By GARRETT WELLBROCK
Tiger Media Network
HILL CITY, Kan. – For the first time in a decade, WaKeeney-Trego finally broke through against Hill City.
The Golden Eagles defeated the Ringnecks 30-20 on Friday night, snapping an 11-game losing streak in the series — their last win dating back to 2015. The win also avenged last year’s playoff loss, when Hill City ended Trego’s season in Week 9.
“It was a very physical game, especially since it was just Week 1,” Trego coach Pat Haxton said. “I feel like my kids responded well and thought we played hard the whole game. We went in blind to what Hill City was going to do, but my group has a lot of experience, and they just worked on us. They’ve been disciplined in practice, and I feel they got better because of it.”
Trego (1-0) struck first after Hill City opened with a three-and-out, marching 39 yards in 4 and a half minutes before Jack Conness scored on a 4-yard run. The senior added the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Hill City (0-1) answered in the second quarter when quarterback Tate Balthazor capped a 50-yard drive with a 2-yard run and conversion to tie the game.
But turnovers swung the quarter.
Balthazor threw a pick-six to Westyn Windholz, who returned it 14 yards for a touchdown, and a Vincent Zohner fumble led to Trego’s biggest play – a 50-yard scoring strike from quarterback Ashton Wynn to Conness. That gave the Eagles a 24-8 lead.
Hill City cut into the margin before halftime when Balthazor connected with Jaxson Smith for a 61-yard touchdown, making it 24-14 at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter filled with Hill City penalties that stalled drives, Wynn broke loose for a 26-yard scramble to set up Conness’ third touchdown of the night, a short plunge early in the fourth to stretch the lead to 30-14.
Balthazor kept Hill City alive with his legs, scoring on a 5-yard run, but his pass on the two-point try was intercepted in the end zone.
Trego’s defense held late, forcing a turnover on downs with under five minutes left before Wynn’s third-down scramble sealed the game.
Conness led Trego with 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns, plus a 50-yard touchdown catch. Wynn threw for 90 yards and a score while adding 47 on the ground.
Balthazor paced Hill City with 150 yards passing, 54 rushing and three total touchdowns, but also had an interception and a fumble.
For Haxton, in his 13th season at Trego, the victory was more than just a win.
“I personally needed to get that monkey off my back to beat Hill City,” he said. “Glad for my kids more than me though, because they have prepared so well for this season.”
Trego Athletic Director Jeremy Samson praised the breakthrough.
“I’m so excited for him, his staff and our guys,” Samson said. “They’ve put in a lot of work building up to this season. Hopefully, this is just what they needed to kick-start a great year.”
Both teams return to Mid-Continent League play this week. Trego hosts Hoxie, while Hill City travels to Ellis.
This story was written as part of INF 322: Sports Writing, a course in the Department of Informatics at Fort Hays State University.