By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

The Hays High School football team showed Friday night it can still win when all the parts aren't running smoothly.

The Indians relied on special team and defense, plus a couple big plays on offense, to take a 24-10 win over Wichita South before a large homecoming crowd at Lewis Field Stadium.

"Of course, we're pleased with the win," Hays High coach Rick Blosser said. "But Holy Cow, we've got a lot of work to do offensively."

Hays High (4-1) was held to 23 yards rushing on 34 attempts, and senior quarterback Kelton Rule was intercepted three times -- when he wasn't running for his life under a heavy pass rush.

"They have great team speed, just rushing the guys up front," Blosser said of Wichita South's defense. "They really controlled the line of scrimmage."

Wichita South (1-4) took the early lead, scoring on a 31-yard interception return by junior defensive back Cory Richardson to make it 7-0 with 4:42 left in the first quarter.

Hays High responded with a big play on the next series to tie the game. On third-and-15 from midfield, Rule moved up in the pocket under heavy pressure and found senior wideout Logan Downing all alone down the sideline in front of the HHS bench, Downing made the catch at about the 20, cut back to the middle of the field, and had a defender on his back the final 5 yards before falling into the end zone. After the extra point, the game was tied 7-7 with 1:17 remaining in the first period.

"He made some great catches," Blosser said. "He fought his way into the end zone."

After Rule's second interception, the Titans had a first down at the HHS 17, but were forced to settle for a 31-yard field goal by senior kicker Brandon Peterson with 3:56 left in the second quarter.

"Defensively, we played great," Blosser said. "Their 10 points came off turnovers."

After a three-and-out by the HHS offense, the Titans put together another drive before halftime, marching to the Indian 15 before trying a 32-yard field goal with under 30 seconds left. The Indians blocked the kick and took over on their own 45-yard line with 20 seconds left.

Rule fired completions of 19 yards to senior tight end Thomas Rohleder and 13 yards to junior wide receiver Bryant Bombardier to move the ball to the Titan 23. The Indians called a time out to give senior kicker Shane Bixenman a try at a 40-yard field goal. His kick was good at the gun, and HHS forged a 10-10 halftime tie.

I'm very pleased with our special teams," Blosser said. "We went into halftime feeling a lot better."

The third quarter was all Wichita South on offense, but the Indians kept the Titans off the scoreboard. Hays High's offense was on the field for four plays in the third quarter.

The Titans put together a long drive that chewed up most of the clock in the period, and had first-and-goal inside the 10 before the Indian defense forced a field-goal try. Peterson's 31-yard attempt was blocked, and HHS recovered on its own 27.

The Indians couldn't get anything going on offense, then early in the fourth quarter the HHS defense made the big play.

On first down after an Indian punt, Titan sophomore running back DuWayne Kelly ran a sweep to the right side, where he was tackled and coughed up the ball. Rohleder picked up the loose ball and ran 42 yards into the end zone to give the Indians a 17-10 lead with 10:44 left in the game.

"We struggled offensively," Blosser said. "When Tommy scooped and scored a touchdown, that was huge for us." After forcing Wichita South to punt, HHS took over at its own 47-yard line. Six plays later, on third-and-16 from the Titan 20, Rule lofted a deep pass into the end zone for junior Bryant Bombardier, who outjumped the defender for the score to make it 24-10 with 6:29 remaining in the game.

"We run a fade route to Bryant Bombardier," Blosser said. "He makes a great catch."

But other than the big play here or there, the Indians sputtered on offense.

"Offensively, we never clicked," Blosser said. "We made big plays when we had to."

Rule completed 10-of-20 passes for 180 yards, with two TDS and three interceptions. Rohleder had four catches for 78 yards.

Junior Travis Pfannenstiel was the Indians' leading rusher with 18 yards on five carries.

Wichita South used two quarterbacks. Junior Spencer Hickey started and alternated with junior Zach Villereal. Hickey completed 4-of-16 passes for 60 yards, with one interception. Villereal was 1-of-6 for 24 yards, and one interception. Kelly ran for 90 yards on 23 carries.

Rohleder led the HHS defense with 12 tackles (10 solo), while Rule and Pfannenstiel each had an interception.

Hays High returns to Western Athletic Conference action Friday with a home game against Dodge City.