BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HOISINGTON — Hoisington rallied from a 22-13 halftime deficit for a hard-fought 28-22 playoff victory over Russell. The Cardinals (8-2) earn a quarterfinal game at No. 1 ranked Southeast of Saline (10-0).
Hoisington's defense delivered the game-winning fourth-quarter plays. Chase Steinert recovered a Jacob Ney fumble at the Cardinal 5-yard line. Defensive back Leyton Haxton tipped a pass away when Russell was stopped at the Cardinal 14-yard line on the Broncos' final drive. Taylen Morales intercepted a Russell pass.
"We dug ourselves a hole," said Hoisington coach Zach Baird, 6-3 all-time in second-round games. "I'm so proud of our guys up front and how much fight they showed the second half. Coach Matt Koelsch made great defensive adjustments at halftime. We pitch a shutout the second half. We were in some bad spots, but our guys wanted it more than they did. Our guys made big plays late in the game."
The Cardinals rallied when Gage Britt caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Tony Moore on fourth down. Teron Kraft scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 5-yard run after Chase Steinert's 26-yard run. Mason Alderdice converted the 2-pointer with 10:09 left.
Russell led 22-13 at halftime keyed by a pair of 34-yard drives. Wyatt Middleton's scored on a 1-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left in the half. Russell scored on Jacob Ney and Cameron Farmer touchdown runs.
Hoisington answered with a dazzling 75-yard touchdown run by Moore and Kraft's 42-yard touchdown run to stay close. The Cardinals rushed for 360 yards. Kraft gained 154 yards and Moore rushed for 122 yards.
"Teron Kraft ran awesome tonight and we went with who was hot," Baird said.
Russell (6-4) had previously earned its first playoff victory since 1979 and won the Mid-Mid-Continent League.
Russell 9 13 0 0 – 22
Hoisington 7 6 7 8 – 28
R—Charlie Krug 29 FG; H—Tony Moore 75 run (Taylen Morales kick); R—Jacob Ney 4 run (kick fails); R—Cameron Farmer 5 run (kick fails); H—Teron Kraft 42 run (run fails); R—Wyatt Middleton 1 run (Krug kick); H—Gage Britt 7 pass from Moore (Morales kick); H—Kraft 5 run (Mason Alderdice run)
RUSHING—R—30-113; Ney 14-70; Middleton 11-38; Suchy 2-6; Farmer 1-5; H—39-360; Kraft 22-154; Moore 9-122; Alderdice 5-65; Chase Steinert 2-28; team 1-(-10)
PASSING—R—Middleton 12-27-1, 160; H—Moore 2-4-0, 7
RECEVING—R—Jackson Cross 4-75; Jace Peerman 4-57; Brayden Strobel 3-31; Farmer 1-(-3); H—Britt 1-7; Kraft 1-0
HOISINGTON (24-22) ALL TIME
2022—2A—Hoisington 42, Phillipsburg 18; Hoisington 28, Russell 22; Hoisington (8-2) vs. SE Saline (10-0)
2021—2A—Hoisington 35, Ellis 14; Hays-TMP 36, Hoisington 27
2020—2A—Hoisington 47, Ellis 0; Hoisington 1, Cimarron 0; Hoisington 28, Garden Plain 14; Hoisington 26, Beloit 0; FINALS—Rossville 27, Hoisington 20
2019—2A—Hoisington 47, SW Heights 0; Hoisington 48, Lakin 7; Hoisington 48, Garden Plain 22; Norton 10, Hoisington 8
2018—2A—Hoisington 38, Sterling 13, Hoisington 41, Cimarron 18; Hoisington 30, Hutchinson Trinity 0; Phillipsburg 31, Hoisington 14
2017—3A—Hoisington 47, Cimarrron 22; Phillipsburg 35, Hoisington 6
2016—3A—Hoisington 56, Lakin 13; Hoisington 20, Norton 0; Hoisington 49, Garden Plain 8; Hesston 35, Hoisington 19
2015—3A—Hoisington 76, Cimarron 19; Hoisington 50, Washington County 6; Halstead 44, Hoisington 6
2014—3A—Hoisington 48, Cimarron 6; Minneapolis 17, Hoisington 14
2013—3A—Holcomb 21, Hoisington 6
2012—3A—Holcomb 28, Hoisington 7
2009—3A—Hoisington 35, Phillipsburg 6; Scott City 41, Hoisington 7
2008—3A—Beloit 52, Hoisington 20
2007—3A—Hoisington 55, Holcomb 25; Hoisington 45, Sacred Heart 35; Garden Plain 55, Hoisington 7
2006—3A—Hoisington 41, Holcomb 28; Sacred Heart 48, Hoisington 45
2005—3A—Hesston 21, Hoisington 0
2004—3A—SE of Saline 20, Hoisington 19
2002—3A—Phillipsburg 14, Hoisington 13
1998—3A—Smith Center 74, Hoisington 0
1997—3A—Smith Center 50, Hoisington 14
1992—3A—Holcomb 20, Hoisington 14
1990—3A—Hoisington 6, Belleville 3; Chase County 7, Hoisington 6
1986—4A—Andale 21, Hoisington 6
