The Liberal Redskins actually followed a similar script to the opening round playoff game.  Stopped on 1st and goal, fall behind in the first half despite out-gaining the opponent, and then rally late.  But this time, it wasn’t enough as the improbable run of the Salina South Cougars won at the expense of the Liberal Redskins 22-16 Friday night at Redskin Field.

Liberal took the opening drive 78 yards after a 30 yard pass from Tevin Cotter to Max Holman setting up 1st and goal from the 2.  But Salina South stopped Liberal on 4th and 1.  LHS forced SSHS 3 and out.  Liberal got the ball back and missed a 39 yard field goal toward the south goal posts.  It was scoreless after one quarter.   Salina South’s Easton Wilcox kicked a 34 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 8:55 to play in the 1st.  LHS got a 4th down stop with 5:12 remaining in the half.  LHS turned that stop into points as Natividad Ovalle booted a 40 yard field goal through the north goal posts to tie the game at 3-3 with 2:09 remaining in the half.  It appeared that would be the halftime score until a breakdown in Liberal’s defense led to a swing out pass in the flat becoming a 36 yard touchdown from Salina South’s Izzy Telles to Jaxon Myers with 9 seconds remaining in the half.  Salina South went for two and didn’t get it with good coverage by Max Holman on a fade into the end zone.  It was 9-3 Cougars at the half.  Salina South’s opening drive sliced right through the Redskin defense to the 10.  But Ismael Calderon punched the ball out and Austin Dodge recovered for the game’s 1st turnover with 7:55 to play in the third quarter.  Liberal had to punt.  When Salina South got the ball back, they picked up where they left off from their first drive of the half leaning on their line and running back Armane Redmond.  His 27 yard touchdown with 2:57 to play in the third made it 16-3 Cougars.  Then SS’s Kobie Henley intercepted a Liberal pass with 24 seconds remaining in the third and things looked bleak for LHS.  But Liberal’s defense got a stop and gave the ball back to Tevin Cotter and the offense who wasted no time getting back in the game with several draw plays to quarterback Tevin Cotter keying the drive.  Cotter’s 20 yard run into the south end zone made it 16-9 with 9:25 to play.  The snap for the extra point was high.  Salina South faced 3rd and 17 when receiver Jay Curtis made a juggling catch which he dropped, saw it deflect off LHS defenders, only to wind up back in his hands.  Telles hooked up with Jaxon Myers for a 37 yard touchdown into the northwest endzone as he was wide open over top of the Redskin secondary to make it 22-9 with 6:40 remaining.  Liberal’s next drive was fruitful and Tevin Cotter’s 6 yard run made it 22-16 with 3:22 to play and LHS had all three time outs remaining.  But a pair of Salina South 1st downs ended the game.

Blayden Betts was Epic Touch Player of the Game for his unofficial 81 yards rushing on 14 carries. Salina South had 348 yards.   Official stats will be added to the story later.

Salina South defeats Liberal for a 3rd straight time and improves to 3-7.  Liberal finishes 7-3 for a second straight year.