By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Salthawks football team lost its season opener 37-7 to Andover Central Friday night at Gowans Stadium.
“We got beat and it was pretty thorough,” said Hutchinson coach Mike Vernon during his radio postgame show. “They (Andover Central) played well. They whipped us. They’re a good football team.”
The Andover Central Jaguars’ duo of quarterback Jace Jefferson to wide receiver Jace Adler was good for two touchdown passes in the first quarter of 17 and 22 yards.
Andover Central running back Maddox Archibald broke loose for a 43-yard TD run in the second quarter.
Hutchinson’s had some opportunities in the first half, including a missed 39-yard field goal attempt by place kicker Taysen Runyon.
Jefferson hooked up with Adler on a 69-yard TD pass in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion failed and the Jaguars led 27-0.
The Salthawks finally got on the scoreboard with 5:19 left in the third quarter on a 27-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Levi Kepler to senior Teshaun Williams. Runyon kicked the extra point and Hutchinson cut the deficit to 27-7.
Andover Central added another touchdown in the third quarter to make the score 34-7. Archibald scored on a 3-yard TD run.
The Jaguars added a 24-yard field goal by Andrew Clouse for a 37-7 final score. Clouse also kicked four extra points.
The Salthawks were limited to 211 yards in total offense. Hutchinson senior Kade Smith rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries.
Kepler completed 6-of-14 passes for 100 yards and 1 TD. Mitchell Rice caught 3 passes for 31 yards, Williams 2 for 39 and Karmelo Green 1 for 30.
Brodie McCuan led the Salthawk defense with 8 tackles. Carter Morgan and Skylar Ray each added 7. Kevin Wilson had 6 tackles, Tramel Walker 5, Deon Garrett 4 and Jackson Anderson 3. Five players each had 1 stop.
Andover Central rolled up 394 yards in total offense. Jackson completed 15-of-21 passes for 215 yards. Adler caught 8 passes for 171 yards.
Archibald ran for 111 yards on 22 carries. Jaxson Green added 64 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Brody DeGarmo led the Jaguars on defense with 5 tackles.
“We have some little things we need to get better at,” Vernon said. “We’re a little thin (in terns of depth). We will have to figure some things out. I was proud of the way they (the Salthawks) competed. They kept fighting.”
Hutchinson will host the Valley Center Hornets at 7 p.m. next Friday. Valley Center lost to Goddard Eisenhower 28-17 Thursday.
In other Hutchinson Tribune area football games, Buhler defeated Mulvane 28-7, Inman defeated Hutchinson Trinity Catholic 15-0, Haven blasted Hillsboro 51-13, Fairfield defeated Hartford 54-26, Halstead lost to Hesston 21-14, Sterling lost to Sedgwick 42-13, Pretty Prairie lost to Lyndon 50-0 and Nickerson lost to Conway Springs 42-0.
Reece Carmichael and Joey Millspaugh scored the Halstead touchdowns on runs of 6 and 15 yards. Carlos Martinez kicked two extra points.
Two eight-man football games involving Hutchinson Tribune area teams will be played Saturday.
The Reno County Sabres homeschool team will return to Stafford to conclude Thursday night’s game that was suspended because of rain and lightning.
The Hutchinson Central Christian Cougars will host Wichita Sunrise Christian.
To find other Kansas high school football scores, click on https://kpreps.com/kansas/scores/football/?week=1
Buhler rolls past Mulvane 28-7 in season opener
The Buhler Crusaders rolled to a 28-7 victory over Mulvane Friday night at Buhler.
The Crusaders scored the game’s first 28 points on two touchdowns in the second quarter and two more in the fourth.
Nick Gazaway scored on a 5-yard TD and Brandon Scripsick on a 3-yard run in the second quarter. Ben Clouse scored on a 9-yard TD and Scripsick tacked on a 7-yard TD in the fourth period. Jared Miller kicked the extra point after each TD.
Mulvane quarterback Manny Myers threw a 7-yard TD pass in the fourth period. Gunner Uhrig kicked the extra point.
The Crusaders rolled up 312 yards in total offense, including 258 rushing. Buhler’s defense held Mulvane to 2 yards rushing, so the Wildcats went to the air for 172.
Scripsick passed for 54 yards. Clouse rushed for 113 yards on 23 carries.