Ground game propels Beavers to season opening win

Hays, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Friday night’s season-opener for Scott City was a trip of revenge against the Hays High Indians. Last year, the Indians stunned the Beavers with 21 fourh quarter points. This year was a different story. Scott City scored 16 second quarter points, and eventually pulled away late from Hays in a 29-8 victory at Lewis Field Stadium.

After a scoreless first quarter, Scott City scored the first points of the game on the first play of the second quarter. A 26-yard field goal by Moses Hinojos capped off a 19-play drive that lasted 8:57 to give the Beavers the early 3-0 lead with 11:55 remaining in the first half. Following a three-and-out by Hays, Scott City marched it down the field on their second series of the half. The Beavers committed a penalty that wiped off a toutchdown run. On the very next play, Nick Nowak took the lateral from Parker Gooden, and rushed it 51 yards with 9:06 left in the half to take a 9-0 lead after the blocked extra point. At the end of the first half, it looked like Hays would kneel it for a second time. Instead from their own 3, Hunter Brown’s pass attempt on the fake kneel down was intercepted by Marshal Faurot, and returned it 30 yards to the end zone to give the Beavers a 16-0 halftime lead, after the Hinojos PAT.

Hays would make things interesting early in the second half. Two plays after a Scott City turnover, Hays went into their bag of tricks. William Sinnett, who was lined up as a fullback, connected to a wide open Mason Ibarra for a 23-yard touchdown strike with 11:08 left in the third quarter. The Indians converted the two-point conversion on a pass from Hunter Brown to Palmer Hutchinson to cut the score to 16-8 Beavers. Two possessions later, Scott City extended their lead to 22-8 with 5:17 left in the third quarter on a Wyatt Hayes one-yard plunge. That short three-play drive was set up by a Jarret Jurgens 69-yard punt return to the Hays 25. The Beavers missed the extra point.

In the fourth quarter, it was ground and pound by the Scott City offense. With 1:32 left, Jarret Jurgens put the dagger in on a 28-yard run, and the score was topped off with a Hinojos extra point kick to make the score 29-8. Hays would fumble the ensuing kickoff to Scott City, and the Beavers took three kneel downs to close out the game with a 29-8 win.

Wyatt Hayes led the Scott City attack with 105 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown, and Nick Nowak had 90 yards on eight carries with a touchdown. The Beavers finished with 244 yards on the ground. Parker Gooden was 2-7 for 17 yards with an interception. Parker Vulgamore had a nine-yard reception and Marshal Faurot had an eight-yard reception. Scott City was penalized six times for 42 yards.

For Hays, they were led by Hunter Brown with 28 yards on 12 carries. Brown also threw for 50 yards on 7-11 passing with an interception. Their leading receiver was Mason Ibarra, who caught one pass for 23 yards, which was a touchdown. The Indians finished with 43 yards on the ground and 73 yards through the air for a total of 116 yards. Hays was penalized five times for 39 yards.

The 29 points was the most points scored by Scott City in the series, and their first win over Hays since 2002, when they won 13-12 in Hays.

Scott City will host Holcomb next Friday. The Longhorns rallied late to knock off CImarron 15-12. Hays will host Great Bend next Friday night. The Panthers defeated Coffeyville 41-18.

Assistant Coach Landon Frank Postgame