By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

Girls: Pratt 57, Hays 42

The Hays High Lady Indians hung with Tuesday night at home. But missed opportunities kept Hays from being close at the end. Pratt traveled to Hays with a number four ranking in class 4A-2. The two teams tied at two, four, and seven before Pratt took the lead for good at 9-7. Hays trailed by just four at the end of the first quarter 16-12, but scored just one field goal in each the second and third quarters. The Lady Indians though kept giving themselves chances by getting to the free throw line in the second quarter, but made just 8 of 16 chances by half time.

Game Highlights

 

Down 28-21, Hays opened the second half with a field goal to get within five. They would get four chances to score and get within a single possession but couldn’t convert. Pratt opened up a ten point lead and Hays fought back to within six and then had the ball four more times down 35-27 but couldn’t score.

Pratt used a 7-1 run at the end of the third quarter to go up 40-28 and Hays never did threaten again.

Kirk Maska Postgame Interview

 

The Indians shot 32% from the field on 13 of 40 shooting. Hays though made just 14 of 26 free throws. Pratt shot 18 of 49 for 37% but made 5 of 14 threes and 11 of 13 free throws.

Hays falls to 1-3 on the year and was led in scoring by a career high 10 from Ashlyn Parrish. Pratt was led by Paige Bailey with 16 and Destani Garten with 15 as the Greenbacks move to 2-0.
Boys: Hays 71, Pratt 42

Both Hays and Pratt came into Tuesday night’s game ranked in their respective classes. Hays third in 4A-.1 and Pratt eighth in 4A-2. Each team hit their first three shots of the game giving Pratt an 8-6 lead. Hays though used a 17-3 run grabbing an 11 point lead at 22-11. Pratt battled back to get within six to close the first quarter at 24-18.

That is where the Indian defense tightened up and allowed just 11 points over the next two quarters. For the Hays offense, they kept going hitting 9 of their first 11 shots and 15 of 26 by halftime including five three pointers. Isaiah Nunnery set a new career high in scoring during the first half with 18, he would finish with 23.

Game Highlights

 

The Indians scored 12 points of the fourth quarter to put any thoughts of a comeback away. Nunnery wasn’t the only Indian with a hot shooting hand. Keith Dryden set a new career high 20 as well. The two combined for seven of the teams eight made three point field goals. Brady Werth finished in double figures for the 43 time in his career, adding 12 points. Samson Kohman scored 18 to lead the way for Pratt.

Hays shot 50% from the field 23 of 46 and 8 of 18 on threes. Hays also hit 15 of 18 free throws. Pratt shot just 32% in the loss going 14 of 44 and 5 of 18 behind the arc. Pratt made 9 of 10 free throws.

Rick Keltner Postgame Interview

 

The Indians move to 3-1 on the year, Pratt is now 0-2.

Hays will be on the road for the first time this season as they travel to Colby on Thursday. That game will put the Indians a quarter of the way through their regular season schedule, with Junction City still coming up before the Christmas break. The games in Colby have a later start time. The girls tip-off is set for approximately 6:30.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

In many ways it was a typical Hays High versus Great Bend game on Friday night. The two Western Athletic Conference rivals battled in the semi-finals of the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout to a 54-50 Hays victory.

Great Bend took an early 3-2 lead but Hays answered with a 8-1 run to lead for the first time by six points at 10-4. That six point margin would be the biggest lead that Hays could secure all night. They led by six on four separate occasions.

With just under 3:00 left in the half Great Bend took their final lead of the game at 17-16. Hays responded with a 7-0 run and took the half time lead at 23-17.

Great Bend got within one point on three separate occasions in the third quarter including back to back three pointers to end the quarter, closing the gap to 33-32.

In the fourth, Hays and Great Bend were tied three times, but each time Hays was able to score and eventually went on a 8-2 run to pull ahead 48-42 with 2:14 remaining and 50-44 with 1:30 left. Hays missed the front end of a pair of one and one opportunities at the free throw line allowing Great Bend the chance to get with in one at 51-50 with four seconds left, but Cash Hobson and Shane Berens connected on 3 of 4 free throws to end the game.

Hays improves to 2-0 on the season. The Indians were led in scoring by Isaiah Nunnery with 15. Brady Werth scored 13. For Great Bend only four players scored but each in double figures. Trey Ibarra and Shade Wondra each had 13. Kody Crosby and Blake Sullivan each added 12.

Hays moves onto the championship game of the Hays City Shootout for the 18th time and will play Olathe North at 7:00 Saturday evening. North beat Garden City 60-58 hitting a pair of free throws with less that a second remaining after leading in by 17 points during the game.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

The Hays High Indians won the 2014 Western Athletic Conference title, and the league has named Alex Delton as Player of the Year and coach Bo Black as Coach of the Year.

Delton, who heads to Kansas State after this fall semester, lead the conference in rushing yards with 1,519 and 17 rushing touchdowns. The senior quarterback was second in passing yards (1402)and touchdowns (13).

