By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
ANDOVER - Hays High used a pair of Carter Graham one yard touchdown plunges and a pair of takeaways to build a 12-0 halftime lead and went on to beat Andover 31-0 Friday night in the first round of 5A bracket play..
The first touchdown for Hays capped off a 11-play 68-yard drive that featured a third down and fourth down conversion. The extra point missed with 3:19 left in the first quarter leaving the score at 6-0.
Wyatt Kirkpatrick recovered an Andover fumble to set up the Indians in Trojan territory but Hays lost the ball on downs.
Dalton Meyers then intercepted a Trojan pass that was tipped by Johnny Rigler in the second quarter. Hays turned that into a 10 play 61 yard drive that scored six points on a Graham one yard dive. The extra point was blocked leaving Hays with a 12-0 lead with 5:28 remaining before halftime.
Hays forced a punt and drove inside the Andover 20 but couldn't convert for points, turning the ball over on downs.
Highlights
The Indians continued to dominate the second half. Andover punted on their first possession. The Indian offense scored eleven plays later on a fourth down and goal play from the eight. Graham found Holden Lind on a pass forced high into the air on heavy defensive pressure. Hays couldn't convert on the two point try and led 18-0.
Andover never got their offense going. Following another punt, Lind raced 84 yards on the first play of the Indian offensive series for a touchdown. The extra point hit the upright and missed leaving the score at 24-0.
Jackson Chartier recovered a fumble at midfield to put Hays in business again. Once again on fourth down Graham found Lind. This time on fourth and ten on a 26 yard pass. Carson Moore nailed the extra point the final difference of 31-0.
Coach Tony Crough
Carter Graham threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Holden Lind ran for 154 yards and one score. He had 50 receiving yards and two more touchdowns. The Indians totaled 400 yards of offense. Andover gained just 146 yards total. They had 95 rush yards after averaging 320 coming into the game.
Hays improves to 5-4 and will play at Great Bend next Friday. The Panthers are 9-0. Andover ends their season at 4-5.