By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Hayden’s only loss in last year’s regular season came at Wamego on a last-second field goal. Hayden left the Red Raiders no chance for late-game heroics Friday, rolling 42-6 at home to improve to 4-0.
Senior quarterback Connor Hanika threw for three touchdowns and ran for a TD in Hayden's 42-6 win over Wamego. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Wildcats completely throttled Wamego’s offense, holding the visitors to 55 yards of total offense and just four first downs in the first half. Hayden, meanwhile, struck on two short passes over the middle from senior quarterback Connor Hanika, followed by an 11-yard scamper by the quarterback to go to halftime leading 21-0.
Hayden senior Jackson McGivern (36) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game's first touchdown in Friday's 42-7 win over Wamego. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden senior Xander Blasing caught a touchdown pass in Friday's 42-6 win over Wamego. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hanika connected on 15 of 23 throws for 230 and three touchdowns on the night. In his first season as the full-time quarterback, Hanika said he is developing comfort with the offense and continuity with his receivers. He hit six different teammates with throws in the game. Jackson McGivern, Xander Blasing and Logan Power each caught touchdown passes.
“I really love the receivers and the O-line, too,” Hanika said. “They’re doing a really good job up front and I have lots of guys to throw to. It feels really good.”
Senior Kade Mitchell bulled his way in for a touchdown and Mason Becker finished off the scoring by returning an intercepted pass 25 yards for another touchdown.
Impressive as Hayden’s offense was, it was the defense that set the tone. Having surrendered 31 points to the Red Raiders – a Class 4A-state bound team a year ago – Hayden permitted just 60 yards passing on 20 attempts on Friday. The Wildcats have yet to surrender more than seven points in a contest this year.
“It feels really good,” Hanika said to exacting some revenge on Wamego from last season. “We had a good game plan coming into this thing, and we executed it really well.”
Hayden coach Bill Arnold downplayed the concept of revenge, focusing on the good things his team accomplished and noting there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
“I don’t know about revenge. We felt like we let one slip away from us last year. But it’s an entirely different team on both sides of the ball,” Arnold said. “We’ve got a very talented senior class and we’re getting filtered in there some (younger guys) at some other spots. And those guys are getting better each and every week, and that’s what we want.
“We played with a lot of heart tonight. I’m just happy with the effort that our kids put out and we’ll try and regroup, correct some mistakes and get better next week.”
Penalties hit the Wildcats hard on both sides of the ball, making drives harder on offense while also occasionally letting the Red Raider offense out of some holes.
“That’s something we’ve got to get better on,” Hanika said. “We know as a team that’s not us, so we’re just going to change that next week.”
Hayden travels to Hiawatha next Friday to try to pick up its fifth win of the season.
Wamego, which lost to Rock Creek two weeks ago, fell to 2-2 on the year.
HAYDEN 42, WAMEGO 6
Wamego (2-2) 0 0 0 6 -- 6
Hayden (4-0) 7 14 7 14 -- 42
Hayden – J. McGivern 7 pass from Hanika (Becker kick)
Hayden – Blasing 7 pass from Hanika (Becker kick)
Hayden – Hanika 11 run (Becker kick)
Hayden – Mitchell 4 run (Becker kick)
Wamego – Fulton 2 run (pass failed)
Hayden – Power 14 pass from Hanika (Becker kick)
Hayden – Becker 25 interception return (Becker kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Wamego: Threet 20-75, Fulton 12-35, McDiffett 1-1, Hefley 2-9, Beggs 1-2. Hayden: Becker 1-5, Mitchell 11-41, Krentz 7-47, J. McGivern 5-15, Hanika 3-19.
Passing – Wamego: Fulton 11-20-1, 60 yards. Hayden: Hanika 15-23-0 230.
Receiving – Wamego: Falco 5-43, McDiffett 2-9, Higgins 2-5, Threet 1-2, Sly 1-5. Hayden: Mitchell 2-28, Power 3-62, J. McGivern 2-50, Kidd 3-38, Blasing 2-26, Becker 2-26.
Punting – Wamego: TenEyck 2-30.5, Simon 1-31. Hayden: Hanika 2-29.5.
