Hays High traveled to Wichita Northwest for one of the state's premier matchups in week eight of the season.
The night couldn't have started worse for the Indians. Northwest sprinted out to a 20-0 lead through first ten minutes of the game. Hays punted on their first two drives and the Grizzlies quickly scored on a 39 yard run and a 22 yard pass.
It went from bad to worse when Northwest recovered a fumble in the end zone for a defensive touchdown with 2:17 left in the first quarter.
Down but not out, Hays ran a double pass to kick the offense in gear and scored on their next five possessions. Jaren Kanak found Roy Moroni for 22 yards. Kanak scored from 3o yards out, followed by a Moroni 25 yard scoring run to close the gap down to 20-19 following a blocked extra point.
Northwest extended their lead back out to eight at 27-19 with a 77 yard run by LJ Phillips.
Hays scored on the next two possessions. A long Malik Bah run put the Indians inside the ten yard and Jaren Kanak scored three plays later. The defense forced a punt and two plays later Kanak scored, running in from 54 yards. The Jack Fields extra point gave Hays a 33-27 lead at halftime.
Highlights
Kanak came up hurt on the touchdown run at the end of the first half and did not record a carry in the second half. Hays recovered a Northwest fumble on the kickoff that opened the second half and converted the ensuing drive into points on a Kanak to Moroni touchdown pass of nine yards. The extra point put Hays up 40-27.
Northwest would start gaining momentum scoring on five of six drives grabbing the 61-40 victory.
Coach Tony Crough
The offense for the Indians in the second half totaled just 116 yards, one touchdown, two punts, an interception, a fumble and a turnover on downs.
The Northwest offense gained 322 yards and scored five times.
Both teams finish at 6-2. Hays is likely the seven seed to begin elimination play next week at Lewis Field Stadium.