HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Hays High Indians came into Gowans Stadium Friday night with pulling an upset on their minds and succeeded with a 28-0 shut-out over the #4 seed Hutch High Salthawks.
The Salthawks dug themselves a very quick hole on their first possession of the game with being stopped on fourth and two at their own 35 yard line as Kade Smith was stuffed by Hays High on two consecutive carries.
The Indians took over on downs and quickly ran the ball down to the Hutch High four yard line on a 30 yard run by Holden Lind to the Salthawk four yard line setting up first and goal from the four.
A running play by Hays placed the ball at the four and on second and goal from the two, Hays High quarterback Carter Graham scored on a quarter back running play to take the lead with only three minutes elapsing in the first quarter. After the Carson Moore PAT kick, Hays led 7-0.
Hays continued to dominate the first quarter scoring their second touchdown on the night by connecting on a Graham to Johnny Cano 34 yard play that put the Indians up 14-0 with 52 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Hays came out of the dressing room in the third quarter blanking the Salthawks until scoring their third TD of the night when Ian McGuire broke loose from 43 yards out on a 3rd and long call to make it 21-0 with 7:51 remaining to go in quarter three.
The Indians sealed the sectional win with a Lind touchdown run in the final quarter from 17 yards out with 6:47 remaining for the final score of 28-0.
It was the first game that Hutch High had been held scoreless in the season. The Salthawks ended their season at 8-3 including five shut out wins in the regular season.
Hays advances to take on Goddard Eisenhower in the semi-finals next Friday night in Goddard in the 5A West semi-finals.
Lind was the leading rusher on the night with 118 yards on 20 carries. Hutch High's Kade Smith had 69 yards on 21 carries capping off his senior season just short of 1,900 yards.