By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

The Southeast of Saline Trojans (8-0) emerged victorious over the Ellsworth Bearcats (7-1) on Friday, with a convincing 30-0 win.

For a regular season game, this one had a lot on the line, and the Trojans departed Ellsworth with a pile of riches that included a fourth-straight undefeated regular season, a fourth-straight district title, a sixth-straighth league title, and perhaps most importantly, a 1-seed in the 2A playoffs.

The Trojan offense wasn’t as efficient as they have been in the past at scoring the football, as this game was an 8-0 nailbiter at halftime, but it’s hard to lose when you don’t give up any points, and for the second time this year, SES pitched a shutout.

That goose egg on the board was made all the more impressive against a Bearcat offense that averaged 34 points per game coming into this contest.

“Ellsworth is a good football team and I was proud of our defense tonight. Whatever they threw at us that group did a great job of countering it and I’m awful proud of the way they played tonight.”

The Trojan defense also held Ellsworth in check on total yardage, where a Bearcat offense that avereges 338 yards a contest was held to just over 100 on the day.

Offensively, Southeast’s struggles came in the red zone early, as the team moved the ball efficiently, but had just eight points to show for 221 first-half yards.

In the second half however, SES exploded, striking for 24 unanswered points as part of a big day for QB Danny Kejr.

The senior signal caller closed out this contest with 181 yards passing and two scores through the air, adding 46 more yards and another score on the ground.

Southeast of Saline will play host to Chaparral, who they defeated in last year’s playoffs, to kick off postseason play next Friday, while Ellsworth will stay at home to host Haven.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here</figcaption>
 </figure>The Southeast of Saline Trojans (8-0) emerged victorious over the Ellsworth Bearcats (7-1) on Friday, with a convincing 30-0 win.For a regular season game, this one had a lot on the line, and the Trojans departed Ellsworth with a pile of riches that included a fourth-straight undefeated regular season, a fourth-straight district title, a sixth-straighth league title, and perhaps most importantly, a 1-seed in the 2A playoffs.The Trojan offense wasn’t as efficient as they have been in the past at scoring the football, as this game was an 8-0 nailbiter at halftime, but it’s hard to lose when you don’t give up any points, and for the second time this year, SES pitched a shutout.That goose egg on the board was made all the more impressive against a Bearcat offense that averaged 34 points per game coming into this contest.“Ellsworth is a good football team and I was proud of our defense tonight. Whatever they threw at us that group did a great job of countering it and I’m awful proud of the way they played tonight.”The Trojan defense also held Ellsworth in check on total yardage, where a Bearcat offense that avereges 338 yards a contest was held to just over 100 on the day.Offensively, Southeast’s struggles came in the red zone early, as the team moved the ball efficiently, but had just eight points to show for 221 first-half yards.In the second half however, SES exploded, striking for 24 unanswered points as part of a big day for QB Danny Kejr.The senior signal caller closed out this contest with 181 yards passing and two scores through the air, adding 46 more yards and another score on the ground.Southeast of Saline will play host to Chaparral, who they defeated in last year’s playoffs, to kick off postseason play next Friday, while Ellsworth will stay at home to host Haven.

Trojans Blank Bearcats to win Fourth Straight District Crown

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3c86c02b-c546-4cb9-8e1a-0c60b02f919a?elinkdata=1782" target="_blank">Byron McNair's</a>&nbsp;career as a college quarterback is in its infant stages.

So much to learn, from the nuances of Kansas Wesleyan's offense to building chemistry with wide receivers and the offensive line to being the on-the-field leader of a team with high expectations.

The process includes considerable trial and error, learning what and when to do something and when not to do it. One early lesson was particularly painful.

"(Taking) the hits for sure," said McNair, who made his first start last Saturday in the Coyotes' Kansas Conference game against Avila in Kansas City. "I realized that I'm dealing with guys that are grown men."When we played McPherson I took a lot of hits. I'm a tough person, I stayed in (the pocket) and delivered the ball and took the hit. But after the game that adrenaline wore off and I definitely felt it."

McNair has been a quick study just one year removed from leading the Pattonville (Missouri) High School offense. He played well in the second half of KWU's 14-10 victory over McPherson, guiding the Coyotes to the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. 

Last week against Avila he was 11 of 18 passing for 141 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 34-16 victory.McNair said he was ready when his name was called against McPherson.

"My preparation started way before I got here so I knew what I was coming into," he said. "I have a good family and good people behind me pushing me to make sure whenever your name is called, you're ready. There was no nervousness, I was ready to go."

His opportunity came after performing well in practice.

"I just give all the glory to God," he said. "I stayed humble and every day I came to work. Just being consistent, never get a big head or taking any days off. I gained the respect from the defensive guys and older guys in practice every day. They were like 'this kid's got something; we may need him to come help us out.' "

His progress has impressed KWU offensive coordinator&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ea749007-21c7-4606-8012-fedbf26647ac?elinkdata=1782" target="_blank">James Bauer</a>.

