By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Salina Liberty have been on a heater to begin their time in the National Arena League, rattling off three straight wins, including a 40-34 stunner of the league frontrunner Pueblo Punishers on Saturday night.
This victory has vaulted the Liberty to the top of the standings alongside an old foe in the Southwest Kansas Storm, leading many to wonder if there could be a new favorite in the NAL.
Tracy Brooks returned to his MVP form on Saturday, scoring four rushing touchdowns on 15 carries for 71 yards to compliment a strong day for the Liberty defense.
The first quarter saw eight drives and eight touchdowns split evenly between the Liberty and Punishers, without a single successful point after try, leading to a 12-12 score at the end of one.
In the second quarter, both defenses tightened the screws, holding the other completely scoreless before the intermission.
Each side made great adjustments out of the locker room, but Salina refused to be stopped, scoring on all four of their second-half drives to pull away for a narrow victory.
It began with Brooksâ second touchdown run of the day to answer a Joshua Hollins connection to Jo-El Shaw, but a missed PAT kept Pueblo ahead 20-18.
When the Punishers scored again on their next drive, this time on a touchdown strike to Patrick McSweeney, the Liberty answered right back on an eight-yard linkup from Evan Lewandowski to Duke Williams.
Pueblo had the first drive of the fourth quarter and became the first team to flinch, turning the ball over on downs thanks to a crucial Kerry Starks sack.
Tracy Brooks wasted no time completing his hat trick, leaping into the end zone to deliver the Liberty their first lead of the second half 34-28.
The Punishers did manage to tie the game on McSweeneyâs second touchdown catch of the day, but the Liberty continued to roll on offense, and Brooksâ fourth touchdown run gave the Liberty the lead in the final minutes.
Two Pueblo holds backed the Punishers up near their own goal line, and one final Kerry Starks sack, his third of the day, sealed the deal for Salina, who handed Pueblo their first loss of the season 40-34.
With this win, the Liberty improve to 3-0 while Pueblo falls to 4-1, setting the new NAL standings after a busy week five.
Salina Liberty (3-0)
SWKS Storm (3-0)
Pueblo Punishers (4-1)
Sioux City Bandits (2-1)
Louisiana Rouxgaroux (1-2)
Dallas Bulls (1-2)
Colorado Spartans (1-3)
Amarillo Warbirds (1-3)
Omaha Beef (0-4)
The Liberty hit the road for their first game away from Tony's Pizza Events Center on April 18th in Sioux City before returning home to host Southwest Kansas on April 25th.