Over a decade of broadcasting sports, more often than not, football games on Friday night turn out to be a pretty one-sided affair one way or another. Even in a final score separated by two touchdowns still was pretty well decided before the final gun.
Not Friday night October 14, 2011.
The game between Hays High and Great Bend at Lewis Field Stadium was the 74th meeting between the two schools and it may go down as one of the best in the rivalry ever.
The story lines were too good to ignore going into the game. First it is Hays High and Great Bend, a great rivalry. Second, the winner of the game was guaranteed at minimum a share of the WAC title. Third it was the first game of a tough three game district schedule to qualify for the playoffs.
The teams traded punches like a great heavy weight fight. Hays High throwing haymakers with David Cardinal touchdowns of 44, 75, 66, and 33 yards. Also a Adam Deterding 26 yard touchdown catch, which may have been one of the best catches in Hays High history. Great Bend countered with body shots and jabs. Touchdowns from 1, 12, 11, 14, and 2 yards out. Great Bend had several scoring drives of ten or more plays.
Each team scored off a fumble and those were the only two turnovers in the game. The game was tied at 7, 14, 28, and finally 35 forcing overtime, where the dramatics were really getting started.
Great Bend got the ball first in overtime and scored on their first play, tacked on the extra point, taking a 42-35 lead.
On Hays High’s ensuing possession, it took just two plays to score and the extra point coming up to tie. Though this is where everybody was ready to lose their mind. Hays High drew Great Bend off-sides on the extra point moving the ball to the one and a half yard line. David Cardinal pounded the ball into the end zone for the victory behind his fullback Mark Mathis and his offensive line that has paved a road smoother (and faster) than what the crews are doing on I-70.
Hays won 43 – 42.
Rarely games on any level live up to the hype piled on the week leading up to the game. This one did and then some.
It very well might have been the best high school football game I have ever been to.
It is games like this that keep me coming back to broadcast year after year, and spend the countless hours getting ready for a game under the Friday Night Lights.
Thank You Hays High and Great Bend for a great Friday night!
