BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
DODGE CITY — Great Bend football coach Erin Beck crafted a perfect offensive game plan.
The Panthers executed the plan flawlessly with seven consecutive touchdowns for a dominating 49-21 Western Athletic Conference over Dodge City. Great Bend gained 430 yards on its seven touchdown drives.
As usual, the Panthers ' offensive line of center Gavynn Maddox, guards Brady Mendez, and Josue Bustamante, and tackles Keeton Bray and Colby Spore provided solid pass protection and timely running lanes.
"It was a fun night, seven possessions, seven scores. Our offensive efficiency was really good," Beck said. "We ran the ball and threw it around. Cal Schartz ran really well behind our offensive line. Kale (Kern) was outstanding."
Quarterback Maxson Smiley was brilliant with four touchdown passes, 247 yards passing and a crafty 10-yard touchdown dash. The Panthers finished with 302 yards passing.
"Our quarterback was really good tonight," Beck said. "Kale Kern came up with big catches. Cooper (Ohnmacht) caught it well."
Great Bend's receivers ran efficient routes and Smiley was on target against Dodge City's secondary.
Receiver Cooper Ohnmacht caught 6- and 16-yard touchdown passes and finished with 111 yards receiving. Ohnmacht completed a 52-yard pass to Alec Premer after catching a pitchout.
Tight end Kale Kern put on a highlight show with touchdown catches of 7- and 26 yards while steamrolling Dodge City defenders with five catches for 67 yards.
"Maxson found Kale into the middle and he backed up into the end zone," Beck said.
Cal Schartz returned from an injury with 91 hard-earned yards and a 4-yard touchdown run. Back-up Blake Suppes steamrolled Red Demons for a closing 11-yard touchdown run to finish off Beck's masterpiece.
After the Panthers led 7-0, Dodge City's Luis Perez scored on a 50-yard run on the Red Demons' first play.
"I was pleased how we played defense outside of their first touchdown on an alignment issue," Beck said. "We've got to get better."
The Panthers scored the next 42 points for a 49-7 lead. Perez rumbled 41 yards for a touchdown and Guerra scored on a 26-yard fumble return.
Great Bend's backup offense lost 16 yards on six snaps and lost a fumble.
Great Bend (5-0, 2-0 WAC) captured its 23rd consecutive regular-season victory and dropped Dodge City to 2-3, 0-2 WAC.
Great Bend 21 14 14 0 — 49
Dodge City 7 0 7 7 — 21
GB—Smiley 10 run (Cruz kick); DC—Perez 50 run (Adame kick); GB—Kale Kern 26 pass from Smiley (Cruz kick); GB—Ohnmacht 16 pass from Smiley (Cruz kick); GB—Schartz 4 run (Cruz kick); GB—Kale Kern 7 pass from Smiley (Cruz kick); GB—Ohnmacht 6 pass from Smiley (Cruz kick); GB—Suppes 11 run (Cruz kick); DC—Perez 41 run (Adame kick); DC—Guerra 26 fumble return (Adame kick)
RUSHING—GB—29-111; Schartz 16-91; Smiley 6-27; Suppes 2-12; Stone 2-(-1); Richard 1-(-1); team 2-(-17); DC—25-186; Perez 11-152; Castro 2-22; Reyes 6-14; Rich 1-3; McElgunn 1-2; Akers 1-2; Carrillo 2-(-6); team 1-(-3).
PASSING—GB—Smiley 15-21-0, 247; Ohnmacht 1-1-0, 52; Jaden Prilling 1-1-0, 3; DC—Reyes 2-6-0, 4; Akers 0-1-0.
RECEIVING—GB—Ohnmacht 5-111; Kale Kern 5-67; Jaxon Wondra 3-61; Premer 2-52; Schartz 1-8; Council 1-3; DC—Williams 1-8; Carrillo 1-(-4).
WESTERN ATHLETIC
Great Bend 2-0 5-0
Hays 1-0 4-1
Liberal 1-1 3-2
Garden City 1-2 3-2
Dodge City 0-2 2-3
10-2—*Great Bend 49, Dodge City 21; Hays 28, Wichita East 7; Garden City 21, Liberal 7
4A WEST DISTRICT—1—Great Bend (5-0, +57); 3—McPherson (4-1, +39); Wellington (4-1, +39); 4—Ulysses (4-1, +32); 5—Wamego (3-1, +38); 6—Augusta (3-2, +25); 7—Mulvane (3-2, +8); 8—Buhler (3-2, +7); 9—Rose Hill (3-2, +5); 10—Winfield (3-2, +1); 11—Rock Creek (3-2, -3); 12—Arkansas City (2-3, -13); 14—Topeka Highland Park (1-4, -32); 14—Abilene (1-4, -51); 15—El Dorado (1-4, -59); 16—Circle (0-5, -73)
