Redskins hand Tigers home opener loss

September 8, 2012

Guymon quarterback Austin Stonecipher (4) picks up some yardage on a keeper in the game with Liberal Friday night. Guymon’s Sammy Marquez (5) gives him some protection. Staff photo/John Plestina

“Horrible” was the adjective Guymon head coach Bryan Ballard used to describe the outcome of the Tigers’ home opener Friday night.
The 80-7 thumping at the hands of the Liberal (Kan.) Redskins wasn’t pretty. Liberal took advantage of every opportunity, scoring repeatedly when the Tigers lost the ball on downs.
Liberal scored 11 touchdowns, 11 extra points and one field goal to Guymon’s lone touchdown and point after.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless,” Ballard said after the game.
He said the Tigers have got to get better if they are going to have a successful season.
Guymon struggled in a recent three-way scrimmage with Texhoma and Sunray, Texas, at Texhoma. Ballard said at the time that the Tigers needed work to prepare for the season.
He also acknowledged that the Redskins have talent and used it to their best advantage against the Tigers,
“Liberal has got some athletes. They took advantage of us with these athletes,” Ballard said.
Liberal scored five first quarter touchdowns running up a score of 35-0 before the first quarter break.
Several Guymon drives ended in lost balls on punts after four downs.
When it appeared that Guymon was going to get on the scoreboard in the first half, an opportunity ended in disappointment, After Austin Stonecipher intercepted a pass on the Liberal 25-yard line late in the first half, the Redskins blocked Guymon’s only field goal attempt by Brian Acosta with 1:40 remaining on the clock. Then with just two seconds left in the first half, Liberal added a field goal making the halftime score 52-0.
The Redskins scored twice more in the first five minutes of the second half bringing the tally to 66-0. Late in the third quarter, Liberal scored a 10th touchdown — 73-0.
The Tigers finally lit up the scoreboard with just 10:20 remaining in the game on a pass from Jacob Test to Alex Zakrewiez. A good kick made Guymon’s total tally for the game 7 points. Liberal would score once more.
Looking ahead to next week, the Tigers play at Hugoton, Kan., Friday. Hugoton beat Guymon 40-25 last year.
“They’re hard nosed kids. They play the option,” Ballard said.