By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
For the Salina Liberty, the title defense began with a bang on Saturday, as the reigning champs handled their business at home, knocking off the Gillette Mustangs 37-30 to punch their ticket to a fourth consecutive Champions Bowl.
This win marks the ninth of the season for the Liberty while the book closes on a still-impressive 8-4 campaign for the Mustangs.
The first half of this semifinal bout was very similar to the two teams meeting a few weeks back, although this time it would be Gillette that held the narrow 17-16 lead at the intermission.
That score would hold all the way through the third quarter, as the defensive units tightened the screws, with the deadlock finally broken on an Aaron Aiken touchdown scamper that put the Mustangs up by seven following a missed extra point.
With the scoring restarted the Liberty wasted no time getting to work, as Tracy Brooks took the ensuing kickoff to the four, setting himself up for a two-yard touchdown plunge just two plays later.
It was a brand new ballgame with 10 minutes to play and a 23-23 tie, and after forcing Gillette into a long field goal try Salina found some much-anticipated special teams magic.
Ed Smith caught the short miss in his own end zone and collected the defense on the right side of the field before spinning back to his left and finding a perfectly-blocked crease, taking it to the house for a Liberty touchdown.
That return would deliver Salina their first lead of the day, and the Liberty never looked back as Donavyn Jackson lept into action picking off Aiken with under 2:00 to play to secure the game for the red white, and blue.
Salina would add an insurance touchdown before all was said and done, and the Mustangs would find the scoreboard one final time, but it was too little too late as the Liberty cruised to a 37-30 victory.
In the other semifinal, the Omaha Beef maintained their status as the only undefeated squad in the CIF, bulldozing Billings 42-6 to ensure the trilogy with Salina in a third-straight title bout.
Champions Bowl VIII will take place at Ralston Arena in Omaha on Saturday, June 17th with a 6:30 pm kickoff.
For continuing coverage of Liberty football all postseason long stay tuned to the Salina, Little Apple, and JC Posts.