By Dustin Armbruster
Hays Post Sports
Hays - The Hays High Indians couldn't overcome five touchdowns by Notre Dame commit Ian Premer's in a 43-19 victory by Great Bend.
There was just one visit to the end zone by either team in the first half. Premer took the ball 17 yards on a run giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 1:08 left in the first quarter.
Hays (5-2, 2-1) took the opening possession but turned the ball over on downs after eight plays. Great Bend (7-0, 3-0) marched to the Hays twenty. Their drive ended in the same fate when Jarek Purdy knocked down a pass on a double pass attempt.
Hays punted after three plays setting up Great Bend's score. The Panthers used six plays to cover 48 yards. The Indians turned the ball over on downs and punted on their next two drives. Great Bend had a pass picked off by Purdy and punted on their final two drives of the half.
Hays took the final drive of the first half as far as the one yard line. Following confusion for both teams' sidelines over the final three seconds of the quarter, time ran out for the Indians to score.
Highlights
The first half was all about defense. The second was all offense. The first six possessions between the two teams resulted in six touchdowns.
Great Bend's first two touchdowns needed just seven total plays. Hays scored on a Holden Lind two yard run. The score was set up on a 41 yard pass play between Zane Viegra and Brogan Albers. The Indians second touchdown came from Braxton Basgall on a ten yard rush. A missed extra point left the score at 21-13 with 10:27 left in the fourth.
Lind broke loose on a 54 yard touchdown to pull Hays within 28-19 with 4:18 left. The Indians' two point conversion was unsuccessful.
Ian Premer scored two more touchdowns, one on defense, for the final of 43-19.
Coach Tony Crough
Holden Lind ran for 251 yards one week after 303 yards.
Hays travels to Liberal to finish the regular season. Great Bend plays host to Garden City.