BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYS – On a trio of plays, Great Bend’s defense delivered an emphatic message – they’ll keep hustling no matter what the scoreboard reads.
Hays High shut out the Panthers 51-0 in Friday’s Western Athletic Conference opener for their worst football loss in 51 years. The Indians led 51-0 at halftime, triggering a running clock after halftime. It was the Panthers' worst setback since a 62-0 loss to Dodge City in 1970.
Panthers Dee’Onn Jones, Mathew Moeder and Jonathan Randall delivered the night’s highlight by dropping the Indians for three consecutive second-half losses.
“They’re trying. I never question our effort,” said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. “We’ve got to dust ourselves off and pick ourselves up. It’s a long haul. We’ve got to learn from it.”
The Panthers faced a much faster, more physical football team.
Hays quarterback Janak Kanak delivered a stunning 79-yard scoring dash after he dislodged the helmet from Braylon Council. Kanak rushed for 119 yards and completed touchdown passes to Jordan Dale, Kyreese Grone and Carson Kieffer. Tailback Roy Moroni scored two touchdowns and gained 99 yards.
Beck knew the Panthers had to play sound football to stay competitive.
“We didn’t execute like we wanted,” he said. “It was a game where we were outmanned. They’re a very good football team with dangerous athletes. That’s a physical football team.”
Panther quarterback Cayden Scheuerman completed eight passes for 41 yards. Great Bend’s Gavin Haberman gained nine yards as the Panthers gained seven yards on 19 attempts. The Panthers lost yardage on eight plays.
Indian All-WAC linebacker Gavin Meyers created issues for the Panthers’ offensive line.
“We couldn’t get to Meyers,” Beck said. “They loaded the box and played a 7-man front, which we feared. Our inexperience showed, especially in the offensive line.”
The Panthers (0-2) face 4A powerhouse McPherson (2-0) next week at home riding a 10-game losing streak.
“It’s a four-week gauntlet that hopefully we survive,” Beck said. “It’s a tough loss. We have to grow as a football team.”
The Indians scored on seven consecutive offensive drives in the first half. Great Bend lost a fumble and punted 16, 17, 23 and 24 yards to hand the Indians four scoring drives under 32 yards. Several times, the Panthers had the Indians in a bad-yardage situation, when Kanak made a clutch play.
Moroni and Bah started the Indians’ scoring. Jordan Dale caught a 26-yard touchdown pass and Grone grabbed a 13-yard scoring pass for a 28-0 first-quarter lead. Moroni scored on a 23-yard run after the Panthers missed a chance at a fumble recovery.
After a safety, Kieffer scored on a 20-yard touchdown reception on third-and-20. Kanak rumbled 79 yards for the Indians’ final touchdown.
Great Bend 0 0 0 0 – 0
Hays High 28 23 0 0 – 51
H—Roy Moroni 25 run (Jackson Fields kick)—11:20; H—Malik Bah 1 run (Fields kick)—5:53; H—Jordan Dale 26 pass from Jaren Kanak (Fields kick)—1:38; H—Kyreese Groen 13 pass from Kanak (Fields kick)—0:35; H—Moroni 23 run (Fields kick)—8:41; H—Safety (snap out of endzone)—7:10; H—Carson Kieffer 20 pass from Kanak (Fields kick)—3:35; H—Kanak 79 run (Fields kick)—1:05
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—GB—19-7—Gavin Haberman 5-9; Cody Miller 7-1; Cayden Scheuerman 7-(-3); H—37-249; Kanak 8-119; Moroni 12-99; Groen 4-25; Bah 4-6; NO. 14 2-7; Derek Quach 3-4; Jones 1-1, team 3-(-12).
PASSING—GB—Scheuerman 8-16-0, 41; H—Kanak 7-10-0, 101
RECEIVING—GB—Miller 1-15; Stefan Spray 3-14; Colton Brack 3-10; Haberman 1-2; H—Jordan Dale 2-37; Kieffer 2-29; Moroni 1-17; Groen 1-13; Salmans 1-5
