The Hutchinson Salthawks football team opened the season Friday night by shutting out Andover Central 34-0 in a road game at Andover.
Andover Central is the defending Kansas Class 4A state champions.
The Salthawks avenged a 37-7 loss to Andover Central in the 2024 season-opener at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson.
The score was tied 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Robert Hunter connected with Larry Jeramiah on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 8:55 left in the second quarter for a 7-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Hutchinson’s Karmelo Green scored on a 20-yard option run. The extra point failed and Hutchinson led 13-0.
Also in the third quarter, fullback Jeramyah Gatho-Karanu scored on a 39-yard TD pass from Hunter. The two-point conversion pushed the lead to 21-0.
In the fourth quarter, Hunter found Lamar Govain wide open in the end zone to make the score 27-0.
Hutchinson linebacker Jackson Anderson returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown for the 34-0 final score.
Hunter threw for three touchdown passes and completed 5-of-13 passes for 123 yards. Hunter ran for another 43 yards on 13 carries.
Gatho-Karanu rushed for 83 yards on 19 carries and caught the 39-yard TD pass for his only reception. D’Angelo Gray caught 2 passes for 42 yards.
Hutchinson posted 268 yards in total offense and held the Jaguars to 145 net yards.
Andover Central’s Jaxson Green rushed for 112 yards on 24 carries.
Hutchinson is on the road against next Friday against Valley Center. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Game notes: In addition to Andover Central losing, two other defending state champions lost Friday night: Gardner-Edgerton (Class 6A) lost to Lawrence Free State 35-34 on a failed 2-point conversion. Hoxie (Eight-Man I) lost to Osborne 52-46.
Derby (No. 1 Class 6A) lost to Hays High 22-21.
Hays, which defeated Hutchinson and Great Bend in the 5A playoffs last year and lost to St. Thomas Aquinas in the state championship game, scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion with .05 seconds left in the game.
