By Dustin Armbruster
Hays Post Sports
Hays - As Hays High head coach Tony Crough looked out at the football field following his teams 34-28 win over Junction City he mentioned something that most Indian fans will agree with. "There's some magic here at the new Hays High School."
Hays High (4-1) took on their fourth state ranked 6A opponent in the first five weeks of the season when they hosted Junction City (3-2) on Friday. Both teams entered the contest ranked #3 in their respective classes.
Jarek Purdy opened the night with a 53 yard kickoff return that set up the Indians with a short field. Holden Lind capped a 9 play 39 yard drive with a three yard touchdown run. The Carson Moore extra point made it 7-0 with 8:12 left in the first quarter.
Junction City answered right back after a long kickoff return of their own. Four plays later the Blue Jays tied the game with a touchdown pass at the 7:14 mark. Hays punted on their next possession but then blocked Junction City's punt. The Indians converted fourth down and goal from eight yards out on a Zane Viegra touchdown pass to Purdy. The extra point was blocked for a 13-7 score with 1:04 left in the first quarter.
Junction City scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. Conrad Gomez's second touchdown pass of the night capped a 7 play 80 yard drive for a 14-13 lead. Lance Norris, who caught the second quarter touchdown pass, scored with 3:45 left in the half on a three yard run for a 21-13 Junction City lead.
Between the touchdowns Hays made inside the Junction City ten. Hays was called for a penalty on the first down play, but confusion on what down the ensuing plays were left the Indians with what they thought was third down from the three. Instead it was fourth down. A 20 yard field goal by the Indians was blocked by Junction City with a 14-13 score on the board.
Hays took the last 3:45 of the half to drive the field. A touchdown pass was taken off the board with a holding call right before half.
Highlights
Each team punted to start the second half. Junction City's second punt was mishandled by the punter. Johnny Rigler recovered the fumble thirty yards later to set Hays up for the first second half touchdown. A Braxton Basgall four yard run and Moore extra point pulled Hays within a point at 21-20 with 6:07 left in the third.
The Blue Jays answered right back. A 12 play 80 scoring drive was capped when Gomez found Autry a second time for a 28-20 advantage. That would be the last points of the night for the Blue Jays. Hays scored in the final seconds of the third quarter when Viegra hit Purdy for a 21 yard score. The extra point was wide left for a 28-26 scored with :20 left in the third.
Junction City couldn't expand their lead and punted the ball. The Blue Jay punt rolled down to the five yard line. Hays converted both a third down and fourth down play on the game winning drive. The fourth down conversion was a touchdown pass from Viegra to Basgall for seven yards. That 15 play drive and a two point conversion pass from Viegra to Purdy put Hays up 34-28 with 2:38 remaining.
Junction City went 12 plays on their final drive. The Blue Jays converted on a fourth down play on the drive but couldn't repeat the feat on their final play.
The 34-28 victory give the Indians their third win over a ranked 6A team in four tries. It is the fourth straight win for Hays over Junction City, their longest streak in the series.
Coach Tony Crough
Junction City outgained Hays 362 yards to 330. The Indians head to Dodge City in one week to resume Western Athletic Conference play.