Coach Bo Black returned to his old stomping grounds Friday night and led his new team to a 49-6 victory over rival Great Bend.

Black, who spent 13 years coaching the Panthers, watched his Indians take a 21-0 first quarter lead and stretch it to 42-0 at the end of the third quarter. Hays scored another touchdown in the final stanza and gave up six points to account for the final score.

Hays had a bit of help from Great Bend as the Panthers turned the ball over six times. Hays also had some difficulty hanging on the ball as the Indians lost four fumbles.

But at the end of the day, he turnovers made little difference as Hays had 365 yards of total offense compared to only 134 for Great Bend.

The offensive dominance for Hays started early as Alex Delton scored on a 13-yard run, followed by a Dalton Stout two-yard run a few minutes later to make the score 14-0. Shane Berens made it 21-0 after he picked off an errant pass and returned it 25 yards to paydirt.

After a scoreless second quarter, Hays got things rolling early in the third quarter when Delton reeled off an 82-yard run. Isaiah Blackmon stripped and recovered the football on the Panthers first offensive possession, which led to another Stout touchdown and a 35-0 lead.

Berens scored again to make it 42-0 after he scooped up a loose ball and dove into the end zone. Adam Klaus accounted for the final Indians touchdown when he capped a 25-yard drive with a four-yard run.

The next action for the Indians will be Friday when they entertain Liberal in their home opener at Lewis Field.