By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
DODGE CITY - Hays High scored touchdowns on two of their first three plays of the game and cruised to a 40-20 victory over Dodge City Friday night at Memorial Stadium. It was the Indians fourth straight win over the Red Demons.
During the game, Malik Bah became the school record holder for career rushing yards.
The Indian defense opened the game forcing a three and out. Malik Bah returned from an injury earlier in the season and took his first carry 42 yards to pay dirt and a 7-0 lead.
Hays again forced a punt after three plays. Two plays later Carter Graham found Johnny Cano striding down the right hash for a 49 yard touchdown and a 14-0 advantage.
The two teams traded punches for the rest of the half. Hays moved deep into the red zone leading by two scores but missed a field goal to end the drive. The Indians were penalized three times on the series.
Johnny Rigler stifled a second quarter Dodge City drive with his second interception of the season and returned the ball to the six. Bah scampered into the end zone just inside the front left pylon for a 20-0 lead.
Dodge City took the ensuing drive 13 plays over 79 yards to score for the first time. The Red Demons ran a reverse pass that turned into a 22 yard run on third down. Dodge City was four for five on third downs during the drive and one for one on fourth down. The extra point missed leaving the score at 20-6, the same score the teams reached halftime at.
The Indians opened the second half just like they did the first half by scoring on their first offensive play. This time Malik Bah ran the ball for 67 yards and six points. During his sprint to the end zone Bah became the career rushing record holder passing David Cardinal. Bah ended the game with 175 yards rushing and now has 2,887 career yards. Cardinal held the record at 2,811 yards. Bah passed Alex Delton earlier in the season. Delton had 2,692 yards.
Johnny Rigler recovered the ensuing kick-off that was not caught by Dodge City. Bah capped a short 37 yard drive with a one yard run for his fourth and final touchdown of the night and a 40-6 advantage.
Following a turnover on downs Hays marched the field on eight plays over 68 yards capped by a one yard Ian McGuire run.
Hays turned the game over to the depth chart for the final ninety seconds of the third quarter and entire fourth quarter. Dodge City managed two touchdown drives for the final of 40-20 in favor of Hays High.
The Indians improve to 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in the WAC. Dodge City is 2-4, 0-3. Hays travels to undefeated Liberal for a key conference game in one week.
Hays compiled 387 yards and had three takeaways on defense. Dodge City had 270 yards total. 172 yards came on the ground by ten different players.