By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Friday's Class 2A sectional football game in Hoisington featured the only battle between two unbeaten teams across the state. Southeast of Saline entered with one of the top-rated defenses in all over Kansas. The Cardinals entered with one of the top offenses in Class 2A. Early on it became clear the offenses would prevail. So did Hoisington in a 49-42 shootout. The Cardinals will face another unbeaten in Norton in next Friday's state semifinals.
"I thought we executed," said Cardinal coach Zach Baird. "I thought guys made plays. I thought (senior quarterback Tony Moore) was phenomenal. We've been keeping him under wraps, not doing everything with him. Tonight, we told him we were going to turn him loose. He made plays. I'm super proud of everybody, but Tony was special."
There were few defensive stops by either side in the contest but the Cards did force a Trojan punt on the first possession of the night. Teron Kraft put Hoisington on the board from two yards out a few plays later.
The sides traded touchdowns from there. Southeast took an 8-7 lead, then Moore ripped off a 43-yard run to put the Cards back up 14-8. The Trojans regained a 16-14 lead, only for Mason Alderice to run eight yards on the first play of the second quarter to put Hoisington ahead 21-16.
The Cardinals caught their big break when Moore intercepted a Daniel Kejr pass on the next Southeast drive. Then Moore broke another big run at 38 yards to set up Kraft for a 1-yard touchdown run. Hoisington's lead grew to 28-16 with 9:31 to play in the first half.
The teams continued to trade scores. Cardinal sophomore Carson Mason held on to a 17-yard pass from Moore just long enough for it to count as a score. Hoisington led 35-28 at the half.
Taking the ball to open the third quarter, Moore found Alderice for a 40-yard pass play. Moore punched it in from three yards out on the next play to bump the lead back to 14 at 42-28.
The Trojans were hanging around at 42-36 when junior Jason Robinson scored from a yard out. Robinson intercepted a Kejr pass to halt the next Trojan drive, but the Cards were forced to punt the ball away for the first and only time all evening.
Southeast managed just 99 yards on the ground. Kejr threw for 392 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. His final touchdown put the Trojans within a possession at 49-42 with 4:49 remaining.
The Cardinals found themselves in further trouble facing third-and-14 late in the contest. Moore and Kraft again provided the heroics with a 17-yard screen play for a first down. Hoisington was able to run out the clock and hang on for the win.
Moore completed seven of his 10 pass tries on the night for 158 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for another 130 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Kraft added 156 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 31 carries. Alderice caught two passes for 68 yards and also ran the ball four times for 36 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Mason Martin caught two passes for 35 yards.
Southeast of Saline ends its season at 10-1. Hoisington moves to 11-0 heading into Friday's game at 11-0 Norton. The Cardinals are 59-10 over the last six seasons. Hoisington was 12-0 before a loss in the state finals in 2020, and the Cards were 11-0 before a heartbreaking 10-8 loss at Norton in 2019.
"I think it's a bunch of guys who are willing to work hard," said Baird. "We've been lucky enough to have that over the years. This group is no different. They should be really proud of what they've accomplished."