By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Great Bend has had McPherson’s number the last three years, outscoring the Bullpups 99-29 since 2023, in what is usually a week-one match-up. As 4A competitors this fall, the teams met Friday at Great Bend High School’s Memorial Stadium in week two of the season. The Panthers continued their streak, moving to 2-0 with a 21-3 win.
The Panthers got interceptions from sophomore Gavin Wondra and senior Jaxon Wondra, the latter going 45 yards on a pick-six for one of just three touchdowns on the night. Great Bend held the Pups to just 81 rushing yards and 214 total yards.
“The D-line was getting pressure every single play,” said Panther junior Cal Schartz. “That quarterback did not have one clean pocket, and it really showed. He either had to get rid of immediately or he had to take off. The linebackers did a great job spilling off the edges. It was an amazing job by the defense.”
What could have been an offensive battle simply was not. Great Bend turned the ball over on downs on its first possession, and the teams traded punts for the next three possessions.
The Panthers finally got things rolling early in the second quarter. Schartz spun and fought for an 18-yard gain. A few plays later, he got the edge and was able to dive in from 10 yards out. The PAT from sophomore Giovanni Cruz put Great Bend ahead 7-0 with 10:26 to play in the first half.
McPherson was able to string together a pair of drives to end the first half. The first of those drives ended in the Gavin Wondra pick. The second ended with a 32-yard field goal from junior Jaxon Hoover with 32 seconds to play before the break. The Panthers hit the intermission with a 7-3 lead.
That changed just two plays into the third quarter when Jaxon Wondra picked off a Carter Bengston pass and ran 45 yards untouched to the house for a 14-3 lead just 82 seconds into the second half.
Great Bend’s defense continued to thrive, halting another Bullpup drive at the 7-yard line. After both sides punted the ball away, the Panthers picked up one final score with six minutes to play to seal the win. Junior quarterback Maxson Smiley hit Cooper Ohnmacht on a short pass. The senior was able to fight off several Bullpup defenders to complete the 18-yard touchdown reception.
Bengston completed 11 of 22 pass attempts for 133 yards with the two interceptions. Senior Dane Becker ran the ball 13 times for 52 yards.
Schartz surpassed the century mark again with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries for Great Bend. Smiley threw for 112 yards and the touchdown on 11-of-17 passing. Ohnmacht caught eight passes for 74 yards and the score. He appeared to have an athletic interception early in the game but it was ruled to have hit the ground.
Great Bend moves to 2-0 ahead of next week’s Western Athletic Conference opener at Garden City.