a difference this year is junior kicker Devon Harrison. He was runner-up at the state meet at 113 pounds, last season.
“Hats off to our wrestling coaches,” says Frigon. “They’re definitely supportive of our program and do a great job with those kids being multi-sport athletes because they are high-level wrestlers.”
Senior all-conference middle-linebacker Kyler Craigg, 5-foot-11, 225, is back for the Jays. Craigg has a 4.0 GPA and was an Academic All-State athlete in 2022.
As usual, Liberty has an extremely challenging Class 6 Kansas City schedule.
“In our non-conference games, we start with Lee’s Summit West, Liberty North, and Ray-Pec,” says Frigon. “All three are from the division above us. It’s just a part of being in Kansas City and competing in Class 6. There are quality opponents every Friday night, and you have to be ready to go.”
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