LIBERTY CENTER, Ohio — Liberty Center football is on one of the best runs in school history. The Tigers are playing in the state championship for the first time since 1998, and a big reason for their success is Landon Bockelman.
"It's going to be intense," Bockelman said. "All the seniors know it's our last week of practice here at Liberty. We're going to take it hard. Hopefully have the best practice we've had all year because that's what we need."
The 6-foot-4-inch, 265-pound lineman is dominating on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
"Incredible," head coach Casey Mohler said of Bockelman. "He is a man who is possessed right now. He wants to win for his teammates. He goes out and gives everything he's got every game. Mentally he's dialed in, he's tough to stop and we're going to need him this week."
Bockelman gives the credit to his teammates.
"My teammates really help me perform," he said. "It's not really something you can do individually, without your teammates."
Bockelman was voted First Team All-NWOAL as an offensive tackle and defensive lineman for the second straight year.
"I don't know that he's better on one than the other because I think he's fantastic on both," Mohler said. "Certainly he's performed at a very high level for us."
Winning the final game of the year comes down to everyone playing their best football, especially players like Bockelman.
"No mentality changes," Bockelman said. "We just know, we've got to keep practicing, do what we're doing, do our things."