BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend's Ian Premer scored four first-half touchdowns as the Panthers roared past Garden City 41-14 in Friday's regular-season Western Athletic Conference finale.
Premer scored on 4- and 19-yard runs and 7- and 52-yard touchdown passes from quarterback Daxton Minton.
"We came out like we'd prepared all week, but you've got to go out and do it," said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. "They did a good job getting going."
Premer owns the school record with 29 receiving touchdowns. Minton threw four touchdown passes and broke the school record for career touchdown passes with 56 passing scores. Minton has thrown for 4,261 career yards, second best in school history.
The Panthers crushed Garden City for 382 yards and 6-of-6 touchdown drives the first half for a 41-0 halftime lead. Garden City quarterback Tatum Heavner completed two second-half touchdowns to Drew Strecker.
Minton threw for 223 first-half yards. Jacob Hall caught 32- and 35-yard touchdown passes from Minton. Cooper Ohmacht had 78 yards receiving. The Panthers rushed for 159 first-half yards on 15 carries.
"Offensively, we took what they were 'giving us,' and we did very effectively," said Beck. "We got the ball to Cooper (Ohnmacht) in space, and he was close to breaking them. Daxton did a nice job getting the football to Jacob Hall."
The Panthers have permitted 14 first-half points. Garden City gained 80 first-half yards after four consecutive punts. Cole Fanshier delivered a pair of quarterback sacks. The Buffaloes gained 108 rushing ad 109 passing yards.
"Our defense was flying around making nice plays," Beck said. "Our defensive line deserves some love. Cole Fanshier got two sacks and (Josue) Bustamante and Conner Holladay do the 'dirty work' to protect the guys behind them. Trent Kern, Kale Kern, Ian (Premer) and Jacob Hall did a good job flying to the football."
The No. 1 seeded Panthers (8-0, 4-0 WAC) plays Newton (0-8) Oct. 31 in the 5A football playoffs. Great Bend established a school record with back-to-back 8-0 regular seasons.
"It's the start of a new season, on to the next thing," Beck said.
No. 3 seed Andover (6-2) won a wild 4-way tie at 6-2 with a plus 40-point advantage. No. 4 seed Hutchinson won a coin flip with Liberal after tying at 34 points. No. 5 seed Hays won the head-to-head edge over Liberal with a victory Friday.
Garden City 0 0 7 7 — 14
Great Bend 20 21 0 0 — 41
GB—Ian Premer 19 run (Giovanni Cruz kick); GB—Ian Premer 7 pass from Daxton Minton (Cruz kick); GB—Ian Premer 4 run (Cruz kick); GB—Jacob Hall 35 pass from Minton (Cruz kick); GB—Ian Premer 52 pass from Minton (Cruz kick); GB—Hall 32 pass from Minton (Cruz kick); GC—Drew Strecker 40 pass from Tatum Heavner (Miguel Marquez kick); GC—Strecker 14 pass from Heavner (Marquez kick)
RUSHING—GC—27-108; Dayton Brunson 15-84; Tatum Heavner 6-15; Kace Deines 2-8; Culden Plankenhorst; 3-5; Drew Strecker 1-(-4); GB—20-164; Holladay 6-70; Minton 4-56; Ian Premer 2-23; Cooper Ohnmacht 1-8; Hayden Kelly 1-4; Blake Suppes 3-7; Prilling 1-(-4).
PASSING—GC—Heavner 7-10-0, 109; GB—Minton 12-17-0, 235; Prilling 2-4-0, 12; Ian Premer 0-1-0.
RECEIVING—GC—Strecker 3-86; Jalen Jagels 1-11; Mackoy Hemmert 1-8; Ryder Carr 1-2; Landon Moquett 1-2; GB—Ohnmacht 4-86; Ian Premer 4-69; Hall 2-67; Grant Watkins 2-20; Cole Fanshier 1-9; Kelly 1-4.
RECORD WATCH—1ST—Daxton Minton, 56 career passing TDs; 1ST—Ian Premer, 29 career receiving TDs; 1ST—Ian Premer, 5 receiving TDs, game; 1ST—Cooper Ohnmacht, 13 catches, game; 1ST—Ohnmacht, 3 interceptions TDs, season; 1ST—Trenton Kern, 3 blocked punts, season; 2ND—Ian Premer, 14 career interceptions; 2ND—Trenton Kern, 343 career tackles; 2ND—Minton, 4,261 career passing yards; 3RD—Ian Premer, 1,712 career yards receiving; 5TH—Ian Premer, 93 receptions.
5A WEST 10-31
1 Great Bend (8-0) vs. Newton (0-8)
8 Wichita Carroll (5-3) vs. Valley Center (4-4)
4 Hutchinson (6-2) vs. Emporia (2-6)
5 Hays High (6-2) vs. Goddard EIsenhower (2-6)
2 Salina Central (7-1) vs. Topeka West (1-7)
7 Goddard (5-3) vs. Maize South (4-4)
3 Andover (6-2) vs. Salina South (1-7)
6 Liberal (6-2) vs. Topeka Seaman (3-5)
