Photos of Lubbock-Cooper Liberty football hosting Midland Greenwood - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Thompson wasn't the only Liberty player finding the end zone. Talon Wilcox broke off a rushing touchdown of his own, and Pierce Fioroni raced in for a score after hauling in a catch. The game served as another tune-up for the Lubbock-Cooper program, which plays its home games just outside the city limits.

Games like this give coaches a chance to see what works before district play tightens up. For a program pulling fans from Lubbock-Cooper's growing footprint south and west of the city, a Friday night against a Midland opponent fills the stands at Patriot Stadium.

For families in Lubbock-Cooper's attendance zone, nights like this are part of the rhythm of fall. Three different players finding the end zone gives Liberty coaches options to build on, and gives the Patriot Stadium faithful plenty to talk about on their way out of the parking lot. That's the kind of night that gets replayed at the coffee shop the next morning.