HAYS - Hays High wrapped up the regular season by hosting Liberal on Senior Night.
Hays scored the first 33 points of the game and then called the dogs off in a 33-14 win over Liberal.
Hays (7-1, 4-0) opened the game with the ball and drove 80 yards on 12 plays to grab the early 7-0 lead. The nearly six-minute long drive was punctuated by Archer Amrein's two yard touchdown rush.
Liberal (3-5, 1-3) gained their only first down of the half on the next drive but it was called back by penalty. The Redskins punted on all four of their completed first half drives.
Hays fumbled on their second possession but then drove the field for a two score lead early in the second quarter. Quarterback Joey Dintino scored on a fourth and inches dive up the middle at the 9:18 mark. Mason Zimmerman's second extra point made the score 14-0.
The Hays defense continued to stall the Liberal offense. Hays punted on their fourth drive then turned the fifth drive into points. Dintino found Amrein wide open in the north end zone for a 12 yard touchdown. The extra point was missed leaving the score at 20-0 with 1:03 remaining before the half.
Highlights
The Hays varsity defense kept a clean sheet for the time the portion of the third quarter they remained in the game. The Indians forced two Liberal punts into a stiff south wind that allowed Hays to set up their offense in Redskin territory. Hays made quick work of 31 and 49 yard drives to add two more scores to their lead.
Amrein added his third overall touchdown of the night, second rushing, to cap a six play 31 yard drive at the 8:16 mark. Riley Windholz accounted for all 49 yards of the Indians' next possession. His 47 yard rushing scored put the Indians up 32-0. Channing Leiker's first career extra point gave Hays their final total of 33 points with 6:17 remaining in the third.
Hays used the rest of the game to play seniors that haven't seen much field time this season and younger players on the depth chart.
Liberal managed two touchdowns in the final four minutes of the game for the final of 33-14.
Coach Tony Crough
Hays has now allowed just 11 total touchdowns on the season, just five scored against the varsity defense.
The Indians piled up 422 yards of offense. Dintino threw for 163 yards on 11 of 17 passing. Windholz ran for 99 and Amrein for 98 yards.
Hays will be the three seed in 5A West as they begin playoff football next week. The Indians will host the week nine game.