BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend's football team checked all the boxes in a dominating 49-7 victory over Newton in Friday's 5A playoff opener.
Quarterback Daxton Minton threw for three touchdown passes and sparked a big-play offense that passed for 225 yards.
Versatile Cooper Ohnmacht completed a 31-yard halfback pass to Jacob Hall for a touchdown and caught 3- and 43-yard touchdown strikes from Minton. Ian Premer performed double duty with a 25-yard interception return for a score and a 23-yard scoring reception from Minton.
The Panthers intercepted three passes and recovered a pair of fumbles that fueled a 49-0 halftime lead. Kale Kern intercepted two passes. Panther sparkplug Michael Montoya and Hayden Kelly recovered fumbles.
Great Bend football coach Erin Beck watched his Panthers control play offensively and defensively. Newton rushed for 25 yards on 35 carries and gained 56 yards passing.
"It was nice to see our guys take care of business," Beck said. "Our kids did all the right things to win the game. Defensively, we shut them down."
Montoya continued to make an impact with an alert fumble recovery on Newton's opening drive. Ohnmacht converted a 3-yard reception from Minton. Ohnmacht's 26-yard reception set up Jace Schartz's 1-yard score. Premer followed with a pick six for a 21-0 lead.
Ohnmacht connected with Jacob Hall on a 31-yard touchdown before converting a short pass from Minton into a lightning quick 43-yard touchdown reception for a 35-0 lead after one quarter.
Premer's 23-yard scoring pass and Schartz's 18-yard dash made it 49-0 at halftime.
Great Bend gained 81 rushing yards to go with the 225 passing yards. The Panthers (9-0) play Hays High (5-4) in next week's second-round playoff game.
"We stayed healthy and got to the next game," Beck said. "Once you're in the playoffs, you're going to play a good opponent. We'll be ready to roll."
Newton's hard-running Kingston Henry broke up the shutout with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Newton 0 0 0 7 — 7
Great Bend 35 14 0 0 — 49
GB—Cooper Ohnmacht 3 pass from Daxton Minton (Diego Soto kick); GB—Jace Schartz 1 run (Soto kick); GB—Ian Premer 25 interception return (Soto kick); GB—Jacob Hall 31 pass from Ohnmacht (Soto kick); GB—Ohnmacht 43 pass from Minton (Soto kick); GB—Premer 23 pass from Minton (Soto kick); GB—Schartz 18 run (Soto kick); N—Kingston Henry 1 run (Emerson Goering kick)
RUSHING—N—35-25; Henry 19-50; Ryder Mapes 6-3; Cole Kirtley 3-0; Camden Hessman 1-(-7); Kolbie Espada 6-(-21); GB—22-81; Schartz 8-38; Minton 2-17; Ohnmacht 2-19; Josh Birney 5-12; Maxx Steffan 2-3; Conner Holladay 1-0; Jaden Prilling 1-(-3); team 1-(-5)
PASSING—N—Espada 3-10-3, 24; Kirtley 2-4-0, 32; GB—Minton 10-11-0, 194; Ohnmacht 1-1-0, 31; Wondra 1-4-0, 0
RECEIVING—N—Matt Weltzin 1-15; Jon Hill 1-17; Mapes 2-13; Henry 1-11; GB—Premer 3-59; Ohnmacht 4-77; Hall 3-72; Hayden Kelly 1-10; Cole Fanshier 1-0
5A SECOND ROUND
Great Bend 9-0 vs. Hays High 5-4; Hutchinson 7-2 vs. Liberal 7-2;
Goddard Eisenhower 7-2 vs. Maize South 6-3; Topeka Seaman 7-2 vs. Valley Center 3-6
St. Thomas Aquinas 9-0 vs. Pittsburg 7-2; Mill Valley 8-1 vs. Spring Hill 8-1
BV North 3-6 vs. Leavenworth 6-3; Basehor 8-1 vs. Lenexa St. James 4-5
5A FIRST ROUND
Great Bend 49, Newton 7; Hays High 31, Andover 0
Hutchinson 42, Salina South 7; Liberal 17, Wichita Carroll 6
Goddard Eisenhower 55, Emporia 10; Maize South 56, Salina Central 35
Topeka Seaman 65, Topeka West 7; Valley Center 7, Goddard 6
St. Thomas Aquinas 35, KC Turner 6; Pittsburg 49, Highland Park 18
Mill Valley 77, KC Harmon 0; Spring Hill 48, Shawnee Heights 14
