In the first ever playoff game in Salina indoor football history, it didn’t take long for the Salina Liberty to get on the scoreboard. On the first play of the game, Dominique Carson carried the ball for a 25 yard touchdown. Jimmy Allen nailed the extra point to give the Liberty an early 7-0 lead. On the first offensive play for Bismarck, Ricky Wyatt would intercept a pass from Aaron Aiken. Two plays later, Liberty quarterback Derrick Bernard would find Julian Stafford in the end zone. Allen’s extra point put the Liberty up 14-0 after just four plays.
Bismarck would respond with back-to-back touchdowns but missed both of their extra point attempts with the second attempt being blocked by Travis Taylor. With 4:48 left in the first quarter, the Liberty lead was trimmed to 14-12.
Salina would assemble their first sustained drive of the game to close the first quarter, ending on a Derrick Bernard touchdown pass to Donovan Raspberry. Allen would convert the PAT kick to put the Liberty up 21-12 at the end of the first.
Bismarck would start the second quarter with a field goal attempt that would fall short giving Isiah Barfield a chance to return the kick to the 1 yard line. Two plays later, Bernard would find Julian Stafford for the second time in the game. Allen would hit the extra point putting Salina ahead 28-12 with 12:42 left in the second quarter.
Bismarck would answer with an Elby Pope touchdown catch from 20 yards out. Jimmy Kazalski would convert his first point after kick pulling Bismarck within nine, 28-19 Liberty led with 9:29 left in the second quarter. The Liberty would respond about three minutes later with Bernard finding Donovan Raspberry for the second time in the end zone. Allen’s kick would miss and the score would remaing, 34-19 with Salina leading.
On the next Bismarck possession, Trey Dudley would grab his 10th interception of the season in the end zone. The Liberty would drive down the field and capitalize with a Derrick Bernard 1 yard touchdown run. The score was set-up by a long pass to Rashad Pargo. The halftime score would show Salina out in front, 40-19.
Elby Pope would take the center snap for Bismarck to start the second half and on a quarterback keep would score on the first play. The extra point was blocked by Ricky Wyatt and Salina would retain a 40-25 lead. Salina would answer that score with Derrick Bernard’s second rushing touchdown of the night. Allen’s extra point was good as Salina took a 47-25 lead with 10:53 remaining in the third quarter.
Elby Pope would score again on just his second play behind center. Bismarck would have the extra point blocked again and the score would stand 47-31 in favor of the Liberty. Salina would strike again with a Tracy Brooks touchdown run, his first of the game. Extra point kick by Allen put the Liberty ahead, 54-31. After a Bismarck turnover on downs, Derrick Bernard would find Rashad Pargo for his first touchdown catch of the night.
Tray Boone would return the ensuing kick for a Bismarck touchdown. Elby Pope would find Glyn Borel for the 2-point conversion pass, pulling Bismarck within three touchdowns, 60-39 with 4:21 left in the third quarter. Derrick Bernard would answer on his seventh touchdown pass of the night, the third to Donovan Raspberry. Extra point kick was converted by Allen and the Liberty led 67-39 with 2:20 left in the third quarter.
Bismarck would once again score on the kick-off with Tyler Hanks taking it to the house for six points. The 2-point conversion attempt would fail and Salina continued to lead 67-45 at the end of the third quarter.
The Liberty defense would force Bismarck into a turnover on downs, then the offense would come on to score on a passing touchdown from Derrick Bernard to Julian Stafford, his third of the night. Extra point from Allen was good and the Liberty led, 74-45 with 9:26 left in the game.
The Liberty defense would sack Elby Pope on fourth down at the one yard line, led by Jake Lattimer, Gary Henderson and Travis Taylor. The offense would take the field and score on another touchdown pass from Bernard to Stafford. Extra point by Allen would put the Liberty in front 81-45 with 5:25 left.
Bismarck would score their first points of the fourth quarter with 3:43 remaining. The 2-point conversion failed and the score was in favor of Salina 81-51 with 3:43 left in the game.
The two teams would trade possessions at the end of the game but the score would not change as Salina get the victory, 81-51. Derrick Bernard led the way with nine passing touchdowns to four different receivers and two rushing touchdowns.
Salina (10-3) will be back at the Tony’s Pizza Event Center next Saturday, June 23rd for the next round of the CIF Playoffs against the Sioux City Bandits.