BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
HOISINGTON — Hoisington all-stater Wyatt Pedigo did his damage with six touchdowns and 282 yards rushing in the Cardinals' 41-19 Central Kansas League victory over Larned.
"We played with great effort. It was tough and we hung in there," said Hoisington coach Zac Baird. "We made big plays when we needed to."
Larned’s Mason Perez counterpunched with two touchdowns and 227 yards of total offense, but it wasn't enough to upset the state's No. 1-ranked 2A team.
Larned (2-1) was hurt by five turnovers, one at the Hoisington goal-line. Pedigo and Dylan Richards intercepted passes and Cardinals Avery Brewer, Cameron Schneweis and Cade Mason recovered fumbles.
“Pedigo is a terrific player," said Larned coach Tad Remy. "We knew he would get his yards but the turnovers killed us. Mason Perez was terrific as well. They are probably two of the best players in the Central Kansas League."
Pedigo got the Cardinals rolling in the first quarter with a 42-yard touchdown scamper. Larned missed a chance for a tying score when Hoisington recovered a Mason Perez fumble at the Cardinals’ 22.
Pedigo intercepted a Dillan Smith pass and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown and a 12-0 lead.
Larned’s Smith connected with Braydon Lemuz on a 16-yard touchdown pass to get the Indians within 12-6. Pedigo answered with a 43-yard touchdown for an 18-6 lead.
Pedigo's lost fumble with 51 seconds left in the half led to Smith's 13-yard TD pass to Perez. Fernando Herrera added the extra point for an 18-13 halftime score.
The game's key play came after Larned moved to the Hoisington 2-yard line on Perez and Jace Snyder runs and a 30-yard pass to Logan Coulson. Smith ran a quarterback keeper from the 2-yard line and fumbled into the end zone and Hoisington recovered.
A possible turning point for the Indians turned to disaster.
“That fumble really hurt," Remy said. "We were going to grab the lead and momentum. We got a big letdown. Hoisington scored and we were down two scores. We had five turnovers. You can’t do that against a good team."
Pedigo’s 2-yard run pushed the lead to 26-13. Mason Perez rambled 69 yards for a touchdown and a 26-19 score. Pedigo tacked on two fourth quarter scores for the final 41-19 margin.
Hoisington (3-0) plays Thomas More Prep. The Cardinals racked up 435 yards rushing and 12 yards passing. Pedigo rushed for 282 yards. He received backup support from the hard running of Joshua Ball.
Larned’s offense produced 216 yards rushing, 158 by Perez. Smith completed 11 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Larned's Tristen Burger, Kaden Pontius and Ibarra recovered fumbles.
Larned (2-1) opens 3A District play against Pratt (0-3) at Homecoming.
Larned 0 13 6 0 — 19
Hoisington 12 6 23 0 — 41
H—Wyatt Pedigo 43 run (kick failed); H—Pedigo 63 interception return (kick failed); L—Braydon Lemuz 16 pass from Dillan Smith; H—Pedigo 43 run (kick failed); L—Perez 13 pass from Smith (Fernando Herrera kick); H—Pedigo 2 run (Mason Haxton run); H—Pedigo 2 run (Pedigo run); L—Perez 71 run (kick failed); H—Pedigo 11 run (Haxton run); H—Pedigo 19 run (Steinert kick)
RUSHING—L—Perez 15-158; Snyder 8-48; Smith 7-31; Brock Skelton 2-(-11); H—55-435; Pedigo 25-282; Haxton 10-32; Steinert 3-27; Morris 4-9; Cade Mason 1-7; team 4-(-4).
PASSING—L—Smith 11-21-2, 163; H—Haxton 2-8-0, 12.
RECEIVING—L—Perez 5-79; Logan Coulson 2-37; Lemuz 2-29; Skelton 2-18; H—Ball 1-6; Steinert 1-6.
