Hatchet stays home; Buffs rout Demons
Dodge City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-Sometimes school pride reigns supreme over championship aspirations. Such was the case in the 77th Hatchet Game on Friday night.
“To some people, this game is more important than the playoffs,” Dodge City Head Coach Dave Foster said. “That’s the way it’s always been.”
Interestingly enough, both Foster’s and Brian Hill’s teams were eliminated from playoff contention the week before; so all that was left was pride, and the coveted Hatchet.
Sophomore quarterback Jesse Nunez scored three times and hit the century mark on the ground for a second straight game, while the defense pitched a second-half shutout en route to a 32-14 victory over Dodge City at Memorial Stadium.
“I’m so proud of these kids,” Hill said afterwards. “To keep battling the way they did is unbelievable. Things are moving in the right direction.”
But Friday’s final score wasn’t nearly indicative of how the game started.
Dodge City (4-5, 0-3) scored on their first two possessions; the first one a nine-play, 78-yard drive that was capped with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Caden Walters to Mark Adams, who beat Akil Love in the back left corner of the end zone.
Dodge City’s next score was setup after Garden City’s special teams’ gaff. On fourth-and-8 from their own 47, the Buffs lined up in punt formation. But it was a fake as Peyton Hill lofted an under-thrown pass down the left sideline that was intercepted by Dayton McGoarty and returned to the Garden City 12. Five plays later Walters plunged in from a yard out, giving the Red Demons a 14-0 lead with 5:49 left in the first.
“It was definitely a slow start,” Hill said. “But these kids responded like they always do.”
They did, with a vengeance. First, it was Nunez punctuating a nine-play, 68-yard drive with a nine-yard rushing touchdown. Zeke Herrera’s extra point was blocked, and the Buffs trailed 7-6 late in the first.
Garden City (4-5, 1-2) got the ball right back when Alex Espinosa picked off a wobbly Walters pass over the middle and returned it to the Dodge City 17. On the very next play, Jared Koster raced 17 yards to end zone. They added the two-point conversion when Nunez found Caleb Tramp on a slant-giving the Buffs a 14-7 lead with 31 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Following a Dodge City three-and-out, Garden City was on the move again-marching eight plays to the Red Demons’ 42. Then on third-and-7 from there, Nunez connected with Tramp, who made a bobbling catch at the Dodge City 10. On the ensuing play, Nunez followed center Humberto Perez to the end zone for a 20-7 lead (Herrera’s extra point was blocked).
“He (Jesse) has made major strides all season long,” Hill said. “And tonight, you saw more of it.”
The sophomore finished with 128 yards rushing and 100 passing.
Dodge City’s 13-point halftime deficit was compounded with the fact that they lost Walters to a broken thumb late in the second quarter. And the Buffs made it a point to make backup quarterback Mason Winter’s life a nightmare. Mission accomplished.
How dominant was the Garden City defense in the second half? Winter didn’t complete a pass; finishing 0-of-9 with an interception.
As for the offense, they went back to work on their second possession of the third quarter. Koster’s 14-yard run set Garden City up at the Dodge City 38. On the next play, Nunez sprinted up the middle for his third touchdown of the night. A failed two-point conversion made it 26-14 Buffs with 6:24 to play in the third.
Garden City’s final score was arguably their most fitting. (Peyton) Hill, wearing his brother Derek’s No. 1 jersey for a second-straight game, took a trap handoff from Nunez and pinballed 13 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Another failed two-point conversion, and the Buffs had a 32-14 cushion with 2:09 to play.
Koster finished his junior campaign with a 15-carry, 91-yard night. Tramp caught five balls for 64 yards, while the defense held the Red Demons to just 197 total yards.
Walters was 6-of-10, for 71 yards, a touchdown and an interception before he got hurt.
Tyler Trent rushed for 89 yards on 15 carries while Adams reeled in three balls for 39 yards and a score.
Notes: Dodge City was held under 200 total yards for just the second time this season…It was Garden City’s first win in Dodge City since 2006 under Mike Smith…Brian Hill is 3-2 vs. Dodge City since taking over in 2010…Buffs avoided their first 0-3 district record since 2009…With his 91 yards rushing, Jared Koster is now 113 shy of 2,000 career rushing yards…It’s the first time Garden City finished with a losing record under Hill…It was the second time this season the Buffs held an opponent under 200 total yards (140 vs. Liberal)…Jesse Nunez finished the season throwing 25 straight passes without an interception…Buffs become first Garden City team to retain the Hatchet in back-to-back seasons since 2007 (13 straight wins in the series to that point)
Listen to the entire game in our archives section
