HAYS - The Hays High Indians hosted Valley Center to open postseason play in Week 9 on Friday night.
Hays led 40-0 by halftime and were never threatened on Friday evening in a 53-0 victory for the Indians
Five of the Indians' six first half drives started in Valley Center territory. The Hornets fumbled the opening kick-off that Hays recovered at the 31 yard line. The Indians though could not turn the opportunity into points.
Valley Center (2-7) took over on downs at the own 19 yard line and managed three plays before being forced to punt. Gabe Atherton took the kick off the foot of the punter and raced a short distance into the end zone for the first points of the game. Mason Zimmerman added the extra point for a 7-0 score at the 8:28 mark of the first quarter.
Hays (8-1) scored on their next six drives of the half. Joey Dintino threw a pair of touchdown passes. The first a 48 yard shot to Brogan Albers and the second a 21 yard route to Jaxon Prediger.
Between the two touchdown tosses, Archer Amrein scored the first of his three first half touchdowns. Amrein ran in from two yards twice and five yards on the other.
The five yard run was the first play of the drive. Atherton tackled the Valley Center punter following a dropped snap.
The defense allowed just three first downs over the first two quarters, forced two fumbles, recovered one fumble and grabbed an interception. Max Gerstner forced a fumble, so did Nash Kaiser. Keiston Evans-Grant recovered two fumbles.
Highlights
Hays scored on their only two completed possessions of the second half. Austin Pfeifer and Ty Scheve scored their first career varsity touchdowns. Senior Channing Leiker made of one of two extra points for the final of 53-0.
The Hays junior varsity forced a pair of turnover on downs in the second half. It was the only two times the Hornets had the ball.
Coach Tony Crough
Six of the nine drives on the night for Hays started in Valley Center territory. The Indians scored on seven of their nine offensive possessions. The ninth drive ended with Hays taking a knee to run out the clock.
Even with the short fields, Hays managed 384 yards of offense. Joey Dintino threw for 120 yards on five completions. Brogan Albers had two catches for 87 yards. Archer Amrein led the way on the ground with 81 yards on 13 attempts.
Hays will host (11) Goddard (4-5) next Friday. The Lions pulled the upset of crosstown rival (6) Eisenhower (5-4) 38-35.