The Liberal Redskins are bringing the bell back to Liberal. The Skins built a 31-10 lead and held on to beat the Dodge City Red Demons 31-22 Friday night at Dodge City Memorial Stadium. The win means Liberal wins the Backyard Battle for the Bell. The Redskins were +4 in the turnover department forcing five DCHS turnovers.
It was the Red Demons who scored first as Kordell Howard ripped off a 53 yard run. The opponent has scored first against Liberal in three straight games. Natividad Ovalle kicked a 38 yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 5:23 to play. Xavier Tafoya’s one yard plunge gave LHS the lead after the Ovalle PAT at 10-7 with 11:01 to play. Dodge City’s Kycen Bogner booted a 35 yard field goal to tie the game at 10-10 with 6:13 to play in the first half. Gio Duran forced a fumble on a kick return and Brent Spahn-Hardman recovered it. A Tevin Cotter 30 yard touchdown pass to Eathan Hernandez made it 17-10 after the PAT with 58 seconds to play in the half. Gio Duran fell on a Demon fumbled snap on the 41. Tevin Cotter found Ismael Calderon on a 4th down play to the DCHS three. Cotter’s one yard quarterback sneak made it 24-10 after the PAT with 1:17 to play in the third. Landry Fitzgerald fell on another Demon fumble. Liberal would make the Demons pay as Tevin Cotter lofted a 44 yard touchdown into the arms of James Fieser to make it 31-10 with nine minutes to play after the PAT. Dodge City’s Fabian Ortiz punched in a one yard run to make it 31-16 with 4:13 to play but the PAT missed. Dodge City recovered an onside kick and a Ty Scheck 31 yard touchdown pass to Kordell Howard made it 31-22 as Liberal stopped DCHS on the two point attempt. Dodge City forced Liberal to three and out and a punt. Dodge City dropped the punt and Ethan Olmstead recovered it. A Max Holman interception with 12 seconds left secured the win.
Liberal had 341 yards with 170 on the ground and 171 through the air. Dodge City had 349 yards with 149 on the ground and 200 through the air.
Tevin Cotter was named Epic Touch Player of the Game going 8-18 with 171 yards passing and two touchdowns. Landen McNabb carried 14 times for 82 yards. James Fieser had 3 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Blayden Betts and Ismael Calderon both had six tackles and two for loss. Betts had two sacks giving him four the past two weeks. Landry Fitzgerald added six tackles. Gio Duran and Landry Fitzgerald both forced fumbles. Xavier Tafoya had four tackles with one for loss.
Dodge City is 2-2 and 0-1 in the WAC. Liberal is 4-0 and 1-0 in the WAC. Liberal is 4-0 for the second time in three years. LHS wins for a second straight time in Dodge City. The Redskins play at Garden City Friday at 7pm with Redskin Pre-game at 6pm on 1270 and 92.3.
