Hays High was in Goddard to face the Eisenhower Tigers in the 5A semi-finals on Friday. Each team was looking for their first title game appearance. In the end it was Hays that will play for their first title with a 24-14 win over the Tigers.
Hays opened the game with a 13 play 80 yard drive that was capped off by a Zane Viegra three yard run. He was at the controls after Carter Graham was injured on a play earlier in the drive. Graham would not return. Carson Moore hit the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 5:20 left in the first quarter.
Dalton Meyers picked off an Eisenhower pass three plays into the Tigers' first drive and returned the ball to the 16. Holden Lind wasted no time getting into the end zone one play later and a 14-0 lead with 4:14 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers returned the next kickoff to the Indian 38 yard line and scored one play later for a 14-7 score with 3:58 left in the first quarter.
Hays advanced the ball to the seven yard line but was unable to score on the drive. Three plays and a short punt later set up the Indians at the Eisenhower 35 yard line. The next play Viegra left with a severe leg injury and would not score.
Hays put Ian McGuire at the quarterback spot and made it down to the 15 yard line but could not score. Eisenhower moved into Hays territory but the Indians recorded a team sack, a batted pass by Tim McCottry, and a Tanner Geist sack. The Tigers punted the ball away to end the half with Hays leading 14-7.
Highlights
Eisenhower turned the ball over on downs in Hays territory to open the second half. The Indians responded with a 15 play 87 yard drive that resulted in a Moore 22 yard field goal and a 17-7 lead with 2:52 left in the third quarter.
Eisenhower continued to struggle moving the football. The Indians continued to lead into the later stages of the fourth quarter. Following the Indians only punt of the game, Caleb Thompson intercepted a Tiger pass and returned the ball to the end zone with 3:58 left in the game. The Moore extra point made the score 24-17. Eisenhower scored with 15 seconds left for the final difference of 24-14.
The Tigers did grab an onside kick but Thompson grabbed a second interception. Meyers grabbed a second interception in the second half. Hays picked off four passes on the night, matching the Tigers total for the season.
Highlights
Holden Lind ran for 208 yards on 31 carries. It is his second 200+ yard rushing game of the season. Ian McGuire, who became the quarterback, ran 25 times for 97 yards.
Eisenhower had 215 total yards, they averaged 407 per game.
Hays improves to 8-4 and will play St. Thomas Aquinas in the state title game. Eisenhower ends the year at 9-3. The state title game will be played at 7:00 in Emporia at Welch Stadium.