By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post Sports
DODGE CITY - A tale of two halves ended with Hays High having the better half and beating Dodge City 42-19.
Dodge City (2-4, 0-3 WAC) played an inspired first half, scoring three second quarter touchdowns on the way to a 19-14 lead.
Hays (5-1, 2-0 WAC) turned the ball over on their first two possessions. The Red Demons couldn't capitalize and punted the ball away twice. Holden Lind ripped off a 58 yard run that set up a fourth down touchdown plunge by quarterback Zane Viegra. The Carson Moore extra point gave the Indians a late first quarter lead of 7-0.
Dodge City held the ball for the next ten plays and capped their drive with a fifteen yard touchdown run. The extra point tied the game with 9:48 left before halftime. Hays punted on their next possession and Dodge City seized the lead with a 48 yard touchdown pass, their longest completion of the season. The Red Demons missed the extra point at 14-13.
Hays regained the lead on their next possession. Viegra found Jarek Purdy in the end zone on a 33 yard touchdown pass. Moore's PAT gave the Indians the lead back at 14-13 with 4:02 left in the first half. Hays forced a punt by Dodge City on their next possession but lost the ball on downs at mid-field.
Dodge City needed just two plays to score and take the lead at halftime at 19-14 when their two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete.
Highlights
The second half belonged to the Indians. Hays scored on all four of their second half possessions. Dodge City started the second half and had a chance to increase the lead. The Hays defense forced a punt that rolled to the three yard line. Holden Lind gave the Indians breathing room with a 29 yard run on first down. Hays marched the remainder of the way to the end zone. Alex Loving used all of his 6'2" frame and reach to haul in a pass to keep the drive going.
Viegra capped the drive with his second touchdown rush to give Hays a lead they would never give back. Moore was perfect on the night on extra point kicks and made the score 21-19 with 5:11 to go in the third.
The Hays defense forced two more punts and held Dodge City on downs on another. The Indian offense took over from there. Viegra found Purdy for a 45 yard touchdown with 1:20 left in the third for a 28-19 advantage.
Braxton Basgall finished off another eleven play drive with a five yard touchdown run for a 35-19 lead. Lind capped the scoring and his big night with a 55 yard run and a 42-19 difference. Lind ended the night with 304 yards rushing on 30 carries.
Coach Tony Crough
Zane Viegra threw for 116 yards in the victory.
Hays will host Great Bend (6-0) next Friday for Senior Night. The Panthers are currently the top seed in 5A West.