By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

After Concordia scored on its first possession, the defense for the Hays High School football team took over, shutting down the Panthers in Friday night's season opener.

Hays High gradually pulled away, leading by a touchdown at halftime before finally taking a 34-7 win at Lewis Field Stadium.

"I thought our kids played great in the second half," said Hays High coach Rick Blosser, starting his second year at the school.

The Hays High defense was dominant, especially in the second half, when the Indians surrendered 19 total yards.

Senior linebacker Thomas Rohleder led HHS with six tackles, a sack and an interception. Blosser said junior linebacker Travis Pfannenstiel also had a good game, and credited first-year defensive coordinator Monte Spiller for limiting the Panthers' attack.

Concordia's standout running back, senior David Mortimer, was held to 32 yards on 16 carries.

"I thought coach Spiller did a great job with the defense," Blosser said. "He was putting kids right on the ball."

Senior quarterback Kelton Rule looked calm, cool and collected in leading the Indian attack. Rule completed his first seven passes, including two for touchdowns. Rule also led all rushers, gaining 71 yards on 17 carries, including three short TD runs in the second half.

"I want him to see the field, be my eyes on the field," Blosser said. "He just does nice things; he's a playmaker.

"He just makes things happen," Blosser added.

Rule made it happen on the season's first drive. Starting from the HHS 39, Rule drove the Indians to paydirt in nine plays, capped by a 20-yard TD toss to junior wideout Bryant Bombardier. Seeing that Bombardier had man coverage with no deep help, Rule lofted a pass near the goal line, and Bombardier outjumped the cornerback for the ball and made a headlong dive into the end zone for the score.

After Concordia got its lone touchdown on the next series -- a 6-yard pass from junior Corbin Gaudet to senior tight end Alex Johnson -- HHS went to the air again to take a 14-7 halftime lead.

Hays High went 65 yards in eight plays, capped by Rule's 10-yard TD toss to junior wide receiver Logan Downing. Rule scrambled up the middle and looked ready to run before pulling up short of the line of scrimmage and hitting Downing in the middle of the end zone. The big play in the drive was Rule's 36-yard pass to Rohleder on third-and-11 from midfield.

Concordia got the ball to start the second half, but Rohleder intercepted Gaudert to give HHS the ball on the Panther 5. Two plays later, Rule scored from the 1-yard line on a quarterback sneak to make it 21-7.

Hays High added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, as the Indians' offensive line sprung the backs for good yardage. Both of Rule's touchdowns in the fourth quarter were simple runs behind the center from 2 yards out and 3 yards out.

"I thought our offensive line did a better job in the second half," Blosser said.

Hays High had 239 yards of total offense, while holding Concordia to 116, including just 37 yards rushing on 30 carries.

The Indians hit the road for the first time Friday, with a game at Ulysses.