Two of Liberty’s defensive starters on its 2024 Open Division title team graduated and signed with Division I teams. That’s okay, since five of the Lions 2025 defensive starters committed to D1 schools before this season even started.

With that, a unit led by seniors Paz St. John (Boise State), Tyler Burnstein (Washington State), Hudson Dunn (Minnesota), Cannon Garday (NAU) and Zeth “Angel” Thues (ASU) have a chance to go down in Arizona high school football lore.

The Lions allowed just under 21 points a game last year. With those five starters back, joined by senior returning starting cornerbacks Ty’Vel Calloway and Eli Ruterman, the defense is challenging itself to break their opponents' will.

“We have the chance to be one of the best defenses our school has seen. Numbers-wise we prob

See Full Page