Press Pass Sports talked with Lubbock-Cooper Liberty head coach Joe Sexton during fall workouts. The Patriots made major strides in their second varsity season a year ago by winning 10 games and a District 2-4A Division II championship. Sexton talked on the foundation that is being built at Liberty, what his team hopes to accomplish this year and having 37 seniors on the roster.

Head coach: Joe Sexton, fourth year at Liberty, 12-10. Fourth year overall.
2025 Record: 10-2 overall, 4-0 in District 2-4A Division II. Class 4A Division II area finalist.

Offense: 6
Defense: 9
Season opener: at Frenship Memorial, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Peoples Bank Stadium Wolfforth.

American football player in navy jersey and red shorts sprints on the field wearing a white helmet and gloves.Liberty tight end Koleman Hendrix is drawing attention from a host of Division I colleges. [Tyler Anderson/ Press Pass Sports]

Coming off a big season in 2025 and a very active spring and summer, the towering tight end has begin garnering attention from Division I colleges in the likes of Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Arizona State to name a few. Hendrix has the size and the hands to be a huge weapon for coach Sexton’s team after coming down with 14 catches for 243 yards and five touchdowns last year.

The all interesting question when a quarterback graduates, is who is the next man up. With Colton Bichard on his way to college, that responsibilty falls to Leach. Leach was the backup last season and did get plenty of reps. Coach Sexton is high on Leach’s ability and feels he’s the leader the Patriots need.

Huffman is the type of athlete a defensive coach loves. He has the speed and skill to take half the field away on any given snap. A track athlete in the spring, Huffman is looking to capatilize off a junior campaign where he had an interception with a fumble recovery.

Coach on a football field points and talks to a player in a yellow jersey and helmet, giving directions during practice.

Exterior view of a modern stadium press box with a red signage reading'FIRST UNITED LIBERTY PARK' and blue walls, red seating below

Football practice: player in navy shirt, red shorts and white helmet catches a ball while others watch nearby on a green field.

Two football players in black jerseys and white Riddell helmets engage in a drill on a practice field, one facing the other with arms ready.

Quarterback in yellow jersey and white helmet prepares to throw a football on a practice field.

Young football quarterback in a yellow jersey and white helmet grips a football, ready to throw on a field.

Football player in a navy shirt and red shorts, wearing a white helmet and gloves, holds a football on the field.

American football player wearing a black jersey and red shorts runs with the ball during practice, wearing a white helmet with a red mouthguard in hand-to-mouth position on the field.

Quarterback in a yellow jersey and white helmet prepares to throw a football on a sunny field where a chain-link fence is visible behind him.

Football player in a navy jersey and white helmet sprints on a blue and green field, teammates blurred in the background.

Side profile of a football player wearing a white helmet and navy jersey, standing on a practice field.

Coach in blue talks with a smiling player in a red Patriot Football shirt holding a football on a practice field; teammate in yellow helmet in background.

Football player in navy jersey saluting with his white helmet, on a sunny field

Portrait of a football player in a white Riddell helmet and navy jersey, red mouthguard visible at practice field

American football player in a navy jersey wearing a white Riddell helmet with a face mask, mouthguard hanging from the mask.

Male football coach standing on a turf field with hands on hips, wearing a navy long-sleeve shirt and whistle lanyard.

American football player in a white Riddell helmet and navy jersey leans forward on a green practice field during drills, mouthguard tether visible

Male football player in a navy practice jersey wearing a white Riddell helmet, smiling on the field with hands on hips.

Side view of a football player wearing a white helmet and navy practice jersey, looking to the right on the field.

Football players in navy practice jerseys and white helmets sprint on a green field during a drill.

Football player in a navy shirt and red shorts catching a football on a green turf field, wearing a helmet and gloves.

Football player in navy jersey and red shorts runs with a football on a practice field, wearing a white helmet and gloves.

Football player in a navy jersey and red shorts catches a pass on a turf field with a white helmet on.

Football player in a navy jersey and red shorts lunges to catch a pass, wearing a white helmet and gloves on a turf field.

Football player in a navy jersey and red shorts runs on a field, wearing a white helmet and gloves.

Football player in navy shirt and red shorts reaches to catch a ball mid-air with white gloves during practice on a field.

Football player in a navy jersey and red shorts reaches to catch a pass, wearing a white helmet and gloves, with empty stadium bleachers in the background.

Group of football players in helmets practicing on a green field at dusk, empty red bleachers in the background with bright stadium lights on.

Football player in navy jersey and red shorts runs with a ball during practice, wearing a white helmet and gloves.

Two football players in navy practice jerseys and white helmets on a field, foreground player with arms crossed.

Male football player wearing a light-blue Riddell helmet and navy jersey, looking to the side during practice.

Football player in a white helmet and navy jersey looking to the right, with a blue mouthguard and lanyard visible.

Quarterback in yellow jersey throws a football during practice on a field with teammates in the background.

Quarterback in a yellow practice jersey throwing a football, wearing a white Riddell helmet on the field.

Football practice: a player in a yellow jersey holds a ball, ready to throw, with teammates and a coach in the background.

Three football players in navy practice jerseys and red shorts stand with hands on hips during drills on a field with a chain-link fence behind them.

Young football players in red and navy practice jerseys blocking on artificial turf with wooden blocking shields in a line drill at sunset venue.