HOISINGTON – Hoisington High defensive end Ben Schneider set the tone with the first sack on Cimarron quarterback Nick Ast.
The Cardinals sacked Ast seven times and converted six takeaways into touchdowns in a stunning 76-19 victory over Cimarron in the Class 3A football playoffs.
Zade Sanders and Justin Umphrey scored directly off takeaways and the Cardinals scored four more times off turnovers.
“It’s good to see these guys take away the football,” said Hoisington coach Zach Baird. “We did a great job capitalizing on the turnovers.”
Schneider accounted for three of the seven sacks. Ast lost 47 yards and the Bluejays lost 51 yards rushing.
“It’s playoff time and you’ve got to play like it could be your last game,” Schneider said. “That was my best defensive game of the season. We wanted to rush the quarterback as much as we could, but also not let him run on us.”   
The Cardinals pressured Ast, but also contained the 6-foot-6 quarterback from escaping the pocket.
“We knew we had to get pressure and make him uncomfortable,” Baird said. “The kids played really well. The guys did a nice job disrupting stuff. We were worried about him breaking containment.”
The Cardinals rushed for 411 yards behind center Justin Umphrey, guards Landen Urban and Justin Bradley and tackles Chris Wright and Ben Schneider. Hunter Hanzlick scored three touchdowns and rushed for 151 yards. Tyler Specht, Zade Sanders and Steffan Dolechek each scored two touchdowns. Steffan Dolechek and Justin Bradley intercepted passes that were converted into touchdowns.
Hoisington plays Washington County (10-0) in Saturday’s second round. The Cardinals (10-0) beat Cimarron (6-4) for the second consecutive year in the opening round.
Cimarron quarterback Nick Ast completed 16 passes for 194 yards and accounted for all three Bluejay touchdowns.
“We knew they were a physical team and we did not win the line of scrimmage,” said Cimarron coach Jason Stithem. “We did not execute on defense. That’s an experienced and well-coached veteran team. Their offense is very talented in the offensive line. They are a very good team that will go far in the playoffs.”
The Cimarron Bluejays’ first touchdown got Hoisington’s attention. Colton Lumpkins stunned the Cardinals with a 10-yard touchdown reception after he tipped a pass to teammate Irvin Lozoya for a 45-yard reception.
“The boys played well and came back from some early adversity that first drive,” Baird said. “They came back fighting.”
The Cardinals proceeded to score eight first-half touchdowns to roar to a 55-13 halftime lead.
Quarterback Tyler Specht started the offensive outburst on a 48-yard touchdown dash on the Cardinals’ first play.

Hanzlick scored three touchdowns and rushed for 142 first-half yards. Specht added 117 yards rushing and two scores.
The Cardinals converted five first-half takeaways into five scores.

Hoisington’s defense contributed with a defensive score by Umphrey, a kickoff that was recovered by Sean Urban and interceptions by Bradley and Dolechek and a blocked punt that were all converted into touchdowns.

The Cardinals' Hanzlick blocked a punt that set up a 1-yard scoring drive for a 13-7 lead. Sean Urban recovered the football on a Cardinal kickoff that led to a 27-7 lead. Back-to-back interceptions by Dolechek and Justin Bradley paved the way for a 42-13 lead.
Zade Sanders and Dolechek added rushing touchdowns and the Cardinals gained 302 first-half yards rushing.
Ast threw for 146 yards off 13 completions. But Hoisington’s Ben Schneider contributed three sacks that led to six losses and 53 yards. Hanzlick, Landen Urban, Zade Sanders and Chris Wright also contributed to the sack party.

HOISINGTON 76, CIMARRON 19
Cimarron                 7   6   0  6 — 19
Hoisington              27 28 13 8 — 76

SCORING SUMMARY
C—Colton Lumpkins 10 pass from Ast (Jaylen Pickle kick), 9:09
H—Tyler Specht 48 run (Chris Wright kick), 8:58
H—Hunter Hanzlick 3 run (kick failed), 7:20
H—Hanzlick 2 run (Wrigh kick), 2:15
H—Hanzlick 19 run (Zade Sanders run), 1:09
C—Nick Ast 2 run (run failed), 10:22
H—Specht 54 run (Hanzlick run), 5:15
H—Zade Sanders 4 run (Wright kick), 3:46
H—Justin Umphrey fumble recovery (kick failed), 2:05
H—Steffan Dolechek 21 run (Wright kick) 0:22
H—Specht 9 run (kick failed), 9:37
H—Zade Sanders 40 fumble return (Wright kick)
H—S. Dolechek 50 run (Specht run), 11:41
C—C. Lumpkins 11 pass from Ast (pass failed), 1:30  

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—C, 22-(-51); Josh Seabolt 5-6; Blake Neuschafer 2-3; Ast 14-(-47); team 1-(-13); H, 35-411; Hanzlick 14-151; Specht 7-126; S. Dolechek 4-85; Zade Sanders 4-23; Sean Urban 1-20; Jake Curtis 3-5; Rudy Gearhart 1-6; team 1-(-5).
PASSING—C, Ast 16-23-2, 194; H, Specht 3-5-0, 41.
RECEIVING—C, Irvin Lozoya 3-65; Lumpkins 6-58; Colton Hamilton 3-36; Seabolt 3-26; Wyatt Bell 1-9; H, Sanders 3-41.