Hays High traveled to Goddard on Friday night to take on the Eisenhower Tigers for week nine bracket play and the opportunity for their season to continue.
The Indians avoided disaster in the first quarter. Eisenhower was forced to punt after just three plays to start the game but the ball hit an Indian past the line of scrimmage and recovered by the Tigers hear midfield. Hays quickly turned the tables. Trey Adams intercepted a pass on third down to set up the Indians at the 47 yard line. The first offensive play of the game for Hays was a hand off to Jaren Kanak who went around the left end for 53 yards. The extra point from Matt Goodale gave Hays a 7-0 lead.
Eisenhower threatened to score several times in the first half. During the second quarter the Tigers started with the ball inside Hays territory on three straight possessions. The first resulted in a Eisenhower punt. Hays muffed the punt inside the ten yard line but recovered the ball. The Tigers then took over at the Hays 29 yard line and would punch the ball into the end zone on a third down pass from the ten yard line. Trey Adams blocked the extra point preserving a 7-6 lead.
Hays fielded a pooch kick at the 39 yard line but lost 18 yards on the drive and following a short punt Eisenhower took over at the 26. The Tigers scored a touchdown on the first play of the drive but was called back for holding. Three plays later Dawson VonFeldt intercepted pass at the five to keep the score 7-6 in favor of the Indians at the half.
Highlights
The entire second half belonged to the Indians. Hays took the opening possession of the second half 11 plays that resulted in a career long 42 yard field goal from Matt Goodale and a 10-6 lead. Eisenhower punted away the ball on the next possession and the Indians took advantage. Hays drove into the red zone for the first time on the night and eventually scored on a six yard run by Hayden Brown following a pass interference call on an attempted catch by Jaren Kanak.
Leading 17-6 Gaven Haselhorst jumped on top of a fumble on the ensuing kick off return by Eisenhower. Hays again controlled the clock and worked the ball to the 23 yard line. On fourth and one and moving into the wind the Indians went for the conversion. The play ended in the end zone with a Hayden Brown touchdown and a 24-6 lead. Dalton Dale intercepted a pass on the next drive inside Eishenhower territory. The Indians responded with a fake field goal ten yard touchdown pass from Tucker Veatch to Trey Adams the final 31-6 score.
Coach Tony Crough
Hays High will play Maize South next week following the Mavericks 31-0 win over Salina South. Hays is 4-5 while the second seeded Maverick are 9-0.
Hays improves to 4-1 on the road.