SALINA, Kan. - The Hutchinson Salthawks rolled into Salina Stadium on Thursday night and tied a Salthawk record that has stood for 78 years.
Hutch High earned their third shutout in a row with a 47-0 victory over the winless Salina South Cougars. To find three straight defensive performances like these, you have to go back to 1946 when the Salthawks started that football season with three straight shutouts. Hutch had tied the two game mark last Friday night with the 21-0 victory over Maize.
Hutchinson was led by senior fullback Kade Smith's 323 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns. It was a night that throttled the Cougars who now have lost 28 straight games dating back to 2021.
Hutch set the tone by picking off a fourth and eleven pass play that was intercepted at the Hutchinson eight yard line. Smith rumbled up the left side spinning and stiff arming Salina South for what looked like a 92 yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. But a block in the back erased the touchdown and placed the ball on the Cougar 31 yard line. Just a few plays later, Smith took it in from one yard out and the Salthawks were up 6-0 after the PAT kick hit the left upright and bounced away.
Jeremyah Gaitho-Karanu scored from nine yards out, plus the PAT was good to put Hutch up 13-0 with 5:25 left in the first quarter.
Smith then scored his second TD on the night with a fantastic 63 yard run. The PAT was good again and the Salthawks extended their lead to 20-0.
Carter Morgan topped off the second quarter with an electrifying 94 yard interception just when it looked like Salina South might score. Morgan picked off a Landon Putman pass, one of three Hutchinson picks on the night, to take it up the Hutch High sideline for the score. That happened with 10:37 to go in quarter 2 to put Hutch up 27 to 0.
Smith and company were not done yet. Smith scored on a 47 yard run with 5:43 left before halftime. The PAT was good and the Salthawks had build a 34-0 lead at the break.
The Salthawks brought more of the same in the third with Gaitho-Karanu scoring his second TD of the night from seven yards out with 8:29 to go in the third quarter. The Salthawks then held a 41-0 lead.
The fourth quarter had a running clock and Karmelo Green added to the Salthawk scoring with a nifty two yard run around the right side. The PAT was blocked and the Salthawks closed out the scoring at 47-0.
The Salthawk defense was superb. They were able to hold the South run game to hardly any yards and gave up less then 75 yards in the air. Salina South threw about 90% of the time they had the ball. Carter Morgan, Kevin Wilson and Jackson Anderson were outstanding.
Hutchinson had defensive interceptions by Terrell King, Tramel Walker and the 94 yard TD return by Carter.
Smiths 323 yards unofficially on the night puts the senior fullback at 847 yards in four games with eight touchdowns scored on the year for the 3-1 Salthawks.
The only negative was Hutchinson committed 16 penalties for 160 yards total for the night.
Hutchinson will host the top dog of 6A, the Derby Panthers on Homecoming next Friday night at Gowans Stadium.