The Salina Liberty went on the road Saturday night for their first test of the season away from Tony’s Pizza Event Center.
The Omaha Beef would get out of gates quickly and score on both of their first two possessions taking an early 14-0 lead. After the second touchdown, Liberty running back Dominique Carson would return a Beef kick 50 yards for the first Salina score of the game. Michael Pursley would add the extra point to make it 14-7. The Liberty would then get a field goal from Pursley to pull within four at halftime, 14-10.
Salina’s turn to start fast came in the second half as they posted the first two touchdowns of the third quarter and take a 24-14 lead, running off 24 unanswered points. The game would then go back and forth with Omaha edging ahead 35-31.
Omaha appeared to be in control with the football and a four point lead. Omaha quarterback John Gibbs would take off leaving the pocket and get hit hard from behind by Liberty defensive lineman Gary Henderson knocking the ball loose. Linebacker Ricky Wyatt recovered the fumble to give Salina life. Derrick Bernard would find Rashad Pargo in the end zone on a nine yard touchdown pass with just 25 seconds left in the game. After the extra point missed, the Liberty led 37-35.
A good kickoff from Michael Pursley and good coverage by the Liberty coverage team would pin Omaha at their own five yard line with 24 seconds left. Gibbs would throw an incomplete pass on first down, but then on second down Gibbs would buy extra time with his feet and throw a touchdown strike the length of the field to receiver Jamall Williams for the go ahead touchdown with just 10 seconds left. The extra point was good and Omaha would take the lead for the final time and get the victory 42-37.
The win for Omaha (1-0) is their first of the season while the Liberty drops to 1-1. Salina will return home on March 17th to host the Bismarck Bucks. Kickoff is schedule for 6:35 pm at Tony’s Pizza Event Center.