Black was named coach of the year in his first year as the Indians head coach.

As a team, the Indians lead the league in rushing yards and total yards, due in big part to the offensive line, which included first-team selections Brandon Hardwick and Craig Dreiling. Brayden Delzeit and Trenton Henningson were given Honorable Mentions.

Hayden Kreuzter was name on the first team as a wide receiver. The senior caught 31 passes for 633 yards and 7 touchdowns. He ranked in the league fifth in number of catches, third in yards and second in scores.

Despite breaking his foot in the Garden City game, senior Adam Klaus was also given Honorable Mention status.

Defensively, the Indians had three named to the first team. Shane Berens was named to the first team on the defensive line. He was the only sophomore from any school to be named to a first team. Berens was 17th in tackles with 56 and tied for second with two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

Ethan Deterding and Connor Rule were both named to the defensive first team as linebackers. The Indian’s leading tacklers, Deterding ranked fifth in the conference with 77 and Rule was ninth with 67. Deterding was second with the league with five sacks and tied for seventh with two fumbles caused.

Keith Dryden , Garrett Pfannenstiel and Maddux Winter were all named to the Honorable Mention team.

By Dustin Armbruster

It wasn’t easy…nor should it have been. Hays and Abilene were each coming off their first loss of the season and met up in week 2 of district play, both needing a victory to keep the best picture of the playoffs in front of them.

Things did not start well for Hays High as Abilene took the first play of the game 68 yards for a touchdown by quarterback Hartley Hazlett. Trailing 7-0 Hays reponded with a nine play 77 yard drive capped by a three yard Isaiah Blackmon run. The Indians missed the extra point and trailed 7-6.

Neither team could grab a first half stop. Abilene scored on a Tanner Hoekman 1 yard run answered by a Isaiah Blackmon 2 yard scoring run and with a two point conversion tied the game at 14.

Abilene took the lead again on a Hazlett touchdown pass to Hoekman from 76 yards out. Only to see Hays tie the game at 21 with a Alex Delton one yard quarterback sneak.

Abilene had the ball to end the first half and scored on a one yard dive by Hoekman to take a 27-21 lead after the Indians blocked the extra points.

Hays got the ball to begin the second half, but threw an interception just four plays into their drive. Abilene drove inside of the Indian’s five yard line, but lost the possession downs following a Brendan Ibarra tackle for loss on fourth down. The very next play Hays tied the game up on a 90 yard touchdown run by Delton. The extra point though hit the left upright to leave the game tied at 27.

Abilene scored on the ensuing drive again on a touchdown down pass from Hazlett to Hoekman. Hays again though blocked the extra point leaving Abilene with a 33-27 lead with 1:16 remaining in the third quarter.

The ensuing drive by Hays High looked to be stalled until Delton found Garrett Pfannenstiel for his first career reception. It was a 12 yard catch on 4th and 9. Delton capped off the 4:45 drive with a 17 yard run. Kyler Leiker extra point just made it past the cross bar to give Hays High their first lead at 34-33 with 8:38 remaining in the game.

Abilene drove to the Hays 23 yard line but couldn’t convert on 4th and 10. Hays took over and 12 plays later ran out the clock for the 34-33 win.

Alex Delton led the Indians on the ground with 257 yards and three scores on 24 carries. Isaiah Blackmon rushed for 40 yards and two touchdowns. Connor Rule ran for 41 yards and Hayden Kreutzer finished the game with 57 yards rushing. Hays ended the game with 484 yards of offense. Abilene totaled 402 yards. Hays was 9 for 10 on third downs and converted on the one fourth down they faced. Neither team punted in the game.

Hays with the win moves to 7-1 on the year and 1-1 in district play. Abilene is 6-2 and 0-2.

There are many scenarios that are set up for Hays to potentially make the playoffs, but it all comes down to winning. If Hays wins by 17+ points at McPherson and Buhler beats Abilene, the Indians are playoff bound. If Abilene beat Buhler, Hays only needs to beat McPherson by any margin to become district champions. McPherson moved to 2-0 in district play with a 44-42 in over Buhler. Hays lost to Buhler last week 55-21.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

114 points. That is the total amount of points scored between Hays and Dodge City on Friday night at Lewis Field Stadium. The 64-50 Hays win gave the Western Athletic Conference crown to the Indians as they sweep Great Bend, Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City.

Hays jumped out to a 7-0 win after Ethan Deterding picked up a blocked punt and raced 30 yards for a touchdown. Dodge City responded back with a scoring drive to tie the game at 7-7, a score which held until the second quarter.

Hays and Dodge City combined for 42 points in the second quarter. Isaiah Blackmon scored on a two yard run to give Hays a 14-7 win set up by a 53 yard pass from Alex Delton to Keith Dryden. Dodge City scored on back to back possessions to take their first lead of the game at 21-14 on a Tyler Trent 11 yard run then a Caden Walters 1 yard qb sneak after Hays had a miscue on a punt snap.

