The 1440 KMAJ sports team visited Hayden to see a historic rivalry renewed. The Wildcats played against their feline foe, the Holton Wildcats, in a game with district and state playoff implications.

After struggling to find a rhythm in the first half, the Hayden Wildcats scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to pull away from rival Holton 27-13.

After a 12-yard touchdown run by freshman Desmond Purnell, Hayden made four trips to the red zone, but came away with zero points.

To keep the game close, Hayden relied on their defense. After surrendering 200 yards of total offense and 13 points in the first half, Hayden held Holton to 54 yards of total offense and one first down.

Hayden, traditionally a run-first offense, hit their stride by making explosive plays in the passing game. Senior quarterback Sampson Huston, the city’s leader in passing yards, went 8 of 15 for 233 yards and two touchdowns, both going to senior wide receiver DeShawn Hanika. Hanika finished the game with six catches for 211 yards, including an impressive 85-yard touchdown grab.

Hayden had 404 yards of total offense compared to Holton’s 254.

With this result and Santa Fe Trail’s win over Jefferson West, Hayden clinches the district title and will host a first round playoff game in two weeks. Hayden will play Jeff West next Friday to finish district play. Holton and Santa Fe Trail will face each other to determine who will earn the second playoff spot from the district.