Liberal Faces ‘Big’ Challenge at West

Liberal rarely has more size than their opponent. But Friday night when the 2-5 Redskins visit the 1-6 Wichita West Pioneers, the Redskins face their ‘biggest’ challenge this year. LHS head coach Wade Standley says West poses some challenges. “They’re a team which will bring a lot of athletes on the field,” Standley said. “They’ve had some struggles at times during the year. They will be the biggest team we’ve faced this year. They’ve got a left guard and a left tackle and one’s 400 lbs. and the other’s 300 lbs. They’re huge.” But West is stuggling. They’ve lost six straight to North, Southeast, Northwest, Kapaun, East, and Carroll since their opening 34-7 win at South. After scoring 53 points the first two weeks, the Pioneers haven’t been blazing any trails the past five weeks scoring just 20 points. But it’s West who stands in Liberal’s way of achieving their goals. Just ask senior safety Gilberto Arellano. “This is an important game,” Arellano said. “If we win this game we go to the playoffs and it will set up the chance to play for the district title next week.” Senior tight end Devon Davis says the Redskins continue to improve. “I can see our lineman are making our blocks and the backs are making their cuts,” Davis said. “Even the receivers have gotten better at running their routes and making their blocks. The defense, they’ve become exceptional players. They make the tackles, the interceptions, and force the fumbles.”

Liberal will be making their first trip to the “Air Capital” to play West since 1997 when LHS won 31-7. Last year the Skins tomahawked the Pioneers 63-6 at Redskin Field. Coach Speak begins at 5 PM with Redskin Pre-game at 6 PM and kickoff at 7 PM on Talkradio 1270 and kscb.net.