Hays High entered bracket play as the eleven seed and traveled to Kapaun Mt. Carmel the six seed. The game played was played at Cessna Stadium were the Crusaders host their home games.
Hays took the first lead of the game on their second drive of the game. Palmer Hutchison found Jaren Kanak on a 34 yard pass over the middle to set the Indians up at the two yard. One play later Hayden Brown rushed in for a 6-0 lead after Hays missed the extra point. Kapaun responded with 14 consecutive points. One play after the Indians took the lead Columbia University commit Scott Valentas broke several backfield tackles and scored on a 72 yard run. The extra point gave the Crusaders a 7-6 lead.
The second Crusader touchdown was set up by a long Valentas run then was capped when he ran in from two yards out for a 14-6 lead. The Indians had outscored their opponents by 31 points in the second quarter this year entering Friday night. Hays outscored Kapaun 15-7 in the second quarter to tie the game 21-21.
Hutchison found Kanak again but this time for a 59 yard score closing the gap down to 14-13. The teams traded turnovers and Kapaun scored on a 35 yard pass to regain an eight point advantage, 21-13. Hays drove right down the field on the next drive and Hutchison found Cole Schroeder for a 37 yard score on 4th and 11. The touchdown was the first for Schroeder. Hutchison converted a two point pass to Mason Ibarra for a 21-21 tie.
Tavian Creamer intercepted a pass on the next Kapaun drive and Hays had a chance at the end zone but the pass fell incomplete from 31 yards away.
Highlights
Kapaun scored on the first drive of the second half going through the air on four of their six plays before a quarterback run scored from 23 yards out. Kapaun misfired the snap and a two point pass was broken up. Hays regained the lead on the next series. Hays converted on two third downs to get to the red zone. Hays could not convert on third down from the eight and lined up for a field goal. The Indians shifted to a play and junior varsity quarterback threw a touchdown to Trey Adams. The extra point by Cole Schroeder gave Hays a 28-27 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Hays had been outscored in the fourth quarter by 37 on the season and the fourth quarter on Friday night was a problem. Kapaun put 21 on the scoreboard and Hays never did score. Kapaun scored on a fourth down pass from twelve yards out to take the lead for good at 35-28. Hays drove to the Crusaders 45 but faced 4th and 12 and elected to punt. Kapaun scored on the next series to take a two possession and scored one more time for a 48-28 victory.
Coach Tony Crough
The Indian’s season finishes at 3-6 while Kapaun moves on to 7-2 and will travel to Great Bend next week.