LIBERAL — Senior running back Josh Lopez had a pair of first-half touchdown runs and junior running back Jonathan Allende scored two third-quarter TDs, lifting Great Bend High School to a 37-20 road victory over Liberal on Friday night.

The Panthers improved to 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. They host Hays next Friday night in the conference finale and Class 5A District 6 opener, needing a win over the Indians to clinch a share of the league crown.

Against Liberal, the Panthers' Bryce Hofmeister broke free for a 64-yard TD run in the second quarter. He also made an interception in the end zone at the outset of the fourth quarter, negating a Liberal red zone opportunity.

Hofmeister also had a 46-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter negated because of a holding penalty, the Panthers' only eyesore in the game as they were penalized 14 times for 130 yards.

Liberal (1-5, 0-4) was flagged nine times for 95 yards, and their top player, Trenton Hammond, the WAC's leading receiver, was ejected.

The Panthers turned the ball over twice in the first quarter, and Liberal scored twice during that same stretch for a 14-7 lead.

Great Bend drove 65 yards on the opening series of the game for a 7-0 lead. Lopez set up his own 2-yard scoring run at the 9:31 mark by gaining 23 yards to plant the ball at the LHS 9-yard line.

Liberal answered quickly, capitalizing on a 15-yard personal foul penalty by the Panthers, which moved the yard markers to the GBHS 27. Liberal quarterback Britton Abbott gained 16 yards on second down to the 8, and then scored two plays later on a 4-yard run, tying the game at 7 at the 6:41 mark in the first quarter.

After GBHS fumbled the ball away, Liberal running back Christian Torres gained 32 yards on third-and-10 to set up his 4-yard TD plunge for a 14-7 Redskins lead with 3:27 remaining in the period.

Torres was later injured in the game, when was temporarily knocked out. He didn't return.

Great Bend scored 16 unanswered points in the second period to build a 23-14 halftime lead. It was keyed by a 14-yard scoring run by Lopez, followed by the slashing 64-yard dash by Hofmeister, who outran everyone to the end zone, giving the Panthers a 21-14 advantage with 6:32 left before halftime.

The Panthers crested with 30 unanswered points before Liberal scored late.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Non-Conference

Friday

At Liberal

Great Bend 37, Liberal 20

GBHS                    7   16  14   0  —  37

Liberal                 14   0    0    6  —  20

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Great Bend — Josh Lopez 2 run (Mario Espino kick), 9:31

Liberal —  Britton Abbott 3 run (Cody Arellano kick), 6:41

Liberal — Christian Torres 4 run (Arellano kick), 3:27

Second Quarter

Great Bend — Lopez 14 run (Espino kick), 11:19

Great Bend —  Bryce Hofmeister 64 run (Espino kick), 6:32

Great Bend — Safety (Liberal punt snap sailed out of end zone), 5:01

Third Quarter

Great Bend — Jonathan Allende 1 run (Espino kick), 4:58

Great Bend —  Jonathan Allende 10 run (Espino kick), 35.3

Fourth Quarter

Liberal —  Britton Abbott 27 run (pass failed), 5:14