The Mountain View Birch Tree Liberty Eagles play in the football program’s first-ever semifinal after beating Lamar for the first time in program history.
It turns out that the connection between the team is a brotherhood (literally). Leading the way is Parker Tune, who makes a statement in more ways than one.
“You know, most people in Mountain View and Birch Tree show up in camo and, you know, boots and all that,” said Liberty Head Football Coach Jansen Acklin. “And that’s not Parker, but we love him nonetheless.”
He looks good to feel good under the Friday night lights.
“I like doing an arm sleeve on one arm, a wristband, and maybe some tights with it,” Tune said.
He has the skills to match the style. The senior is an offensive triple threat: From receiver duties to sliding over as a quarterback and a rusher with 2,361 total yards from scrimmage.
“My freshman year, I was the quarterback, and [sophomore year] I moved to Glendale,” Tune said. “That was my first time playing receiver. So, I came back here [to Mountain View,] and I kept playing receiver. I played quarterback a little bit more just because I played it in the past. This year, at the beginning of the season, I started out playing quarterback, and then I think week six I started playing receiver again.”
Parker isn’t the only Tune controlling the tempo of the team. There are three Tunes playing a part on each snap: His younger brothers, Reed (junior) at center and Graham (freshman) at quarterback.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of three brothers being out there on the field together at once, so it’s pretty special for them and it’s, you know, special for our community,” Acklin said.
Head Coach Jansen Acklin knows that brotherly connection all too well, once playing at Liberty alongside his older brother, Jaelon.
“I mean, you’re always going to be a little bit harder on your brother than you are other people just because, you know, it’s your brother,” Acklin said. “You live with them every day, but they all hold each other accountable as teammates. “
Tune always admired the Acklins when he used to watch them play football.
“Growing up, I always kind of wanted to be like how they all were on the field together, like Jansen and Jalen together, because Jalen was a senior whenever Jansen was an underclassman,” Parker said. “They got to play together A lot. Definitely feels pretty cool being kind of like them.”
And just like the oldest Acklin, Parker is going on to play football at the Division I level. He has committed to play for the Drake Bulldogs. But his job is not done at Liberty, and his little brothers are looking forward to two more chances to play together in the red, white, and navy.
“He’s the best big brother I could ask for,” Reed said.
“And he’s really determined,” Graham said. “If he has his mind to something, he’s going to do it.”
