By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Salthawks advanced to the second round of the Kansas Class 5A state football playoffs with 42-7 win over Salina South Friday night at Gowans Stadium.
The Salthawks (7-2) will host Liberal (7-2) next Friday night. Liberal defeated Bishop Carroll 17-6 Friday night.
“It wasn’t pretty at times,” said Hutchinson coach Mike Vernon during his radio postgame show. “The kids came through it and got the win. Not a bad night. They (Liberal) are a big, physical team. They’re very well-coached. We’ll have to play a great game to beat them”
Hutchinson’s Kade Smith scored the first touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run with 2:01 left in the first quarter.
Taysen Runyon kicked the extra point to give the Salthawks a 7-0 lead with 2:01 left in the first quarter.
Smith broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run for his 15th touchdown of the season. Runyon tacked on the extra point for a 14-0 Hutchinson lead.
Salina South, which finished the season 1-8, scored a touchdown and extra point to cut Hutchinson’s lead to 14-7.
Smith then broke loose again for a 54-yard touchdown run (his 16th touchdown of the season) with 4:49 left in the first half. Runyon’s third PAT kick made the score 21-7 Hutchinson.
Hutchinson’s Tramel Walker intercepted a Salina South and ran it back to the South 36-yard line. On the next play, Hutchinson senior quarterback Levi Kepler connected with Mitchell Rice on a 36-yard touchdown pass. Runyon’s fourth extra point kick made the score 28-0 Hutchinson.
Kade Smith scored his fourth touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run (his 17th TD of the season). Runyon’s PAT kick (his 33rd of the season) gave the Salthawks a 35-7 lead with 9:46 left in the third quarter. He also kicked his 20th touchback.
Jeremyah Gaitho-Karanu scored the Salthawks’ sixth touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run in the third quarter and Runyon added another PAT kick for the 42-7 Hutchinson win.
Runyon now has scored 155 career points. He has been Hutchinson’s kicker since his freshman year.
Smith gained 189 yards on 12 carries. He now has 1,563 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.
Gaitho-Karanu had 62 yards and 9 carries. Larry Jeremiah had 42 yards on 5 carries. Max Harris had 37 yards on 5 carries. Levi Kepler completed 2 passes for 45 yards and added 20 yards rushing.
“He (Kade Smith) is so shifty,” Vernon said. “He’s got power and great balance. He and (fellow senior) Terrell King are probably the most competitive players on the team. That’s a good thing.”
Hutchinson outgained Salina South 398 yards in total yards. The Salthawks had 353 yards rushing and 45 passing. The Cougars had 14 net yards rushing and 234 passing.
In other 5A playoff games, Great Bend defeated Newton 49-7 and Hays defeated Andover 31-0. Hays plays at Great Bend next Friday. The Hutchinson-Liberal winner plays the Hays-Great Bend winner in the quarterfinals on Nov. 15.
Hutchinson Trinity Catholic 20, Moundridge 14
The Hutchinson Trinity Catholic Celtics upset the previously unbeaten No. 2-seed Moundridge Wildcats 20-14 on the road Friday night.
The Celtics improved to 4-5. Moundridge’s season ended with a 7-1 record.
The Celtics will play Medicine Lodge (6-2) in the second round. The site has yet to be determined. Medicine Lodge defeated Smith Center 20-0 at Smith Center.
Smith Center finished the season with a 4-5 record.
Buhler 35, Arkansas City 7
The Buhler Crusaders advanced to the second round of the Kansas Class 4A state football playoffs with a 35-7 victory over Arkansas City.
Buhler (7-2) will play Mulvane (7-2) in the second round of the playoffs next Friday. Mulvane defeated Augusta 29-22.
Arkansas City finished the season with a 2-7 record and Augusta finished 1-8.
Haven 38, Cimarron 7
The Haven Wildcats defeated Cimarron 38-7 Friday night at Haven to advance to the second round of the Kansas Class 2A state playoffs.
Haven quarterback Nash Wray threw three touchdown passes and ran for another touchdown. Brogan Wray, who caught a 32-yard TD pass, also threw a 42-yard TD pass. Kolton Altvater kicked a 28-yard field goal and five extra points.
Haven piled up 416 total yards (175 passing and 241 rushing) and help Cimarron to 163 total yards (93 passing and 70 rushing).
Nash Wray passed for 121 yards and ran for 46. Vance Loop ran for 115 yards. Grant Patry caught 2 passes for 67 yards, Aiden Hoopes 2 for 54 and Brogan Wray 1 for 32.
Patry made 18 tackles to lead the Haven defense.
Haven improved to 8-1. Cimarron finished the season with a 2-7 record.
Haven will play at Hoisington (5-4) next Friday. Hoisington defeated Ellsworth 28-15 Friday night.
Ellsworth finished the season with a 5-4 record.
Halstead 36, Lakin 6
The Halstead High School football team advanced to the second round the Kansas Class 2A state football playoffs with a 36-6 upset win over Lakin Friday night at Lakin.
Haven led 10-0 after one quarter on a 23-yard touchdown run by Joey Millspaugh and a 34-yard field goal by Carlos Martinez.
The Dragons added 2 more points on a safety when Connor Herman sacked the Lakin quarterback in the end zone. Halstead led at halftime 12-0.
After Lakin scored a touchdown to cut the Halstead lead to 12-6, Halstead’s Carlos Martinez kicked a 30-yard field goal. The Dragons led 15-6 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.
Halstead’s Breeson Bigley ripped off a 91-yard touchdown run and Martinez kicked the extra point. The Dragons led 22-6 with 11:20 left in the game.
Ryeese Carmichael and Braxton Creed scored on TD runs of 23 yards and 1 yard. Martinez kicked both extra points for the 36-6 final score.
Halstead (4-5) will play at Beloit (7-2) in the second round next Friday. Beloit defeated Minneapolis 41-14 in the first round. Minneapolis finished the season 3-6.
Hutchinson Central Christian 48, Macksville 6
The Hutchinson Central Christian Cougars shut out Macksville 48-6 Thursday night in the first round of the Kansas Eight-Man II state football playoffs.
The Cougars improved to 8-1 and will host Logan/Palco in a second round game at Hutchinson next Friday.
Logan/Palco defeated Ashland 62-18 Thursday at Logan.
Macksville finished the season with a 3-6 record and Ashland finished 2-7.
Victoria 52, Fairfield 0
The 2024 football season ended for the Farfield Falcons with a 52-0 loss to Victoria Thursday night in a Kansas Eight-Man II playoff game at Victoria.
Victoria (9-0) will play Wallace County (5-3) in an Eight-Man II second round game at Victoria. Wallace County defeated Minneola 62-36 Thursday night at Minneola.
Fairfield finished the season with a 3-5 record. Minneola finished the season with a 7-2 record.
In other playoff area games Friday night, Burrton forfeited to Southern Coffey County 1-0 and Inman lost to Plainville 28-0.
In area playoff games Thursday, Little River defeated Lincoln 42-40.
In non-playoff games Friday night, Nickerson lost to Chapman 30-6 and Pretty Prairie lost to Stafford 24-22.
What a win by Trinity on Friday night! Down 14-0 at the half. #nevergiveup