By COLE REIF

For The Hays Daily News

HILL CITY -- If you combined Hill City's and Stockton's scoring averages from last season, the two football teams would have a combined average of just over 20 points per game.

After both programs dropped down to eight-man this fall, the two teams nearly reached the century mark Friday night. The Ringnecks were able to reload quicker in the shootout, defeating the Tigers, 58-40.

Friday's matchup was the 54th meeting between the two schools. The Tigers might have the five state championships in their past, but the Ringnecks have been having more success this season. Hill City has now won its last four games and evened series at 27 wins each.

The first quarter lasted 45 minutes.

The Tigers, with two wins on the season, have already matched their win total from the previous three years combined. A reenergized Stockton club under first-year coach Grant Smith got on the scoreboard first as junior tailback Gabe Duncan scorched into the end zone on a 50-yard run.

Less than 20 seconds later, Hill City matched the score with a halfback pass from senior Dylan Vap to senior Seth Thompson for 48 yards. Thompson hauled in six catches for 125 yards and two scores.

The quarter actually saw a 2-minute gap before the next score when Duncan gave Stockton the lead with his second rushing touchdown, this one of the 5-yard variety. Duncan finished with 134 yards rushing.

Hill City's Thompson took the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for the score to tie the game up at 12.

Stockton's Duncan was not impressed. He took the very next kickoff 66 yards to put the Tigers back on top 18-12 with over seven minutes to go in the first quarter.

The opening quarter showdown finally subsided as Hill City's Ross Breese caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Reggie Jordan. After the 2-point conversion the Ringnecks took a 2-point advantage heading into the second quarter.

Hill City (4-1) controlled the second quarter, putting up an additional 20 points to take a 40-18 lead at the break.

The Ringnecks kept firing in the second half. Jordan who had accounted for 22 touchdowns on the season, returned the third kickoff of the game for a score. Jordan threw for 122 yards with three touchdowns, ran for 96 yards with a score, and added the 68-yard kickoff return.

Stockton (2-3) punched in two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to narrow the margin to 18.

Stockton quarterback Alex Thornburg ran for two touchdowns and 71 yards. He also completed six passes for 58 yards.

Hill City, now 1-0 in district action, has improved each year under head coach Chris Shank. The Ringnecks host Western Plains Friday.

After losing ist first district game, Stockton hosts undefeated Quinter Friday.

Cole Reif is a play-by-play announcer for Eagle Radio, and does an area game of the week. His game this Friday is Ness-Dighton at La Crosse, with a 6:30 p.m. pregame. Read his story about the game in Sunday's issue of

The Hays Daily News.