By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
HAYS - Derby took advantage of three possessions of great field position to score 20 unanswered points in the second quarter on the Panthers' way to a 40-7 win over Hays High Friday night at Lewis Field.
Derby scored the first 13 points of the game on a pair of touchdown passes to Tennessee commit Da'Saahn Brame. The first was on 3rd and goal from the 18 and the second on 4th and goal from the two.
Hays responded with a five play 65 yard drive that was capped off when Carter Graham found Holden Lind on a 32 yard screen play. The extra point by Carson Moore cut the lead down to 13-7 with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter.
The Indians had the ball down by six with seven minutes to go in the second quarter before turning the ball over on downs. Derby scored on the ensuing possession and each of the two after forcing Hays puts. The Panthers headed to the locker room with a 33-7 advantage.
Neither team scored in the third quarter and there were only seven total points scored in the second half. The Indians drove down to the Derby 10 yard line in the third quarter but failed to convert on fourth down after initially lining up for a field goal.
Derby scored on the next driving as they covered 90 yards and put the only second half points on the board for the final difference of 40-7.
Hays total 143 yards while Derby had 336. There were 21 accepted penalties. Derby was hit with 14 and Hays with 7.
Hays starts the year 0-1. Derby moves to 1-0.
The Indians head to Arvada, Colorado next week to take on Wheat Ridge High School.