By GARRETT WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
HILL CITY - For the first time in a decade, Trego walked away victorious against Hill City.
The Golden Eagles snapped an 11 game losing streak to the Ringnecks with a 30-20 win on Friday night at Ringneck Stadium, giving their senior class its first-ever win over Hill City and moving to 1-0 on the season.
Trego opened the game strong after forcing a three and out, marching 39 yards in four and a half minutes and finishing with a 4 yard touchdown run by Jack Conness. The two-point conversion made it 8-0. Hill City responded with a long drive that ended on downs, but answered in the second quarter with quarterback Tate Balthazor's 2 yard scoring run to tie the game at 8.
The second quarter featured 30 combined points and several momentum swings. Trego's Westyn Windholz picked off Balthazor and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown to put the Golden Eagles ahead 16-8. Moments later, a Hill City fumble by Vincent Zohner set up a 50 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ashton Wynn to Conness, extending the lead to 24-8.
Hill City struck back quickly, as Balthazor connected with Jaxson Smith for a 61 yard touchdown two plays later to close the gap to 24-14 at halftime.
The third quarter stalled with penalties, especially on Hill City, which had two big plays called back while Trego maintained its 10-point advantage.
Conness scored his third touchdown of the night on the first play of the fourth quarter, an 8 yard run that stretched the lead to 30-14. Balthazor answered midway through the quarter with a 5 yard touchdown scramble, but his two point conversion pass was intercepted in the end zone, leaving the Ringnecks down 30-20.
Hill City's defense forced a punt on Trego's next possession, but the Golden Eagles returned the favor, stopping Hill City on downs with under five minutes left. Wynn sealed the game with a third down scramble inside the Hill City 20, allowing Trego to kneel out the win.
Conness finished with 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, plus a 50 yard receiving touchdown. Wynn threw for 90 yards and a score on 6 of 9 passing while rushing for 47 yards.
Balthazor led Hill City (0-1) with 150 yards passing, one touchdown and one interception, while adding 54 yards and two scores on the ground. Smith caught two passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.
The win was a measure of revenge for Trego, which saw its 2024 season end at the hands of Hill City in a 34-28 week 9 loss.