It took Hays just two plays to answer as Delton hit Hayden Kreutzer for the first of three touchdown passes to tie the game at 21. The Red Demons not to be out down scored three plays later on a Walters touchdown pass. The Red Demons took their last lead of the game at 28-21 when Walters hit running back Tyler Trent for 65 yards. Again Hays answered this time three plays later on a 70 yard Delton run to the tie the game at half time 28-28.

Hays looked like they took control of the game scoring on their first three possessions of the second half. Delton hit Kreutzer on passes of 66 and 80 yards and then Isaiah Blackmon put Hays up 49-28 on a 41 yard scoring run.

Dodge City got back within two scores at 49-35 with 1:07 left in the 3rd quarter. The next Hays possession took over 7:00 minutes, but Hays couldn’t score inside the red zone. Dodge City made the score 49-43 on a 38 yard pass play following another bad snap on a punt and a two point conversion.

Hays went back up 57-43 on the next play as Delton cruised to a score from 51 yards and added the two point conversion.

Sophomore Shane Berens put the game away on a one handed pick six to put the Indians up 64-43. Dodge City added one more touchdown with 1:28 left for the final 64-50 margin.

Hayden Kreuzter caught four passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Delton was 6-16 through the air for 272 yards and three scores. The Hays defense sacked Dodge City quarterback Caden Walters seven times.

Hays moves to 6-0 on the season and won the conference title for the fourth time in six years. (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014).

Dodge City drops to 4-2.

The Indians move into district play next week at 5-1 Buhler.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

 

The Hays High Indians got little resistance from Wichita South in a 57-8 homecoming win at Lewis Field Stadium. The Hays defense held South with out a first down and -1 total yards in the first half. The offense, outside of one fumble lost, did very little wrong grabbing at 50-0 lead at half time.

Hays scored in a multitude of ways, starting with a pass from receiver Hayden Kreutzer to Connor Rule. It would be the first of three touchdown passes caught by Rule, the first ones of his career. Kreuzter himself would go on to end the night with a touchdown passing, receiving and rushing.

 

Game Highlights

 

In all, 12 different players ran the ball for Hays as the second half moved along quickly due to a continuous clock.

Hays rushed for 301 yards and passed for 199, totaling 500. Wichita South ran for 64 and passed for -1, a total of 63. Those 63 yards came on a touchdown run by Titan’s quarterback Allen Bishop.

Individually Alex Delton ran for 99 yards and a score and went 15-20 through the air for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns. Isaiah Blackmon ran for 87 yards and one score. Kreutzer threw for 43 yards and touchdown, ran for 38 yards and one score and caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Rule caught four passes for 76 yards. Three of those catches resulted in touchdowns.

 

Bo Black Postgame Interview

 

Hays moves to 5-0 on the year. The #2 Indians are 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference and will play for the conference crown next Friday against Dodge City (4-1, 2-0). The game will be played at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

The Hays High Indians wrapped up three consecutive road games with a 42-28 win at Garden City on Friday night. Hays scored two touchdowns on their first five plays of offense and took a 14-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Alex Delton scored on runs of 84 and 55 yards for the first two Indian’s touchdowns. Garden City fought back with a 6 play 50 yard scoring drive following a Hays fumble on their third series. The Buffalo’s Jared Koster scored from six yards out closing the score to 14-7 early in the second.

Following a Hays three and out, Garden City drove inside the Hays ten yard line. Shane Berens though jarred the ball free on a quarterback draw and Hayden Kreutzer recovered the fumble to set the Indians up from their own seven yard line. Two plays later Delton again scored from 84 yards out to give Hays a 21-7 half time lead.

Game Highlights

 

Garden City opened the second half with the ball but fumbled and threw an interception on their first two possessions. Hays capitalized on each of the Buffalo mistakes scoring on a one yard Isaiah Blackmon run and 75 yard Delton run. Hays built their lead to 42-7 on their third drive of the second half with their first touchdown pass of the season. Delton found Kreuzter from 14 yards out with 2:04 left in the third.

Hays eased off during the fourth quarter running in some different players, which Garden City was able to take advantage of for 21 points over the final nine minutes of the game.

Hays piled up 620 of offense. Hays rushed for 472 yards led by Delton with 312 yards on 10 carries and 4 touchdowns. Delton through the air was 8-14 for 148 yards and 1 score. Kruetzer had a big day on both offense and defense. He ran for 77 yards on four carries and caught 5 passes for 92 yards and a score. Kruezter also caused one fumble and recovered two.

Bo Black Postgame Interview

 

Garden City ended the night with 415 yards but turned the ball over four times. Hays lost two fumbles in the game.

Hays is now 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the WAC. Garden City falls to 1-3 and 1-1. The Indians are home for the next two weeks, starting with Wichita South next Friday for homecoming.