DERBY, Kan.—It came down to one play with just seconds remaining, but the clock struck midnight for Hutch High as Derby was able to get a deflected pass interception in the end zone as time ran out Friday night, and the Panthers prevailed 28-21.
The Salthawks (3-1) used an 11-play drive to set up a fourth and goal at the Derby four-yard line with four seconds remaining. Hutchinson opted to throw the ball on the game's final play.
Hutch High Quarterback Nic Lange tried to find his receiver in the end zone. Two Panthers crashed the receiver and popped the ball into the air. A lone receiver jumped to catch the loose ball, but Derby's senior linebacker Miles Wash made a spectacular play to get the interception to seal the game.
It was a big play for a Derby defense that was on the field for the majority of the fourth quarter. The Panther defense was called upon to make crucial stops down the stretch.
Derby (3-1) forced a turnover on downs with a stop on fourth and short with 6:41 remaining. A Salthawk three and out late in the third quarter set up the Panthers eventual game-winning drive.
The Derby offense took that momentum from the defense and marched down the field to score on an eight-yard touchdown run by Dylan Edwards. It was the lone touchdown of the day for Edwards as the Hutch defense had shut down Edwards for most of the night.
Derby quarterback Brock Zerger displayed his talent with his legs with three rushing touchdowns. Zerger came up clutch early in the third quarter with a 25-yard run with 3:43 remaining in the third.
The Salthawks took an early in the game, led by two rushing touchdowns by Lange. Hutch held a 21-14 lead at the half off a 4th down play with 3:28 to go in the second quarter as Noah Khokhar dropped the snap on a punt but took a 58-yard run to the end zone to give the Salthawks the lead before the break.
On the final drive, the Salthawks overcame a couple penalties to set up the possible touchdown to tie the game before Derby got the final say.
Gabe Eye hauled in two spectacular catches late, but the first was called back after it looked like Eye had set up the Salthawks with first and goal from the eight yard line. Eye was able to catch the ball on the next Lange heave to give Hutch a chance with first and goal from the twelve inside of 2 minutes remaining in the game.
A pass interference call gave Hutch another chance but a run by Kade Smith looked like he got out of bounds at the four with 49 seconds to go, but they ruled that his forward progress was in-bounds. Before the Salthawks attempted a run and an incomplete pass the clock was inside of 4 seconds remaining when Lange's pass was tipped in the air and Wash got the interception to end the game.
Hutch won the statistical part of the game gaining 230 yards on the ground in 51 attempts compared to Derby's 209 yards on 36 ties. The Salthawks also compiled 131 yards in the air with Lange going 7 for 14, but did throw 3 interceptions. Derby's Zerger netted 130 yard on 18 attempts and score 3 touchdowns on the night. He was also 9 for 17 for 97 yards passing.
Khokhar led Hutch with 15 carries earning him 119 yards while hauling in 5 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Terrell King, Titan Heneha, Bradyn Rodriquez and Kevin Wilson led the Salthawks defensively with 28 tackles between the 4 defensive players.
Hutchinson (3-1) travels to Salina South next Friday as Derby (3-1) travels to Haysville-Campus.