Scott City begins season with home battle against Hays

Scott City, Kan. (westernknansasnews.com)–It’s finally here. After nearly three weeks of practice, the Scott City Beavers will finally be able to battle against someone other themselves. That opponent is the Hays Indians, who come to Darner Field for the first time since 2003 in a 7 pm kickoff. 

Hays enters tonight with their third coach in the past four years, and finished 2-7 in 2015. Randall Rath brings the Indians into Scott City as the second year head coach for Hays High. They return only four starters on defense and five on offense from a team that scored only 16 points a game, while giving up 28 points a contest last season. They will be highlighted by the two-time All WAC defensive end Shane Berens, who’s making the transition to the Mike Linebacker spot. He’s also the Indians’ tight end. Hunter Brown, son of Ft. Hays State University head coach Chris Brown, will be the team quarterback, and Kohlton Meyers, who was the starting quarterback for the first part of the season last year, makes the move to running back. 

Scott City will see Jim Turner coach his first game as head coach, and is the 23rd coach in school history. The Beavers went 10-1 in 2015, suffering a loss in the Regional round of the 3A Playoffs to Norton 28-24 last November. This will be the first time in 11 years that Scott City will not be playing in Class 3A. They will be a 4A, Division II team for the next two seasons. Bo Hess returns as the signal caller for the Beavers,after throwing for 1265 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago. Justin Faurot returns as the teams leading receiver, and First Team All-GWAC defensive back last season. The Beavers do return five starters on offense and five starters on defense that scored nearly 40 points a game, while surrendering under nine a contest in 2015.

The last time the Beavers and Indians met up was in 2003, when Hays held off a late rally by Scott City 23-20 at Darner Field, after having a 23-0 lead through three quarters. Hays leads the series 2-1, winning the first game of the series 6-0 in 1931, while Scott City won in Hays in 2002 13-12. 

Tonight at Darner Field, the SCHS Student Council will be having a hamburger/pulled pork feed at 5:30 and it’s Harley Night as well. The Harley riders will met at the elementary school and ride to Darner Field. Also tonight is First Responder Night, honoring all firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm, with a 6:30 pregame on Mix 94.5. You can also listen online at https://www.westernkansasnews.com/mix94/, on the KSKL app that is free to download for your Apple or Android device, or using TuneIn Radio.