By Dustin Armbruster

The Olathe Northwest Ravens made the long trip west worth it on Friday night as they beat the Hays High Indians 23-9.  Northwest took the opening kick-off to the Indian’s 15 yard line.  Hays High forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage to set a defensive tone to the night.

Neither team could score until the 4:00 mark of first quarter when the Ravens converted on a 27 yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.  The Hays High defense allowed only those three points despite Northwest starting each of the first three possessions in Hays High territory.

Highlights

Hays was held to a three and out and forced to punt, when Kohlton Meyers boomed a 69 yard punt that landed at the one.  Hays High used two of their three time outs to force the Ravens to punt into the wind.  The strategy paid off the the Ravens punt blew backwards landing at the two yard line and rolled out of the side of the end zone for a 3-2 score.

Hays would give up one more first half score when Ravens quarterback Easton Crupper hit tight end David Burton on a 30 yard pass on 3rd and 17.  The two point conversion would fail, resulting in a 9-2 halftime score.

Hays again could not get the offense going in the second half and found themselves trailing 23-2 in the fourth quarter.  The Indians then put together the best drive of the young season.  Hays traveled 87 yards on 14 plays and found pay dirt when Isaiah Blackmon scored from 16 yards out for the final score of 23-9.

Coach Randall Rath

Hays falls to 0-1 on the season and will host Great Bend next Friday night to open Western Athletic Conference play.  The Indians are the defending WAC champions.