DEFENSIVE ATTITUDE
By JIM MISUNAS
Great Bend linebacker Brock Blessing set an aggressive tone with a tackle for a safety on Andover Central’s second play.
The Panthers later created a defensive masterpiece with a signature series.
Pablo Martinez chased down back Ty Herrmann for a 15-yard loss. Blake Penka sacked quarterback Chase White for a 10-yard loss. Matt Zorn and Eric Vasquez trapped Herrmann for a 4-yard loss to leave the Jaguars with 4th-and-39.
The Panthers sacked the Jaguars for 26 yards in losses on their first seven running plays. Penka garnered seven tackles, three for loss.
"That was fun. Our defense came out and set the tone," said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. "Our guys up front handled their offensive line. They played the type of game we'd like to see."
Great Bend roared to a 30-7 victory over Andover Central in Friday’s non-league football game that was called at halftime because of lightning. Play was suspended at 7:29 p.m. after a 6 p.m. kickoff.
The Panthers (4-2, 2-0 WAC) are ranked fourth in 5A West football heading to Liberal (1-5) next week.
The Panthers rolled up 343 offensive yards as quarterback Koy Brack threw for 219 yards and three touchdown passes to Alex Schremmer, who had 128 yards in receptions. The offensive line of center Kaden Schroeder, guards Payton Doll and Marcus Schmeidler and tackles Andrew Wettengel and Tate Murray provided perfect protection.
"Our offensive line did a great job keeping Koy Brack clean," Beck said. "Koy Brack and Alex Schremmer have a good connection. We did a great job catching the football after missing a few."
Punter Brack keyed the opening safety with a kick that rolled out-of-bounds at the 5-yard line.
Dalton Miller’s interception of a pass by Chase White set up the Panthers for a 53-yard scoring drive. Schremmer scored on a 25-yard touchdown keyed by Peyton Duvall’s block for a 9-0 lead.
Schremmer’s wizardry was on full display on a dazzling 38-yard weaving jet sweep keyed by a crushing block by Duvall. Brack scrambled for 14 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown for a 16-0 lead with 7:44 left in the half.
Wide receiver Calan Haberman soared into the air for a 31-yard reception to key the Panthers’ third touchdown. Schemmer beat defensive back Gunnar Johanek for an 18-yard score on a perfect pass for a 23-0 lead.
The Jaguars responded with a 65-yard scoring drive capped by Xavier Bell’s 15-yard touchdown reception from White. White threw for 57 yards on the drive with 1:34 until halftime.
Brack was near perfect on a 56-yard scoring drive with seven completions in 74 seconds. Schremmer delivered an ESPN-worthy catch when he stole an 11-yard touchdown reception from Kyren Parrott with 23 seconds left in the half.
"We executed that two-minute drive perfectly," Beck said. "We go as fast as we can. We practice that pace all the time."
PANTHERS 30, JAGUARS 7
AC 0 7 – 7
GB 2 28 – 30
GB—Safety (Brock Blessing tackles R.J. Bethea)—10:08
GB—Ty Schremmer 25 pass from Koy Brack (Dani Franco kick)—11:53
GB—Brack 1 run (Franco kick)—7:44
GB—Schremmer 18 pass from Brack (Franco kick)—4:42
AC—Xavier Bell 15 pass from Chase White (Blake Robison kick)—1:37
GB—Schremmer 11 pass from Brack (Franco kick)—0:23
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—AC—13-(-24); R.J. Bethea 4-10; Bell 1-(-4); Ty Herrmann 4-(-13); White 4-(-17); GB—18-134; Gage Fritz 9-67; Schremmer 3-52; Brack 3-16; Dalton Miller 3-(-1).
PASSING—AC—Bell 11-15-1; 103; GB—Brack 15-26-0, 219.
RECEIVING—AC—Bell 4-66; Ben Chambers 1-15; Peyton Jensen 1-14; Herrmann 4-11; Tate Forcella 1-(-3); GB—Schremmer 7-128; Miller 4-28; Duvall 2-29; Haberman 2-34.
