BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HOISINGTON – Garden Plain erased a 2-touchdown lead and two Hoisington Cardinal starters were sidelined with injuries in a 14-14 halftime tie.
Hoisington fullback Holt Hanzlick flipped the momentum as the Cardinals scored two second-half touchdowns for Friday's hard-fought 28-14 quarterfinal playoff victory over Garden Plain.
Cardinal wingback/cornerback Hunter Morris left with a game-ending injury and tackle/defensive end Joshua Ball limped off the field with a quad injury. But the Cardinals rallied with a pair of second-half scoring drives.
"We've had a lot of great wins, but that ranks right up there," said Hoisington coach Zach Baird. "Our guys fought hard and battled through adversity tonight. I'm awfully proud of our guys."
Cade Mason's block freed Cole Steinert for a 27-yard second-half gain. Hanzlick rushed six times and Steinert capped the 65-yard drive on a 4-yard touchdown. Hanzlick caught a 2-point pass from a scrambling Mason Haxton for a 22-14 lead.
Hoisington's Shawn Ingram delivered a crunching tackle on the ensuing kickoff. Nolan Wilborn's sack ended the Owls' next drive. Hanzlick's blitz stopped another Owls' drive. Steinert ended the Owls' final drive with a leaping one-handed interception.
The Cardinals built a 28-14 lead after Steinert caught a 21-yard pass from Haxton. Evan Foltz converted a clutch 6-yard gain and Hanzlick capped the 48-yard drive on a 3-yard dive.
The Cardinals' retooled offensive line featuring tackles Joshua Ball and Legend Robinson, guards Nolan Wilborn and Caiden Hoffman and center Logan Philbern paved the way for 312 rushing yards.
Hanzlick rushed for 197 yards. Quarterback Mason Haxton completed two passes for 58 yards. The Cardinals' balance was the difference as Cade Mason and Cole Steinert scored short rushing touchdowns.
"We knew we were the better football team, but we needed to play our game," Hanzlick said. "Once we got a few assignments fixed on a few plays, you saw what happened. Our offensive line does an amazing job. I could drive a truck through those holes."
Ball received halftime treatment and he returned as a two-way player the second half.
"That one blow hurt him, but Josh is mentally tough," Hanzlick said. "He knew he had to fight for his brothers and that's what he did. We've faced adversity all season. We're all built that way."
Wyatt Wikum delivered the game's first big play with a fumble recovery. Hanzlick scored on a 5-yard run after the Cardinals converted third and fourth-down runs for first downs. Hanzlick's 60-yard dash set up Cade Mason's 3-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead.
The Owls rallied behind quarterback Tranden Daerr for a 14-14 tie. Travis Scheer caught a 57-yard pass from Daerr. Reed Adelhardt scored on a 3-yard run. Kade Rockers flipped a lateral to Daerr who completed a 29-yard touchdown to Scheer despite excellent coverage by Dylan Richards. Adelhardt, averaging 116 yards, was shut down to 21 yards.
Steinert accounted for eight tackles and Nolan Wilborn and Wikum each contributed six tackles.
"When you play a good football team, they're going to make plays," Baird said. "We knew it'd be a four-quarter game. Garden Plain did a good job fighting back. We did a good job against Adelhardt. He's a heck of a player. Hats off to our defense."
Hoisington (11-0) advances to next week's 2A playoff semifinal at Beloit (5-6). The Cardinals edged Beloit 26-20 when the teams met in 2A District play. The Cardinals qualify for the state semifinals for the fourth time after losing to Norton (2019), Phillipsburg (2018) and Hesston (2016). Garden Plain (9-2) loses to the Cardinals for the second straight year.
Garden Plain 0 14 0 0 – 14
Hoisington 14 0 8 6 – 28
H–Holt Hanzlick 5 run (Mason Haxton fumble recovery)–5:49
H–Cade Mason 3 run (pass failed)–1:18
GP–Reed Adelhardt 3 run (Jack Haukup kick)–9:26
GP–Travis Scheer 29 pass from Tranden Daerr (Jack Haukup kick)–0:23
H–Cole Steinert 4 run (Hanzlick pass from Mason Haxton)–7:38
H–Hanzlick 3 run (pass failed)–9:00
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–GP–23-45; Adelhardt 9-21, Jeb Nowak 2-6, T. Daerr 10-22, Kade Rockers 2-(-4); H–55-312; Hanzlick 27-197, Steinert 8-63, M. Haxton 11-20, Mason 3-17, Hunter Morris 2-12, Evan Foltz 1-6, Tony Moore 1-3, team 2-(-6)
PASSING–GP–T. Daerr 8-10-1, 129; Kade Rockers 2-7-0, 18; H–M. Haxton 2-5-0, 58
RECEIVING–GP–Scheer 3-97, Colby Haukup 2-23, Adelhardt 3-13, Nowak 2-14; H–Dylan Richards 2-58
