Cardinals punch championship ticket
NORTON – Payback No. 2 was paid in full for the Hoisington Cardinals.
Jason Robinson swung the momentum with a game-changing 78-yard interception return in a 30-21 victory over Norton in Friday’s 2A football semifinals.
Norton was poised for a 2-touchdown lead before halftime when Robinson intercepted a pass by Eli Jones and raced 78 yards for a 7-7 halftime tie.
“Jason Robinson was the difference in the game,” said Hoisington coach Zach Baird. “That flipped the game with one play. Jason made so many big plays that saved us. He played phenomenal.”
Hoisington avenged a heartbreaking 10-8 semifinal setback to Norton in 2019 that ended Wyatt Pedigo’s career with a loss. Last week, Hoisington avenged a semifinal loss in 2022 against Southeast of Saline with a thrilling 49-42 quarterfinal victory.
Robinson edged past Norton receiver Roman Hauser for the interception, faked out Eli Jones and Trevan Enfield, then eluded Colton Stover at Norton’s 40-yard line for a spectacular return. Robinson took on the challenge of covering Norton all-state tight end Hauser.
“We played tight that first half,” Baird said. “We couldn’t played much worse, and we were 7-7 at halftime.”
Hoisington’s offense took control after halftime, scoring three touchdowns and a clinching 20-yard field goal by Taylen Morales. The Cardinals’ offense pitched a perfect second half by driving 58 yards, 58 yards, 61 yards and 64 yards on the clinching drive.
With a 27-21 lead, Teron Kraft's blitz on Jones helped Mason Alderdice to intercept a pass to set up the Cardinals’ final drive. Tony Moore dashed 10, 17 and 22 yards for first downs on the final drive.
Taylen Morales converted the Cardinals’ first field goal of the season on a 20-yarder. Hoisington had scored on kickoff and punt returns, off a blocked punt and on fumble and interception returns.
“It was the right decision. I had total confidence in that group,” Baird said. “I told Taylen to get ready. I told him you’re going to win the game for us.”
Moore rushed for 174 yards behind the quarterback run game and threw for 103 yards with touchdown completions to Robinson and Mason Alderdice.
“We knew we had to run Tony more. Past of our game plan was quarterback run,” Baird said. “Tony played huge on that last drive.”
The Cardinals rushed for 254 yards and passed for 103 yards behind the offensive line of tight end Gage Britt, center Caleb Birzer, guards Exavier Chambers and Caiden Hoffman and tackles Colin Mater and Brady Reif
Norton answered with 64- and 65-yard scoring drives after halftime. Jones completed 18 passes for 252 yards and rushed for 80 yards.
“We didn’t play defense exceptionally well that second half, but we dialed up a few blitzes and got home,” Baird said.
The Cardinals (12-0) will meet defending 2A state champion Nemaha Central (12-0) in the finals at Salina Nov. 25. Rossville downed the Cardinals 27-20 in 2020 for the 2A state title.
“It was special to see all the past Cardinals,” Baird said. “They were old guys from 1997. It was special to share this with them. They are part of our foundation that we’ve built this on. We wouldn’t be here without those guys.”
Hoisington (29-23 all-time) is 6-16 in road playoff games. The Cardinals played their last five semifinal games on the road. Hoisington also handed Norton its last home playoff loss 20-0 in 2016.
Nemaha Central quarterback Carter Hajek has rushed for 1,936 yards and 37 touchdowns and passed for 858 yards with 10 touchdowns. The Thunder has pitched eight shutouts.
Hoisington 0 7 14 9 – 30
Norton 7 0 7 7 – 21
N—Eli Jones 1 run (Jones kick); H—Jason Robinson 78 interception return (Taylen Morales kick); H—Robinson 12 pass from Tony Moore (Morales kick); N—Tyce Melvin 65 pass from Jones (Jones kick); H—Mason Alderdice 3 pass from Moore (Morales kick); N—Jones 1 run (Jones kick); H—Teron Kraft 23 run (kick fails); H—Morales 20 FG
RUSHING—H—35-254; Moore 18-174; Kraft 13-45; Carson Mason 1-25; Alderdice 3-10; N—21-112; Jones 13-80; J Pfannenstiel 3-17; Brennan Pfannenstiel 2-10; Logan Pfannenstiel 3-5.
