It was a defensive struggled Friday night at Redskin Field.  Both defenses held their opponent to under 300 yards as #4 Great Bend edged Liberal 14-7 on Liberal’s Senior Night.  Liberal lost the game despite allowing just 46 yards in the second half.  It’s Great Bend’s first win at Liberal since 2018.

The Redskins made the first big play forcing a first quarter fumble at Liberal’s 46.  But it was scoreless first quarter.  Penalties plagued Liberal’s offense in the first half.  Liberal was penalized six times for 40 yards in the first half.  Great Bend got on the board with a six yard TD run by Jace Schartz at the 8:47 mark of the second quarter.  Liberal’s ensuing drive led them to the Great Bend 29, but the Skins were stuffed on a 4th and 1 running play.  On the next play, Great Bend’s Dax Minton found Ian Premer on a 71 yard bomb headed north down the Great Bend sideline.  Kansas football coach Lance Leipold in attendance.  It was 14-0 Panthers at half time.

Great Bend’s Jacob Hall forced a turnover in the third quarter with an interception.  It was 14-0 GBHS after three.  The Redskins finally scored in the fourth quarter with a Xavier Tafoya 26 yard TD run with 7:56 remaining.  Liberal’s final drive resulted in an incomplete pass on 4th and 4 from the Panther 13.

Liberal had 302 yards with 271 coming on the ground.  Great Bend had 271 yards and had 222 in the first half.  Xavier Porras rushed for 173 yards.  Ayden Juarez was named Epic Touch Player of the Game with 9 carries for 54 yards and 10 tackles with three tackles for loss.

Great Bend is 6-0 and 2-0 in the WAC.  Liberal is 4-2 and 1-2 in the WAC.  Liberal plays at 0-6 Ulysses Friday night at 7pm with Redskin Pre-game at 6pm on 1270 and 92.3.