By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Salina Liberty nearly swept CIF honors this week, earning both the league's offensive and defensive players of the week.
These honors came in a week that saw Salina dispatch the Sioux City Bandits, a team many thought would keep things close by a final score of 53-24.
Offensive player of the week went to Liberty Wide Receiver Fast Ed Smith, who repeatedly gashed the Bandits secondary to help Salina secure their fifth win of the season.
Smith hauled in five passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns, moving him into first place in the CIF with six TD receptions on the year.
For a second time this season, Dontra Matthews collected defensive player of the week honors after a stellar performance in the secondary. Matthews came down with two huge turnovers, an interception and a fumble recovery, in the Liberty win.
The Salina secondary, thanks in large part to Matthews, leads the league in interceptions this season with eight. The next closest team is Sioux City, who have five picks on the year.
Several other Liberty players have collected player of the week honors throughout the season including quarterback Tyrie Adams in weeks one and three, DB Dontra Matthews in week one and kicker Jimmy Allen in week two.
Stay tuned to the Salina Post for continuing coverage of the Salina Liberty’s 2021 season.