HOISINGTON 40, PRATT 16
PRATT — When red-hot quarterback Kolter Hahn departed, Hoisington's future rising star rose to the occasion.
Backup freshman quarterback Colton Staudinger shocked Pratt with a 77-yard option run to help ignite a 32-point outburst en route to a dominating 40-16 victory over Pratt in 3A, District 6 football.
"Colton is confident in his abilities. He's never gun-shy," said Hoisington coach Zach Baird. "Colton made the right read."
The Cardinals finished with 361 yards rushing for their second consecutive 300-yard plus ground game. Hahn rushed for 79 yards and Staudinger 77 as the quarterbacks combined for 156 yards.
Hoisington center Karson Kinman, guards Knoxly Nettleingham and Bentley Corbett, tackles Brody Corbett and Leyton Mooney and tight end Corbyn Holinde paved the way for 60, 70, 86 and 90 yards on perfectly executed drives.
"We established the run game. Up front, we dominated the game," Baird said. "Credit goes to the offensive line. They've continued to work. They sustained their blocks."
Hahn scored on 2- and 37-yard runs and had a 29-yard touchdown nullified on a penalty. Drake Martin scored on a 13-yard run and Dexter Klug added the finishing touch on a 24-yard touchdown run for a 40-8 lead.
Hoisington's defense stopped Pratt drives at the 5, 15 and 20-yard lines in Cardinal territory.
Corbyn Holinder's 28-yard return set up a 14-yard drive. Leighton Eubanks intercepted a pass at the Cardinal 16-yard line. Parker Turner recovered a fumble at the Cardinals' 30-yard line.
Pratt quarterback Max Thimesch torched the Cardinal defense with top receiver Caleb Strong, who caught a 16-yard scoring strike. Vence Van Der Vyver scored on 10-yard scoring strike from Thimesch.
Hoisington (3-2, 2-0) takes command of 3A District 6 with a pair of opening wins. The Cardinals face winless Larned (0-5), Nickerson (1-4) and Lyons (4-1) in District 6.
Hoisington (3-2, 2-0) 8 0 24 8— 40
Pratt (2-3, 1-1) 0 8 0 8— 16
H—Hahn 37 run (Merlau run); P—Strong 16 pass from Thimesch (Humble pass from Thimesch); H—Martin 13 run (Merlau run); H—Staudinger 77 run (Martin pass from Staudinger); H—Hahn 2 run (Merlau run); H—Klug 24 run (Gruis pass from Hahn); P—Van Der Vyver 10 pass from Thimesch (Beach run)
RUSHING—H—39-361; Staudinger 2-77; Hahn 12-79; Turner 7-71; Martin 7-46; Cossel 2-34; Klug 2-25; Merlau 4-20; Higgins 2-11; team 1-(-2).
PASSING—Staudinger 1-2-0, 33; Hahn 0-2-0.
RECEIVING—H—Hahn 1-33.
3A, DISTRICT 6
Hoisington 2-0 3-2
Lyons 1-0 4-1
Pratt 1-1 2-3
Nickerson 0-1 1-4
Larned 0-2 0-5
10-2—*Hoisington 40, Pratt 16; *Lyons 14, Larned 8; Nickerson 46, Sedgwick 20
10-9—*Lyons at Hoisington; *Pratt at Nickerson; Haven at Larned
