By KEVIN THOMPSON

Special to The Hays Daily News

LAKIN -- Halloween might be over, but somebody forgot to tell the Norton football team.

Tricks turned into treats Tuesday as the visitors snacked on a number of Lakin miscues as they routed the hometown Broncs 62-22 in the opening round of Class 3A bi-district play.

And appropriately, it was played under a full moon.

Last season the Broncs fell 21-0 at Norton in the same round.

So after winning their district last Thursday at home, the Broncs looked to do a little vandalizing against Norton, but it was Lakin who found themselves fooled by cobras disguised as Bluejays.

Just how quickly did the visitors strike?

Lakin was pinned at their own six-yard line on the opening drive. On the second play of the game, linebacker JD Gall stole a pass at the seven and walked in for the game's first score.

Time elapsed: 53 seconds.

Norton's next possession was four plays and a 24-yard run by Terrell Lane at 8:35.

After another interception, Norton scored on two plays, capped by Connor Pfannenstiel's 13-yard run.

Next possession, Lane scored from 13 yards out.

After a Lakin fumble on their next play, Pfannenstiel hit Zane Perez from 27 yards out. to make it 34-0.

And that was just the first quarter.

The Bluejays continued to strike in the second quarter.

A 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. A two-play drive that covered 69 yards. A one-play drive of 49 yards.

A final drive that covered 93 yards in just three plays.

62-0. And halftime.

Lakin finally got on the board in the third quarter. Dylan Shalberg intercepted a pass on Norton's second drive. Three plays later he hit Zach Reed for a six-yard score. In the fourth quarter, Alex Jones scored from 11 and two yards.

On the night, Norton (7-3) gained 366 yards, with all but one yard of that in the first half. Lakin (6-4) gained 242, with 133 of those in the second half.

But it wasn't just Norton's offense that drove the nail into Lakin's coffin.

The Bluejay's quick and pesky defense scared up four interceptions and a fumble in just the first half.

Lakin coach Kenny Waechter didn't have too much philosophical to say following the loss.

"We just got beat by a better ball team," he said. "They outplayed us in every aspect of the game."

He said Norton's speed was one of the keys to his team's downfall.

"We made mistakes early and wilted and they just played very well," Waechter said.

On the other side, Norton coach Lucas Melvin was happy with his team's play.

"Our kids got dialed in the last week or so," he said. "We realized we wanted more than what we've had the last couple years in playoffs."

For Lakin, this was a tough way to end what turned out to be a surprising year.

"It was a good season. We just didn't finish it the way we wanted to," Waechter said.