PARMA — Third-ranked Liberty Center is on a mission.

The scored three touchdowns in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the first half to beat top-ranked South Range, 48-14, in a Division V state semifinal Friday night at Byers Field.

Liberty Center avenged a state semifinal loss to South Range in 2022 and a loss to Perry in the state championship game in 2023.

The Tigers scored twice in the first five minutes — on a 6-yard run by Waylon Rentz and a 60-yard punt return by Came Kahle.

South Range came back to tie the score at 14-14 as Aidan Dominguez and Dylan Smesko scored on runs of 1 and 40 yards, respectively.

Liberty Center had three quick scores to end the second quarter by converting two South Range turnovers into points. Garrison Kruze and Rentz had scoring runs covering 12 and 40 yards and Zander Zeiter returned a fumble 21 yards for another touchdown to push the Tigers lead to 34-14.

Kruse and Thomas Mohler added touchdown runs in the seoncd half.

It was the most points allowed by South Range since 2020 — a 49-35 playoff loss to Kirtland.

South Range finishes its season at 14-1. The Raiders are are 42-3 the last three seasons.

Liberty Center (15-0) will play Ironton (14-1) in the Division V state championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Ironton shared the state poll title with South Range, which beat Ironton in the Division V state final.

LIBERTY CENTER: 14-20-7-7–48

SOUTH RANGE: 7- 7-0-0–14

SCORING

LC – Waylon Rentz 6 run (Ian Rosebrook kick)

LC–Cam Kahle 60 punt return (Ian Rosebrook kick)

SR-Aidan Dominguez 1 run (Luke Starkey kick)

SR-Dylan Smesko 49 run (Luke Starkey kick)

LC-Garrison Kruse 12 run (Ian Rosebrook kick)

LC-Waylon Rentz 40 run (Ian Rosebrook kick)

LC-Zander Zeiter 21 fumble return (pass failed)

LC-Garrison Kruse 3 run (Ian Rosebrook kick)

LC–Thomas Mohler13 run (Ian Rosebrook kick)