GOLDEN EAGLES
By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend was one successful play away from a historic football victory over the defending 5A state champion.
Wichita Carroll preserved a 36-33 victory over Great Bend Friday with a game-ending goal-line stand. The Golden Eagles stopped two pass plays and a running play starting at the 6-yard line.
A tying 28-yard field goal into a 15 mph north wind by Dani Franco missed wide left.
The Panthers’ desperation drive stayed alive on a pass interference penalty against Carroll on fourth down. Great Bend quarterback Koy Brack directed the Panthers into scoring position with a 22-yard pass to Calan Haberman and a 20-yard circus catch by Peyton Duvall to the Carroll 6-yard line.
“We were in position to win that football game, but came up short,” said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. “It was too bad we came up on the short end.”
Beck said the Panthers showed vast improvement after losing 56-34 to state-ranked 5A Wichita Northwest.
“We’ve proved we can play with the best football teams out there,” Beck said. “We played toe-to-toe with one of 5A’s best football teams. I was proud of them. We had guys making plays all over the field tonight.”
Quarterback Koy Brack directed a big-play passing game for 13 completions for 320 yards. Alex Schremmer caught four passes for 125 yards and Peyton Duvall had three catches for 97 yards.
“They were giving us one-on-one matchups outside, which we like,” said Beck. “We took shots downfield. Koy Brack put it on point all night long. He stood in against pressure because Carroll was bringing the house.
Carroll's Brady Bookover scored the game-winning 1-yard touchdown with 2:11 left in regulation after a 45-yard scoring drive. Carroll gained valuable field position after a Panther first down was nullified on a holding call.
The Panthers led 33-21 in the fourth period on Dalton Miller’s 35-yard touchdown reception with 11:05 left.
Carroll’s offense strung together 69- and 45-yard scoring drives keyed by backup quarterback Aiden Niedens. Gunner Lynch caught a 10-yard touchdown pass. Bockover scored on a 1-yard touchdown as the Golden Eagles ran nine consecutive plays.
“We’ll go back to work and learn from this,” Beck said. “I was very proud of the plays they made. That was a good football game. We’ve got to continue to put together a complete football game.”
The Panthers (3-2) lost a first-half touchdown on a botched officiating call. Brock Blessing’s potential score on a fumble return was nullified when Carroll was awarded the football without gaining possession. Carroll quarterback Cade Becker was unable to recover a fumble after a poor snap from center, but the Golden Eagles were awarded the football.
Carroll led 21-19 in a wild first half spiced by big plays. Alex Schremmer caught a 66-yard touchdown pass against Justin Powell. Carroll scored a 5-yard scoring run by Jackson Nichols and added scoring dashes by Bockover and Aiden Niedens.
The Panthers responded a 60-yard pass to Payton Duvall that set up Brack’s 4-yard touchdown run. Brack directed a perfect 65-yard scoring drive right before halftime. Gage Fritz enjoyed a key run and Brack completed key passes on the drive.
The Panthers (3-2) play Andover Central next week.
GOLDEN EAGLES 36, PANTHERS 33
Wichita Carroll 0 21 0 15 – 36
Great Bend 6 13 7 7 – 33
GB—Alex Schremmer 66 pass from Koy Brack (kick failed)—3:27
WC—Jackson Nichols 5 run (Carson Lee kick)—1:07
GB—Brack 4 run (pass failed)—10:31
WC—Brady Bockover 4 run (Lee kick)—4:03
WC—Aiden Niedens 9 run (Lee kick)—0:47
GB—Brack 2 run (Dani Franco kick)—0:06
GB—Schremmer 30 pass from Brack (Franco kick)—8:50
GB—Dalton Miller 35 pass from Brack (Franco kick)—11:05
WC—Gunner Lynch 10 pass from Niedens (kick)—9:13
WC—Bookover 1 run (Niedens run)—2:11
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—WC—277; Nichols 23-151; Niedens 16-92; Bockover 5-23; Cade Becker 2-10; team 1-(-12); GB—20-71; Gage Fritz 11-55; Dalton Miller 3-7; Brack 6-9.
PASSING—WC—10-17-1, 146; Niedens 8-15-1, 126; Becker 2-2-0, 20; GB—Brack 13-27-0, 320.
RECEIVING—WC—Lynch 4-70; Baalmann 3-30; Clay Cundiff 2-36; Jackson Stonestreet 1-10; GB—Schremmer 4-125; Duvall 3-97; Miller 4-60; Calan Haberman 3-28.
5A WEST
Maize High 5-0 65
Wichita Northwest 5-0 53
Salina Central 4-1 39
Wichita Kapaun 4-1 26
Great Bend 3-2 18
Wichita Carroll 3-2 15
Wichita Heights 3-2 13
Valley Center 3-2 3
Emporia 2-3 6
Andover 2-3 (-2)
Goddard-Eisenhower 2-3 (-10)
Hays High 2-3 (-14)
Newton 2-3 (-20)
Maize South 2-3 (-28)
Liberal 1-4 (-14)
Salina South 0-5 (-62)
WESTERN ATHLETIC
Great Bend 2-0 3-2
Garden City 2-0 2-3
Hays High 1-2 2-3
Dodge City 0-1 2-3
Liberal 0-2 1-4
WEEK 1—Great Bend 35, Andover 12; Liberal 41, Guymon, Okla. 0; Derby 49, Garden City 6; Junction City 56, Hays High 31; Campus 47, Dodge City 9
WEEK 2—*Great Bend 15, Hays High 7; Wichita North 13, Liberal 6; Valley Center 41, Garden City 20; Dodge City 27, Salina South 17
WEEK 3—Wichita Northwest 56, Great Bend 34; *Hays High 21, Liberal 20; Hutchinson 28, Garden City 24; Dodge City 49, Wichita Heights 27
WEEK 4—*Great Bend 35, Dodge City 15; *Garden City 35, Hays High 28; Wichita Southeast 14, Liberal 8
FRIDAY—*Wichita Carroll 36, Great Bend 33; Wichita West 27, Dodge City 14; *Garden City 32, Liberal 6; Hays High 53, Wichita South 20
WEEK 6—Andover Central at Great Bend; *Dodge City at Hays High; Wichita Northwest at Garden City; Wichita East at Liberal
WEEK 7—*Great Bend at Liberal; *Garden City at Dodge City; Buhler at Hays High
WEEK 8—*Garden City at Great Bend; *Dodge City at Liberal; Hays High at Salina Central
