BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
NORTON — Wingback Cameron Davis scored three touchdowns and Hoisington’s rugged defense shut down Norton for a 20-0 Class 3A football playoff victory over the Bluejays Saturday. The Cardinals posted their first road playoff victory since 2006 when they beat Holcomnb 41-28.
The No. 1 Cardinals (11-0) meet Garden Plain (10-1) in Friday’s quarterfinal game at Hoisington. The Cardinals are riding a 19-game home winning streak. Hoisington has reached the 3A quarterfinals for the fourth time. They’ve lost to Halstead (2015), Garden Plain (2007) and Chase County (1990) in previous quarterfinal games.
“Defensively, we were lights out tonight,” said Hoisington coach Zach Baird. “We were good across the board. It’s a special atmosphere playing in the road. We played a good football team in Norton.”
Davis scored on touchdown runs of 3, 10 and 55 yards to help the Cardinals overcome the loss of all-time leading rusher Hunter Hanzlick to an elbow injury in the first quarter. Davis rushed for 141 yards in 12 attempts. Tailback Sean Urban rushed for 154 yards on 25 attempts.
“Sean Urban earned every yard against a big physical football team,” Baird said. “He played with great effort and desire to be successful.”
The story was Hoisington’s rugged defense against quarterback Jace Ruder, a Division 1 recruit. Ruder passed for 118 yards, but was limited to six yards rushing. Jeremy Bright and Grant Dolechek had sacks.
“Ruder is a heck of a football player, a great player. Our guys did a great job when they had a chance to make a big play,” Baird said. “Our seniors Bright and Dolechek played their guts out and were a huge force tonight.”
HOISINGTON 20, NORTON 0
HH 0 13 7 0 – 20
N 0 0 0 0 – 0
SCORING SUMMARY
HH—Cameron Davis 10 run (Inigo Barrena Carpio kick)
HH—Davis 3 run (kick failed)
HH—Davis 55 run (Barrena-Carpio kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—HH—Sean Urban 25-154, Davis 12-141; Hunter Hanzlick 3-26, Tyler Specht 7-17, Curtis 1-1; Norton—Jace Ruder 12-6, Tevin Petrie 4-4, C. Wallace 2-2.
PASSING—HH—Specht 3-5-0, 15; Norton—Ruder 12 completions, 118 yards.
RECEIVING—HH—Davis 1-15, Urban 2-0; Norton—Will Ellis 4-46, Tyus Henson 4-44, Koby McEwen 2-7, H. Wilfong 2-21.
HOISINGTON PLAYOFF HISTORY (9-16)
2016, 3A—Hoisington 56, Lakin 13; Hoisington 20, Norton 0; Hoisington vs. Garden Plain
2015, 3A—Hoisington 76, Cimarron 19; Hoisington 50, Washington County 6; Halstead 44, Hoisington 8
2014, 3A—Hoisington 48, Cimarron 6; Minneapolis 17, Hoisington 14
2013, 3A—Holcomb 21, Hoisington 7
2012, 3A—Holcomb 28, Hoisington 7
2009, 3A—Hoisington 35, Phillipsburg 6; Scott City 41, Hoisington 7
2008, 3A—Beloit 52, Hoisington 20
2007, 3A—Hoisington 55, Holcomb 25; Hoisington 45, Salina Sacred Heart 35; Garden Plain 55, Hoisington 7
2006, 3A—Hoisington 41, Holcomb 28; Salina Sacred Heart 48, Hoisington 45
2005, 3A—Hesston 21, Hoisington 0
2004, 3A—SE Saline 20, Hoisington 19
2002, 3A—Phillipsburg 14, Hoisington 13
1998, 3A—Smith Center 74, Hoisington 0
1997, 3A—Smith Center 50, Hoisington 14
1992, 3A—Holcomb 20, Hoisington 14
1990, 3A—Hoisington 6, Belleville 3; Chase County 7, Hoisington 6
1986, 4A—Andale 21, Hoisington 6
CLASS 3A
WEST BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
Garden Plain 12, Wichita Independent 7
Halstead 36, SE Saline 22
Hoisington 56, Lakin 13
Norton 28, Marysville 20
Hesston 48, Sterling 8
Chaparral 48, Douglass 16
Phillipsburg 49, Riley County 27
Larned 35, Cimarron 30
SECOND ROUND
Garden Plain 34, Halstead 20
Hoisington 20, Norton 0
Hesston 35, Chaparral 20
Phillipsburg 14, Larned 7
FRIDAY’S SEMIFINALS
Garden Plain 10-1 at Hoisington 11-0, 7 p.m.
Hesston 8-3 at Phillipsburg 11-0, 7 p.m.
EAST BRACKET
FIRST ROUND
Nemaha Central 61, Pleasant Ridge 6
Silver Lake 50, Mission Valley 0
Wellsville 54, Humboldt 6
Galena 42, Fredonia 14
Rossville 41, Perry 14
Sabetha 62, Maur Hill 28
Caney Valley 51, Riverton 14
Osage City 20, Jayawk Linn 14
SECOND ROUND
Nemaha Central 21, Silver Lake 14
Wellsville 27, Galena 22
Rossville 34, Sabetha 28
Caney Valley 43, Osage City 16
FRIDAY’S SEMIFINALS
Wellsville 10-1 at Nemaha Central 11-0, 7 p.m.
Caney Valley 9-2 at Rossville 10-1, 7 p.m.
