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BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
When Great Bend travels to Hays for a titanic Western Athletic football showdown Friday, it's simply the highest profile game in Kansas.
The showdown chowcases Great Bend's Erin Beck and Hays High's Tony Crough, a former Great Bend football coach. Beck owns a 4-6 record after replacing Crough as head coach. Crough was 1-1 against Hays. He's 5-3 against the Panthers.
The winner between the Panthers (6-0, 2-0 WAC) and Hays (5-1, 2-0 WAC) clinches a WAC title and multiple 5A home playoff games.
"It's one of the most anticipated regular-season football games we've ever played at Great Bend," said Great Bend football coach Erin Beck. "We're playing against a rival school that ended our season last year."
The Panthers feature Notre Dame commit Ian Premer, Division 1 prospect Cooper Ohnmacht, quarterback Daxton Minton and the "bruise brothers," linebackers Trenton Kern and Kale Kern.
Hays counters with guard Gus Corsair (Oklahoma, Iowa State, Minnesota offers), nose guard Tanner Geist (Kansas State, Kansas interest) and scatback Holden Lind with 1,026 yards and eight touchdowns. The Indians use an effective run game to set up a big-play passing game.
The Indians travel by land (244 yards rushing) while the Panthers prefer a balanced offense (183 passing, 176 rushing). The hard-nosed Lind averages 171 yards with an elusive and crafty style. Hays quarterback Zane Viegra has thrown for 550 yards and six touchdowns.
"He's shifty, spins off tackles with speed to bust it loose," Beck said. "He's the cog who makes that offense go. We'll have to tackle well. Hays used a zone style run game. Their offensive line is as good as advertised. They've got weapons in the passing game that are dangerous.."
Great Bend's defense features a ball-hawking secondary with Ian Premer, Ohnmacht and Koehn Ribordy with 15 takeaways yielding 9 points and 204 yards per game.
"We'll approach this with the goal is getting better every day," Beck said. "We'll prepare just like any other game where you can't let your emotions get too high. We're preparing the right way against a quality opponent."
The Indians are battle tested with wins against 6A Derby, 6A Junction City and Oklahoma state champion Choctaw.
"We're a good football team and Hays has experience against good football teams," Beck said. "We're excited for the opportunity and prepared to meet a really good football team."
Quarterback Daxton Minton (981 passing, 381 rushing) operates a quick-strike offense that averages 48 points and 359 yards per game. Ian Premer (413-9 TDs), Ohnmacht (229-4 TDs) and tailback Conner Holladay (490-7 TDs) key a balanced offense.
"Their nose guard Geist is the best I've ever seen," Beck said. "They've got the ability to shut down a run game. Their defense likes to play with three high-safeties, but they'll give you different defensive looks."
Hays coach Tony Crough, a former Great Bend head coach, knows the rivalry from both sidelines.
"It's a rivalry game with a lot of emotion," Crough said in radio interview. "What this game means is seeding in the playoffs. But we'll probably play again. We've spent a calendar year with games that are pressure packed against great opponents."
The Indians want to establish a running game.
"Our run game is where our strength is, where we hang our hat," he said. "We learned that's how you win playoff games in November. We run the football and stop the run. Gus Corsair is one of the best offensive linemen in the country. Our offensive line is a unit that loves to move people. Holden Lind is tough, a phenomenal back. Our quarterback Zane Viegra has been running well. We control tempo and the clock."
The Indians will be tested by the Panthers' high-flying passing game.
"It's going to come down to their play-makers all over the field," Crough said. "We've got to find a way to hold those guys in check. They've got dynamic play-makers starting with their quarterback who makes things go. He gets the football to their guys in space."
HAYS (5-1) Derby 22-21; Choctaw, Okla. 21-19; Manhattan 8-10; Garden City 498-20; Junction City 34-28; Dodge City 42-19
GREAT BEND (6-0) McPherson 42-7; Olathe South 40-21; Buhler 38-14; Wichita North 75-8; Dodge City 41-0; Liberal 55-6
The classic match-up matches Great Bend's Beck and Hays High's Tony Crough, a former Great Bend coach. Beck owns a 4-6 record after replacing Crough as head coach. Crough was 1-1 against Hays. He's 5-3 against the Panthers.
ERIN BECK vs. HAYS (4-6)
2024—Great Bend 21, Hays 0
202—Hays 19, Great Bend 14
2023—Hays 28, Great Bend 27
2022—Hays 33, Great Bend 7
2021—Hays 51, Great Bend 0
2020—Hays 43, Great Bend 14
2019—Great Bend 46, Hays 30
2018—Great Bend 15, Hays 7
2017—Hays 21, Great Bend 20
2016—Great Bend 35, Hays 14
CROUGH GREAT BEND vs. HAYS (1-1)
2015—Great Bend 40, Hays 29
2014—Hays 49, Great Bend 6
CROUGH HAYS vs. GREAT BEND (5-3)
2024—Great Bend 21, Hays 0
2024—Hays 19, Great Bend 14
2023—Hays 28, Great Bend 27
2022—Hays 33, Great Bend 7
2021—Hays 51, Great Bend 0
2020—Hays 43, Great Bend 14
2019—Great Bend 46, Hays 30
2018—Great Bend 15, Hays 7
WESTERN ATHLETIC SATURDAY
10 a.m.—Great Bend vs. Dodge City; Hays vs. Garden City
11 a.m.—Great Bend vs. Garden City; Liberal vs. Dodge City
1 p.m.—Great Bend vs. Hays; Liberal vs. Garden City
2 p.m.—Hays vs. Liberal; Garden City vs. Dodge City
3 p.m.—Great Bend vs. Liberal; Hays vs. Dodge City
