By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
JUNCTION CITY - Hays won an overtime thriller in Junction City 20-14 to open the 2023 football season.
A stout defensive effort by Hays held Junction City to just 24 yards in the first half. Cooper Lindenmeyer picked off two passes followed by a third by Dalton Meyers.
The Indian offense threatened to score on several drives but converted just once on a 10 yard Malik Bah pass to Johnny Cano on fourth and goal. Harley Zimmerman kicked his first career PAT for a 7-0 lead.
The Indians would hang on to that same seven point advantage through the halftime.
Junction City opened the second half with six play 70 yard drive to tie the game at seven. The Indians marched the field on their next drive on a 13 play 80 yard drive to tie the game at 14 on a Bah eight yard run. Hays used 13 plays to cover the 80 yards.
The Blue Jays seemed to be going the wrong way on fourth quarter drive facing 2nd and over 20 yards. However, Brock Bazan found Michael Boganowski for an 86 yard score and a 14-14 tie.
Hays turned away Junction City late in the fourth quarter on a 4th and 2 at the 31 yard line. The Indians used the final minutes of regulation to drive into field goal range but a 32 yard field goal was blocked.
Hays went first in overtime and scored in three plays. Bah scored from six yards out on his 40th carry of the night for 218 yards. The extra point was wide right to leave the score at 20-14.
Junction City used four plays but was stood up short of the end zone by two yards.
Hays starts the year at 1-0. The Indians will have their first home game as they host Great Bend in one week. The Panthers opened the year with a 29-16 victory over McPherson.