Football preview 2022: Iowa City Liberty hopes to build on last season's late push, with new backfield
Editor's note: This story is part of the Press-Citizen's team-by-team high school football preview coverage. Coming tomorrow: Iowa City Regina.
If one truly believes how a team finishes a season is more important than how it started, then the Iowa City Liberty Lightning are a football team to watch in 2022.
After a rough start to their 2021 campaign, the Lightning began to click in the final weeks of the season, where they looked like one of the better teams in Class 4A.
Looking back at the 2021 season
The Lightning's first season under coach James Harris got off to an admittedly rough start.
They lost the first five games and were outscored 139-55.
While the players could have easily thrown in the towel for the year, they pulled themselves together in their final four games, winning three.
More: 15 Iowa City area high school football players to watch this fall
Harris said that the change in performance came because everyone began to better understand each other as the year went on.
"There was a lot of growth and coming together that we had to do," Harris said. "But the deeper that myself and the coaching staff got to know each other and know our kids, the better we got."
Their late-season push was not enough to earn the Lightning a spot in the postseason tournament, ending their season with a 3-6 record.
That concluded the careers of 20 seniors, including starting running back Darius Willis-Newell (led the team in rushing), wide receiver Luke Meyers (led the team in receptions and receiving yards), and linebacker Griffin Kraft (led the team in tackles and tackles for loss).
New player additions
With so many players gone at pivotal positions, it has opened the door for several players to vie for starting jobs.
The most noticeable changes will come in the team's offensive backfield.
Junior quarterback Graham Beckman will be taking over as the starter after senior Tye Hughes transferred to West Branch.
Last season, Beckman completed 13 of his 15 pass attempts for 184 yards.
Joining him is senior running back Trey Gregoire. He will be stepping in for Willis-Newell, who rushed for 1,064 yards in 2021.
Gregoire rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
With an increase of carries coming his way, Gregoire said that Willis-Newell gave him some valuable advice for his new role.
"Darius showed me the importance of never slacking off," Gregoire said. "He helped me to appreciate the grind so that I could get better."
Potential wild cards
Even with the graduation of several defensive backs, expectations remain high for Liberty's secondary.
Led by senior safety Wyatt Williams, who had a team-leading three interceptions last year, the young group has a chance to turn heads.
Another pivotal group to keep an eye on is the offensive line.
Recognized by Harris as a group he wants to see take the next step, senior center Jack Gallagher said that it can be done as long as they put in the work.
"We have to continue to come together as a group," Gallagher said. "It is important for us to keep learning the offense better and being able to execute."
Key matchup this season for Iowa City Liberty
Once again facing the Iowa City High Little Hawks in their season opener, the Lightning are hoping to have a better showing this time around.
Liberty has an added incentive to get the win in the Aug. 26 rivalry game because it will be taking place at Kinnick Stadium.
As excited as the team is, reigning team MVP Christian Barney may be the player who is mostly champing at the bit.
With no better way to kick off his senior season, the tight end/linebacker said that the atmosphere will be something he has never experienced before.
"It's going to be really exciting," Barney said. "It is a great environment because it will be really loud, which will make it a lot of fun to play in."
City High defeated Liberty in the "Battle for Zeus" game last season 41-0, the Lightning's biggest loss of the season.
Reasons for optimism
With a strong conclusion to last season, Liberty has plenty to build on with the new year right around the corner.
One of the biggest reasons is that the players say they have fully bought into Harris' system, which will be important as they prepare for another year of tough 4A competition.
"Me being able to be here another year has been great," Harris said. "Am I going to be perfect yet? No, but I certainly feel a lot more in touch with the pulse of the school and the pulse of the team."
If that pulse that Harris feels for the team can be reciprocated, it will not be a shock to see the Lightning perform on a much higher and balanced level than they did a year ago.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City Liberty football banks on more balanced performance in 2022
