Mason Seal is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover North High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX— As North High School football head coach AJ Liebau walked off the field Friday night, he couldn’t help but smile. After falling to 0-3 following last week's loss to Falling Wells, the Mustangs could taste victory before ultimately falling short to the West Point Dragons, 28-22.

“We didn’t quit,” Liebau said after the game. “That is all you can ask for. Give yourself a shot, don’t give up and keep fighting.”

North got off to a tough start through the first 15 minutes, falling behind 28-0 early in the second quarter on Sept. 19. 

“We kept fighting, kept grinding,” Liebau said. “We chipped away, and we had a shot at the end.”

After the rocky beginning, the Mustangs adjusted on both sides of the ball to start their comeback.

“Our defense stepped up,” Liebau added. “We made a couple of changes, we started blitzing more, and that’s what changed the momentum.”

Senior wide receiver Xavier Gracia helped his team get back into the game with two long touchdown receptions in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 28-15.

“We didn’t run it in practice,” Gracia said. “But when we did get the chance, we took it.”

Liebau praised his star receiver.

“Xavier is a man,” he said. “We always say we need dogs. Xavier is a dog out here. He carries us. He's the vocal leader, emotional leader. Xavier is the guy you want on your squad, for sure.”

After halftime, neither team scored until late in the fourth quarter. Twice, West Point threatened to score on fourth down, and both times Mustang’s defense held.

The first stand came late in the third quarter when the Dragons went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, and North stuffed a run play in the backfield.

Then, halfway through the fourth quarter, West Point tried again on fourth down just past midfield, and for the second time, the Mustangs stoned a fourth-down attempt to regain possession.

“It’s huge,” Liebau said. “We made a defensive coaching change this week. We decided to be more aggressive; our defense played ball tonight. They stepped up when they had to and did their job.”

Finally, with just four minutes left to play, North drove downfield and cut the lead to six. Senior quarterback Eli Manzanares connected with senior wide receiver Landon Harris in the back of the end zone for his third touchdown pass of the night.

“I was excited,” Harris said. “I didn’t think he was going to throw me the ball, but when he did, I was like, I need to catch this. I just want to make a play and get us back in the game.”

The West Point defense applied pressure all night to the signal caller, making Manzanares uncomfortable throughout the game. He took numerous shots both inside and outside the pocket but continued to play through obvious pain in his left leg, which became more apparent each time he was hit.

“He got a little nicked up last week,” Liebau said. “He wants to be out there, he cares, he loves this game and he fought through.”

With a couple of minutes left, North needed one more defensive stand to have a change at a game-winning drive. 

On the final West Point possession, however, penalties gave the Dragons a few first downs and allowed them to run out the clock.

“Penalties have killed us,” Liebau said. “It’s being smart, no matter what sport you play at this level, you need to be smart. We have to clean it up at practice. If we don't, we will be in the same boat.”