Hays High played beyond week nine of the football season for just the eighth in school history on Friday night.  The tenth seeded Indians found themselves taking on the undefeated two seed, Maize South Mavericks.

Hays took the opening possession eight plays for a touchdown lead.  The Indians never faced third down on the drive and needed a little luck to get into the end zone.  Carson Keifer recovered a fumble in the end zone following a completed pass to the one yard line.  The Matt Goodale extra point gave the Indians a 7-0 lead.

Maize South tied the game on their second possession.  The Mavericks took over at the Indian yard line after a short punt and punched the ball in five plays later for a 7-7 game.  Following a short Hays High punt Maize South again got into the red zone but fumbled a pitch that was recovered by Gaven Haselhorst.  The Indians could not successfully move the ball and Maize South scored just two plays into their next drive on a 24 yard pass and a 14-7 lead.

The Mavericks were poised to take a two possession lead when Tucker Veach took away a overthrown pass in Maverick territory.  Hays moved the ball into the red zone and Matt Goodale connected on a 26 yard field goal for a 14-10 deficit for the Indians.  Maize South again threatened to score inside the red zone and again was turned away.  Veach took away a second pass, his fifth of the season, and Hays entered the locker room down 14-10.

Highlights

 

The second half belonged to the home team.  The Indian defense forced a three and out on the first Maverick drive.  Maize South lined up to go for a conversion on fourth and one but the quarterback punted the ball down inside the one yard line.  Hays two plays later threw an interception setting up the Mavericks inside the red zone.  It took seven plays but Maize South made the most of it.  A fourth and goal quarterback run from the three yard line increased the lead for Maize South at 20-10 following a blocked extra point.

The Indians would play the entire second half without their starting quarterback Dylan Dreiling.  Hays never could get much traction for the rest of the game.  The Indians ran just one play across the fifty yard line and gained just 25 yards in the second half.  Maize South scored on three straight possessions and picked up a Indian fumble for a score and a 41-10 win.

Maize South stays undefeated at 10-0.  Hays High ends the year at 4-6.  Tucker Veach intercepted three passes for the Indians.

Coach Tony Crough