Week Four Showcase Match-Up: Garden City at Hays

This past Friday we kicked off Week 4 action and I was back in Hays for the second week in a row. The Garden City Buffaloes came into Hays, America to take on one of the better ball clubs in the state in the Hays Indians. Hays lone loss was a 8-10 defeat to then #1 team in 6A in the Manhattan Indians. Hays had already knocked off a couple of powers in Derby and Choctaw out of Oklahoma. Garden City picked up a very solid win over Wichita Heights the week prior. The Indians even had Oklahoma tight end and ex-Hays superstar Jaran Kanak in the house for the ballgame.   The Indians are loaded with talent and are trying to get back to the 5A State Title game after falling to St. Thomas Aquinas this past year in the title game. Hays has talent all across the board on both sides of the ball but it starts up front with the big boys. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='944909' first='Gus' last='Corsair'] (6-foot-2, 285-pounds) is one of the top offensive lineman in the state regardless of class. He is joined up front by the likes of seniors Mason Dreher (6-foot-4, 375-pounds), Cannon Weber (6-foot-5, 290-pounds) and Maximo Luna (6-foot-0, 240-pounds).   The backfield is loaded with All-Stater senior [player_tooltip player_id='1590226' first='Holden' last='Lind'] (5-foot-8, 170-pounds) returning (only played two series) but his back-up in TMP transfer, junior Braxton Basgall (5-foot-10, 175-pounds), had himself quite the night with 9 carries for 169 yards rushing and three touchdowns. If anyone is looking for drop-off for the Indians come next season, it will not be happening with Basgall in the fold. Rounding out the skill positions is senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='904445' first='Zane' last='Viegra'] (6-foot-2, 185-pounds) and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='283949' first='Jarek' last='Purdy'] (5-foot-11, 170-pounds).   On the defensive side of the ball, the Indians are led by junior defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='944910' first='Tanner' last='Geist'] (6-foot-1, 265-pounds) and defensive end Johnny Rigler (6-foot-1, 215-pounds). Rigler has been a very pleasant surprise this season, as he had a much lesser role this past season. His development has been huge for the Indians. Geist had a big night with two fumble recoveries and was a terror for the Buffaloes offensive front all night.   Garden City may not have the talent Hays does across the board but it does not mean they are without their studs. It all starts with [player_tooltip player_id='1256011' first='Jhett' last='Price'] (6-foot-2, 225-pounds) on both sides of the ball. Price is a bonafide college prospects either as a inside linebacker or as a tight end. The Plainview, Oklahoma transfer seemed to be on every tackle and was bright spot along with receiver Mackoy Hemmert (6-foot-0, 170-pounds). The Buffaloes also have other talented receivers in Ryder Carr (5-foot-10, 160-pounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1401794' first='Culden' last='Plankenhorn'] (6-foot-1, 175-pounds) for their disposal. Running back Jose Yanez (6-foot-1, 210-pounds) is another quality weapon and brings a lot of power to the backfield.   Overall it was all Indians on this night, as the top 3 team in 5A held the Buffaloes scoreless until the game was well in hand at 35-0 and back-ups became the norm.   We started things off with a 10-yard touchdown run by [player_tooltip player_id='1590226' first='Holden' last='Lind']. That came with 7:35 in the 1st quarter bringing our score to 7-0 Hays after a successful PAT.   Hays scored once again on their next drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Braxton Basgall. Our score moved to 14-0 Hays after yet another successful PAT. That came with 4:28 in the 1st quarter.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='904445' first='Zane' last='Viegra'] got in on the action with 2:46 left in the 1st quarter with a 24-yard touchdown pass to [player_tooltip player_id='283949' first='Jarek' last='Purdy']. PAT was good and our score was 21-0 Hays.   Garden City did finally make some headway but had their field goal blocked with 10:20 left in the 2nd quarter by Caleb Thompson (5-foot-10, 165-pounds) of Hays. The Indians quickly responded with yet another Viegra to Purdy scoring connection with 9:31left in the half. The 31-yard touchdown pass was followed up with yet another successful PAT, bringing the score to 28-0 Hays.   The Hays defense came up big with 8:39 in the 2nd quarter with the first of two fumble recoveries by [player_tooltip player_id='944910' first='Tanner' last='Geist']. That set-up a 3-yard touchdown run by Viegra with 5:33 left in the half. PAT was good and our score was 35-0 Hays.   Garden City finally had a quality drive and we saw the Buffaloes get on the board with a 1-yard score by [player_tooltip player_id='1256011' first='Jhett' last='Price']. That came right before half with :07 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter. PAT was good and our score entering half was 35-7 Hays.   When the second half of action resumed, we saw Geist's second fumble recover of the game come at 11:12 in the 3rd quarter. That was followed up by a 21-yard touchdown run by Basgall with 11:00 in the 3rd. PAT was no good and our score was 41-7 Hays.   With 9:34 left in the 3rd, Garden City got back on the board with a big pass play from quarterback Tate Heavner (5-foot-8, 140-pounds) to Mackoy Hemmert for 74-yards. PAT is good and our score was now 41-14 Hays.   The Indians saw their last score of the night come on a 43-yard scamper from Basgall with 6:39 left in the 3rd quarter. PAT was good and our score was now 48-14 Hays.   The last score of the night came on yet another Heavner to Hemmert connection. This one came with :24 left in the quarter with a 24-yard touchdown. PAT was no good and our score ends 48-20 Hays. Their was no scoring to be had in the 4th quarter of this contest.   Hays moves to (3-1) on the season and plays yet another ranked opponent in the (3-1) Junction City Blue Jays. Junction City is coming off a big time 28-14 road victory over rival Manhattan. The same Manhattan ball squad that knocked off Hays earlier this season 8-10. At (1-3), Garden City hosts yet another difficult opponent in the 4-0 Liberal Redskins.   I will be in Great Bend (4-0) this coming Friday for their contest against (2-2) Dodge City. The Demons are coming off of a tough 22-31 loss to Liberal this past Friday. Great Bend, much like Hays is one of the top teams in all of the state. The Panthers are in the top three in 5A much like Hays. They are led by the states top prospect in Notre Dame bound tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1229117' first='Ian' last='Premer'] (2026) and 2027 athlete Cooper Ohnmacht, who holds numerous FBS offers himself. Also keep any eye on the Kern brothers (Trenton and Kale) who make up arguably the best linebacking group in the state.

This past Friday we kicked off Week 4 action and I was back in Hays for the second week in a row. The Garden City Buffaloes came into Hays, America to take on one of the better ball clubs in the state in the Hays Indians. Hays lone loss was a 8-10 defeat to then #1 team in 6A in the Manhattan Indians. Hays had already knocked off a couple of powers in Derby and Choctaw out of Oklahoma. Garden City picked up a very solid win over Wichita Heights the week prior. The Indians even had Oklahoma tight end and ex-Hays superstar Jaran Kanak in the house for the ballgame.