Rivalries give football games added flavor. Two teams that square off with each other so often that the meetings take on special meaning. The Hays Indians traveled to face the Great Bend Panthers on the gridiron for the 81st time on September 7th.
The game started with a back and forth defensive battle. Both teams faced a second down and 22 yards to go on their opening possessions.
Late in the first half, Great Bend intercepted a pass from the Hays quarterback and on the ensuing possession, scored the first touchdown of the game. The Panthers failed to make the point after touchdown kick. A couple of minutes later, Hays used a busted pass play to get on the board themselves and take a 7 to 6 lead into halftime.
Great Bend added another touchdown and a field goal to clinch the victory with a score of 15 to 7.
Below are some of the pictures I took at the game:
Great Bend Panther Head Coach Erin Beck watches his players during warm ups prior to the game. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther Head Coach Erin Beck walks towards where his players are warming up before the start of the game. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #12 Koy Brack winds up to throw a pass during warmups. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #38 Dani Franco kicks off a ball during warmups prior to the start of the game. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #1 Bryce Brown and #81 Sam Ryan bump fists during warmups. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #6 Caden Bieker looks intently at the Hays players across the field during warmups. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Members of Great Bend Panthers gather for a huddle during warmups prior to the camera. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
The referee tosses the coin prior to the start of the game. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #12 Koy Brack waits for the ball to be snapped to him in the in the first quarter. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #12 Koy Brack throws a pass in the first quarter. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Hays Indian #6 Palmer Hutchison calls for the ball in the first quarter. The Hays Indians faced off with the Great Bend Panthers at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Hays Indian #7 Keaton Markley tackles Great Bend Panther #29 Gage Fritz in the third quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #16 Dalton Miller moves to avoid Hays Indian #3 Taivian Creamer in the third quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #16 Dalton Miller spins around Hays Indian #3 Taivian Creamer in the third quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #16 Dalton Miller stiff arms Hays Indian #3 Taivian Creamer during the third quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #55 Eric Vazquez launches into the Hays Indian offensive line in the third quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #11 Pablo Martinez closes in on Hays Indian #6 Palmer Hutchison in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Hays Indian #6 Palmer Hutchison tries to avoid the tackle of Great Bend Panther #11 Pablo Martinez in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #12 Koy Brack throws a pass in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #2 Alex Schremmer pulls in a pass in the fourth quarter as Hays Indian #3 Taivian Creamer defends. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #62 Payton Doll launches off the line in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Hays Indian #7 Keaton Markley rallies the first team defense on the sideline in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Hays Indian #7 Keaton Markley pumps up his teammates on the sideline in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #12 Koy Brack carries the ball as #71 Kaden Schroeder blocks down on Hays Indian #72 Matthew Younker in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #52 Alan Miramontes goes to congratulate on Great Bend Panther #38 Dani Franco on his successful game winning field goal in the fourth quarter. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Members of the Hays Indians and Great Bend Panthers shake hands following the game. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Great Bend Panther #51 Demetri Slrickland cries out to the student section after the game. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Members of the Great Bend Panthers thank their fans after the game. The Great Bend Panthers defeated the Hays Indians with a score of 15 to 7 at Memorial Stadium in Great Bend, Kansas on September 7, 2018. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
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