The Western Athletic Conference title was on the line Friday in Great Bend as Hays hit the road to take on the Panthers. Great Bend snapped a four game losing streak to Hays with a 21-0 victory.
The first half was a defensive fight. Neither team scored in the first quarter. Great Bend's best chance in the first frame was turned away when the Indians stripped the football away and recovered it.
The lone second quarter score belonged to Great Bend. Hays had a long punt return called back on a penalty that would have set up the Indians at the Panther 28 yard line. Two plays later Hays had a 25 yard pass play called back on a penalty. The Indians eventually punted the ball away from their own end zone into the wind.
Great Bend returned the punt to the Hays 15 yard line. Great Bend lost yards on the first two plays of the series then threw an incomplete pass. The Panthers dialed up the lone first half score on 4th and 20 on a pass to the back left corner of the end zone for a 25 yard scored. The Panther point after pushed the lead to 7-0.
Hays took the ensuing kickoff back to the 40. The Indians drove all the way down to the one yard line. A 2nd and goal play from the one lost yards. Hays was pushed back to the 13 on the next play due to a penalty. Hays could not score on their final drive of the half, trailing 7-0 at halftime.
Hays again drove into the red zone but couldn't score. The Indians converted a 3rd and 17 to set up shop at the Panther six. Hays ended up missing a field goal that kept the score at 7-0 in favor of Great Bend.
The Panthers broke off two big plays in the second half to make the difference on the scoreboard. A 49 yard scoring run followed by a 63 yard touchdown pushed the lead up to 21-0 for Great Bend with 10:08 left to go in the game.
The Indians last gasp drive to turn things around converted a third down near the Great Bend penalty but a penalty on the drive and dead ball penalty doomed the drive. Great Bend ran out the clock for the 21-0 victory.
Hays was penalized 13 times for 100 yards. Great Bend had 7 penalties for 80 yards.
Hays falls to 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in conference play. Great Bend is 7-0, 3-0. They will remain the number one seeded team in 5A West with one week to go.
Holden Lind ran for 145 of the Indians 260 total yards. Great Bend had 311 yards of offense.
Hays returns home for Senior Night to take on the 5-2 Liberal Redskins.