The Hays High Indians took their first road test of the 2017 with a trip to Liberal on Friday night.

The Indian defense allowed just 48 yards in the first half and forced a Liberal team to punt on four of their first five possessions.  The other Redskin drive was stopped on a fumble recovery by Logan Schulte.

Hays took their first possession to the end zone on a fourth down and one reverse by Keaton Markley.  The 26 yard touchdown run and Logan Clark extra point put Hays up 7-0 in the first quarter.

Neither team scored the remainder of the half.  The Indians did get to the red zone but threw an interception on third down.  Hays also fumbled the ball away on the first play of the drive.

Highlights

Hays continued to control the Liberal offense in the second half never allowing the Redskins to reach the red zone.  Hays pushed their lead up to 13-0 following a Hunter Brown five yard run to cap a 7 play 68 yard drive.

Brown then picked off a pass on a deep pass to set up Hays at their own four yard line.  The Indians drove the 96 yards on ten plays capped off by a Brown seven yard run to take a 20-0 lead.  Liberal’s final drive was intercepted by Hayden Brown.

Coach Randall Rath

Hays held Liberal to just 150 total yards and gained 263 yards of their own.  Keaton Markley led the way with 123 yards on just eight carries.  All of the Indian’s offense came on the ground.

Hays improves to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Western Athletic Conference.  Liberal falls to 2-1 and 0-1 in the WAC.  Hays will host Garden City next week.