Hutchinson Hands Liberal Season Ending Loss

The Liberal football season ended Thursday night in Hutchinson.  The Redskins beat the rain playing on Thursday rather than Friday but didn’t have enough to beat the Salt Hawks as Hutch cruised to a 33-13 win over LHS.

Karmelo Green scored on a seven yard run around the left end to give Hutchinson a 7-0 lead at the 3:07 mark.  The Salt Hawks led 7-0 after one quarter.  Hutchinson’s fullback Kade Smith broke Liberal’s containment and raced 86 yards for a touchdown on the HHS sideline for the 14-0 lead with 11:32 to play in the half.  Tevin Cotter hooked up with James Fieser on a 62 yard bomb down the Liberal sideline to make it 14-7 with 10:39 to play.  The Redskins gained the momentum and had Hutchinson at 4th and 14.  But the Salt Hawks faked the punt and gained the first down.  Levi Kepler flipped a 34 yard touchdown pass to Taishawn Williams to make it 20-7.  Hutch then recovered a Liberal fumble but the Redskin defense got the stop.  Hutchinson free safety Terrell King intercepted a pass at the Liberal 30 leading to an HHS drive which resulted in  a 29 yard field goal by kicker Taysen Runyan to make it 23-7 Hutchinson at the half.  In the second half, Runyan added a 34 yard field goal with 2:38 to play in the third to make it 26-7.  Tevin Cotter floated a six yard touchdown pass to James Fieser to make it 26-13.  LHS went for two and didn’t get it.  Hutchinson’s Levi Kepler tossed another touchdown pass to Terrell King for a 13 yard score.

Liberal allowed over 400 yards for only the second time this season at Hutchinson put up 405 yards with 328 on the ground.  Hutchinson’s fullback Kade Smith went for 245 yards on the ground.  Liberal had 275 yards with 182 passing yards.

James Fieser had four catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns.  Tevin Cotter was 12-21 for 165 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.  Xavier Porras had 23 carries for 101 yards.

Hutchinson is 8-2 and 6-0 against LHS.  Liberal finishes 7-3.  The first back to back winning seasons for the program since 2004-05.