EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Xavier Tafoya had a career night against the ulysses Tigers on Homecoming night, rushing for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries to lead the Redskins to a 38-8 win.
Tafoya averaged more than 11 yards per carry, and delivered crushing blows when he was tackled.
Late in the fourth quarter Tafoya suffered an injury, and his status for Friday night’s key match-up with Western Athletic Conference opponent Hays was unknown.
Tafoya scored Liberal’s first score of the game on a 14-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Blayden Betts pushed the lead to 14-0 with a 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and quarterback Tevin Cotter broke free on a scramble for 32 yards and a touchdown to extend Liberal’s lead to 21-0.
The Redskins capped the first half with a 34 yard field goal to take a 24-0 advantage.
Late in the third quarter Tafoya broke free on a 49-yard touchdown run to give the Redskins a 31-0 lead, and early in the fourth quarter the Tigers put together their best drive of the night with a seven-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run to cut Liberal’s lead to 31-8.
But the Redskins answered with a 10-play, 74-yard drive, all runs, that ended with a one-yard plunge by Betts to push the lead to 38-8.
The win moved Liberal to 6-1 on the season and sets up a critical regular season finale with the Hays Indians Friday.
Hays is 5-2 after suffering a 43-19 loss to Great Bend. But Friday night’s outcome will affect playoff seeding for both Hays and Liberal. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
