jmisunas@gbtribune.com
The Comeback Kids did it again.
Panther cornerback Kaiden Hoffman delivered a game-saving tackle on Ulysses speedster Keedrin Jones.
Great Bend rallied for the game-winning touchdown drive, rolling 86 yards on 19 plays.
Quarterback Cayden Scheuerman dashed home on a 3-yard run for a 27-22 football victory over Ulysses that clinches a 5A home playoff game.
Cody Miller eluded a tackle for the Panthers' final first down to the 3-yard line. The Panthers converted seven first downs on the drive, alerting converting short passes to matriculate the football up the field.
"Winning five in a row is huge. When we needed it, it was awesome when our kids closed out the game," said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. "We had the mentality that we were going to win. Blaike Parsons and Colton Brack did an excellent job on our keys to open some lanes."
Hoffman made the game's key defensive play with superb technique on the Tigers' pitch man.
"That's the biggest defensive play I've ever made," Hoffman said. "I was doing my job, which was to tackle the pitch man. We had great scouting. Our coaches stressed they ran 95 percent of the time."
Current No. 8 Western seed Great Bend (5-2, 2-1 WAC) could climb higher, but is assured of a 5A home playoff game. The Panthers are two wins ahead of Kapaun-Mt. Carmel, Newton, Andover High and Maize South, guaranteeing a home playoff game. Great Bend plays at Garden City (6-1, 2-1 WAC) next week.
The Panthers had to fight for every yard and every play against a well-coached Ulysses team. Ulysses (1-6) played its best football game of the season with 242 yards rushing and a key kickoff return.
"Winning football games is hard. Credit Ulysses, which raised its level of play," Beck said. "Our kids understood we needed to make plays. Noah Jerke said, 'If any team should enjoy a win, it's this one.' "
Great Bend receiver Braylon Council and Scheuerman were on fire at Memorial Stadium. Council lit up Ulysses for 12 catches and 166 yards. Scheuerman completed 21 passes for 225 yards. Scheuerman rushed for 95 yards and Cody Miller added 82 hard-earned yards.
"The Scheuerman to Council connection was spot on," Beck said. "Braylon made some unbelievable catches."
Great Bend led 21-14 at halftime, but Ulysses struck with a 40-yard kickoff return by Aden Alvarado and scored on a Loreno Gomez run for a 21-20 lead. Evan Cortez converted the 2-pointer for a 22-21 lead.
Council caught scoring passes of 15, 23 and 56 yards from Scheuerman as he beat one-on-one coverage by Brayson Salinas and Danzel Mendez. Council's initial 23-yard scoring catch was a thing of beauty as he backed up Salinas at the back of the endzone. Council converted a trio of extra-point kicks after Alex Galindo missed the game with an injury.
Ulysses hit a pair of big scoring plays to hang within 21-14 at halftime. Quarterback Justin Delgollado dashed 36 yards around left end to set up a 1-yard score by Gomez. After two timeouts, Cortez dashed 58 yards for the Tigers' second score. Delgollado converted the 2-pointer for a 14-14 tie.
Council finished the half with a dazzling 56-yard touchdown catch for a 21-14 lead. The Panthers missed a golden opportunity for a 2-score lead, but they missed a first down by a yard at the Tigers' 5-yard line.
Ulysses 6 8 8 0 – 22
Great Bend 7 14 0 6 – 27
GB–Braylon Council 23 pass from Cayden Scheuerman (Council kick), 6:28; U–Lorenzo Gomez 1 run (run fails), 4:06; GB–Council 15 pass from Scheuerman (Council kick), 11:54; U–Evan Cortez 59 run (Justin Delgollado run), 10:23; GB–Council 56 pass from Scheuerman (Council kick), 9:35; U–Gomez 2 run (Cortez run), 11:11; GB–Scheuerman 3 run kick fails), 5:02
RUSHING–U–37-242; Cortez 11-77; Delgollado 11-73; Jones 10-59; Gomez 9-33; GB–36-177; Scheuerman 16-95; Cody Miller 20-82
PASSING–U–Delgodillo 1-4-0, 19; GB–Scheuerman 21-34-0, 225; Maddox Spray 0-1-0
RECEIVING–U–Jones 1-19; GB–Council 12-166; Blaike Parsons 4-26; Miller 1-18; Colton Brack 2-7; Spray 2-8
