Do you believe in miracles?
If you’re a Great Bend Panther football fan, you know the answer.
Quarterback Cayden Scheuerman enjoyed a magical night with a dazzling 85-yard touchdown. He gained 184 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 31-27 playoff victory Friday over Goddard Eisenhower.
Scheuerman saved his best play with the Panthers down to their final play.
He lofted an accurate 39-yard pass on fourth down to standout receiver Braylon Council, who beat Lucas Dickman and Roman Cinetto to save the Panthers' season.
"That's the best throw I've ever made, a perfect throw," Scheuerman said. "We believed. We'll take Braylon over anybody. We gave Braylon a chance."
Two plays later, Cody Miller dashed home on a 1-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left in regulation.
"It was the best catch of my life," Council said. "I was excited to get my chance. This team's bond is incredible. We never give up. That's a great feeling."
Great Bend coach Erin Beck said. "That's backyard football. Throw it up to No. 7 (Council) and see him make a play. They made an unbelievable throw and catch."
It's the fourth time the Panthers scored on their final drive to win a football game. The red-hot Panthers (7-2) head to Salina Central (7-2) next week after rallying from 14 points down for the second time. It’s their first playoff win since 2019.
"It's another wild night in Panther football," Beck said. "They battle no matter the situation"
Eisenhower rolled up 420 offensive yards and torched the Panthers for four first-half touchdowns.
Caleb Lowry rushed for 193 yards and scored on 4, 30 and 46-yard runs. Quarterback Tyner Horn completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Carter Pabst.
The Panthers, down 27-17, stopped the Tigers at the Great Bend 7-yard line when Trenton Kern and Mathew Johnson made key tackles. Horn's final two pass attempts fell incomplete.
Scheuerman dashed 85 yards three plays later keyed by blocks by Matthew Johnson and Mathew Moeder.
"We made defensive adjustments," Beck said. "We leaned on our defense. We stopped their outside zone when our linebackers stopped the cutback."
Matthew Johnson contributed two tackles and nine assists. Mathew Moeder had three tackles and six assists.
Great Bend kicker Alex Galindo delivered big time with a 37-yard field goals and four extra-point kicks after missing several games with an injury.
Beck invited the Great Bend students to the postgame celebration in the Panthers' locker room.
“That’s the highlight of my life,” said one student.
It was mayhem.
"We were excited," said Scheuerman. "Our classmates have always supported us no matter what."
Goddard Eisenhower 7 20 0 0 – 27
Great Bend 14 3 0 14 – 31
GB—Cayden Scheurman 3 run (Alex Galindo kick), 7:06; GE—Caleb Lowry 46 run (Derek Morgan kick), 3:33; GB—Scheuerman 33 run (Galindo kick), 1:41; GE—Lowry 30 run (Morgan kick), 11:08; GE—Carter Pabst 32 pass from Tyner Horn (Morgan kick), 7:21; GE—Lowry 4 run (run fails), 1:54; GB—Galindo 37 FG, 0:00; GB—Scheuerman 85 run (Galindo kick), 9:44; GB—Miller 1 run (Galindo kick), 0:22
RUSHING—GE—41-316; Lowry 17-193; Lucas Dickman 14-86; Noah Hegarty 8-36; Roy 1-6; Horn 1-(-5); GB—29-241; Scheuerman 17-184; Miller 12-57
PASSSING—GE—Horn 9-15-0, 104; Dickman 1-2-0, 3; GB—Schuerman 10-16-0, 102
RECEIVING—GE—Pabst 4-67; Roy 3-29; Dudrey 3-35; GB—Council 3-50; Colton Brack 3-39; Maddix Spray 3-13; Miller 1-0
