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Area football roundup: Week 4
Cardinals march into week four undefeated
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Area football roundup: Week 4 - photo by Dr. Dan Witt

Hoisington will have the opportunity to improve to 4-0 this week as the Cardinals host winless Hillsboro. The last 4-0 start for Hoisington came nine years ago as coach Lonnie Irvin’s Cardinals won their first seven games and finished the season at 9-2. The last 3-0 start for Hoisington came in back-to-back campaigns in 2009 and 2010. Hoisington started the 2007 season also at 3-0.

The Cards took care of Pratt on the road last week in a 34-14 victory. Hoisington took a 21-7 lead to the half and scattered a 13-7 run over the third and fourth quarter for the win. Hunter Hanzlick led the ground attack with 20 carries for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Specht posted 13 rushes for 70 yards and two scores. Specht also completed five of six passes for 22 yards including a ten yard scoring strike to Hanzlick late in the second quarter.

Hoisington tallied 314 yards of total offense against the Greenbacks with 292 coming off the ground.

Hillsboro, 0-3, is looking for their first season win Friday following a 55-7 loss to visiting Halstead. The Trojans opened the season on the road with a 46-23 setback to Sterling. Hillsboro then fell in their home opener against Haven by a final score of 22-14.

Other area action:

Larned (1-2) @ Nickerson (1-2)

The Indians will look to regroup following a heartbreaking 15-13 loss at Kingman last Friday.

The game started out favoring the defenses as both teams made their way into the opposition’s red zone but failed to reach pay dirt.

In the second period Kingman’s Payton Pickering scored on a 75 yard sprint. The two-point conversion was tacked on giving the Eagles an 8-0 lead. Larned responded at 5:34 as Evan Skelton connected with Isaiah Perez from 23 yards away. The Indians were unable to convert the PAT and trailed Kingman at the break, 8-6.

After a scoreless third quarter the Eagles spread the gap with 8:02 remaining in regulation as Pickering scored again. Kingman nailed the PAT kick for a 15-8 advantage. Larned pounced with 5:12 remaining as Skelton’s 18-yard pass found Tanner Galliart in the Eagle end zone. The PAT kick was good but the Eagles maintained the lead up 15-13 and went on for the eventual victory.

Meanwhile the Nickerson Panthers picked up their first victory of the season last week with a 45-13 bruising of Lyons.
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St. John (0-3) @ Central Plains (2-1)

The Oilers sport a two game win streak after a 74-0 crushing of Macksville last week in CPHS’ home opener. The Oilers have outscored their opponents 140-0 over their last two games. St. John is looking for their first win following a 52-6 loss against No. 1 Victoria.  The Tigers’ Kevin Neri-Leon caught a 36-yard scoring pass in the first period from Cashe McVey but it was the only time the Tigers saw the end zone in last week's loss to the Knights.
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Ellinwood (2-1) @ Macksville (0-3)

First year head coach Jason Duvall’s Eagles improved to 2-1 while handing Kinsley their third straight scoreless loss in a dominating 46-0 victory over the visiting Coyotes last week.

Ellinwood’s Jordan Duvall led the charge with three carries for 83 yards and five touchdowns against Kinsley. Kaleb Schartz led the Eagle defense with ten tackles and a fumble recovery.

The Mustangs are looking for their first win following last week’s shutout loss to Central Plains.
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Otis-Bison (3-0) @ Kinsley (0-3)

OBHS snagged 359 yards of offense while holding Ness City to 192 in last week’s 58-20 road win over the Eagles.

Kade Urban polled 19 carries for 118 yards and six touchdowns while Brad Lightfoot carried the ball 19 times for 167 yards and two scores.

The Cougars look to improve to 4-0 Friday against a Coyote team that fell in a 46-0 shutout decision to host Ellinwood a week ago.
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Stafford (2-1) @ South Barber (2-1)

Stafford has been on a roll following back-to-back wins against Burrton and Hutchinson Central Christian.

The Trojans rallied from a 26-8 halftime deficit en route to a thrilling 48-46 overtime victory over the Cougars last week at Hutch.

Tied at 40 at the end of regulation the game came down to a missed extra point by the Cougars as Stafford improves to 2-1 in 2015.

Josh Harter posted 14 carries for 50 yards and two touchdowns while Logan Shocklee carried 19 times for 116 yards and a score.

Caleb Hildebrand paced the defense with 17 tackles.

The Cheftains suffered their first loss of the season last week in a 60-12 setback to visiting Spearville. South Barber started the season at 2-0 following 26-0 and 54-6 victories against Pratt-Skyline and Oxford.