By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Ryder Schmidt wanted to be a Panther. The 11-year-old passed away in June 2024, but his name will now be linked with the 2025 Great Bend High School football team and beyond. For years, the Panther football team passed through the Clint Flegler Memorial Tunnel that memorialized the 15-year-old who passed away in 2003. Friday night, the school debuted a new inflatable tunnel bearing Schmidt’s name.
The moment of brevity soon turned into excitement as one of the most talented Panther teams in school history took the field in its season opener against McPherson. With a series of big plays, Great Bend handled the Bullpups 42-7.
“It was a great game against a very well-rounded team, but the guys we have are, I think, unstoppable when you put us all together, with a great coaching staff,” said Panther junior Cooper Ohnmacht. “It’s a great fan base - all our families and coaches, once again. It really builds us up as a team. The whole town being behind us to support us is unbelievable. It definitely pushes us to be what we can be.”
Ohnmacht had himself a night, beginning just four plays in when intercepted a Carter Bengston pass and returned it 80 yards down the sideline for the first points of the season less than two minutes into the contest.
“The interception was huge,” Ohnmacht said. “I did it two years ago versus the same team as a freshman, so that was really exciting for me. The coaches and everyone were pumped, but when a big play like that happens, it turns the wheels for our team and kind of shocks the other team, which really helps us out.”
Panther kicker Diego Soto went down with a scary-looking injury on the McPherson sideline on the opening kick. Ohnmacht took over, making all six point-after attempts in the game and also pinning the Bullpups deep in their own territory twice on kickoffs. Onhmacht also delivered a big hit from the secondary and blocked 29-yard field goal attempt late in the game.
The rest of the team was just as effective. McPherson’s second drive halted near midfield. A snap over the punter’s head gave the Panthers a short field. Four plays later, senior Ian Premer punched it in from a yard out and a 14-0 lead nine minutes into the season.
The Panther defense forced another three-and-out, and Great Bend drove the field before senior quarterback Daxton Minton stretched out on a 10-yard touchdown run. The Bullpups shanked the next punt out of their own end zone, resulting in another short field. Minton found senior Hayden Kelly for an 18-yard touchdown and the Panthers led 28-0 midway through the second quarter.
McPherson scored its lone touchdown on its next drive when Bengston connected with junior Ashton Malm over the middle for a 43-yard strike.
The Panthers got the ball to open the second half. The Bullpup defense left Premer wide open, and he was able to take a Minton pass 45 yards to the house. McPherson threatened one more time, getting all the way to the Panther 3-yard line. Junior Kale Kern came up with a strip and Kelly returned the fumble 95 yards to set the clock in motion for good with 9:45 remaining.
Bengston threw for 67 yards and the touchdown on 6-of-11 passing in the first half. He completed just two passes in the final two quarters to finish 8-of-17 with 82 yards. Junior Dane Becker ran the ball 30 times to finish with 106 yards for the Bullpups.
Minton finished 7-of-11 for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Premer caught three passes for 78 yards and a score. Minton also led the team with 51 rushing yards on seven attempts, and senior Conner Holladay added 46 yards on his seven carries.