By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The bounce back was nearly complete Saturday in Greensburg. After winning just two games in the 2022 season, Central Plains won seven games last season and upped the total to 10 games to secure a spot in the 8-Man, Div. I state championship game Saturday at Kiowa County High School in Greensburg. Hoxie, with a perfect season on the line, needed little more than a half to dash any Oiler title dreams with a 46-0 win.
"We came in here knowing not to underestimate them," said Hoxie senior Duncan Bell, who threw for five touchdowns. "These guys have played four games and they've been able to stay close and come out on top in the last seconds of a couple. We knew if we could run the score up and take it so far they couldn't stay in the game, eventually we hoped they'd shut down."
Trouble came early on the coldest night of the season as Central Plains punted the ball away on its first possession. Just five plays later, Hoxie senior Easton Nickelson broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run. Nickelson recovered a fumble on the very next Oiler play, then Bell followed that with a 9-yard touchdown pass to senior Samuel Watkins for a 16-0 Indian lead less than six minutes into the game.
Oiler senior Eli Hurley provided the biggest fireworks for Central Plains on the ensuing kickoff, nearly taking it end to end before being caught by Watkins at the 7-yard line. Four plays later, the Oilers turned the ball over on downs.
"That was a turning point," Bell said. "I think, if they score that right there, I don't think this game's over right now. They're good at staying in with teams and it would have been 16-6, possibly 8. They probably would have been hanging around with us. Sam making that tackle and our defense shutting them out was huge."
Central Plains ran no offensive plays in the second half. The Oilers netted just 38 rushing yards on 19 carries in the first half. Sophomore quarterback Brodie Crites completed 3 of 10 passes for 15 yards.
Bell, meanwhile, kept rolling. His next two touchdown passes went to senior Trent Fenner on plays of 42 and 41 yards, respectively. Then senior Braydon Scheetz went 42 yards on Bell's fourth touchdown pass of the first half.
Hoxie had two opportunities to end the game by halftime. One drive stalled inside the 5-yard line after a pass attempt in the end zone was ruled incomplete. The Indians took a final possession with 75 seconds left in the first half but could not find the end zone.
Leading 38-0 at the half, Scheetz opened the third quarter with three runs for 18 yards before Bell completed the final pass of his prep career - a 28-yard touchdown to Watkins. Scheetz ran in the 2-point try to end the game with 10:08 remaining in the third quarter.
Senior Joel Schreiber ran the ball 11 times for 32 yards to lead the Oiler offense. Hurley added six yards on three carries.
Bell finished with 232 yards and five touchdowns on 11-of-15 passing. Fenner caught three passes for 94 yards and a pair of scores, and Watkins added 55 yards and a pair of touchdowns on his three receptions.
Hoxie, champion in 2017, has posted a 73-22 record over the past nine seasons. Central Plains completed perfect seasons in 2014 and 2018 and ends the 2024 campaign at 10-3.