The Great Bend High School Panthers could care less. They’ll gladly don the Underdog cape once again tonight.
Been there. Done that.
Tonight’s first-round Class 5A state football playoff clash between Wichita’s Bishop Carroll (7-2) and Great Bend (4-4) at 7 at Memorial Stadium brings in the prospect of the Panthers again being a big underdog.
But this time, it’s the postseason.
It is Great Bend’s pass-happy offense vs. one of the best defensive units in 5A, a team that battled Hutchinson last Friday in a 21-14 district title-game setback.
“They are probably the best defensive team we’ve seen since (losing in the second game of the season to Class 6A power Wichita) Heights,” Great Bend head coach Bo Black said of Carroll. “They have that team speed.”
The Panthers and their quick-hitting passing game has become a staple in their spread offense playbook, with senior quarterback Greg Hildebrand at the controls. It will be put to test against Carroll.
Again.
Hildebrand completed 17 of 24 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns last Friday night, a district championship-clinching 42-21 victory over Salina South.
He also rushed for 100 yards.
“We’d like to be a little more balanced than what we are right now,” Black said. “But, at this point, when it’s win or go home, you don’t really have time to work on your weaknesses.
“You’ve got to go with your strengths.”
The Panthers captured second place in the WAC standings with a 3-1 record, behind 4-0 Dodge City, which takes a 9-0 mark into tonight against Wichita-Campus (Haysville) in the 6A playoffs.
Hildbrand has raised his game since before the start of district play, and his teammates have followed suit.
After throwing for 120 yards and rushing for 95 during a 17-6 win over Hays in the district opener, he had 188 passing yards during a 42-20 loss at Salina Central.
Over the last three games, Hildebrand has thrown for 563 yards, progressively producing better numbers.
“We’ve struggled with this all year, just trying to put into words how to describe the kid,” Black said. “ … I suppose the best way to sum it up is that he’s the heart-and-soul of our football team.
“He’s always constant and when kids step up and make plays with him, we’re really good and when they struggle, we struggle. But he’s always the constant. He’s going to play well, and he’s going to lead. He’s just a really special kid.”