Hays High Takes WAC Opener From Liberal

By KLINT SPILLER

kspiller@dailynews.net

LIBERAL -- It was the second time Hays High School football coach Ryan Cornelsen stood on the visitors' sideline with his Indians in his home town.

Cornelsen stood beneath the five state championship and five state runner-up banners from the 1990s won by his father as a coach, and for the second time, Cornelsen's homecoming resulted in a 39-12 WAC victory for his Hays High squad.

The Indians were a little slow out of the gates, but as the game continued, they just became more and more unstoppable.

Hays High (3-0, 1-0 WAC) gained only 129 yards in the first half and was forced to punt twice -- the only two possessions of the game for Hays High that didn't result in a touchdown or the end of a half.

Hays High allowed Liberal (1-2, 0-1) to march inside of the Indians' 10-yard line twice in the first half, but the Redskins fumbled twice.

"The first half was ugly, and we weren't playing with a lot of intensity," Cornelsen said.

With that said, the Indians still escaped with a 14-0 halftime lead and dominated the rest of the game after a lightning delay that extended halftime by an hour.

Hays High racked up 439 yards rushing in the game and 495 yards of total offense.

"We stepped up when we needed to, and people played with heart when we needed them to step up," said Hays High senior offensive linemen and linebacker Zach Binder.

The Indians have started 3-0 in each of Cornelsen's three years at HHS.

Hays High senior fullback Mark Mathis said Cornelsen's second homecoming provided a bit of inspiration, but he said the Indians didn't need it. The Indians have bigger goals that are pushing them forward.

"We are on a mission," Mathis said. "We want to go to the playoffs. We want to make a run at state. (Cornelsen's homecoming) was a little fire, but we know the ultimate goal: to make a run at the playoffs."

Junior running back David Cardinal ran for 157 yards and four touchdowns.

"I like blocking for him," Mathis said. "He likes to make things happen. He'll make something out of nothing."

On one of Cardinal's runs in the first quarter, he broke several tackles -- one of which resulted in Liberal linebacker Justin McPhail injuring his knee.

McPhail, who was a first team all-WAC linebacker last season and who led the conference in tackles heading into the game, missed the rest of the game. Liberal coach Cliff Abbott kept him out as a precautionary measure.

Abbott said he believes McPhail had a minor hyperextension of his knee and that he would probably play next week. However, losing McPhail for the game was big, Abbott said.

"We had to bring in some young kids that don't get as much playing time," he said. "Obviously, his physical ability as a run stopper and to be able to break up passes is big, but more than that, it is his leadership."

Mathis ran for 100 yards and a touchdown, and Hays High senior quarterback Austin Unrein ran for 89 yards and completed 3-of-7 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.

"If it weren't for my linemen blocking for me, I wouldn't have gotten any of the yards I got tonight," Mathis said. "I'm just proud of my linemen, my quarterback and my team."

Liberal was led by sophomore quarterback Britton Abbott, who rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown and completed 11-of-26 passes for 146 yards and a TD.

Britton's two touchdowns came at the beginning of the fourth quarter to narrow Hays High's lead to 26-12.

"You can't lay down," Cornelsen said. "You can't get content and not play with intensity. We aren't good enough to play flat and still do things right."

However, the Indians responded, scoring back-to-back touchdowns to seal the game.

The Indians are home Friday to play Garden City (1-2) for homecoming.

"They are a good football team," Cornelsen said. "I caught a little bit of them on film last week. Their record might not be good, but they are better than they were last year, and it was a war last year between us and them."