By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Salina Liberty posted another dominant performance on Saturday night, wrecking the Regulators 37-12.
With this win, Salina tightens their grip on the 3-seed at 5-2 while Wichita slides to 1-5.
In the first half, the Liberty defense was on full display, forcing three turnovers and holding the Regulators scoreless until the final minute of play.
That defensive unit got Salina on the board before the offense even took the field as a Henry Kellogg sack led to a Travis Taylor scoop and score on the opening drive.
New kicker Aeden Johnson would follow that with the first deuce of the year on the ensuing kickoff to put the Liberty on top 9-0.
Despite struggling in the passing game early, Salina picked up where they left off the week before on the ground, striking on an Otis Odom touchdown run from six yards out.
On the following drive, Freddie McGee lept into action for his second pick of the game, and a freshly re-entered Charles McCullum got the offense rolling, connecting with Demarius Washington for the first passing touchdown of the day.
McCullum would find Washington again in the third quarter as the Liberty traded touchdowns with Wichita, but Salina would pull away in the fourth with a bomb from McCullum to Jacorey Sullivan and a third Freddie McGee interception to secure the 37-12 win.
McCullum played exceptional football in his return from injury, tossing three touchdowns without a single turnover.
New kicker Aiden Johnson also impressed, with a 5/5 outing on extra points, a deuce, and two near deuces on kickoff.
Despite those performances, the Liberty defense once again stole the show, having now forced eight turnovers and allowed just 19 points total in their last eight quarters of football.
The Liberty return to Salina for a date with the Desert Hawks next Saturday at 6:30.