Following a week one set back Hays looked to bounce back with a second straight home game as they took on Great Bend Friday night. It was the first game of the Western Athletic Conference season.
Neither team scored in the first half though each team did have an opportunity to do so. Hays took the opening possession 63 yards on 13 plays but lost the ball on downs at the Great Bend 27. The two teams traded punts then the Panthers went on a long drive. Great Bend went 15 plays, converting on two fourth downs, taking the ball down to the Indian ten before losing the ball on downs at the 17. Those two long drives between the Indians and Panthers totaled 17:29 of the 24 first half minutes.
Hightlights
Hays struck first in the third quarter when Hunter Brown hits Keaton Markley on 4th and 13 for a 28 yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. Great Bend answered right back scoring on the first play of the 4th quarter to tie the game 7-7. Hays took the ensuing possession 80 yards over 12 plays to grab a 14-7 lead with 6:31 remaining.
Great Bend turned the ball over for a second time on the next possession setting up Hays on the Panther 34 yard line. Hays thought lost 15 yards on a penalty then threw an interception on second down.
Great Bend drove the field to tie the score at 14 with 1:55 remaining. The Indians could not do anything with their next possession and Great Bend took over at the 33 yard line. The defense held forcing a 43 yard field goal which missed wide left.
Great Bend scored on the opening possession of overtime but missed the extra point when the snap bounced to the holder leaving the score at 20-14. Hunter Brown kept the ball on each of the three runs that led to a three yard touchdown run to tie the game at 20. Following a timeout from the Panthers Trey VanPelt sent back a perfect snap to Hunter Brown and Logan Clark nailed the game winning kick for a 21-20 victory.
Coach Randall Rath
Brown carried the ball 23 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns. The Panther’s Gage Fritz ran 24 times for 101 yards.
Hays is 1-1 and 1-0 in the WAC. Great Bend falls to 1-1 and 0-1.
Hays is on the road in Liberal next week.