Twice in the past three seasons, Liberty High in Bethlehem has made it to the PIAA Class AAAA final, only to get beaten and battered both times.

Liberty gets to take one more swing at a WPIAL team tomorrow.

Liberty (14-1) will meet WPIAL champion Bethel Park (15-0) at 7 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium. A team from the WPIAL has won the past four titles, and it has been ugly for the eastern team every time. The WPIAL has won those four games by a score of 166-37.

Liberty got caught in the train wreck in 2006 (a 47-13 loss to Upper St. Clair) and 2005 (a 49-10 loss to McKeesport).

But Liberty coach Tim Moncman doesn't believe his team is looking for redemption.

"This is a new team and a new year. This is a different team," Moncman said. "These guys have their own identity. We don't talk about redemption in the state championship game or anything like that. We just talk about playing football."

The WPIAL has never won five PIAA titles in a row. Moncman believes Bethel Park is similar to the Upper St. Clair team that won the championship two years ago.

"They're similar in regards to execution, discipline and how they like to play a smash-mouth style," Moncman said. "The one difference is that this Bethel Park team has a quarterback [Erik Olson] who throws it better and the receiver [John Schademan] is gifted. I mean, he is really good."

While the WPIAL has dominated the past four PIAA titles, the past few weeks indicate this year's championship game won't be a blowout. Bethel Park's style is to play tough defense, control the ball on offense and do just enough to win.

Bethel Park has won its past four postseason games by a combined 17 points and won their two PIAA games by three points each.

"I hope -- and anticipate -- that we play well," Bethel Park coach Jeff Metheny said. "To be honest, we are going there and trying to make one more play than Liberty. If we're good enough, that's great. If not, we'll live with that, too."

Liberty's only loss was to North Penn in the season opener, but Liberty avenged it by beating North Penn in last week's semifinals.

Liberty features a double-threat quarterback in Anthony Gonzalez, who has close to 3,000 yards offense. Gonzalez, a 6-foot-3, 193-pound senior, leads the team in rushing with 1,492 yards on 227 carries and has completed 105 of 186 passes for 1,483 yards.

Liberty running back Brandon Brader is 5 feet 7, 160 pounds, and he has rushed for 1,328 yards on 211 attempts. The Hurricanes also have receiver Devin Street, who is a Pitt recruit. Street (6-2, 180) has caught 44 passes for 779 yards.

Gonzalez is the biggest worry.

"We've had a lot of defensive coaches staying up late, trying to figure that kid out," Metheny said. "I'll tell you what, those defensive coaches are miserable right now because I don't think they've figured it out. That kid is just always moving forward, always making plays. We are going to have our hands full with him."

No matter what happens in this game, it has been a wonderful ride for Bethel Park. Metheny said he is amazed at how the football team's success has galvanized the Bethel Park community. The team has built up a great following, even on road playoff games.

You can bet Bethel Park will be well represented in Hershey.

"It is just amazing to see what a football team can do for a community," Metheny said. "I've never seen anything like it."