Liberal Struggles in Second Half of Season Ending Loss

Liberal’s 2022 football season came to an end Friday night in Hutchinson.  But Liberal’s 35-7 loss to the Hutchinson Salt Hawks didn’t go by without glimpses of what playoff football feels like at a high level.  Liberal and Hutchinson were tied 7-7 at halftime after five turnovers exchanged hands between the two teams.  But it was all Hutch in the second half.

The Salt Hawks struck first when Noah Khokhar took it in from nine yards out at the 9:04 mark of the first quarter.  Liberal missed a first quarter opportunity advancing the ball to the three yard line without scoring points.  The Redskins did stuff the Salt Hawks on 4th down from the HHS 23.  Aidan Schwindt stripped the ball and raced about 60 yards to the Salt Hawk six.  Trystian Juarez five yard score and Danny Landa’s PAT with 9:18 to play in the half made it 7-7.  Ivan Moreno intercepted a Hutch pass and took it to the Hutch 34.  But Liberal fumbled the ball.  Liberal got another stop and had time to drive at the end of the first half.  Brooks Kappelmann’s 19 yard scramble took the ball to the Hutchinson one yard line.  But Kappelmann was stuffed on a running play and Liberal ran out of time to run another play.  It was a first half of missed opportunities as Liberal failed to score on a drive which went to the Hutch three and the Hutchinson one.  Liberal also committed three first half turnovers with two interceptions and one fumble.

The Salt Hawks jumped all over the Redskins in the third quarter for three touchdowns to lead 28-7.  The Hawks tacked on a Zion Burgess 55 yard run in the fourth quarter.

Trystian Juarez was the Epic Touch Player of the Game with 152 rushing yards.  Liberal committed five turnovers in the loss with three lost fumbles.  They finish -11 in turnover ratio.

The Redskins lose their 19th straight playoff game and finish 3-6.  Hutchinson is 7-2.