Redskins Down Dodge City for 4-0 Start

For the first time since 2003, the Liberal Redskins are 4-0.  The Redskins shook off three turnovers and missed opportunities to win 21-7 in front of a big homecoming crowd at Dodge City Memorial Stadium.  It’s Liberal’s first win over the Red Demons since 2017.

The biggest highlight of the first quarter was a one handed tackle by Tyren Holmes on a 4th and 15 play.  The first quarter was scoreless.  Brooks Kappelmann’s eight yard touchdown run and Marco Alonso point after gave the Redskins a 7-0 lead.  The Red Demons responded with a Ryan Gonzales nine yard TD run to make it 7-7 after the PAT with 5:07 to play in the half.  Dodge City’s Ty Scheck intercepted a Liberal pass but Aidan Schwindt returned the favor with an INT with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. Dodge City began the second half with a pooch kick to the right which Liberal returned but fumbled.  The Demons advanced north to the Liberal six but the Angry Red defense forced them backwards and forced a missed 33 yard field goal attempt.  Liberal put together a strong drive with Kappelmann passes over the middle but couldn’t score on a 4th and goal from the one.  However, the Angry Red forced a three and out and had to punt from their south endzone.  Zayden Martinez returned the punt to the DCHS 29.  Brooks Kappelmann rolled right and lofted a jump pass under duress to Zayden Martinez in the back of the south end zone for a 16 yard TD.  The point after failed and it was 13-7 after three.  Erek Lira recovered a Dodge City fumble.  However the Redskins coughed up a fumble with 8:07 to play.  But Adan Amador  forced a fumble and then Alex Schwindt recovered the fumble with 6:39 to play.  LHS finally busted the game open with a Brooks Kappelmann pass on the left seam to Zayden Martinez.  He made a juggling catch in a fight for the ball and then sprinted into the north endzone for the score with 5:11 remaining.  Kappelmann found James Fieser for the two point conversion and the 21-7 lead.  Aidan Schwindt grabbed his second interception of the night.   Despite committing three turnovers, Liberal still won the turnover battle forcing four Red Demon turnovers.

Zayden Martinez caught two more touchdowns and has eight for the season.  Brooks Kappelmann tossed two touchdowns and ran for another.  Aidan Schwindt had two interceptions.  Tyren Holmes was Epic Touch Player of the Game with nine tackles including three tackles for loss.  Xavier Tafoya had 10 tackles.  Liberal had 355 yards.  They rushed for 114 yards.  Brooks Kappelmann had 14 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown.  Kappelmann was 17-23 for 241 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.  Zayden Martinez had eight catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Dodge City is 2-2 and 0-1 in the WAC.  Liberal is 4-0 and 1-0 in the WAC.  It’s Liberal’s first WAC opening win since 2008 when a Tom Schroeder coached team won 28-7 at Hays.  The Redskins play at 3-1 Garden City Friday night at 7pm with Redskin Pre-game at 6pm on 1270 and 92.3.