NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutch High Salthawks put a complete game together on Thursday night at Gowans Stadium, winning over the Liberal Redskins in 5A playoff action 33-13.
Hutchinson stopped Liberal on a fourth down and then converted on their own fourth down in the red zone for a Jeremiyah Gaitho Karanu seven-yard touchdown and a 7-0 Salthawk lead.
After another Salthawk stand, Kade Smith sprinted down the near sideline for an 86-yard score and it was 14-0 Hutchinson with 11:32 before halftime.
Liberal's best play of the night was at the 10:39 mark of half number one when freshman quarterback Tevin Cotter found James Fieser for a 65 yard strike to cut it to 14-7.
Hutchinson bounced back with a pass of their own from Levi Kepler to Tayshaun Williams, but Williams was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and therefore the long extra point was missed and it was 20-7 Salthawks with 6:05 to go in the half.
Taysen Runyon hit a pair of field goals, one to close out the first half and another with 2:38 to go in the third quarter and Hutch led 26-7 at that point.
Liberal's final score of the night was Cotter to Fieser again from six yards out, but they missed the two point try and it was 26-13.
Hutchinson closed out the scoring for the night with a Levi Kepler pass to Terrell King. After Runyon's PAT, it was 33-13 and that was the final.
Smith ran 24 times for 245 yards and the one TD. The Salthawk defense held Liberal to just 93 yards rushing and the Salthawks outgained the Redskins 406-275.
Hutchinson is now 8-2 and advances to play the winner of Friday night's game between Great Bend and Hays. Liberal closes out its season at 7-3.