BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
JETMORE — All the psychological advantages weigh in Hodgeman County’s favor when No. 3-state ranked Otis-Bison (10-1) meets the Longhorns (9-2) in Friday’s Eight-Man 2 football semifinal.
“We’re confident, but you don’t want to be overconfident,” said Otis-Bison coach Travis Starr. “The way the guys worked this week, we are not taking them lightly. We’ve finished games this year and that’s a credit of great leadership from our seniors.”
The Cougars crushed the Longhorns 58-26 and rolled up 577 yards in their first meeting Oct. 26. TB Blake Bahr rushed for 246 yards and three TDs and QB Anton Foust gained 189 yards with three scores. Longhorn QB Jacob Salmans threw for 125 yards and rushed for two TDs. RB Eli Salmans gained 50 yards and RB Isaac Salmans gained 41 yards.
‘‘You see what worked the first time and anticipate what Hodgeman County might do different,” Starr said. “We saw different sets last time and they may spread their offense out this time. Defensively, they might load the box against our run game.”
Foust (823 passing 20 TDs, 1,051 rushing, 19 TDs) has picked up the slack for Bahr (998 rushing, 19 TDs), who has missed two playoff games, TE Maitland Wiltse (421, 12 TDs) is the leading receiver. LB Daniel Scott (98 tackles) and DE Luke Higgason (14 tackles for losses) lead the defense. Landon Hoopingarner has anchored the lines.
Scott sparked the Cougars with 221 yards and four TDs last week in a 60-14 victory over Ingalls. Foust rushed for a touchdown and threw TD passes to Wiltse and Bevan Gradig.
“Daniel Scott runs so hard, he breaks tackles,” Starr said. “Daniel would be a starting back for a good number of teams.”
The Cougars are a two-time Eight-Man state runner-up, losing 50-34 to Baileyville (2010) and 27-6 to Denton-Midway (1987).
Hodgeman County beat South Barber 52-6 last week. Jacob Salmans, Eli Salmans, and Trevor Morgan each rushed for two TDs. DB Aaron Sherrill returned one of his two interceptions for a TD.
QB Jacob Salmans (876 passing, 7 TDs; 454 rushing, 11 TDs) joins RB Eli Salmans (1,263 rushing, 22 TDs) and QB-RB Isaac Salmans (304 passing, 6 TDs; 325 rushing, 5 TDs). Trevor Morgan (468 yards, 4 TDs) and Aaron Sherill (225 yards, 2 TDs) leads the receivers.
The Longhorns have six takeaways in two playoff games and are plus 18 in turnover margin. Eli Salmans rushed for 246 yards against Dighton and 234 yards against Northern Valley.
The Longhorns average 234 yards rushing and 107 yards passing. The Longhorns permitted 419 rushing yards in a 58-34 loss to the Cougars last season. Hodgeman County was state runner-up in 2013.
COUGAR STARTERS
QB-LB—Anton Foust
TB—Blake Bahr
SE-LB—Daniel Scott
C-NG—Landon Hoopingarner
LG—Hunter Mitchell
RG-DE—Luke Higgason
TE-S—Maitland Wiltse
TE-LB—Bevan Gradig
DE—Kaden Schartz
DE—Seth Hoopingarner
OTIS-BISON (10-1)
W— St. John 58-0
W— Ellinwood 56-0
L—Central Plains 12-36
W—Victoria 22-20
W—Wallace Co. 70-24
W— Greeley Co. 50-0
W— Dighton 54-8
W— Triplains 64-0
W—Hodgeman Co. 58-26
W—Sylvan-Lucas 60-26
W—Ingalls 60-14
HODGEMAN COUNTY (9-2)
W—Wichita Co. 56-6
L—Spearville 34-64
W—Deerfield 74-0
W—South Central 30-27
W—Greeley Co. 60-14
W—Triplains 52-6
W—Wallace Co. 27-6
W—Dighton 46-6
L—Otis-Bison 26-58
W—Northern Valley 59-14
W—South Barber 52-6
OTIS-BISON PLAYOFF HISTORY (19-13)
2017—8II—Otis-Bison 60, Sylvan-Lucas 26; Otis-Bison 60, Ingalls 14; Osti-Bison vs. Hodgeman County
2015—8II—Wallace County 65, Otis-Bison 20
2012—8II—Otis-Bison 54, Rolla 0; Thunder Ridge 28, Otis-Bison 18
2011—8II—Otis-Bison 68, Moscow 20; Otis-Bison 26, Victoria 6; Thunder Ridge 54, Otis-Bison 26
2010—8II—Otis-Bison 46, Fowler 0; Otis-Bison 51, Cheylin 6; Otis-Bison 26, Ashland 14; FINALS—Baileyville 50, Otis-Bison 34
2009—8II—Otis-Bison 60, Sharon Springs 30; Quivira Heights 42, Otis-Bison 6
2003—8I—Otis-Bison 34, Macksville 28 (2 OT); South Barber 56, Otis-Bison 8
2002—8I—Otis-Bison 42, Macksville 36; South Barber 56, Otis-Bison 22
1995—8I—Otis-Bison 36, Macksville 0; Coldwater 28, Otis-Bison 0
1992—8I—Otis-Bison 63, Sylvan 16; Otis-Bison 52, Cunningham 14; Quinter 24, Otis-Bison 20
1991—8I—Otis-Bison 76, Pike Valley 44; Inman 34, Otis-Bison 18
1988—8I—Otis-Bison 60, Pretty Prairie 14; Greensburg 24, Otis-Bison 20
1987—8I—Otis-Bison 31, Sedgwick 7; Otis-Bison 26, Greensburg 18, OT; FINALS—Denton-Midway 27, Otis-Bison 6
1985—8I—Otis-Bison 34, Mankato 0; Axtell 38, Otis-Bison 30
