Great Bend (2-0) at Garden City (2-0), 7 p.m.
RADIO—104.3 FM
VIDEO—swkssportsnetwork/com/gchs/
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
If offensive numbers mean anything, Great Bend and Garden City could be headed for a high-powered Western Athletic Conference shootout Friday.
The Buffaloes are averaging 40 ppg, 237 yards passing and 215 yards rushing per game. Great Bend is averaging 32 ppg, 216 yards rushing and 159 yards passing per game.
Panther back Cal Schartz (256 yards) and Buffalo tailback Jakobe Rathbun (220 yards) lead their respective teams.
Buffalo receivers Mackey Hemmert (187 yards) and Drew Strecker (152 yards as top targets for quarterback Tatum Heavner targets
The Panthers have swept 20 consecutive regular season games and own a 4-game win streak against the Buffaloes.
"Garden City is a better football team than they've been the last couple of years," said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. "They want to run the football, but they can play balanced football. Their quarterback is good. They've got a tough running back and good receivers."
Panthers Cooper Ohnmacht (152 yards) and Alec Premer (82 yards) are primary targets for quarterback Maxson Smiley.
"When we got behind the sticks, we weren't as good last week," Beck said. "We'd like to be better on third-down offense. Credit to Mc for us not being as consistent. You always try to get better at tackling."
Defensively, the Buffaloes yield 14 ppg and 282 yards per game. Great Bend is yielding 15.5 ppg and 274 yards per game.
"Garden City has good linebackers and they'll bring pressure with them," Beck said. "Their d-line is solid. Their secondary is quick."
No. 4 state-ranked 4A Great Bend (2-0) and Garden City (2-0) join Hays (2-0), Dodge City (2-0) and Liberal (2-0) with unbeaten records for the first time in WAC history through week 2.
PANTHER OFFENSE—1—Cal Schartz, RB; 2—Cooper Ohnmacht, WR; 5—Maxson Smiley, QB; 7—Kale Kern, WR or 24—Jaxon Wondra, WR; 13—Alec Premer, WR; 24—Jaxon Wondra, WR or 8—Jaden Prilling, WR; 54—Gavynn Maddox, C; 57—Keeton Bray, RT; 58—Colby Spore, LT; 59—Brady Mendez, RG; 73—Josue Bustamante, LG
PANTHER DEFENSE—1—Cal Schartz, S; 2—Cooper Ohnmacht, S; 3—Carter Dreiling, STAR; 4—Hayden Liles, CB; 6—Gavin Wondra, CB; 24—Jaxon Wondra, DE; or 59—Brady Mendez, DE; 27—Blake Suppes, MIKE; or 24—Jaxon Wondra, MIKE; 50—Cole Fanshier, DE; 58—Colby Spore, DT; 73—Josue Bustamante, DT
GARDEN CITY OFFENSE—2—Jakobe Rathbun, TB; 3—Tatum Heavner, QB; 6—Drew Strecker, TE; 8—Gabriel Gurrola, WR; 16—Mackey Hemmert, WR; 19—Andrew Wessels, HBACK; 52—Hudson Holguin, LT; 53—Fernando Barragan Rivas, RT; 62—Juan Rivera, C; 65—Victor Meta Martinez, RG; 76—Julian Trigoyen Aguirre, RLG
GARDEN CITY DEFENSE—2—Jakobe Rathbun, LB; 6—Drew Strecker, LB; 8—Gabriel Gurrola, FS; 9—Landon Moquett, LB; 18—Isaiah Guerrero, CB; 22—Javyn Morales, CB; 25—Dayton Brunson, MLB; 52—Hudson Holguin, DE; 55—Antonio Garcia, DT; 80—Isaac Guerrero, DE; 76—Julian Trigoyen Aguirre, DT
