Nickolas Montei is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Liberty High School for AZPreps365.com.

The Peoria Liberty Lions finished their 2025 regular season strong, dominating the Anthem Boulder Creek Jaguars in a 55-13 victory.

Both senior wide receiver Marley Chancey and senior wide receiver Trey Youngker had big days in their limited playing time, playing key roles in the victory Friday.

The duo combined for four touchdowns, all in the first half.

It was Chancey’s first game since October 7, rehabbing from an injury. He said he was excited to get the opportunity to get back in uniform.

“A lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, and a lot of want to get back on the field,” Chancey said. “My teammates pushed me each day to get better and get healthy. I wanted to come out here and compete with my guys again; it’s been a while.”

In addition to Chauncey’s return, a much briefer hiatus from senior quarterback Jayden Pico gave Lions fans and players quite the scare.

After Pico scrambled out of the pocket, a Jaguar defender ripped off Pico’s helmet. Another came crashing in and appeared to make contact with Pico’s head, resulting in Pico remaining on the ground for a minute or two.

“I wasn’t so much worried about the hit, " Pico said. "My durag fell off. I was worried about that a little bit.”

Pico returned to the game shortly after the incident and kept slinging the ball with authority, throwing three touchdowns.

His final touchdown was a perfectly placed ball to senior wide receiver Konnor Williams, finalizing the score.

"Jayden’s a tough kid,” Liberty head coach Colin Thomas said. “He’s hung in all year and battled for us; he’s done a great job. Proud of him and his resiliency and see him show everyone the playmaker that he is.”

The Liberty defense, which features five Division I commits, was as strong as advertised.

The starting unit did not allow the Jaguars to cross the 50-yard line and were in the backfield all night.

Senior cornerback and safety Tyvel Calloway also recorded a juggling, one-handed interception that further hyped up an already electric defense.

It wasn’t until the backups entered the game late in the second quarter that Boulder Creek finally put a drive together, scoring with less than 20 seconds left in the first half.

The victory was the Lions’ 33rd in a row against Arizona opponents, with their only losses since the 2022 state title game being against Utah’s Corner Canyon and California’s Centennial, twice.

Not counting playoffs, Liberty will carry a 41-game Arizona winning streak into the 2026 season, not having lost one in nearly 1,500 days.

With such streaks, including the back-to-back state championships, the team will bear the weight of expectations going into what-will-be their fifth straight open tournament bid.

Thomas, however, is not concerned.

“We knew the challenge ahead of us, and our guys accept that,” Thomas said. “We’re excited now that it is here, and we have a chance to do that.”

No. 3 Liberty has a first-round bye, facing the winner of the No. 11 American Leadership Academy–Queen Creek and No. 6 Red Mountain game on November 21.