It was Great Bend High School's Johnny Allende's time to flash and dash, his opportunity to run circles around Hoisington's defenders on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Allende, a senior running back, didn't disappoint. He rushed 25 times for 204 yards and scored three touchdowns, leading the Class 5A Panthers to a 35-7 drubbing of the 3A Cardinals at Memorial Stadium.

Allende, who had a 16-yard touchdown burst in the first quarter, as GBHS built a 15-7 halftime lead, also added 27- and 3-yard scoring runs in the third quarter. Trent Uselton also had a 4-yard scoring run during that stretch.

In a mistake-plagued first half, Great Bend fumbled three times, losing two, and Hoisington fumbled three times, losing one, as the Panthers led 15-7 at halftime.

Great Bend capitalized first. Allende recovered a Cardinals fumble on their opening play from scrimmage at the Hoisington 21-yard line.

Seven plays later, the Panthers were in the end zone.

On a critical third-down play, GBHS quarterback Bryce Beck gained 12 yards on third down for a fourth-and-4 situation at the 14. Opting to go for a first down instead of a field goal, Great Bend's Keaton Elliott's 4-yard gain gave the Panthers a first down at the 10.

After Allende's 7-yard gain on second down planted the Panthers at the 1, Beck scored from there and Carlos Prado kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 5:18 left in the first quarter.

A shanked 12-yard punt by the Cardinals gave the Panthers a short field at the Hoisington 41. Allende started the drive with a 16-yard gain on first down and capped it four plays later with a 16-yard touchdown scamper to increase Great Bend's lead to 13-0 at the 2:11 mark in the second quarter.

Great Bend bumped its lead to 15-0 after Ramses Lopez tackled Cardinals fullback Avery Urban in the end zone for a safety with 7:30 remaining in the second quarter.

Hoisington scored its only points after Urban's 3-yard TD plunge with 4:07 left before halftime. It capped a seven-play, 57-yard drive that began after the Cardinals recovered a fumble off a free kick at the GBHS 43 following the safety.

The Panthers entertain 4A Ulysses this coming Friday night, starting at 7.

Liberal defeated Ulysses 56-41 on Friday night.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Non-Conference

Friday

At Great Bend

Memorial Stadium

Great Bend 35, Hoisington 7

Hoisington                   0    7    0   0  —   7

Great Bend                 13   2   20   0  —  35

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Great Bend — Bryce Beck 1 run (Carlos Prado kick), 5:18

Great Bend — Johnny Allende 16 run (kick blocked), 2:11

Second Quarter

Great Bend — Safety (Hoisington ball-carrier tackled in end zone), 7:30

Hoisington — Avery Urban 2 run (Brandon Ball kick), 4:07

Third Quarter

Great Bend — Allende 28 run (kick failed), 8:36

Great Bend — Trent Uselton 4 run (Prado kick), 4:17

Great Bend — Allende 3 run (Prado kick) :47.3

Fourth Quarter

No scoring