VALLEY CENTER, Kan. â Senior quarterback Tramel Walker came off the bench to deliver two touchdown passes and guide Hutchinson to a 25-18 win over Valley Center on Friday night in AVCTL action.
Walker, filling in for starter Jonathan Hunter who was sidelined by leg cramps for much of the second half, went 5 of 5 passing for 61 yards and two scores. His biggest throw came late in the third quarter when he converted a fourth down with a 26-yard strike to Lamar Covain before connecting with Carmello Green on a touchdown pass that gave the Salthawks a 19-10 lead with 1:12 left in the period. Walker had just come in for Hunter right before hooking up with Govain to set up a first and goal opportunity for the Salthawks.
Walker later orchestrated an eight-play, 47-yard drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown to Covain with 6:28 remaining to extend Hutchinsonâs lead to 25-10.
Valley Center responded with a nine-play, 69-yard drive as quarterback Connor Thatcher found Spencer Crumbine from eight yards out and added a two-point conversion to trim the deficit to 25-18 with 4:26 left. The Hornets attempted an onside kick, but Hutchinson recovered and used ball control to run out the clock.
Thatcher finished 13 of 23 passing for 159 yards and a touchdown for Valley Center.
Hutchinsonâs ground game was led by Jeremyah Gatho-Karanu, who rushed for 122 yards on 28 carries and scored twice, including a long of 18 yards.
The Salthawks (2-0) return home next Friday to open their home slate at Gowans Stadium against Maize, which enters 2-0 following a win over Andover. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.