By Dustin Armbruster
Hays Post Sports
Hays - It was a perfect night for homecoming at the new Hays High School on Friday night. The weather cooperated and Hays took care of business on the field with a 48-20 win over Garden City.
Hays had the ball five times on offense in the first half and scored on all five possession. The Indians opened the game with a 10 play 80 yard drive that was capped by a Holden Lind ten yard run. Garden City punted after just three plays on each of their first two drives. Each of the drives lost yards.
Hays scored twice more in the first quarter after those punts. Braxton Basgall scored his first rushing touchdown of the season on a two yard run. Zane Viegra found Jarek Purdy in the back of the south end zone on a 24 yard route. Carson Moore, who made all five of his first half extra points, made the score 21-0.
The Buffaloes drove into the Indian red zone before settling for a field goal attempt that was blocked. Viegra found Purdy for a second score, this time on a 31 yard pass. The Moore extra point pushed the lead to 28-0.
Tanner Geist recovered a Garden City fumble on the next drive. Viegra polished off the short field with a three yard touchdown run. Moore split the uprights for a 35-0 lead.
Hays began to sub players out on the defensive side of the ball. Garden City drove 80 yards on fifteen plays to score their first points of the game with seven seconds remaining in the second quarter and 35-7 halftime score. The drive was kept alive by a roughing the punter penalty.
Highlights
Hays scored two quick touchdowns to open the second half. Garden City fumbled on their first drive which Geist recovered for a second time. One play later Basgall scored from 21 yards out. The Buffaloes scored their first points of the second half as the Indians started to pull their defensive starters. A 74 yard pass on third down made the score 41-14.
Basgall completed his hat-trick of touchdowns with a fourth down run of 43 yards. Moore's extra point made the score 48-14 with 6:39 left in the third quarter. Garden City did tack one more score onto the board with 24 seconds left in the third quarter for the final difference of 48-20.
Coach Tony Crough
The 48 points scored by Hays are the most by the Indians in the 65 game series. The Indians beat Garden City in back-to-back games for the first time since a three game winning streak from 2008 through 2010.
Hays will host Junction City next week. The Blue Jays improved their record to 3-1 with a 28-14 win over Junction City.