It wasn’t vintage Great Bend High School football in the 2012 season opener.
Class 5A Great Bend beat 3A Hoisington 14-6 in last year’s lid-lifter in Hoisington in a Barton County matchup, a win Panthers head coach Bo Black termed as a “disappointing” because of his team’s lackluster and undisciplined performance.
Black is expecting more passion and better execution tonight at 7, when the Panthers entertain Hoisington at Memorial Stadium to open the 2013 season.
“You want to win the game and you want to play great football,” Black said. “There’s a lot of pride in it and in retrospect, I think (Hoisington’s) kids probably took a lot more pride in that game than ours did.
“Our kids were probably overconfident. Obviously, the game there last year ties into it a little bit now. We’ve talked about it all week, and it’s not just because it’s Hoisington.”
Tonight’s game culminates an offseason full of preparation.
“It’s the first football game of the year,” Black said. “The kids have worked eight months in preparing for a nine-game season, and the message is the same no matter who you’re playing.
“You want to come out and play well in your first game. It really takes Game 1 to identify things and see what you need to work on.”
The Panthers went on to win five of their first six outings in 2012 before losing to Hays, Salina Central and Salina South in succession in district play to end their season at 5-4.
Hoisington, which finished 5-5 last season, is led by running back/linebacker Avery Urban, a six-foot, 215-pound senior, who led returning Cardinals in rushing, totaling 445 yards and five touchdowns, and tackles (79).
Urban is one of only four seniors on Hoisington’s team, joining wide receiver/defensive back Brandon Ball and linemen Kagan Blackwell and Darin Poland.
The Panthers implemented the veer offense this year to suit their personnel of having speed in the backfield.
“We have a running quarterback and we’re going to spread the ball out,” Black said.
Bryce Beck (5-10, 164, senior) is back at quarterback for Great Bend after sharing the position last season with the graduated Matt Marshall.
Beck, more prone to run than pass last season, completed 17 of 36 balls for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He also ranked No. 9 in the Western Athletic Conference with 353 yards. Beck had six rushing touchdowns.
Tailback Johnny Allende (5-10, 173, senior) is the Panthers top returning rusher after totaling 526 yards and scoring six TDs.
Great Bend High School
Football Schedule
Tonight — HOISINGTON, 7; Sept. 13 — ULYSSES, 7 p.m.; Sept. 20 — At Garden City, 7 p.m.; Sept. 27 — At Wichita North, 7 p.m.; Oct. 4 — DODGE CITY, 7 p.m. (Homecoming); Oct. 11 — LIBERAL, 7 p.m.; Oct. 18 — At Hays, 7 p.m.; Oct. 25 — SALINA CENTRAL, 7 p.m. (Senior Parent Recognition); Nov. 1 — At Salina South, 7 p.m.
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