BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
A legendary senior class will lead state-ranked Great Bend (7-0) against Garden City after the Panthers clinched the Western Athletic Conference football title and No. 1 West seed last week.
"We've got senior leaders who have invested a lot into this program," said Great Bend football coach Erin Beck. "They've played a volume of snaps over the past few years starting with Ian Premer and Trenton Kern who have competed since they were freshmen. Trent and Ian were here for every snap when our JV and freshmen played Hays Monday."
The Panthers earned state-wide respect with a 43-19 victory over Hays, which had played a high-level schedule.
"We focused on the task at hand with maturity," Beck said. "We went into a hostile environment and controlled our play on the field. Our defensive stand right before half was a huge key. Our guys knocked the ball out of the park. But we've got things to work on."
A key has been the work of Beck and coaches Jace Brack and Matt Barton piecing together an offensive line featuring Trenton Kern, Karter Brown, Jace Deines, Blaine Ensley, Keeton Bray, Brady Mendez and Colby Spore.
"We've developed offensive line depth," Beck said. "The No. 1 factor for offensive linemen is they protect someone and block players every play. You have to feature selfless players up front. Trent Kern sets the tone."
The Panthers showed their toughness and teamwork by walling off all-state Hays noseguard Tanner Geist.
"Geist is a game wrecker, 1-on-1 he wins every time. They were times where he was tripled teamed," Beck said. "Center Karter Brown always had help. Our players adjust on the fly, and that's a key."
The Panthers typically start with a fast pace offensively based on plays which are scripted.
"We'll run 10 to 15 plays because we want to see how the defense aligns against certain looks," Beck said.
Minton has 52 career TD passes and 4,038 career passing yards. He's second behind Brandon Wells' record of 54 touchdowns and third behind Shawn Behr (4.081) and Brandon Wells (5,312) for career yards.
"Daxton has shown maturity making great decisions playing with that same 'Daxton Moxie,' " Beck said. "Daxton has been good with his decisions."
Garden City quarterback Tatum Heavner has passed for 1,044 yards and nine touchdowns to average 166 yards per game. The Buffaloes (1-6, 0-3 WAC) average 101 yards rushing and 191/2 points per game. Garden City yields 33 points and 396 yards per game.
PANTHER SENIORS—4 Triston Tomlinson; 5 Jacob Hall; 8 Hayden Kelly; 11 Koehn Ribordy; 12 Daxton Minton; 14 Ian Premer; 16 Beau White; 22 Conner Holladay; 33 Lukas Oden; 51 Trenton Kern; 52 Jace Deines; 55 Karter Brown; 56 Blaine Ensley; 74 Ryder Morris; 82 Diego Soto
RECORD WATCH—1ST—Ian Premer, 27 career TDs; 1ST—Ian Premer, 5 receiving TDs, game; 1ST—Cooper Ohnmacht, 13 catches, game; 1ST—Ohnmacht, 3 interceptions TDs, season; 1ST—Trenton Kern, 3 blocked punts, season; 2ND—Daxton Minton, 52 career passing TDs; 2ND—Ian Premer, 14 career interceptions; 2ND—Trenton Kern, 343 career tackles; 3RD—Minton, 4,038 career passing yards; 3RD—Ian Premer, 1,643 career yards receiving; 5TH—Ian Premer, 90 receptions.
5A WEST SEEDS—Great Bend 7-0 (+91); Salina Central 6-1 (+59); Liberal 6-1 (+47); Goddard 5-2 (+31); Andover 5-2 (+27); Hutchinson 5-2 (+21); Hays High 5-2 (+20); Wichita Carroll 4-3 (+13); Maize South 4-3 (-2); Topeka Seaman 3-4 (-5); Valley Center 3-4 (--15); Goddard Eisenhower 2-5 (-21); Emporia 2-5 (-24); Salina South 1-6 (-39); Topeka West 1-6 (-65); Newton 0-7 (-75).
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PROJECTED 5A WEST
1 Great Bend (7-0) vs. No, 16 Newton (0-7)
8 Wichita Carroll (4-3, +13) vs. 9 Maize South (4-3, -2)
4 Goddard (5-2, +31) vs. 13 Emporia (2-5)
5 Andover (5-2, +27) vs. 12 Giddard EIsenhower (2-5)
2 Salina Central (6-1, +59) vs. 15 Topeka West (1-6)
7 Hays High (5-2, +20) vs. 10 Topeka Seaman (3-4, -5)
3 Liberal (6-1, +47) vs. 14 Salina South (1-6)
6 Hutchinson (5-2, +21) vs. 11 Valley Center (3-4)
