BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
By the time Great Bend ran its first offensive play, Liberal had shocked the Panthers' Homecoming crowd with a lightning fast 10-0 lead.
The Panthers started like football's version of the Bad News Bears. Liberal recovered a muffed punt and a spinning kickoff that Great Bend didn't recover.
Back-up Liberal quarterback Darion Denton completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to Prince Collins and kicker Ariel Gaytan booted a 22-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
All-state linebacker Kale Kern provided the brawn. Great Bend football coach Erin Beck provided the brains to verify the theory, 'It isn't how you start, it's how you finish.'
Kern swung the momentum with a blocked punt and return that ignited a 42-12 victory over Liberal that clinched a showdown for the Western Athletic Conference title next week.
Great Bend (6-0, 3-0 WAC) requires one victory to clinch the No. 1 West 4A seed and home field during the playoffs.
Kern's crushing block escorted Cal Schartz en route to a 7-yard touchdown run. Jaxson Wondra ran a perfect pattern for a 3-yard touchdown pass from Maxson Smiley for a 14-10 halftime lead.
Keeton Bray and Gavynn Maddox delivered big blocks on Smiley's 15-yard scamper and Cooper Ohnmacht drew a 12-yard pass interference flag on the 60-yard drive.
With the Panthers' second-half offense misfiring, Beck's genius was rewarded with a perfectly executed 44-yard touchdown strike from Smiley on punt formation.
Schartz cleverly snuck out of the backfield, and delivered his best Homecoming dance moves to weave his way for a back-breaking touchdown for a 21-10 lead. Schartz was pure magic again with a dazzling 67-yard touchdown sprint on the Panthers' next offensive play.
"Our last quarter and a half looked like 'Great Bend football,' keyed by big plays by our best players," Beck said. "Kale (Kern) turned that thing around with his play defensively. I was proud of the way they responded after halftime. Our defense played well except for that 10-0 hole. Their quarterback run game is electric."
Of course, Kale Kern rescued the Panthers. He delivered several quarterback sacks and forced two takeaways.
One play after missing a reception for a first down, Kern rocked the world of Liberal back Wyatt Mannel, who fumbled the football.
"I shouldn't have dropped it. I had to get it back right away," Kern said in a postgame radio interview. "We stepped it up, and played Great Bend football. I'm glad how we played that fourth quarter."
Smiley settled his nerves with a nicely lofted 27-yard touchdown strike to Alec Premer for a 35-12 lead. Back-up Carter Dreiling iced the Homecoming festivities with a 31-yard interception return for a 42-12 final.
"Maxson Smiley bounced back and played well that fourth quarter," Beck said. "He's learning and seeing where he can improve. Our timing on our passes was off tonight. Liberal did a good job pressuring our receivers."
Beck paid tribute to his senior leaders, including Homecoming King Cole Fanshier.
"Kale Kern is the heart and soul of our team," Beck said. "Cole Fanshier pressured the quarterback. Cooper Ohnmacht made plays all over the field being double teamed. We've got to improve things. We've got to be good next week."
Liberal (3-3, 1-2) 10 0 2 0 — 12
Great Bend (6-0, 3-0) 7 7 14 14 — 42
L—Prince Collins 52 pass from Denton (Gaytan kick); L—Gaytan 22 FG; GB—Schartz 7 run (Cruz kick); GB—Wondra 3 pass from Smiley (Cruz kick); L—Safety (Smiley throws ball out of end zone); GB—Schartz 44 pass from Smiley (Cruz kick); GB—Schartz 67 run (Ohnmacht kick); GB—Premer 27 pass from Smiley (Ohnmacht kick); GB—Dreiling 31 interception return (Ohnmacht kick)
RUSHING—L—38-83; Denton 19-64; Fitzgerald 12-31; Mannel 3-0; team 2-(-5); GB—24-131; Schartz 14-99; Smiley 7-26; Alcala 2-8; team 1-(-2).
PASSING—L—Denton 6-25-1, 80; GB—Smiley 15-32-0, 187.
RECEIVING—L—Collins 2-54; Calderon 1-12; Amador 2-11; Fitzgerald 1-3; GB—Ohnmacht 6-73; Schartz 2-42; Premer 3-41; Kern 2-20; Jaxon Wondra 2-11.
WESTERN ATHLETIC
Great Bend 3-0 6-0
Hays 2-0 5-1
Liberal 1-2 3-3
Garden City 1-2 3-3
Dodge City 0-3 2-4
10-9—*Great Bend 42, Liberal 12; *Hays 35, Dodge City 0; Wichita Northwest 37, Garden City 16
4A WEST DISTRICT—1—Great Bend (6-0, +70); 2—McPherson (5-1, +52); 3—Wamego (4-1, +5); 4—Augusta (3-2, +37); 5—Wellington (4-2, +26); 6—Buhler (4-2, +20); 7—Ulysses (4-2, +19); 8—Rose Hill (4-2, +18); 9—Rock Creek (4-2, 10); 10—Mulvane (3-3, -5); 11—Winfield (3-2, -12); 12—Topeka Highland Park (2-4, -19); 13—Arkansas City (2-4, -21); 14—Circle (1-5, -60); 15—Abilene (1-5, -63); 16—El Dorado (1-5, -72).
