Redskins Party Like it’s 1999

For the first time since 1999, the Liberal Redskins are 5-0.  Liberal rallied from a 21-7 deficit for a 28-21 win at Buffalo Stadium in Garden City.  It’s the first win for the Angry Red in that stadium and first win in Garden City since 2004.

Garden gashed Liberal early with their dives, counters, and options.  Garden’s first play from scrimmage was a 24 yard gain and they were off to the races early in front of a big homecoming crowd with temperatures in the upper 80’s.  Mario Ruiz finished Garden City’s first two drives with three yard touchdown runs for the 14-0 lead.  Brooks Kappelmann hooked up with Zayden Martinez on an 82 yard hitch and go to make the score 14-7 after a Marco Alonso point after.  A 41 yard Ethan Gomez pass to the Liberal three set up a Ruiz three yard run to make it 21-7 Buffaloes with 10:50 remaining in the third.  The Redskins out played the Buffaloes the rest of the night.  Two plays after LHS quarterback Brooks Kappelmann was sacked, the Redskins faced 4th and 27.  Kappelmann scrambled right on what appeared to be a quarterback sweep.  But Kappelmann floated a 32 yard touchdown into the arms of James Fieser with 3:31 to play in the half.  The Alonso PAT made it 21-14 GCHS.  The Angry Red defense got a stop on the ensuing drive.  It was 21-14 at the half.  Liberal took the opening drive down the field and got to the one.  Kappelmann was sacked. Two plays later the Skins faced 4th and 6 from the seven.  More 4th down magic.  Brooks Kappelmann found James Fieser over the middle for a touchdown.  The point after tied the game at 21-21 with 6:51 to play in the third.  The Angry Red defense got a three and out forcing a Garden City punt after Ivan Moreno and Xavier Tafoya produced a sack.  Zayden Martinez returned in to the GC 36.  The short drive resulted in an Ivan Moreno one yard touchdown to lead 28-21 after the PAT with 1:43 remaining in the third quarter.  The Buffaloes had another drive in them and made it to the Liberal five.  But on 4th and goal from the five, Hudson Rice  made a touchdown saving tackle on a quarterback scramble to the right.  LHS had the ball on their own one but burned about 6:30 off the clock to win the game.
The Redskins amassed 404 yards against a Garden City team which had been allowing 150  yards per game.  Brooks Kappelmann was 18-29 for 252 yards.  Xavier Porras carried 22 times for 115 yards.  Zayden Martinez caught seven passes for 133 yards.  James Fieser had six catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Liberal had been 0-5 at Buffalo Stadium.  Their last win in Garden City was 25-14 in  2004 when a Steve Warner coached team got a win in Garden.

Garden City is 3-2 and 1-1 in the WAC.  Liberal is 5-0 and 2-0 in the WAC.  They are 5-0 for the first time since 1999 when a Gary Cornelsen coached team started the season 10-0.  Liberal hosts homecoming Friday at 7pm against Great Bend.  Redskin Pre-game at 6 on 1270 and 92.3.  Rowdy Crowd Show Thursday night at 5:30 at Billy’s on 1270 and 92.3.