After his teams victory Friday night, Liberty Hill football coach Jerry Vance could have given game balls to defensive end Chris Robinson and linebacker Jason Reeves. Or perhaps the coach might have opted to hand them out to all 11 of the Panthers defensive starters.

That was how impressive Liberty Hills defense was in a critical Class 8-3A clash against longtime rival Burnet. Nick Barrios and Hunter Lindsay both rushed for touchdowns, and the Panthers made those scores stand up in a 14-7 victory over the visiting Bulldogs.

It was Robinson and Reeves, though, who combined for the game-saving play. Burnet quarterback Derek Kiser, facing a fourth down-and-5 at Liberty Hills 10 with 55 seconds to play, saw his pass tipped by Robinson before Reeves made the interception in the shadow of the goal line.

Liberty Hill, 7-1 overall, remains the district leader with a 3-0 record.

I was just reading (Kisers) eyes on that last play, Reeves said. (Robinson) tipped it, and I just caught it.

The interception capped a remarkable night for Liberty Hill, which held the Bulldogs 30 points below their season average. Kiser, averaging 276 yards passing a game, finished with 191, most of them coming during a frantic fourth-quarter rally.

Liberty Hill had a seemingly comfortable 14-0 lead with 4:30 to play in the game, but Kiser led a two-play, 71-yard touchdown drive, capped by his scoring pass to Blayne Parisher that helped slice the Bulldogs deficit to 14-7.

After Burnet forced Liberty Hill to punt on its next possession, Kiser took control at his own 31 with 2 minutes to go. He then completed consecutive passes to Cody Jones, Parisher and Trenton Hafley.

Liberty Hill, though, would not let Kiser draw his team any closer. The Panthers stuffed the Bulldogs on four consecutive plays to win the game.

To hold Burnet to just seven points is an outstanding job by our defense, Vance said. I thought our secondary played well all night.

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Liberty Hill edges Burnet in defensive struggle