By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Salina Liberty fought valiantly to overcome a 22-point halftime deficit but came up just short in the end, falling to the still undefeated Sioux City Bandits 36-29.
Both teams looked sloppy out of the gate as the Bandits fumbled the ball away on the third play of the game but would get it right back by picking off Curry Parham’s first-ever CIF pass.
The only touchdown of the first came on a Kamal Cass rushing score with under 3:00 to play in the quarter. That score lit the fuse for a big Sioux City run as the Bandits added two touchdowns, a field goal, and a safety to take a 29-7 lead into the locker room.
The lone Salina highlight of the first half came midway through the second quarter when Parham connected with Anthony Lee for his first career CIF touchdown to get the Liberty on the board.
Eager to get his team back into the game, Parham scampered for a 19-yard rushing touchdown on the very first play of the second half.
From there, the teams traded turnovers until the fourth, where the Liberty offense recovered their own fumble in the end zone to draw within one possession.
Once again Salina’s defense stood tall, completely shutting out a talented Sioux City offense for the entire second half.
With under 3:00 to play Parham connected with Jarrell Kelly on a bomb to set up a Tre Griffin rushing TD to tie the game at 29.
With their offense immobilized, the Bandits needed a big return from their special teams and they got it with interest as Lenwood Joyner housed the ensuing kickoff to put Sioux City back on top 29-36.
The Liberty would make it inside the ten-yard line on their final drive but their comeback efforts fell just short as Sioux City hung on for dear life to their top spot in the CIF standings.
With back-to-back league losses, the Liberty fall to 2-2 and will have some work to do with two upcoming home games against Rapid City on the 30th and Billings on May 7th.