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SERIES—Hays 43-42-1
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
When Hays High and Great Bend meet for the 87th time on the football field, the Western Athletic Conference champions seek to defend their home field advantage.
"When our guys take the field, they're confident," said Panther football coach Erin Beck. "They've played in big football games. We're excited about the challenge. Hays will be ready and we'll get their best shot. We've got to raise our level of play. Their year will be made if they knock us off."
Daxton Minton scored on a 63-yard run and Ian Premer broke a 49-yard touchdown run in a 21-0 victory over Hays Oct. 13.
"The teams are different than three weeks ago," Beck said. "Both teams will show different game plans. They'll be adjustments. It helps to have players who adjust on the fly."
Hays Indian Holden Lind has rushed for 1,061 yards and nine scores. QB Carter Graham has thrown for 1,083 yards and 13 touchdowns. WR Johnny Cano has 461 yards receiving and four scores.
"I like that challenge of stopping a run game," Beck said. "Our strength has been our run-stopping ability, forcing the team into passing situations. The pass game can be an equalizer because one pass can bail you out. Hays will try and establish the run game. Hays has thrown it 71 times the past two weeks. Carter Graham is throwing it better."
The Panthers counter with QB Daxton Minton with 1,328 yards passing and 16 TDs. Jace Schartz has gained 729 yards with 10 scores. Minton's top targets are Ian Premer (520, 9 TDs), Cooper Ohnmacht (486, 6 TDs).
RT Owen Kaiser, LG Trenton Kern, C Karter Brown, LT Blaine Ensley and RG Aiden Davidson have helped the Panthers average 158 yards rushing.
"Up front our offensive line and ability to run the football has improved," Beck said. "You have to adjust and trust in each other up front. Defensively, our secondary has played well together as the year has gone. Ian Premer gets us in the right spots."
Beck said the Panthers are enjoying the playoff atmosphere.
"Anytime you're playing in the playoffs, it's a fun time," he said. "Our guys are excited. They want to prove to a lot people, they are the better football team."
PANTHER OFFENSE—1 TB Jace Schartz; 2 WR Cooper Ohnmacht; 5 WR Jacob Hall; 8 WR Hayden Kelly; 12 QB Daxton Minton; 14 WR Ian Premer; 50 RT Owen Kaiser; 51 LG Trenton Kern; C 55 Karter Brown; 56 LT Blaine Ensley; 58 RG Aidan Davidson
PANTHER DEFENSE-—1 CB Jace Schartz/; 2 S Cooper Ohnmacht; 5 OLB Jacob Hall; 7 LB Kale Kern; 8 CB Hayden Kelly; 13 DL Michael Montoya; 14 S Ian Premer; 22 DE Conner Holladay; 24 LB Jaxon Wondra; 50 DT Owen Kaiser; 51 MLB Trenton Kern; 58 LE Aidan Davidson
HAYS OFFENSE—2 WR Johnny Cano; 4 WB Ian McGuire; 10 QB Carter Graham; 12 WR Caleb Thompson; 14 WR Brock Homeier; 23 TB Holden Lind; LG 53 Jaxson Chartier; 65 C Greyson Lawson; 66 RG Jack Zeller; 70 LT Mason Dreher; 72 RT Carson Weber
HAYS DEFENSE—1 CB Kordy Stull; 3 CB Kamani Jones; 8 S Cooper Lindenmeyer; 11 S Tucker Veach; 22 LB Dalton Myers; 29 CB Jace Myers; 45 LB Wyatt Kirkpatrick; 48 DT Tanner Geist; 54 MLB Jaxson Chartier; DE 56 Boston Brungardt; 57 DE Rexton Leiker
