HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson ended Maize’s undefeated season with a 32-28 win over the Eagles in dramatic fashion in Hutchinson's Gowans Stadium Friday night in the last game of the regular season.
With the victory, Hutch wins the AVCTL-D1 title for the first time since 2011, when the Salthawks went 11-2 and won the 5A title, only falling to Rockhurst (Mo.) and Bishop Carroll, who the Salthawks later beat in the 5A West sub-state game.
The Salthawks got off to a great start, with the Salthawk defense forcing a Maize three and out. The Hutch offense drove it down, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run from quarterback Myles Thompson with 5:46 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles came right back to drive it deep into the Salthawk red zone, as senior running back Josh Sanders tied the game at 7 all with an 8-yard touchdown run with 2:47 left in the first quarter.
The Salthawks offense would then answer back with a run by Zach Hogan from 11 yards out put Hutchinson back on top. Maize blocked the extra point, giving Hutchinson a 13-7 lead.
Maize Sophomore Quarterback Avery Johnson hit Jacob Hanna with a 4 yard pass in the end zone to give Maize its first lead of the game, going into half up 14-13 after the successful point after touchdown kick.
Hutchinson took the second half kick off and drove down to score on a 39-yard touchdown run from Anthony Blackwell to take a 20-14 lead with 8 minutes left in the third quarter.
But the Eagles answered the bell once again, with a tremendous 60-yard run from Sanders that drove the ball deep into Salthawk territory. Johnson scored on 4th and goal, giving Maize a 21-20 lead with under nine minutes remaining to play in the game.
Maize would take their biggest lead of the night with 7:48 left to play, after Hutchinson fumbled the ensuing kick off and Maize recovered it at the Hutchinson 24 yard line. Sanders then scored from 4 yards out to give the Eagles a 28-20 lead.
The Salthawks wasn't finished yet, as senior running back Jalen Barlow went right then cut straight to the end zone on an electrifying 21-yard dash. Hutchinson went for 2 but the Eagles got the stop on Hutchinson's Alec McCuan, keeping Maize on top 28-26.
On the ensuing kick off, the Salthawks pulled off a picture perfect onside kick, and the Salthawks were in business with 3:44 remaining to go in the game. After a great catch by Zack Hogan on 3rd and 9, Hutchinson took it to the Eagle 20 yard line. Then McCuan drove it to the 9 plus a facemask pentaly against Maize took it to the 2 yard line. With seven seconds left to play, Thompson used all 6'7" of his frame to dive into the end zone on third and goal to pull off the 32-28 upset.
With the Hutchinson 32-28 win over Maize, the Salthakws have to realize that it was a big accomplishment as Maize was the only 7-0 team in 5A/6A football. The Salthawks have won three games by a combined six points and are 4-1 in games by eight points or fewer. Hutchinson (7-1) was 2-7 each of the last two years.
The Salthawks will enter the playoffs as the number two seed behind Wichita Northwest, and will host 15 seed Newton (2-6) next Friday at Gowan's Stadium in Hutchinson.
The Eagles are the three seed and will host 14 seed Liberal (2-5) at home in Maize.