The Hays Hays High Indians hosted undefeated Valley Center Friday night for their homecoming game. It was the just the second meeting ever between the two schools. The first came in 1995 during the first round of the playoffs. The game was won 28-7 by the Hornets.
Hays and Valley Center played to a scoreless draw through the first quarter. Hays missed a field goal on their first drive following a 51 yard run. The Indians forced a punt and fumble on the first two Valley Center possessions.
Hays was unable to take advantage of good field position then suffered a loss. Following a tackle by Freddy Haines, he was unable to get back to his feet. Haines was eventually removed from the game via a backboard. A this time we have no more information on his condition.
The Indians used the emotion of their injured teammate to intercept a pass by Collyn Kreutzer, his second of the season. Kreuzter returned the ball 40 yards and Hays High moved into field goal range for Logan Clark to connect on a career long 38 yard attempt, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead.
Valley Center fumbled on their next drive after getting inside the Indian’s red zone. The Indians though had to punt allowing the Hornets to have one more drive. Quarterback Wyatt Lange ran for 24 yards on 3rd and 15 and eight yards on 3rd and 2. The second conversion scored the games first touchdown with 24 second left before half time and giving the Hornets a 7-3 lead a the break.
Highlights
The Indians started the second half recovering an onside kick but could not take advantage. Valley Center then threw their second interception on their next possession. Xavier Dandurand picked off his first pass of the year. Hays moved into the red zone on the possession allowing Clark to kick a 27 yard field and make the score 7-6, still in favor of Valley Center. The Hornets responded with their best passing play on the night on the next possession when Wyatt Lange hit Dalton Cross in double coverage for 36 yards and the only other touchdown of the game, putting Valley Center up 17-6.
Hays put together one more scoring threat getting the ball to the 20 on a catch, but fumbled for their only turnover of the night. Valley Center couldn’t turn the fumble into points and had to punt the ball. Hays thought could not convert on the 4th down on the following drive. Valley Center capped the game with a 19 yard field goal and final score of 20-6.
Randall Rath
Hays put up 187 yards of offense, while allowing 297 yards. Valley Center is 5-0. Hays falls to 1-4 and plays Dodge City for their final game before districts.