Hays High scored on all but three of their drives in a 58-28 win over McPherson (1-1), on the road Friday night. The three drives Hays didn’t score was on a fumble inside the McPherson ten yard line, a drive ended by the expiration of the first half, and a three and out to start the third quarter.
McPherson drove into Hays territory on their first two drives of the game but came up empty on a Chance Pitcock interception and then lost a fumble at the ten yard line. Hays converted both turnovers into points and 10-0 lead on a 27 yard Lane Clark field goal and Preston Weigel two yard touchdown run.
McPherson answered back though late in the first quarter with a six play 80 yard drive, Austin O’Bannon capped the drive with a 26 yard TD run on third down for a 10-7 score.
Hays scored almost immediately after a Pitcock kick-off return to the McPherson 35 yard line, quarterback Alex Delton scored four plays later on a five yard run, but the extra point was block making the score 16-7.
Hays took a 24-7 lead on a David Cardinal seven yard score, his first of four rushing touchdowns, putting the Indians up 24-7 after a successful two point conversion.
It appeared that Hays High was driving for a fifth consecutive score in the first half, but fumbled at the two yard line. McPherson quarterback Kyle Kinnamon escaped a safety twice on the next few plays and after a Hays High penalty on third down, found Keaton Sorenson for a 77 yard pass and catch just before half time to make the score 24-14 at the break.
Each team traded punts to open the second half and then it was all Hays High. Cardinal punctuated three consecutive drives with touchdowns to make the score 45-14 eight seconds into the fourth quarter. Sandwiched in the middle of all of that was a McPherson three and out and another Chance Pitcock interception.
McPherson did score 14 fourth quarter points after that mark on a 15 play 6:04 drive and a 43 yard yard touchdown pass by Kinnamon, but Hays scored 13 more points with a 45 yard Delton touchdown and a 75 yard touchdown run from Adam Klaus with :20 left in the game.
Hays piled up 526 yards of offense (392 rushing and 134 passing). McPherson total 409 (151 rushing and 258 passing.
David Cardinal ran 20 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns. Alex Delton carried 14 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Delton also was 5-8 for 134 threw the air. Adam Deterding led the team with three receptions for 97 yards.
Hays moves into Western Athletic Conference play next week against Liberal who picked up their first win of the year with an 80-7 win over Guymon, OK.
Hays High
Post Game Interview (part 1):
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Post Game Interview (part 2):
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Highlights:
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