Big plays push Great Bend past Scott City
Great Bend, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–In Friday’s season opener, the No. 4 ranked team in Class 4A Great Bend Panthers would use their speed to run past the Scott City Beavers 47-28 at Memorial Stadium on a hot evening, where temperatures were near 100 degrees at kickoff.
The Panthers Scored the first 20 points of the ballgame, as they got a 26-yard touchdown run from Cal Schartz with nine minutes left in the first quarter to go up 7-0 following the Giovanni Cruz extra point. Scott City would fumble on the ensuing kickoff at their own 23, but the Panthers were unable to capitalize with great field position, turning the ball over on downs. Great Bend scored two more times in a 14-second span late in the first quarter. The first came on a Schartz two yard run with 1:52 left in the opening frame to extend their lead to 14-0 with the Cruz PAT. On the Beavers first possession of their next drive, Cooper Ohnmacht intercepted a Drew Metzger pass, and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 20-0. Scott City got on the board on the ensuing kickoff, as Cooper Irvin returned the kick 95 yards for a tocuhdown with 1:25 left in the opening quarter to pull to within 20-7 with the Pablo Solis extra point.
It was Scott City’s 26th non offensive touchdown since 2013, and the second straight year that Irvin returned a kick for a touchdown, as he returned a 94-yard blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown in week one last season at Cimarron.
Great Bend scored on their next drive, as Maxson Smiley connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass to Ohnmacht with 9:50 left before the break to take a 27-7 lead.
Scott City scored on three of their four possessions in the second half. Their first came on the opening drive of the second half on a 21-yard Adrian Garcia run with 7:14 left in the third quarter to pull the Beavers back to within 27-14 with the Solis PAT. However, Great Bend responded with two straight scores. Their first came with 4:58 left in the third on a Schartz two-yard plunge to get the lead back up to 34-14. The second came on a 16-yard screen pass to Christian Alcala from Smiley with 2:15 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 40-14.
The Beavers collected two touchdown passes in the final quarter. Their first came on fourth and seven, on a nine-yard strike from Metzger to Adan Tarango to pull them to within 40-21 with 8:13 left, and the same two connected on a 26-yards touchdown pass play with seven seconds left to make the final 47-28. Great Bend scored in between with an Alcala 29-yard run with 4:57 left.
Great Bend finished with 308 rushing yards and 495 yards of offense. Cal Schartz had 19 carries for 161 yards and three touchdowns, while Christian Alcala had eight carries for 116 yards and a touchdown. Maxson Smiley threw for 187 yards on 11-17 passing with two touchdowns, as Cooper Ohnmacht had six receptiosn for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Scott City finished with 330 yards of offense with a balanced attack. They had 163 yards rushing, led by Drew Metzger with 91 yards on 15 carries. Metzter went 11-17 passing for 167 yarda with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Adan Tarango had 54 receiving yards on four receptions and two touchdowns.
It was the fifth meeting all-time and Great Bend now holds a 4-1 advantage. Scott City saw their consecutive win streak of week one wins come to an end at nine. The Beavers put up the most points on a Panther squad since Buhler’s 26 in week three of the 2024 season.
Scott City will be home for two straight, as they play host to Mesa Ridge, Colorado on Friday for Military Appreciation Night. The Grizzlies lost their first game of the season to Palmer Ridge 35-12 to drop to 2-1 on the year. They’re currently ranked No. 4 in Class 4A in Colorado. Great Bend will face 1-0 McPherson at home on Friday.
Box Score
Scott City 7 0 7 14–28
Great Bend 20 7 13 7–47
Scoring Summary
1st QTR
GB 9:00 Cal Schartz 26 Yard Run (Giovanni Cruz Kick) 6-65, 3:00
GB 1:52 Schartz 2 Yard Run (Cruz Kick) 7-56, 3:12
GB 1:38 Cooper Ohnmacht 35 Yard Interception Return (PAT Blocked)
SC 1:25 Cooper Irvin 95 Yard Kickoff Return (Pablo Solis Kick)
2nd QTR
GB 9:50 Ohnmacht 39 Yard Pass from Maxson Smiley (Cruz Kick) 8-80, 4:15
3rd QTR
SC 7:14 Adrian Garcia 21 Yard Run (Solis Kick) 8-80, 4:46
GB 4:58 Schartz 2 Yard Run (Cruz Kick) 6-73, 2:16
GB 2:15 Christian Alcala 16 Yard Pass fro Smiley (Kick No Good) 4-66, 1:16
4th QTR
SC 8:13 Adan Tarango 9 Yard Pass from Drew Metzger (Solis Kick) 13-77, 6:02
GB 4:57 Alcala 29 Yard Run (Cruz Kick) 9-80, 3:16
SC :07 Trango 26 Yard Pass from Metzger (Solis Kick) 8-79, 4:50
Scott City
Rushing
Metzger 15-91; Garcia 6-32; Weston 9-30; Irvin 5-9; Anderson 1-1; Total: 36-163
Passing
Metzger 11-17 167 2-2
Receiving
Tarango 4-54; Garcia 3-45; Edwards 2-41; Irvin 1-16; Gossman 1-14
Total Yards: 330
Great Bend
Rushing
Schartz 19-164; Alcala 8-116; Smiley 7-28; Total: 34-308
Passing
Smiley 11-17 187 2-0
Receiving
Ohmacht 6-80; Premer 2-61; Kern 1-25; Alcala 1-16; Wondra 1-5
Total Yards: 495