Hays (5-1, 2-0) at Great Bend (6-0, 3-0)

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BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

As rivalries go, No. 2 ranked 5A Hays High (5-1) and No. 3 ranked 4A Great Bend is at the top in the Western Athletic Conference.

Friday's state-ranked showdown will provide a measuring stick for both teams with an eye on making a postseason run.

"Rivalries in sports are a good thing," said Great Bend football coach Erin Beck. "Hays week raises our intensity level. We feel it in our focus and attention and on Friday night."

Great Bend's sweep over Hays the past two years insured a third playoff meeting in 2024 and 2025.

"There's less pressure than last year because we aren't in the same class," Beck said. "Playing Hays is a good spot for us. We'll see where we are as a football team and learn from it. We have to get better because we have high aspirations."

It's a classic Hays defense versus Panther offensive showdown. Oregon commit Gus Corair sparks a Hays defense that yields 6 points and 158 yards per game. The Panthers average 215 yards rushing and 162 yards passing.

Panther quarterback Maxson Smiley has thrown for 1,236 yards and 15 scores. Cal Schartz has 531 yards rushing. Cooper Ohnmacht has 44 catches for 553 yards.

"Their defensive line controls the line of scrimmage using three guys and a couple of linebackers," Beck said. "I'm impressed with how their defense flies around. They'll bring blitzes and give different looks and pressures. They'll play with a lot of guys in coverage."

Beck wants to create a balance between the run and pass game. How Hays defends Kansas State commit Ohnmacht will dictate Beck's approach.

"We want to be as balanced as we can to keep them guessing," Beck said. "We've got to run the football effectively at times. We have confidence in all our receivers. We've got several guys who can beat you, which is a luxury."

Indian back Archer Amrein (457 yards) and Braxton Basgall (370 yards) lead a Hays offense that averages 182 yards rushing and 94 yards passing per game.

Beck likes the maturity of his seniors and team leaders.

"We play football loose, relaxed, play the game and have fun with it," he said. "They have a next-play mentality."

PANTHER OFFENSE—1—Cal Schartz, RB; 2—Cooper Ohnmacht, WR; 5—Maxson Smiley, QB; 7—Kale Kern, TE; 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; 27—Blake Suppes, MIKE; 50—Cole Fanshier, DE; 58—Colby Spore, DT; 73—Josue Bustamante, DT

HAYS OFFENSE—2—Joey Dintino, QB; 5—Jace Dreher, WR; 13—Braxton Basgall, RB; 18—Vinny Walker, WR; 33—Brian Prough, WB; 50—Kaeson Legleiter, RG; 53—Bryan Obour, TE; 70—C; 71—LG; 75—RT; 77—LG

HAYS DEFENSE—6—Riley Windholz, S; 8—Archer Amrein, LB; 9—Ari Patel, LB; 19—Ty Scheve, LB; 25—CB; 26—CB; 30—S; 50—Kaeson Legleiter, DT; 56—Jacob Leiker, LB; 66—Gus Corsair, DT; 74—Caleb Englert, DT; 77—DT