BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
DODGE CITY — Great Bend's football road show played to rave reviews with a hard-fought 28-14 Western Athletic Conference victory over Dodge City Friday.
Great Bend's Division 1 recruit Ian Premer exhibited football toughness with a dazzling 39-yard touchdown run and 68 yards rushing to seal the victory. Quarterback Daxton Minton was nearly flawless with 16 of 19 passing for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 5 ranked 5A Great Bend (5-0, 1-0 WAC) sealed the victory with a perfect jump ball pass from Minton to Premer that keyed a game-ending 12-play drive. Minton threw for 183 yards and Jace Schartz sparked a 181-yard ground game with 90 yards.
"Daxton threw an amazing pass and we'll take a jump ball every time to Ian," said Great Bend football coach Erin Beck. "Ian showed what type of football player he is tonight. The momentum swung back-and-forth. That's a hard-fought game. Hats off to our guys. We made plays out there."
The offensive line of Owen Kaiser, Trenton Kern, Karter Brown, Aidan Davidson and Blaine Ensley led an effective ground game.
"Our offensive line did a great job and adapted during the game," Beck said. "It's nice to run the clock out on our last drive."
Minton completed an 8-yard scoring pass to Jacob Hall on a nifty opening 70-yard drive. Premer delivered a vintage 39-yard touchdown run, weaving through tacklers for a 14-0 lead.
Dodge City (3-2, 1-1) rallied with a crisp 57-yard scoring drive capped by an 8-yard scoring pass from Alan Flores to Cooper Speer.
As usual, Cooper Ohnmacht delivered a typical highlight-reel play. Dodge City defensive back Cordell Howard tipped the football in the air, but Ohnmacht caught the ball in midair and sprinted 66 yards for a 21-7 halftime lead.
"Cooper stayed with the play. That's what you like to see as a coach," Beck said.
Minton threw for 152 first-half yards and the Panthers gained 91 rushing yards.
Dodge City defensive back Bryson Unzueta made a diving interception to set up a 29-yard touchdown by Alan Rios for a 21-14 score.
The Panthers responded with a game-clinching 65-yard scoring drive capped by Schartz's 39-yard touchdown dash for a 28-14 lead. Hall caught a 10-yard pass and tackle Owen Kaiser escorted Minton on a 12-yard quarterback keeper.
Defensive lineman Aidan Davidson keyed five losses for 33 yards on Flores with a trio of sacks. Trenton Kern and Davidson stopped Dodge City's final drive with sacks. The Red Demons gained 104 yards rushing and 91 yards passing after leading the WAC in passing and total offense.
"Our defense did an outstanding job," Beck said. "Our defense typically keeps us in the ballgame. We earned some sacks late in the game to get the football back to our offense."
Great Bend 0 21 7 0 — 28
Dodge City 0 7 7 0— 14
GB—Jacob Hall 8 pass from Daxton Minton (Diego Soto kick); GB—Ian Premer 39 run (Soto kick); DC—Cooper Speer 8 pass from Alan Flores (Cruz Rios kick); GB—Cooper Ohnmacht 66 pass from Minton (Soto kick); DC—Alan Rios 29 run (C. Rios kick); GB—Jace Schartz 39 run (Soto kick)
RUSHING—GB—33-181; Schartz 15-90; Premer 6-68; Minton 9-45; Ohnmacht 1-(-9); team 2-(-3); DC—Alan Rios 1-94; Ryan Gonzalez 6-14; Bryson Unzueta 1-6; Speer 1-4; Cade Barnett 2-2; Flores 9-(-16)
PASSING—GB—Minton 16-19-0, 183; DC—Flores 7-15-0, 91
RECEIVING—GB—Ohnmacht 4-88; Hayden Kelly 5-39; Hall 4-40; Premer 2-13; Schartz 1-3; DC—Speer 3-43; Ibraheem Tabib 2-27; Jayden Amaro 1-16; Jayden Tinoco 1-5
