By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Throw the records out the windows in the playoffs. It's hard to beat a team multiple times in a season. Throw everything out in a rivalry game. All the cliches seemed to be working against an unbeaten Great Bend High School football team in Friday's rainy rivalry rematch against Hays. After taking down the Indians 21-0 on Oct. 18, the Panthers gave up 329 rushing yards Friday night and ran just 10 plays in the second half of a 19-14 loss.
"We were more physical," said Hays running back Ethan Lind, who rushed for 185 yards on 38 carries. "We wanted it more. We were ready to play this time. Last time, I think they wanted it more. This time, we showed them what it's about."
Heavy rains passed over GBHS's Memorial Stadium approximately 45 minutes before kick. A lighter drizzle and wind persisted throughout most of the game. After both teams punted to open the game, Hays took advantage of an interception, converting a pair of fourth downs and two third downs on a long drive capped by senior Carter Graham's 25-yard touchdown pass to senior Johnny Cano with 41 ticks left in the opening quarter.
Great Bend punted the ball away on its next possession. Facing another third down three plays later, Hays senior Ian McGuire outran the Panther defense 81 yards to put the Indians on top 13-0 with 10:17 to play in the first half.
The Panthers eventually got things rolling. On the next drive, junior quarterback Daxton Minton scrambled and found junior Jacob Hall, who ran most of the 33 yards to the house to cut the deficit in half.
Panther junior Hayden Kelly picked off a Graham pass early on the next Hays drive. Great Bend was again able to move the ball, getting all the way down to the Indian 13-yard line before a pair of dropped passes turned the ball over on downs just before the half. Hays took a 13-7 lead into the break.
With Lind running the ball 22 times for 116 yards in the second half, possession was limited for the Panthers in the second half. Just three Great Bend drives resulted in a Minton interception, a Minton 65-yard touchdown run, and a turnover on downs late in the contest. Junior Trenton Kern levied a trio of big blocks to assist Minton on the long touchdown run.
Hays converted the interception into a short touchdown run and a 19-7 lead with 11:07 to play, and the Indians twice drove deep into Panther territory late in the contest. Kelly deflected a pass near the end zone to force a turnover on downs on one drive, and the Indians picked up a first down at the 1-yard line in the final seconds to secure the win.
With his big run, McGuire finished with 123 yards on nine carries for the Indians. Graham completed 3 of 7 passes for 45 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Minton had some nice scrambles in the first half to keep plays alive. He rushed for 75 yards and the touchdown on five attempts and threw for 57 yards, a touchdown, and a pair of picks on 4-of-11 passing. Junior Ian Premer rushed for 89 yards on 17 attempts.
Great Bend was seeking the school's first 10-0 start since the 1978 season.