BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
LIBERAL — The connection between Great Bend quarterback Daxton Minton and receiver Ian Premer dominated Liberal the first half for a 14-0 lead.
But Great Bend's Panthers' defense delivered the victory with a late-game stop at the Panthers' 13-yard line to preserve a hard-fought 14-7 Western Athletic Conference football victory.
After trailing 14-0, Liberal's Xavier Tafoya scored on a 26-yard run to cap an 80-yard drive. The Redskins drove 47 yards to reach the Panthers' 13-yard line, virtually all on the ground. Liberal's offense gave the Panthers' defense a break with two incomplete passes after a 1st-and-10 at the 19-yard line. Two Xavier Porras runs gained six yards on the final drive.
"We took care of business tonight," said Great Bend football coach Erin Beck. "But we've got things to work on. We were passive after halftime."
Panther Jace Schartz scored on a 6-yard run to cap a nifty 40-yard scoring drive for a 7-0 lead. Premer caught an 18-yard screen pass and Schartz rambled 13 yards.
Premer breezed to a 71-yard touchdown pass from Minton for a 14-0 lead. Premer had five receptions for 157 yards by halftime. Minton threw for 190 yards on 9 of 11 first-half passes behind perfect protection. Minton finished 14 of 23 passing for 210 yards. The Panthers had a few uncharacteristic dropped passes after a hot start.
"Our quarterback Daxton Minton threw the football very well," Beck said. "Dax's lofted pass to Ian was a thing of beauty. Ian was able to catch it in stride."
Liberal adjusted after halftime to shadow Premer with extra defenders, which the Panthers constantly have to deal with.
"We've seen every type of defense against Ian," Beck said. "Teams will adjust. We have to make sure we're well prepared."
Liberal's Porras ran wild with 112 first-half yards on 21 carries. Panther linebacker Trenton Kern tackled Porras on 4th-and-1 at the 20-yard line for no gain for the game's signature defensive stop. Kern was credited with nine tackles and 11 assists for 20 stops. Aidan Davidson delivered 11 tackles.
Porras gained 173 hard-earned yards on 34 carries. Liberal rushed for 271 yards.
The Panthers (6-0, 2-0 WAC) will play rival Hays High for the Western Athletic Conference championship next week at home. Hays (4-2, 2-0 WAC) has lost to 6A No. 1 ranked Derby (6-0) and 6A unbeaten Manhattan (6-0).
"We're glad we're playing that one at home," Beck said.
Great Bend 0 14 0 0 — 14
Liberal 0 0 0 7 — 7
GB 6-0 2-0; Liberal 4-2 1-2
GB—Jace Schartz 6 run (Diego Soto kick); GB—Ian Premer 71 pass from Daxton Minton (Soto kick); L—Xavier Tafoya 26 run (kick)
RUSHING—GB—23-58; Schartz 11-50; Minton 9-14; Cooper Ohnmacht 1-(-1); Premer 1-(-2); team 1-(-2); L—55-271; Xavier Porras 34-173; Ayden Juarez 9-5; Tafoya 2-28; Tevin Cotter 7-7; Alex Schwindt 2-7; Wyatt Mennie 1-2
PASSING—GB—Minton 14-22-0, 210; Ohnmacht 0-1-0; L—Cotter 4-13-1, 31
RECEIVING—GB—Premer 6-155; Jacob Hall 3-10; Ohnmacht 3-25; Hayden Kelly 2-11; L—James Fieser 2-19; Porras 2-12
