The Great Bend Panthers lost their home Western Athletic Conference rivalry game 35-7 to Hays High Friday at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend.
Hays (6-1) was ranked No. 7 in the Kansas Sports Central rankings and Great Bend (6-1) was ranked No. 23. Hays is a 5A powerhouse and Great Bend dropped down to Class 4A from 5A.
The Hays Indians, guided by Tony Crough, led 7-0 at halftime and 28-7 at the end of the third quarter. Hays scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Hays dominated Great Bend 35-7 behind nearly 500 yards on the ground. Unofficially, Archer Amrein had 19 carries for 274 yards and two touchdowns and Braxton Basgall had 16 carries for 210 yards and three TDs.
Great Bend, will play a road game at Junction City next Friday and Hays High will host Liberal.
Crough coached at Great Bend in 2014 and 2015 and was succeeded by current GBHS coach Erin Beck in 2016).
