jmisunas@gbtribune.com
BELOIT — The Hoisington Cardinals celebrated their first trip to the state 2A football championship in Mitchell County after routing the Beloit Trojans 26-0 in Friday's semifinal.
The No. 2 ranked Cardinals (12-0) play No. 1 Rossville (12-0) at Salina Stadium Nov. 28 for the 2A state football championship. Rossville captured 2A state football titles in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Hoisington rolled up 204 yards rushing and 107 yards passing while limiting Beloit to 147 yards. Hoisington led 14-0 at halftime. The Cardinals roared to a 26-0 lead in the third period.
""We're going to enjoy this one," said Hoisington coach Zach Baird. "Our guys played with a ton of confidence. We played loose, but tough football. It's a great feeling, a sense of relief."
Hoisington defensive backs Chase Robinson and Dylan Richards intercepted passes. Holt Hanzlick, Cade Mason and Cole Steinert each contributed six tackles. Hoisington limited 1,300-rusher Benson Berndt to 52 yards on 14 carries. Hoisington coach Matt Koelsch crafted a perfect game plan.
"Our defense dominated the ballgame," Baird said. "It was a great team effort. We found our defensive fits and made tackles. We put our guys in better spots. Our secondary made a few plays. We've got a great group of seniors."
Quarterback Mason Haxton dashed 32 yards for a touchdown and completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Holt Hanzlick, who made a miraculous one-handed catch. Haxton went old school on the 2-point conversion with a jump pass to Hanzlick, who was uncovered at tight end for a 14-0 halftime lead .
"Holt Hanzlick has good hands and those plays get him one-on-one with the defense," Baird said. "Those plays are great near the goal-line. It gives our guys a chance to make a play. Mason is a great leader, who played great tonight. He gets his guys going. He plays the game the right way."
The Cardinals scored first after the Trojans were scared to convert a first down on 4th down-and-1 at their own 39-yard line. Hoisington rolled 63 yards on four plays, keyed by Cade Mason 26-yard run and Haxton's 32-yard score for a 6-0 lead.
On the next drive, Hanzlick and Cade Mason stopped Beloit's Anthony Henke on 4th-down-and-3 at the 47-yard line.
The Cardinals rolled 54 yards for a second touchdown. Chase Robinson converted a 35-yard reception on a perfect pass from Haxton to the Beloit 8-yard line. Hanzlick slipped out of the backfield on his 2-yard touchdown catch with 1:37 left in the half.
Beloit, seeing the writing on the wall, elected to run the clock out rather than try and score from its own 36-yard line with 90 seconds left and timeouts available.
Hoisington scored on its initial second-half drive for the 10th time in 11 games for a 20-0 lead. Cole Steinert rumbled seven yards for a third score after Steinert dashed 25 yards. Mason Haxton completed a 39-yard touchdown strike to Chase Robinson for a dominating 26-0 lead. Beloit's Asa Carr fell down before Robinson dived into the endzone.
"We've got the best group of offensive weapons we've ever had," Baird said.
Hanzlick rushed for 85 yards and Mason (48) and Haxton (43) added 91 combined yards. Robinson caught two passes for 75 yards.
Hoisington's attacking defense limited the Trojans to 52 first-half yards, 42 rushing. Hoisington rushed for 114 yards and added 37 yards passing for 151 yards.
The Cardinals edged Beloit 26-20 when the teams met during the regular season. It marked Hoisington's fourth trip to the state semifinals in school history. Four-time state football champion Beloit (5-7) qualified for the state semifinals for the 11th time.
