It was a slow start for the Great Bend High School football team.
It was an equally slow start for Newton in the Class 5A District 6 game on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
The Panthers found their offensive footing and their defense came up with numerous stops to shut down Newton and win 27-0.
“The defense should really be the story,” GBHS head coach Tony Crough said. “Anytime you can get a shutout against a district team is big. The defense was just incredible.
“They have been a dominant force this year, and they had a dominant performance against Newton.”
The Panthers defense had one sack and nine tackles for a loss. Nick Gerdes led Great bend with two solo tackles and 10 assisted tackles.
Great Bend sits at 1-0 in the district along with Salina South, which defeated Salina Central 14-7.
“It’s huge,” Crough said of winning the first district game. “The way the playoffs system is set up, it’s very important. You get some wiggle room after winning the first game.
“Unfortunately, we have the two Salina teams in front of us, and they are both very good. We’re going to have to find out a way to get a win against one of them.”
Misfortune led to Great Bend’s first touchdown against Newton.
Both teams played through the first quarter without giving up a point.
That changed with 2:13 remaining in the first half.
Great Bend faced a fourth-and-12 from the Newton 14-yard line in the final three minutes in the first half.
Armando Dominguez came out to attempt the field goal, but a low snap caused the play to break up.
However, a personal foul on the defense gave Great Bend new life. Now the Panthers faced a fourth-and-five from the Newton 7-yard line.
Great Bend quarterback Shade Wondra completed a dart to Thomas Bobbitt in the back of the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown.
Bobbitt, one of two running backs for Great Bend, had 99 rushing yards.
The extra point was blocked, leaving Great Bend ahead 6-0.
That was the score heading into halftime.
The Panthers found the end zone again late in the third quarter.
With 3:45 remaining, Wondra punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown.
The two-point conversion resulted in an incomplete pass, leaving the Panthers ahead 12-0.
That was the first of three late-game touchdowns for Great Bend.
One drive later, senior Trent Uselton broke loose for a 41-yard sprint across the goal line. He punched in the two-point conversion for a 20-0 Great Bend advantage.
Another three-and-out for the Railers led to another Uselton touchdown.
This time, the senior running back found a seem for a 21-yard TD.
Uselton had a team-leading 104 rushing yards and two scores. He averaged 13 yards per carry.
“Our running back competition has hit full force,” Crough said of Uselton and Bobbitt. “We feel comfortable giving the ball to both of these guys. They both held on the ball well.
“Bobbitt had more carries this game, but Uselton had more yards.”
Dominguez hit the extra point to make it 27-0.
Once more, the Great Bend defense shuts down a Newton drive and Great Bend ran out the clock for the win.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Class 5A District 6

Friday

At Great Bend
Memorial Stadium

Great Bend 27, Newton 0
Newton    0    0     0    0  —   0
Great Bend    0    6    14    7  —  27

SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
(no scoring)
Second quarter
Great Bend — Thomas Bobbitt 7 run (Armando Dominguez kick failed).
Third quarter
Great Bend — Shade Wondra 1 run (pass failed).
Great Bend — Trent Uselton 41 run (Uselton run).
Fourth quarter
Great Bend — Uselton 21 run (Dominguez kick good).