HAYS - Hays High played one of the toughest schedules in the state in 2025. They didn't back off one bit with the new two-year cycle ready to start up in 2026. The Indians replaced Derby, Choctaw, OK and Manhattan with Gardner-Edgerton, Bentonville, AR and Wichita East.
Coach Tony Crough said they didn't make it any easier. "It was fun the last couple years. We had an opportunity to pick up some other teams we thought might not be near as challenging. It's not saying we will be in those games or win those games, but when you have to get up every week, it kind of changes your culture and we saw that over the last two years."
Following a 4-6 season in 2021, Gardner-Edgerton has a record of 42-9 with two state titles and a runner-up finish. The Trailblazers finished 9-4 in 2025 with a loss in the semifinals.
Bentonville has finished as 7A State Runner-Up in each of the last four seasons. Since 2008, the Tigers have been to the semifinal round or further in 14 of the 18 playoffs.
Wichita East's 5-5 record last season broke a streak of six consecutive season where the Blue Aces finished above .500.
The Indians look to replace an offense that finished with just under 4,000 total yards. Most of that was on ground with 2,992 rushing yards. Holden Lind, who is now at Fort Hays State University, ran 300 times for 2,184 yards and 21 touchdowns behind and offensive line that started four seniors.
Oregon commit Gus Corsair will anchor the offensive line. A vast majority of the offense will be new. Braxton Basgall returns after compiling just over 500 yards of total offense on 81 touches and 12 total touchdown. Brogan Albers also had eight catches for 173 yards and two scores.
"I think that's the most important thing when you're talking about Gus. He's just a captain in every sense of the word" says Crough.
Tanner Geist is one of the key returners on defense. The senior tackle recorded 90 total tackles, 19 of those for loss, seven sacks, recovered two fumbles and caused one more. Geist has 213 total tackles in his career, 40 for loss.
Basgall was a two-way player last year with 70 tackles. Max Gerstner returned late in the year following an injury and Nash Kaiser found a home at safety later in the season.
Tony Crough enters his ninth season as the head coach. He is the second winningest coach by number of wins in program history. Crough's ninth season makes him just the fourth coach to be at the helm of the program for at least that many years.
Hays' season starts with back-to-back road games. The first is in Junction City on September 4th. All games can be heard on 96.9 KFIX along with a live video stream on Hays Post.
Schedule: (Bold = Home Games)
9/4 - Junction City
9/11 - Gardner Edgerton
9/18 - Bentonville, AR (Homecoming)
9/25 - Garden City
10/2 - Wichita East
10/9 - Dodge City
10/16 - Great Bend
10/23 - Liberal