PASSING—H—Moore 9-17-0, 103; N—Jones 18-32-2, 252.
RECEIVING—H—Robinson 4-59; Smith 2-20; Alderdice 2-17; Mason Martin 1-7; N—Tyce Melvin 7-128; Roman Hauser 6-96; Bodie Pfannenstiel 2-18; Brennan Pfannenstiel 2-8; Trevan Enfield 1-2.
NEMAHA CENTRAL Holton 31-6; Royal Valley 62-0; Perry 26-0; Horton 69-0; Jefferson West 46-0; Minneapolis 24-0; Riley County 30-0; Sabetha 28-0; Pleasant Ridge 48-0; Riley County 55-13; Osage City 53-27; Sabetha 17-7; Hoisington
NEMAHA CENTRAL STATS
PASSING—Carter Hajek 62-98-4, 858, 10 TDs (78 ypg)
RUSHING—231 ypg; Carter Hajek 260-1,936, 37 TDs; Caleb Strathman 17-192, 3 TDs; Cooper Kramer 27-136, 3 TDs; Jonah Deters 23-143, 3 TDs
RECEIVING—Caleb Strathman 23-339, 4 TDs; Carter Rottinghaus 12-190, 2 TDs; Sam Nordhus 9-158, 2 TDs; Aidan Broxterman 11-128, 2 TDs.
HOISINGTON PLAYOFFS (29-23)
2023—Hoisington 46, Phillipsburg 8; Hoisington 35, Beloit 6; Hoisington 49, SE Saline 42; Hoisington 30, Norton 21; CHAMPIONSHIP—Hoisington 12-0 vs. Nemaha Central 12-0
2022—Hoisington 42, Phillipsburg 18; Hoisington 28, Russell 22; SE Saline 44, Hoisington 21
2021—Hoisington 35, Ellis 14; Hays-TMP 36, Hoisington 27
2020—Hoisington 47, Ellis 0; Hoisington 1, Cimarron 0; Hoisington 28, Garden Plain 14; Hoisington 26, Beloit 0; CHAMPIONSHIP— Rossville 27, Hoisington
20
2019—Hoisington 47, SW Heights 0; Hoisington 48, Lakin 7; Hoisington 48, Garden Plain 22; Norton 10, Hoisington 8
2018—Hoisington 38, Sterling 13, Hoisington 41, Cimarron 18; Hoisington 30, Hutchinson Trinity 0; Phillipsburg 31, Hoisington 14
2017—Hoisington 47, Cimarron 22; Phillipsburg 35, Hoisington 6
2016—Hoisington 56, Lakin 13; Hoisington 20, Norton 0; Hoisington 49, Garden Plain 8; Hesston 35, Hoisington 19
2015—Hoisington 76, Cimarron 19; Hoisington 50, Washington County 6; Halstead 44, Hoisington 6
2014—Hoisington 48, Cimarron 6; Minneapolis 17, Hoisington 14
2013—Holcomb 21, Hoisington 6
2012—Holcomb 28, Hoisington 7
2009—Hoisington 35, Phillipsburg 6; Scott City 41, Hoisington 7
2008—Beloit 52, Hoisington 20
2007—Hoisington 55, Holcomb 25; Hoisington 45, Sacred Heart 35; Garden Plain 55, Hoisington 7
2006—Hoisington 41, Holcomb 28; Sacred Heart 48, Hoisington 45
2005—Hesston 21, Hoisington 0
2004—SE of Saline 20, Hoisington 19
2002—Phillipsburg 14, Hoisington 13
1998—Smith Center 74, Hoisington 0
1997—Smith Center 50, Hoisington 14
1992—Holcomb 20, Hoisington 14
1990—Hoisington 6, Belleville 3; Chase County 7, Hoisington 6
1986—Andale 21, Hoisington 6
