Article Image Alt Text

Coach Jonathan Hunt gives his team some guidance during a timeout in the Sutherland game. The Plainsmen will close out the season Friday against Hemingford. 

Plainsmen six points short at Bayard

Plainsmen Football Coach Jonathan Hunt would like to get back the 16 points his team spotted the Bayard Tigers to open the game there Friday night. 

Those two touchdowns and a field goal ultimately proved crucial in a 44-50 Plainsmen loss that went down to the end. 

Hunt said the Plainsmen have struggled to come out ready play when they go on the road. But he was especially proud of how his kids came back and played a full four quarters.

The Plainsmen pulled back to within six with a Kannon Palu touchdown with less than two minutes left. 

The ensuing on-side kick bounced off a Bayard player but went out of bounds before the Plainsmen could get on it, sealing their fate.

Bayard’s offense spreads receivers all across the field, which is something the Plainsmen haven’t seen from other teams this season.

Hunt said they put their own spread formation offense in during practice last week and switched to it late in the first quarter.

They found success, answering with a score of their own near the end of the first quarter and went into half trailing by just 10.

The Plainsmen came out in the third and scored on their opening possession. From there on, the two teams traded touchdowns with the exception of a back-to-back score by Bayard that gave them a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Plainsmen came back with a score but Bayard answered again to lead 50-36 before the Plainsmen got their final score. 

Hunt said losing stings but to play a full four quarters with a chance to win softens the blow.

With another year of experience, Hunt said his team will win games like that next year. 

The goal for the coaching staff has been not simply to change the team culture but to do a complete reset. That’s starting to take hold, Hunt said, judging by how he’s seen the team grow and mature during the season.

Final game Friday

The Plainsmen will close out the season at home Friday night when they play host to 4-3 Hemingford. 

Hunt said things are 180 degrees for his team this year compared to last year. By this point in the season, the Plainsmen barely had enough players healthy to make the trip to Hemingford.

Hunt said they have two players who will miss the final game due to injury. 

Kickoff at Haenfler Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Score by quarters

1 2 3 4 F

PC 7 6 16 15 44

BHS 16 7 20 7 50

 

First Quarter

BHS—Trevor Reish 5 Yd Pass From Jack Kildow (Kick No Good)

BHS—2 Yd Run (Traeton Harimon Kick)

BHS—Traeton Harimon 33 Yd 

PC—Triston Hite 17 Yd Run (Brandon Knoles Kick)

Second Quarter

BHS—36 Yd Pass From Jack Kildow (Traeton Harimon Kick)

PC—Hayden Foster 8 Yd Pass From Triston Hite (Failed Two-Point Conversion)

Second half

PC—Triston Hite 29 Yd Run (Triston Hite Run For Two-Point Conversion)

BHS—Brandon Neiger 1 Yd Run (Traeton Harimon Kick)

PC—Kannon Palu 2 Yd Run (Kannon Palu Run For Two-Point Conversion)

BHS—Jack Kildow 15 Yd Run (Traeton Harimon Kick)

BHS—Jack Kildow 3 Yd Run (Traeton Harimon Kick No Good)

PC—Kannon Palu 12 Yd Run (Hayden Foster Kick)

BHS—Jack Kildow 24 Yd Run (Traeton Harimon Kick)

PC—Kannon Palu 16 Yd Pass From Triston Hite (Hayden Foster Run For Two-Point Conversion)

Team Totals PC SW

Total Plays 72 64

Total Yards 237 394

Passing Yards 55 202

Rushing Yards 182 192

First Downs 16 21

Turnovers 0 1

Fumbles Lost 0 1

Penalties/Yds 8/46 4/32

Passing—Triston Hite, 8-17, 55 yds., 2 TDs.

Rushing—Triston Hite 3/10 yds.; Bryder HIckey, 2/5 yds.; Kannon Palu 3/2 yds.; Trye Hickey, 1/-1 yds. 

Receiving—Hayden Foster, 5-28 yds.; 1 TD;  Kannon Palu 2-23 yds., 1 TD.

Tackles (solos/assists)—Bryder Hickey, 8-1; Kannon Palu, 5-5; Hayden Foster, 4-5; Brandon Knoles, 3-6; Jeb Kohl, 3-0; Triston Hite, 1-3; Aaron Meyer, 0-8; Matt McClung, 0-4; Eric Snyder, 0-4.

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

308-352-4311 (Phone)

PO Box 67
327 Central Ave in Grant
Grant NE 69140