BY JIM MISUNAS
Great Bend’s super sophomore class is literally growing up before our eyes.
Sophomore quarterback Daxton Minton threw three touchdown passes and sophomore Ian Premer caught a touchdown pass and delivered the game’s signature play with a crucial interception that the Panthers converted into a 29-16 opening football victory over McPherson.
“McPherson has had our number,” said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. “We achieved our goal. It’s a special moment.”
McPherson’s amazing kicker Blaise Hoover handed the Bullpups a 16-14 lead with a 46-yard field goal to start the second half.
Minton was just getting heated up. Minton converted a third down on a quarterback draw and scrambled to find Jacob Hall for a 30-yard touchdown on fourth down and eight.
“He makes plays when protection break down. We saw that on his touchdown pass to Jacob Hall,” Beck said. “Minton is a competitor who’s always willing to learn and adjust.”
Premer made the game’s first big play on a 43-yard touchdown reception. He read a pass perfectly and returned an interception 30 yards to set up the game-clinching touchdown. Minton’s key play was a perfectly executed 15-yard inside screen pass to Cody Miller. Colton Brack caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Minton after faking a block.
“Ian Premer looks comfortable at free safety reading the defense,” Beck said. “He makes big play after big play.”
McPherson had punished the Panthers with a powerful inside running game the past few years. But Panther middle linebackers Matthew Johnson (5 tackles, 10 assists) and Trenton Kern (2 tackles, 9 assists) stuffed the run game
“Our linebackers Johnson and Trenton Kern are men,” Beck said. “They gave McPherson fits. We shut down their inside zone run game."
"Our defense played lights out. When our offense stalled, our defense picked us up. Kaiden Hoffman (3 tackles, 7 assists) had big defensive sticks. To see D’Onn Jones play like that was exciting. He’s a special player. We made them drive the football."
Miller led the run game with 78 yards, keyed at times by Colton’s Brack’s blocking.
“Colton Brack and that senior leadership is a great combination,” Beck said. “He goes in as H-back and picks up all the dirty stuff.”
Great Bend enjoyed a perfect start to lead McPherson 14-0. Minton completed a nifty 43-yard touchdown pass to Premer. Freshman Cooper Ohnmacht delivered a defensive game by returning a tipped pass 79 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead after Diego Soto's extra point kick.
“Cooper made a great play. No one was catching him,” Beck said. “He’s got some skill.”
McPherson swung the momentum after the Panthers failed to convert a fourth down from midfield rather than punt to gain field position.
The Bullpups rolled 48 yards for a 14-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Owen Fetsch to Cory Muehler, who was unstoppable with 10 catches for 94 yards. McPherson followed with a 56-yard scoring drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fetsch to Teegan Haines. The extra-point was blocked, leaving the Panthers ahead 14-13.
At that point, McPherson had run 52 offensive snaps to 11 by the Panthers. But McPherson drew a 15-yard flag, followed by a pair of 5-yard kickoff flags that forced them to kick off at the 15-yard line.
Great Bend nearly turned that into a touchdown, but McPherson defender Javyn Alexander stripped the football from Cody Miller at the Bullpup 3-yard with under 20 seconds left in the first half.
‘Their linebacker made a great play,” Beck said.
McPherson 0 13 3 0 – 16
Great Bend 14 0 0 15 – 29
GB—Ian Premer 43 pass from Daxton Minton (Diego Soto kick)
GB—Cooper Ohnmacht 80 interception return (Soto kick)
MC—Cory Muehler 14 pass from Owen Fetsch (Blaise Hoover kick)
MC—Teegan Haines 10 pass from Fetsch (kick blocked)
MC—Hoover 46 FG
GB—Jacob Hall 30 pass from Minton (Kale Kern pass from Minton)
GB—Colton Brack 2 pass from Minton (Soto kick)
RUSHING—MC—35-147; Carlos German 15-74; Fetsch 6-31; Muehler 2-10; Jayce Schriner 1-4; team 1-(-16); GB—27-85; Miller 20-80; Minton 4-17; team 3-(-12)
PASSING—MC—Fetsch 18-34-2, 111; GB—Minton 11-20-0, 162
RECEIVING—MC—Muehler 10-94; Haines 1-10; Brown 1-6; Wedel 1-4; Schriner 1-(-3); Roth 4-3; GB—Premer 3-70; Hall 2-43; Miller 3-28; Brack 2-17; Spray 1-4
