Hays and Great Bend met for the 79th time since 1923 as the two opened up Western Athletic Conference play on Friday night. For Hays it was the second consecutive week they had faced a ranked opponent after beating then ranked Scott City on the road 31-21. Great Bend entered the game ranked #5 after a 57-13 win over Coffeyville in week 1.
Hays fumbled the football away on the third play of the game setting up Great Bend’s quarterback Jacob Murray for a one yard touchdown plunge. The Panthers had returned the fumble to the one yard line to set up the short field. Hays went 11 plays on the next drive and reached the Panther 21 yard line before losing the ball on downs. Great Bend responded with a 13 play 79 yard scoring drive to take a 13-0 lead after missing the extra point with four seconds left in the first quarter.
Highlights
The Indians again got into Great Bend territory but punted the ball away. Leading by two scores the Panthers drove into Hays territory but threw an incomplete pass on fourth down. The Indians finally got their offense going on the ensuing drive as Keaton Markley finished off an 8 play 63 yard drive, scoring his first career varsity touchdown on a 7 yard rush. Great Bend punted for the first time all season on the next drive giving Hays the ball at their own 33 yard line with 31 seconds left before the half. With the wind at their backs and no time outs Hunter Brown hit Collyn Kreutzer on a 54 yard pass to the fifteen yard line. After spiking the ball to stop the clock Brown hit Kruezter again this time for 15 yards and a touchdown. Logan Clark hit both extra points of the first half to give Hays a 14-13 lead with nine seconds before half.
Coach Randall Rath
Great Bend took the opening drive of the second half for ten plays and 35 yard touchdown by Cal Marshall. Murray flipped the ball to the corner of the end zone for a two point conversion to go up 21-14. Great Bend stayed with the ground and pound attack in the second half as Jacob Murray scored from a yard out and Cal Marshall bolted to the end zone from 53 yards. Great Bend outscored Hays 22-0 in the second half, taking the 35-14 win.
Hays falls to 1-1 on the season and will play at home for the first time this year. The Indians host 1-1 Liberal who won 14-0 at Guymon, Oklahoma on Friday.
Great Bend is 2-0 and travels to Wichita NW.
Kohlton Meyers ran for 106 yards for the Indians while quarterback Hunter Brown threw for 128 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Great Bend’s Cal Marshall ran for 160 yards and two scores. Quarterback Jacob Murray threw for 152 yards and score. Murray also scored twice from one yard out.