By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
As the old adage goes, defense wins championships. The top-ranked Great Bend High School football team has relied a lot on its powerful offense this season as it chases history. But the Panther defense has been just as impressive. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, the Black Shirt defense has allowed just 21 points in the first half. Senior linebacker Trenton Kern also plays on the offensive line, but even if the offense comes up short, his defense still has a job to do.
"It's football," he said. "Offense isn't going to convert on the touchdown every time, but that's okay. We go out there, and we just want to get the ball back, get a stop, and go score a touchdown."
The Panthers are putting up historical numbers on the defensive side of the ball this season, with 39 tackles for loss, 17 interceptions, and seven fumble recoveries. The 110 points allowed this season are among the best in modern school history. The 24 takeaways this season are tied for sixth-most in GBHS history. Junior linebacker Kale Kern said it's all part of a plan.
"We try to create as many turnovers as possible," he said. "We know that if we get the ball back in our offense's hands, they're probably going to score most of the time. Not only are we creating turnovers, but we give our offense great field position. We know if we do that, it will make our jobs easier."
The Kern brothers have been at the heart of the Panther defense in 2025. Kale leads the team with 106 tackles, followed by Trenton with 93. No other player has more than 52 tackles. Kale's 13 tackles for loss represent one-third of the team total this fall, and he needs just one more to tie the school record set by Aidan Davidson last fall. Trenton's name is scattered throughout the GBHS history books for most tackles in a season and game. He will likely end his career as the No. 2 tackler in school history (since records were tracked in 2001).
"You'd be hard-pressed to find a better duo at linebacker in the state of Kansas than (the Kerns)," said Panther coach Erin Beck. "I know they're the best-ever in Great Bend High School history. For them to be brothers, it's pretty special to see them out there playing for each other. They're doing a great job for our defense. We're going to need them (tonight)."
Up front, senior Conner Holladay and Cole Fanshier have each recorded three sacks. Should the ball get beyond the line or scrimmage or past the linebackers, there's the secondary that includes seniors Ian Premer and Koehn Ribordy, and junior Cooper Ohnmacht. That trio, plus senior Jacob Hall, are capable of delivering vicious hits.
Premer may have been recruited by all the top schools in the nation for his offensive talents, but his 14 career interceptions, including six this season, rank No. 2 in school history. Ohnmacht has five picks this year, and Ribordy has four. The 17 team interceptions this season are fourth-best in school history.
Tonight, the Panther offense and defense will again be tested by a Hays High team that enters the rematch at 8-2 overall, with a 43-19 loss to Great Bend in October, and a 10-8 loss against an 8-2 Manhattan team that is still active in the Class 6A playoffs.
The state quarterfinal match-up is set for a 7 p.m. kick at GBHS's Memorial Stadium. CLICK HERE for Eagle Media's live-streaming of tonight's state quarterfinal rematch.