A Football Rivalry Rooted in Kansas: Storm vs Liberty

Professional football is already here in Kansas, and it's thriving. Two teams, the Salina Liberty and Southwest Kansas Storm, are part of the National Arena League, and this past Sunday, June 21, the two met in Dodge City to reignite the Kansas rivalry in the NAL Championship. The Southwest Kansas Storm, based in Dodge City, were the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs with a 10-1 record. The Salina Liberty were the No. 4 seed with a record of 8-4 . The two teams had already played twice in as many months during the regular season, with the Storm beating the Liberty 55-41 in early May and 27-26 in late April.

With the stage set at United Wireless Arena in Dodge City, Kansas, the two teams took the field. The Liberty led 14-7 after the first quarter and took a 23-21 lead into the locker room at halftime. A critical fumble by the Liberty in the third quarter looked to be the break the Storm needed, but the resilient Liberty defense came up with the stops it needed, and Salina led the Storm 38-35 late in the fourth quarter. The Liberty needed just one more first down to run out the clock and claim the organization's second title. A pair of consecutive false-start penalties made that task difficult, and the Liberty had to settle for a field goal attempt, which ultimately sailed wide of its mark, turning the ball back over to the Storm. The Storm offense wasted no time driving down the field and spiking the ball at the goal line with just 18 seconds remaining. A pass from quarterback Trae Self found Mason Pierce in the end zone to put the Storm up 43-38 with just two seconds remaining.

However, the Liberty's chances of victory weren't finished. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the Storm touchdown gave the Liberty one untimed down after the kickoff return. The Liberty took the kickoff deep into Storm territory, setting up a potential walk-off win for the Salina squad. Quarterback Tyrie Adams scrambled from the pocket and threw a pass near the goal line that was tipped and ultimately fell to the turf, giving the Southwest Kansas Storm the organization's first championship.

It may have been just the first year for both teams in the NAL, but neither wasted any time showcasing what two Kansas communities have to offer: passionate fan bases, outstanding athletic performances, and a championship game for the ages. Photos and article by Tanner Colvin Click to expand images