Hoisington 6 8 12 0 — 26
Beloit 0 0 0 0 — 0
H—Mason Haxton 32 run (run failed)—0:57
H—Holt Hanzlick 2 pass from M. Haxton (Hanzlick pass from M. Haxton)—1:37
H—Cole Steinert 7 run (pass failed)—8:51
H—Chase Robinson 39 pass from M. Haxton (run failed)—2:26
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—H—39-204; Hanzlick 20-85, Cade Mason 6-48, M. Haxton 5-43, Cole Steinert 6-28, Morris 1-2, Wikum 1-(-2); B—33-107; Benson Berndt 14-52, Tristan Thompson 4-15, Anthony Henke 9-22, Branson Hiserote 4-16, Owen Eilert 2-(-2)
PASSING—H—M. Haxton, 5-9-0, 107; B—Eilert 4-7-2, 40; Henke 0-1-0
RECEIVING—H—Chase Robinson 2-75, Dylan Richards 1-16, Steinert 1-14, Hanzlick 1-2; B—Thompson 1-18, Mattox Waters 2-14, Hunter Prohaska 1-8
INTERCEPTIONS—H—C. Robinson, Richards
CARDINAL OFFENSE—LT 51 Joshua Ball, 5-11, 190, 12; LG 70 Nolan Wilborn, 5-11, 202, 12; C 62 Logan Philbern, 6-0, 225, 12; RG 76 Caiden Hoffman, 6-3, 275, 9, RT 69 Legend Robinson, 6-0, 180, 12; SB/WR 3 Cole Steinert, 5-11, 167, 12; QB 7 Mason Haxton, 6-1, 177, 12; FB 27 Holt Hanzlick; SB; SB/WR 1 Cade Mason, 5-10, 157, 12; WR 15 Dylan Richards, 5-8, 150, 12; WR 22 Chase Robinson, 6-2, 188, 12
CARDINAL DEFENSE—DE 51 Joshua Ball; NG 62 Logan Philbern/76 Caiden Hoffman; DE 70 Nolan Wilborn; LB 3 Cole Steinert; OLB 1 Cade Mason; OLB 27 Holt Hanzlick; LB 69 Legend Robinson; CB 25 Hunter Morris/7 Mason Haxton; CB 15 Dylan Richards, 5-8, 150, 12; S 6 Wyatt Wikum, 5-11, 155, 11; S 22 Chase Robinson
HOISINGTON PLAYOFF HISTORY (22-20)
2020—Hoisington 47, Ellis 0; Hoisington 1, Cimarron 0; Hoisington 28, Garden Plain 14; Hoisington 26, Beloit 0; Hoisington vs. Rossville
2019—Hoisington 47, SW Heights 0; Hoisington 48, Lakin 7; Hoisington 48, Garden Plain 22; Norton 10, Hoisington 8
2018—2A—Hoisington 38, Sterling 13, Hoisington 41, Cimarron 18; Hoisington 30, Hutchinson Trinity 0; Phillipsburg 31, Hoisington 14
2017—3A—Hoisington 47, Cimarron 22; Phillipsburg 35, Hoisington 6
2016—3A—Hoisington 56, Lakin 13; Hoisington 20, Norton 0; Hoisington 49, Garden Plain 8; Hesston 35, Hoisington 19
2015—3A—Hoisington 76, Cimarron 19; Hoisington 50, Washington County 6; Halstead 44, Hoisington 6
2014—3A—Hoisington 48, Cimarron 6; Minneapolis 17, Hoisington 14
2013—3A—Holcomb 21, Hoisington 6
2012—3A—Holcomb 28, Hoisington 7
2009—3A—Hoisington 35, Phillipsburg 6; Scott City 41, Hoisington 7
2008—3A—Beloit 52, Hoisington 20
2007—3A—Hoisington 55, Holcomb 25; Hoisington 45, Sacred Heart 35; Garden Plain 55, Hoisington 7
2006—3A—Hoisington 41, Holcomb 28; Sacred Heart 48, Hoisington 45
2005—3A—Hesston 21, Hoisington 0
2004—3A—SE of Saline 20, Hoisington 19
2002—3A—Phillipsburg 14, Hoisington 13
1998—3A—Smith Center 74, Hoisington 0
1997—3A—Smith Center 50, Hoisington 14
1992—3A—Holcomb 20, Hoisington 14
1990—3A—Hoisington 6, Belleville 3; Chase County 7, Hoisington 6
1986—4A—Andale 21, Hoisington 6
HOISINGTON SEMIFINALS (1-3)
2020—2A—Hoisington 26, Beloit 0
2019—2A—Norton 10, Hoisington 8
2018—2A—Phillipsburg 31, Hoisington 14
2016—3A—Hesston 35, Hoisington 19
BELOIT SEMIFINALS (5-6)
2020—2A—Hoisington 26, Beloit 0
2013—3A—Beloit 36, Scott City 13
2012—3A—Scott City 42, Beloit 26
2010—3A—Conway Springs 59, Beloit 22
1996—3A—Beloit 28, Scott City 22
1986—4A—Norton 28, Beloit 7
1977—2A—Beloit 35, Oberlin 0
1976—3A—Beloit 28, Silver Lake 20
1975—2A—Beloit 20, Garden Plain 0
1974—2A—WaKeeney 28, Beloit 3
1970—3A—Ottawa 26, Beloit 0
