EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Liberal’s special teams came up big early, but despite building a 10-0 lead, the Redskin offense sputtered in a 42-12 loss.
After an opening three-and-out for the Redskins on the first possession of the game, the Panthers muffed the punt, and Ismael Calderon recovered at the Liberal 48 yard line.
With starting quarterback Bren Kappelmann out with an injury, sophomore Darion Denton took over at quarterback, and his first pass connected with a wide open Prince Collins who galloped into the end zone for a 52-yard touchdown reception and a 7-0 Liberal lead.
The special teams came up big again on the ensuing kickoff when the ball landed on the turf and the Redskins recovered at the Panther 23 yard line.
The Redskins drove the ball inside the Panther 10 yard line before facing fourth down, and Marc Svaty sent Ariel Gayton in to kick a 22-yard field goal, and the Redskins had a 10-0 first quarter lead.
The Angry Red defense forced a Panther stop, but the Redskins could not get the ball out of its own end on their next possession and was forced to punt. The Panthers blocked the kick and fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown that cut Liberal’s lead to 10-7.
The Panthers were able to tack on a touchdown before the half ended to take a 14-10 lead.
The Liberal defense continued to answer the call against the Panthers in the third quarter, and Great Bend was forced to punt deep in its own territory when a high snap led to a safety, and the Redskins cut the lead to 14-12.
The Redskins had a chance to take a lead after receiving the free kick near midfield, but the Redskin offense struggled in the second half and could not get a first down and punted.
That put the Angry Red defense back on the field, and after frustrating the Panther passing game, Great Bend finally connected on a 44-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-12.
Another quick possession by the Redskin offense gave the Panthers the ball at their own 23 yard line, and the Panther runner broke through the middle of the line and raced to the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown and a 28-12 Panther lead.
The Liberal offense continued to struggle to move the ball, forcing the defense back on the field for most of the fourth quarter, and the Panthers were abel to tack on two more touchdowns for the 42-12 final.
The loss dropped the Redskins to 3-3 on the season, 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Liberal will step out of WAC play this week and will host the 6-0 Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders at 7 p.m. Friday at Redskin Field. Kapaun is coming off a 14-6 win over Bishop Carroll.
