Team effort keys Panthers’ comebacks
BY JIM MISUNAS
Five football games — five comeback victories.
Great Bend’s Comeback Kids earned their nickname heading to Friday’s secondround 5A playoff showdown at Salina Central (7-2).
Great Bend scored 21 consecutive points against Dodge City 21-14 and Liberal 28-14 after trailing. The Panthers converted game-ending drives against Dodge City (10 yards), Ulysses 27-22 (86 yards), Garden City 35-28 (71 yards) and Goddard Eisenhower 31-27 (68 yards).
“I don’t want to be in that situation being behind,” said Great Bend quarterback Cayden Scheuerman. “I’d rather be in the lead.”
The four game-winning scores have been recorded in overtime and with 5:02, 39 seconds and 22 seconds left in regulation.
“It’s been awesome, so much fun to win these games and pull them out,” he said. “You focus on your teammates and the task on hand.”
Scheuerman credits his teammates for his success.
“With football, there’s 11 guys on the field,” Scheuerman said. “Our success is dependent on every player doing their job. I’m lucky to have a great supporting cast that leads the way, starting with our offensive line, which does a great job. They stay focused and know their assignments. On our big pass play, Eisenhower blitzed a guy late and they picked him up.”
Scheuerman has thrown for 1,409 yards and 12 touchdowns. he’s rushed for 771 yards and 11 scores. Panther tailback Cody Miller has gained 800 yards with 11 touchdowns. Receiver Braylon Council has 693 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. The Panthers evarege 195 yards rushing and 160 yards passing.
Coach Erin Beck signals in prompt play calls to maintain a fast offensive rhythm.
“We’re moving the football pretty well,” Scheuerman said. “We’re confident we can play with any defense in the state. We’ve got a good system to get our plays called.”
Last week, Scheuerman converted 33- and 85-yard touchdown runs on designated runs. “We called that same play for 33 yards for a touchdown earlier in the game,” he said. “We took the next one to the house too. That was fun.”
Great Bend students joined the postgame celebration in the Panthers’ locker room.
“Everyone loved the students celebrating with us,” Scheuerman said. “They were thrilled. It was a blast.”
Salina Central leads the all-time series 23-9 with the Panthers winning 57-38 in 2015. The 2022 showdown has promise to be a high-scoring affair. The Mustangs defeated Goddard 47-42 and Andover 54-44 and lost to Eisenhower 47-33 and Valley Center 43-36 in high-scoring shootouts.
Both teams feature dual-threat quarterbacks who utilize the quarterback run game and use screens and the short passing game.
Salina Central features tailback Kenyon McMillan has gained 1,263 yards with 14 touchdowns. Double-threat quarterback Gunnar Gross has thrown for 1,513 yards and 13 scores and rushed for 850 yards and 19 touchdowns.
“Salina Central is a dangerous offensive team,” Beck said. “They’re explosive. Their running back is quick. Their quarterback can give your defense matchup problems.”
PANTHER OFFENSE—QB 4 Cayden Scheuerman (1,409 passing, 771 rushing); TB 16 Cody Miller (800 rushing); WR 7 Braylon Council (693 receiving); WR 3 Blake Parsons (78 receiving); WR 10 Maddox Spray (174 receiving); TE 40 Colton Brack (196 receiving); LT 52 Mathew Moeder; LG 54 Matthew Johnson; C 60 Danny Nieto; RG 58 Aiden Davidson; RT 57 Brantley Schaffer
MUSTANG DEFENSE—DT 75 Zachary Calisti; DE 66 Hunter Swolensky; DE 53 James McKinney; CB 11 Levi Losey; CB 3 James Moore; MLB 35 Donovan Johnson; MLB 5 Tyrus Young; OLB Dawson Hogan; OLB 7 Trevon Cole; FS 1 Avery Richardson; FS 4 Dez Gibson
PANTHER DEFENSE—NG Danny Nieto; DE Trenton Kern; DE Aiden Davidson/Brantley Schaffer; MLB Mathew Moeder; MLB Matthew Johnson; OLB Cooper Liles; OLB Cayden Scheuerman; CB Noah Jerke; CB Kaiden Hoffman; FS Ian Premer; SS Skyler McMullen
MUSTANG OFFENSE—QB Gunnar Gross (1,513 passing; 850 rushing); TB 25 Kenyon McMillan (1,409 rushing); RB 6 Elijah Wilson; WR 27 Hunter Mowery; WR 7 Trevon Cole; WR 23 Gary Talen; WR 4 Dez Gibson; LT 79 Anthony Ortigoza-Austin; LG 55 Mason Clark; C 67 J'Marie Bobo; RG 75 Zachary Calisti; RT 64 Kaden Snyder
