By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
EMPORIA - Hays High took the field in their first ever football championship on Saturday night. The Indians faced the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints in Emporia at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University.
The Saints never trailed in a 35-13 victory over Hays.
The Indians' opponents in 2024 had a collective record of 100-38.
Aquinas(13-0) scored on plays of 41, 23 and 36 yards in the first half to build a 21-0 lead. Hays(8-5) got into the Saints' territory twice but couldn't keep their drive going. Hays punted on four of their five drives in the first half and lost the ball on downs on the other.
Hays took the opening drive of the game as far as the 30 yard line of Aquinas. The Indians lost 13 yards on the next play to set up an eventual punt. Aquinas punted on their first drive but Hays gave the ball back on a punt three plays later.
A short punt set up the Saints at the Hays 41 yard line and on the first play of the drive Elzie Slaughter found Brett Yankovich for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
It was the first of three straight possessions that Aquinas scored. It looked like the Indians stuffed a third down and six play but Calin Arndt broke free of the tackle and gained 45 yards. He scored two plays later on a 23 yard run pushing the advantage to 14-0.
Slaughter completed the trifecta of touchdowns with a 36 yard run after the Indians turned the ball over on downs on a 4th and 2 play. The Saints nearly scored before half but a pass was broken up near the end zone as time expired leaving Aquinas with a 21-0 lead in the locker room.
Highlights
The Indians scored the first points of the second half. Neither team scored in the third quarter as the teams traded punts. An early fourth quarter punt was blocked by Hays. One play later Ian McGuire found Holden Lind wide open for a 25 yard yard scoring pass. Carson Moore nailed the point after for a 21-7 score with 11:08 left in the game.
The Indians forced a fumble on the next drive deep in their own territory. However, Hays couldn't move the ball and turned the ball over on an interception. Aquinas scored on their next two possession, establishing a 35-14 lead with 3:42 remaining.
The Indians took their final possession 76 yards on ten plays and scored as the final seconds dripped off the clock. McGuire found Johnny Cano for his 41 reception of the season, a 17 yard touchdown. The clocked had expired leaving the final score at 35-13.
Coach Tony Crough
Hays ran the ball for 110 yards, 40 more than the Saints defense gave up on average. The Indians totaled 190 in the game. Aquinas ran for 289 yards and threw for 83 more.