By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
SCOTT CITY, Kan. – Hays High opened the 2016 football season with a trip to #4 4A-II Scott City on Friday night. The Beavers are one of three new teams on the schedule for the Indians. Overall it was the fourth meeting between the two teams.
Hays High used their first possession of the season to travel 54 yards over 10 plays taking a 7-0 lead on a Kohlton Meyers six yard run. Scott City drove into Hays territory on each of their first three possessions but came up empty.
Hays expanded their lead to 10-0 in the second quarter with a Logan Clark 20 yard field goal. Hays kept the drive alive with a 48 yard pass on third down from Hunter Brown to Keaton Markley. The Beavers used a big pass of their own to convert on 3rd and 18 late in the second quarter. Bo Hess hit Justin Faurot on a five yard pass to tighten the score to 10-7 at half time.
Highlights
Scott City controlled the third quarter scoring on their first two possessions to take a 21-10 lead. Following a Hays High punt late in the 3rd quarter Scott City looked to put the game away. Hays High wouldn’t go quietly. The Indians forced four consecutive turnovers on interceptions by Chantz Brungardt, Dylan Schmidtberger and Keaton Markley and a fumble recovery by Freddy Haines. The Indians converted those turnovers into 21 points all on 4th down pass plays. Hunter Brown completed a pass of 29 yards to Collyn Kreutzer who made a bobbling catch in the end zone to make the score 21-17. Freddy Haines recovered a fumble on the next Beaver possession setting up more 4th down heroics for the Indians. Brown threw a jump ball to the end zone to Shane Berens giving Hays the lead 24-21. Hays forced two more turnovers the second of which led to another 4th down touchdown pass from Brown to Berens to ice the game at 31-21.
Coach Randall Rath
Hunter Brown was 10-10 through the air for 170 yards and two touchdowns. The Indians totaled just 247 yards of offense but were five for five on 4th down attempts converting three for touchdowns.
Hays High is 1-0. Scott City drops to 0-1.
Hays High heads on the road again next week to start Western Athletic Conference play in Great Bend.