{"id":404679,"date":"2026-08-12T16:52:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T16:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/404679\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T16:52:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T16:52:32","slug":"lubbock-cooper-liberty-patriots-2026-football-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/404679\/","title":{"rendered":"Lubbock-Cooper Liberty Patriots 2026 Football Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Head coach:\u00a0Joe Sexton, fourth year at Liberty, 12-10. Fourth year overall. <br \/>2025 Record:\u00a010-2 overall, 4-0 in District 2-4A Division II. Class 4A Division II area finalist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Offense:\u00a06<br \/>Defense:\u00a09<br \/>Season opener:\u00a0at Frenship Memorial, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Peoples Bank Stadium Wolfforth. <\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" title=\"1K6A5842 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5842-2048x1152.jpg\" alt=\"American football player in navy jersey and red shorts sprints on the field wearing a white helmet and gloves.\" class=\"wp-image-37671\"  \/>Liberty tight end Koleman Hendrix is drawing attention from a host of Division I colleges. [Tyler Anderson\/ Press Pass Sports]<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&amp;M, and Arizona State to name a few. Hendrix has the size and the hands to be a huge weapon for coach Sexton\u2019s team after coming down with 14 catches for 243 yards and five touchdowns last year. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s ability and feels he\u2019s the leader the Patriots need. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Liberty - HC Joe Sexton 1 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37836\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Liberty-HC-Joe-Sexton-1-1.JPG\" alt=\"Coach on a football field points and talks to a player in a yellow jersey and helmet, giving directions during practice.\" class=\"wp-image-37836\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6147 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37835\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6147.JPG\" alt=\"Exterior view of a modern stadium press box with a red signage reading'FIRST UNITED LIBERTY PARK' and blue walls, red seating below\" class=\"wp-image-37835\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6136 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37834\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6136.JPG\" alt=\"Football practice: player in navy shirt, red shorts and white helmet catches a ball while others watch nearby on a green field.\" class=\"wp-image-37834\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6118 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37833\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6118.JPG\" alt=\"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.\" class=\"wp-image-37833\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6106 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37832\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6106.JPG\" alt=\"Quarterback in yellow jersey and white helmet prepares to throw a football on a practice field.\" class=\"wp-image-37832\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6103 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37831\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6103.JPG\" alt=\"Young football quarterback in a yellow jersey and white helmet grips a football, ready to throw on a field.\" class=\"wp-image-37831\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6097 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6097.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in a navy shirt and red shorts, wearing a white helmet and gloves, holds a football on the field.\" class=\"wp-image-37830\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6086 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6086.JPG\" alt=\"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.\" class=\"wp-image-37829\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6077 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37828\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6077.JPG\" alt=\"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.\" class=\"wp-image-37828\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6069 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6069.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in a navy jersey and white helmet sprints on a blue and green field, teammates blurred in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-37827\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6052 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37826\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6052.JPG\" alt=\"Side profile of a football player wearing a white helmet and navy jersey, standing on a practice field.\" class=\"wp-image-37826\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6043 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37825\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6043.JPG\" alt=\"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.\" class=\"wp-image-37825\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6027 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37824\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6027.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in navy jersey saluting with his white helmet, on a sunny field\" class=\"wp-image-37824\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A6012 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37823\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A6012-1.JPG\" alt=\"Portrait of a football player in a white Riddell helmet and navy jersey, red mouthguard visible at practice field\" class=\"wp-image-37823\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5973 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37822\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5973.JPG\" alt=\"American football player in a navy jersey wearing a white Riddell helmet with a face mask, mouthguard hanging from the mask.\" class=\"wp-image-37822\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5963 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37821\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5963.JPG\" alt=\"Male football coach standing on a turf field with hands on hips, wearing a navy long-sleeve shirt and whistle lanyard.\" class=\"wp-image-37821\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5947 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"37820\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5947.JPG\" alt=\"American football player in a white Riddell helmet and navy jersey leans forward on a green practice field during drills, mouthguard tether visible\" class=\"wp-image-37820\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5927 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37819\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5927.JPG\" alt=\"Male football player in a navy practice jersey wearing a white Riddell helmet, smiling on the field with hands on hips.\" class=\"wp-image-37819\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5904 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37818\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5904.JPG\" alt=\"Side view of a football player wearing a white helmet and navy practice jersey, looking to the right on the field.\" class=\"wp-image-37818\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5883 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37817\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5883.JPG\" alt=\"Football players in navy practice jerseys and white helmets sprint on a green field during a drill.\" class=\"wp-image-37817\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5869 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37816\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5869.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in a navy shirt and red shorts catching a football on a green turf field, wearing a helmet and gloves.\" class=\"wp-image-37816\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5864 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37815\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5864.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in navy jersey and red shorts runs with a football on a practice field, wearing a white helmet and gloves.\" class=\"wp-image-37815\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5854 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37814\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5854.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in a navy jersey and red shorts catches a pass on a turf field with a white helmet on.\" class=\"wp-image-37814\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5849 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37813\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5849.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in a navy jersey and red shorts lunges to catch a pass, wearing a white helmet and gloves on a turf field.\" class=\"wp-image-37813\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5842 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37812\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5842-1.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in a navy jersey and red shorts runs on a field, wearing a white helmet and gloves.\" class=\"wp-image-37812\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5822 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37811\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5822.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in navy shirt and red shorts reaches to catch a ball mid-air with white gloves during practice on a field.\" class=\"wp-image-37811\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5820 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5820.JPG\" alt=\"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.\" class=\"wp-image-37810\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5809 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37809\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5809.JPG\" alt=\"Group of football players in helmets practicing on a green field at dusk, empty red bleachers in the background with bright stadium lights on.\" class=\"wp-image-37809\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5793 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"37808\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5793.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in navy jersey and red shorts runs with a ball during practice, wearing a white helmet and gloves.\" class=\"wp-image-37808\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5758 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"37807\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5758.JPG\" alt=\"Two football players in navy practice jerseys and white helmets on a field, foreground player with arms crossed.\" class=\"wp-image-37807\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5755 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" data-id=\"37806\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5755.JPG\" alt=\"Male football player wearing a light-blue Riddell helmet and navy jersey, looking to the side during practice.\" class=\"wp-image-37806\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5754 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37805\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5754.JPG\" alt=\"Football player in a white helmet and navy jersey looking to the right, with a blue mouthguard and lanyard visible.\" class=\"wp-image-37805\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5743 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37804\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5743.JPG\" alt=\"Quarterback in yellow jersey throws a football during practice on a field with teammates in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-37804\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5718 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37803\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5718.JPG\" alt=\"Quarterback in a yellow practice jersey throwing a football, wearing a white Riddell helmet on the field.\" class=\"wp-image-37803\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5680 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37802\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5680.JPG\" alt=\"Football practice: a player in a yellow jersey holds a ball, ready to throw, with teammates and a coach in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-37802\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5664 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5664.JPG\" alt=\"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.\" class=\"wp-image-37801\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1K6A5618 | Press Pass Sports\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" data-id=\"37800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1K6A5618.JPG\" alt=\"Young football players in red and navy practice jerseys blocking on artificial turf with wooden blocking shields in a line drill at sunset venue.\" class=\"wp-image-37800\"  \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Press Pass Sports talked with Lubbock-Cooper Liberty head coach Joe Sexton during fall workouts. The Patriots made major&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":404680,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-404679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=404679"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404679\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/404680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=404679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=404679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=404679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}