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Panthers, Eagles match styles
29 gage fritzC.JPG

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