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BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend's stout defense faces the ultimate 5A semifinal challenge against the offensive-minded Salina Central Mustangs, averaging 44 points and 464 yards per game.
The No. 1 ranked Panthers (11-0) have yielded 12 points per game. Potential all-state linebackers Kale Kern (120 tackles) and Trenton Kern (110 tackles) spark an aggressive defense.
An undersized defensive front of Cole Fanshier, Conner Holladay and Josue Bustamante provide protection for the Kerns, nicknamed the Bruise Brothers.
"I turn my attention to our defense whenever I can because they deserve it," said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. "Our defensive line is undersized, but they focus on technique. They get off blocks. Our defensive line was our unsung heroes against Hays. Their job is often to help someone else make a play."
Beck expects the semifinal winner will be the team with an effective Red Zone defensive game. The Panthers stopped Hays twice in goal-line situations last week.
"Our Red Zone defense carries a strong mentality. They don't break," Beck said. "We understand how each score is important. We've got to stop the run and keep our linebackers free like we did last week."
Mustang tailback Cooper Reves (6-0, 215) has rushed for 2,410 yards and 26 touchdowns with an aggressive style. The Mustangs average 315 yards rushing keyed by Kansas offensive line commit Kaden Snyder.
"Reves is a powerful back, and we haven't seen anyone like that," Beck said. "I'm impressed with his yards after contact. He'll hit the cutback on plays. Central runs inside zone and run guard and H-back counter plays. They run a similar offensive style that we do."
Mustang quarterback Griffin Hall has thrown for 1,604 yards with 28 touchdowns to average 149 yards.
"Their quarterback has run/pass plays where he'll make a read and runs it effectively," Beck said. "They're explosive. They get attention because of their offensive numbers and their skilled players."
Central's loss was 48-21 against Andover, which controlled the line of scrimmage.
"Andover played more physical football up front," Beck said. "They controlled the line of scrimmage with their Flex offense."
Great Bend's explosive offense averages 209 yards rushing and 165 yards passing keyed by school record-holders Ian Premer and quarterback Daxton Minton.
Premer has rushed for 543 yards with 14 touchdowns with 719 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns. Premer owns school records with five TDs in a game and 31 career receiving touchdowns. He's also scored on an interception and punt return.
Minton is the school's all-time leader with 56 touchdowns, 83 total scores and 6,305 all-purpose yards. He's thrown for 1,660 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Cooper Ohnmacht is the third part of the Panthers' triple threat with 609 yards receiving and six scores. Ohnmacht caught a record 13 passes against Buhler. Premer has six interceptions, Ohnmacht five.
"Central's defense plays a conventional style with a 3-4 defense," Beck said. "We saw multiple defensive looks the past two weeks. Hays did a good job funneling our outside runs back inside last week."
5A SEMIFINALS—Great Bend (11-0) vs. Salina Central (10-1); Lenexa St. James (9-1) vs. Basehor-Linwood (11-0)
SALINA CENTRAL (10-1)—W Salina South 31-21; W Arkansas City 49-13; W Campus 62-13; W Goddard Eisenhower 49-20; W Newton 42-0; W Andover Central 23-13; L Andover 21-48; W Goddard 35-28; W Topeka West 68-22; W Goddard 62-32; W Salina South 49-24
GREAT BEND (11-0)—W McPherson 42-7; W Olathe South 40-21; W Buhler 38-14; W Wichita South 75-8; W Dodge City 41-0; W Liberal 55-6; W Hays High 43-19; W Garden City 41-14; W Newton 49-14; W Wichita Carroll 49-7; W Hays High 29-22
PANTHER OFFENSE—2 WR—Cooper Ohnmacht; 5 WR—Jacob Hall; 12 QB—Daxton Minton; 14 TE—Ian Premer; 22 RB Conner Holladay; 51 LT—Trenton Kern; 52 LG—Jace Deines; 55 C—Karter Brown; 56 RG—Blaine Ensley; 58 RT—Colby Spore; 7 WB—Kale Kern or 3 WB—Alec Premer
PANTHER DEFENSE—1 CB—Cal Schartz or 20 CB—Grant Watkins; 2 FS—Cooper Ohnmacht; 5 LB—Jacob Hall; 7 LB—Kale Kern; 10 DE—Cole Fanshier; 11 CB—Koehn Ribordy; 14 SS—Ian Premer; 22 DT—Conner Holladay; 24 DE—Jaxon Wondra; 51 MLB—Trenton Kern; 73 DT—Josue Bustamante
PASSING (TD-INT)—Minton, 106-156, 1,660 (26-3); RUSHING-TD—Holladay, 86-725-9; Minton, 79-843-10; Ian Premer, 46-543-14; RECEIVING-TD—Ian Premer, 37-719-14; Ohnmacht, 47-609-6; TACKLES—Kale Kern, 120; Trenton Kern, 110; Premer 53; Hall, 52; Ohnmacht 51; Wondra 51; TACKLES LOSS—Kale Kern, 14; Holladay, 7; INTERCEPTIONS—Ian Premer, 6; Ohnmacht, 5; Ribordy, 4; SACKS—Fanshier, 3; Holladay, 3.
