BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend sparkplug Cooper Ohnmacht LOVES competing against McPherson.
Ohnmacht dazzled the Bullpups for the third consecutive season with an opening 80-yard interception return for a touchdown that ignited a 42-7 rout Friday night. Ohnmacht returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in 2024 and debuted with an identical 80-yard interception return as a freshman.
Just a typical Friday night against McPherson for Ohnmacht.
Ohnmacht casually stepped in as back-up kicker with six consecutive extra points after placekicker Diego Soto was injured on the opening kickoff. Ohnmacht also blocked McPherson's field goal attempt.
"Cooper is pretty unique with his skill-set. He can do pretty much anything," said Great Bend football coach Erin Beck.
Hayden Kelly delivered the final blow with a 93-yard fumble return forced by teammate Kale Kern. Kelly displayed Superman skills, leaping over quarterback Carter Malm and stiff-arming Dane Becker.
Great Bend scored two defensive touchdowns, two passing touchdowns from quarterback Daxton Minton to Ian Premer and Kelley and rushing touchdowns by Minton and Ian Premer.
"It's a good team effort. We had a lot of new faces out there. I don't know whether I've been part of a game where we've had big plays in so many areas," Beck said.
The big-play defensive theatrics by the Panthers prevented a big offensive night after Great Bend's two defensive touchdowns. The Panthers gained 130 yards passing and 103 yards rushing.
After Ohnmacht's "pick 6," McPherson had reached the Panthers 30- and 31-yard lines, and ran 18 plays to zero offensive snaps by Great Bend. McPherson ran 57 offensive plays and Great Bend had 33 offensive plays.
The Panthers capitalized after a 37-yard loss when McPherson long snapper Braxton Burgess air-mailed the football over the head of punter Jaxson Hoover. Ian Premer's 2-yard score capped a 13-yard drive for a 14-0 lead
Minton and Ian Premer connected on two passes for 34 yards to set up Minton's 10-yard scoring dash. A McPherson 12-yard punt paved the way for Kelley's 17-yard scoring pass off Ian Premer's perfect block from Minton for a 28-0 lead.
McPherson's Ashton Malm caught a perfect 45-yard scoring strike from Carter Malm for a 28-7 lead.
The Panthers tacked on a pair of second-half scores — a 45-yard Ian Premer reception and Kelly's dazzling 93-yard fumble return for a 42-7 final.
Linebacker Kale Kern sparked the Panthers' defense with a forced fumble on Dane Becker and a trio of tackles for losses. All-WAC Most Valuable Player Trenton Kern, Hayden Kelly, Cole Fanshier, Jaxon Wondra, Conner Holladay and Ian Premer contributed stops for losses.
The Panthers (1-0) will face Olathe South, which steamrolled Shawnee Mission West 63-6 Friday.
"We didn't stop the run very well. We need to be more efficient offensively and grind out more first downs," Beck said. "We can learn from this."
Several Panthers missed playing time with leg cramps in the mild 60-degree weather.
McPherson 0 7 0 0 — 7
Great Bend 14 14 7 7— 42
GB—Cooper Ohnmacht 80 interception return (Ohnmacht kick)
GB— Ian Premer 2 run (Ohnmacht kick)
GB—Daxton Minton 10 run (Ohnmacht kick)
GB—Hayden Kelly 17 pass from Minton (Ohnmacht kick)
MC—Malm 43 pass from Carter Bengston (Jaxon Hoover kick)
GB—Ian Premer 45 pass from Minton (Ohnmacht kick)
GB—Hayden Kelly 93 fumble return (Ohnmacht kick)
RUSHING—MC—40-112; Dane Becker 24-101; Milleson 8-37; Bengston 7-11; team 1-(37); GB—22-103; Conner Holladay 7-47; Minton 7-41; Ian Premer 3-9; Ohnmacht 2-3; Steffan 3-3.
PASSING—MC—Bengston 9-17-1, 83; GB—Minton 5-10-0, 106; Jaden Prilling 1-1-0, 24;
RECEIVING—MC—Ashton Malm 4-57; Izyck Puhalla 2-11; Paxton Ingalls 1-9; Becker 1-5; Pearcy 1-1; GB—Premer 3-79; Grant Watkins 1-24; Kelly 1-17; Ohnmacht 1-10.
