Great Bend (8-2) at Maize (9-1)
7 p.m. Maize High
Radio—104.3 FM
Video—nfhsnetwork.com/events/maize-high-school-maize-ks/gam4516fdb07d
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
MAIZE — When Great Bend’s football team watches Maize High, it’s like looking in the mirror.
Both teams feature all-league quarterbacks in one-back offenses featuring a trio of talented receivers.
The undersized Panther defense is identical to the Eagles, who average 182 pounds on the defensive side.
Mother Nature will challenge the teams with a high of 37 degrees and chill indexes in the 20s at 7 p.m. Friday at Maize.
Brack has thrown for 1,891 yards and 20 touchdowns. Alex Schremmer has 50 catches for 1,015 yards and a school record 13 touchdowns. Gage Fritz has rushed for 1,108 yards and eight scores.
“We’re excited about the way we’re playing football,” Beck said. “It’s an exciting time of the year. They are hungry and ready to go. Once the adrenaline kicks in, the temperature won’t matter.”
The Panthers knocked off Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 31-7 in Beck’s best coaching victory in three years.
“That’s our best team win because we played together and as a team,” Beck said. “We felt the air come out of Kapaun. That’s a sign of a team that cares about playing for each other.”
Linebacker Blake Penka delivered the signature tackle last week.
“We have confidence in our defense,” Beck said. “We want the other team to drive the football 80 yards on us.”
Maize’s defense relies on a front four that weighs 197 pounds per man. The Eagles are plus seven on turnovers.
“It’s a small, quick defense, very similar to our defense,” Beck said. “Their front six flies around and creates turnovers. Their defense will challenge us. If we can exploit some things, we’ll take advantage.”
South Dakota State basketball recruit Caleb Grill of Maize has thrown for 27 touchdowns and 2,328 yards.
“Caleb Grill is one of the most talented players in 5A who will throw it anytime, anywhere,” Beck said. “He improvises and has ability to run the football. He’s got big playmaking ability.”
BY THE NUMBERS
MAIZE (9-1)—W—Valley Center 49-0; W—Hutchinson 49-0; W—Campus 21-0; W—Newton 45-0; W—Goddard 27-2; W—Salina South 42-7; W—Salina Central 48-26; L—Derby 21-35; W—Liberal 56-15; W—Maize South 35-0
GREAT BEND (8-2)—W—Andover High 35-12; W—Hays High 15-7; L— Wichita Northwest 34-56; W—Dodge City 35-15; L—Wichita Carroll 33-36; W—Andover Central 30-7; W—Liberal 35-6; W—Garden City 49-6; W—Valley Center 35-18; W—Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 31-7
RUSHING—GB—321-1,916 yards; Gage Fritz 158-1,108-8 TD; Dalton Miller 69-502-4 TD; Koy Brack 83-263-12 TDs; M—Caden Cox 184-889, 13 TDs; Scott Adams 48-196, 3 TDs; Caleb Grill 41-135, 8 TDs
PASSING—GB—Brack, 119-208-10, 1,891 yards, 20 TDs; M—Grill 172-279-7, 2,328 yards, 27 TDs
RECEIVING—GB—Alex Schremmer, 50-1,015-13 TDs; Peyton Duvall, 24-334-1 TD; Miller 23-299-4 TDs; Calan Haberman 17-186, 2 TD; M—Preven Christon 43-626, 7 TDs; Jordon Heim 30-437, 3 TDs; Deriq Doty 30-308, 5 TDs; Brandle Studevan 22-241, 1 TD; K.J. Hampton 18-228, 3 TDs
TACKLES—GB—Blake Penka 88 tackles-12 loss; Dalton Miller, 83-5 int.; Brock Blessing 64; Pablo Martinez 50-9 loss; Alan Miramontes 43
PANTHER OFFENSE
WR—2 Alex Schremmer
WR—3 Peyton Duvall
WR—7 Calan Haberman
QB—12 Koy Brack
WR—16 Dalton Miller
TB—29 Gage Fritz
LG—58 Marcus Schmeidler
RG—62 Payton Doll
C—71 Kade Schroeder
RT—73 Andrew Wettengel
LT—75 Tate Murray
PANTHER DEFENSE
CB—1 Bryce Brown
LB—5 Brock Blessing
NG—11 Pablo Martinez
SS—16 Dalton Miller
OLB—17 Alex Olivas
CB—33 Townshend Kurth
LB—34 Blake Penka
LB—35 Zach Seymour
OLB—36 Joey Soupiset
DE—52 Alan Miramontes
DE—85 Matt Zorn
EAGLE OFFENSE
QB—1 Caleb Grill
WR—13 Jordon Helm
WR—22 Preven Christon
TB—25 Caden Cox
C—52 Jacob Quiggle
LG—54 Nate Harding
LT—57 Elijah Owens
RG—73 Jacob Schonhoff
RT—75 Nic DeVore
WR—83 Deriq Doty
WR—88 J.J. Hampton
EAGLE DEFENSE
CB—12 Cameron Grimes
DB-LB—16 Tanner Ohnmeis
S—20 Adrian Triana
S—21 Jose Ledesma
LB—26 Carson Shivley
CB—27 Andrew Hanlin
RT—30 Kyle Haas
LT—31 Keaton Robertson
MLB—45 Kendal Norrod
LE—47 Noah Stanton
RE—50 Brett Jesseph
