By Brad Hallier
BUHLER, Kan. – If there was any doubt that Buhler could be a contender in Class 4A this season, those should have been erased Friday night.
Behind a suffocating defense that spent most of the game Friday in the offensive backfield, and a career night from sophomore running back Ben Clouse, Buhler led at halftime and then held on to a 20-14 win over Great Bend.
Great Bend has already beaten McPherson by 13 points this year, and also nearly upended Hays.
Buhler scored the only points of the first half after a Brendan Scripsick interception led to a short field. Clouse punched in a touchdown from 2 yards.
Clouse added a second-half touchdown, and a late muffed punt led to a final Buhler touchdown.
Buhler had 229 rushing yards, compared to just 62 for Great Bend, who had less than 260 yards of offense.
Buhler (2-1), which has only lost to undefeated Andover Central by six, will head to Winfield next week.
