Roxbury's biggest win of the season came from the most unlikely arm on the roster. The Gaels knocked off Mount Olive 26-15 on Friday night in a Super Football Conference crossover at Roxbury, snapping a three-game losing streak against the Marauders and improving to 6-2. And the spark came from senior Blake Lieberwirth, the team's third-string quarterback, who entered the night with almost no varsity passing resume at all — and left it as the story of the game.
Lieberwirth had completed just two of three career pass attempts before Friday, both last season. Thrown into one of the Gaels' biggest games of the year, he was flawless: three attempts, three completions, 56 yards and two touchdowns, both scoring strikes coming in the second half as Roxbury seized control. There is no stage fright in a line like that — just a player who stayed ready for a moment that finally arrived, and delivered it perfectly.
Around him, Roxbury's playmakers feasted. Sophomore running back Roy Alvarado ran for 108 yards on 23 carries and caught two passes for 43 yards and a touchdown — 151 all-purpose yards from a sophomore in a rivalry game. Senior Jimmy Murphy did a little of everything, rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and throwing for 43 yards and another touchdown. Three Gaels accounted for touchdowns through the air, on the ground and as receivers — that is an offense with answers everywhere.
Add a defense that delivered key stops all night, and this was the complete performance Roxbury had been chasing: a 6-2 record, a three-game series skid snapped, and a signature win built on depth. When a third-string quarterback can step in and play a perfect game, it says everything about how deep and how ready this team is. The Gaels are rolling into the stretch run.
Stars of the Game: Blake Lieberwirth, the Perfect Relief Pitcher, three-for-three for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Roy Alvarado, the Workhorse, with 108 rushing yards, two catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. And Jimmy Murphy, the Do-Everything Senior, with a rushing touchdown and a touchdown pass.
Game details compiled from published box scores.