Liberal Ends Tigers Regular Season, 53-6

news1@ulysesnews.com

The Liberal Redskins scored on their first two plays from scrimmage Friday at Maxwell Field, leading 13-0 just 65 seconds into the non-district battle against Ulysses, and eased to a 53-6 win over the host Tigers. Ulysses wraps up the regular season with an 0-7 record while Liberal improves to 5-2 with a western Athletic Conference matchup at Hays this week. 

Ulysses will travel to Wellington Nov. 1 for a playoff battle against the Crusaders (6-2). Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Sellers Park Football Field, 425 East Harvey Avenue in Willington.

The only Tiger score of the night came late in the third quarter off a pass from Tyce Perez to Preston Hittle.

Perez ended the game 10-for-22 passing for 64 yard with a touchdown and two interceptions. Joel Guaderrama was leading rusher for the Tigers with 12 carries for 39 yards, Perez kept it eight times for 25 yards, Julian Meraz carried twice for two yards, and Hittle once for negative three yards. Hittle was the leading receiver with four receptions for 58 yards, Guaderrama had two catches for five yards, Meraz two catches for four yards, and Nicholas Martinez two catches for negative-three yards.

Martinez recorded 52 kick return yards and 51 interception return yards, and Guaderrama added 51 kick return yards.

Defensively, senior Joel Guederrama led with eight tackles, junior Brody Britton added six, freshman Stryker Beglund five, junior Preston Hittle five, senior Jesus Miranda four, senior Nicholas Martinez four, sophomore Malikah Garcia four, junior Alvaro Moya four, sophomore Austyn Leyva three, sophomore Parker Browning two, junior Julian Meraz two, sophomore Alex Hofstetler two, and sophomore Colton Britton one.

Liberal freshman quarterback Tevin Cotter completed 7-of-13 passes for 119 yards, three touchdowns and one interception; Xavier Tafoya led Liberal with five carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns, Ayden Juarez carried seven times for 113 yards and a touchdown, Brayden Betts carried 11 times for 44 yards, and Alex Schwindt four times for 39 yards and a score. James Fieser caught four passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Redskin receiving corps.