"From the time he came on his recruiting visit and when he got here for camp he's stood out and we knew he was going to be special at some point," Bauer said. "You'd love not to start a freshman but he's the kind of kid that doesn't play like one. He demands respect, he commands the huddle and he brings an energy that we needed. We needed a spark; he's provided that spark and shown a lot of maturity beyond his age."

McNair played two years at De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis before transferring to Pattonville before his junior year. Both programs provided experience that was beneficial when he arrived on campus.

"Coming here it was literally like the same thing I ran a high school so all the plays I'm used to, all the RPO (run, pass option) type of things," he said.

His high school experiences also taught him that a short memory is imperative - quickly move on from every mistake.

"You can't be out there in one world and your team's in another world," McNair said. "We all have to be on the same page. I know they forgot about that last play so I can't be the outlier thinking about the last play and messing us up."

Football was just part of the reason McNair chose to attend Wesleyan.

"They didn't just talk football with me. They talked about me after college and said they were going to be on top of me academic-wise," said McNair, who currently has a 4.0 grade average. "That's a big thing in my family, not just being a good football player but being a good human in general. They always say it's more than just football. (KWU) showed love and that they cared about developing me as a man rather than just a football player."

Like most freshmen McNair has found college life to be different but has made the adjustments.

"Having to just stay focused and not fall into the distractions or anything like that," he said. "Not having mom or brothers to go to ask for help. Picking my big boy pants up and taking it one step at a time."

McNair has two favorite NFL quarterbacks - Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and former New England great Tom Brady.

"Those really are the two I focus on more because of the mental part of the game," he said. "Tom Brady was in the league for such a long time and his attitude is such a great thing. I look at those guys as people too. I don't want to learn just football; I want to learn about becoming a better person."

While pleased with his and the offense's progress McNair says there's work to be done. 

The Coyotes play Saint Mary on Homecoming and Family Weekend at 5 p.m. Saturday at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.

"Everything is coming together but that's not the end of it," he said. "We have goals that we're trying to meet and we're not there yet. So, every week the focus level is 10 times higher, everybody is bonding more and we're trying to all get on the same page. Get to where nobody can stop us but us."

Story by Bob Davidson<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3c86c02b-c546-4cb9-8e1a-0c60b02f919a?elinkdata=1782" target="_blank">Byron McNair's</a>&nbsp;career as a college quarterback is in its infant stages.So much to learn, from the nuances of Kansas Wesleyan's offense to building chemistry with wide receivers and the offensive line to being the on-the-field leader of a team with high expectations.The process includes considerable trial and error, learning what and when to do something and when not to do it. One early lesson was particularly painful."(Taking) the hits for sure," said McNair, who made his first start last Saturday in the Coyotes' Kansas Conference game against Avila in Kansas City. "I realized that I'm dealing with guys that are grown men."When we played McPherson I took a lot of hits. I'm a tough person, I stayed in (the pocket) and delivered the ball and took the hit. But after the game that adrenaline wore off and I definitely felt it."McNair has been a quick study just one year removed from leading the Pattonville (Missouri) High School offense. He played well in the second half of KWU's 14-10 victory over McPherson, guiding the Coyotes to the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Last week against Avila he was 11 of 18 passing for 141 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 34-16 victory.McNair said he was ready when his name was called against McPherson."My preparation started way before I got here so I knew what I was coming into," he said. "I have a good family and good people behind me pushing me to make sure whenever your name is called, you're ready. There was no nervousness, I was ready to go."His opportunity came after performing well in practice."I just give all the glory to God," he said. "I stayed humble and every day I came to work. Just being consistent, never get a big head or taking any days off. I gained the respect from the defensive guys and older guys in practice every day. They were like 'this kid's got something; we may need him to come help us out.' "His progress has impressed KWU offensive coordinator&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ea749007-21c7-4606-8012-fedbf26647ac?elinkdata=1782" target="_blank">James Bauer</a>."From the time he came on his recruiting visit and when he got here for camp he's stood out and we knew he was going to be special at some point," Bauer said. "You'd love not to start a freshman but he's the kind of kid that doesn't play like one. He demands respect, he commands the huddle and he brings an energy that we needed. We needed a spark; he's provided that spark and shown a lot of maturity beyond his age."McNair played two years at De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis before transferring to Pattonville before his junior year. Both programs provided experience that was beneficial when he arrived on campus."Coming here it was literally like the same thing I ran a high school so all the plays I'm used to, all the RPO (run, pass option) type of things," he said.His high school experiences also taught him that a short memory is imperative - quickly move on from every mistake."You can't be out there in one world and your team's in another world," McNair said. "We all have to be on the same page. I know they forgot about that last play so I can't be the outlier thinking about the last play and messing us up."Football was just part of the reason McNair chose to attend Wesleyan."They didn't just talk football with me. They talked about me after college and said they were going to be on top of me academic-wise," said McNair, who currently has a 4.0 grade average. "That's a big thing in my family, not just being a good football player but being a good human in general. They always say it's more than just football. (KWU) showed love and that they cared about developing me as a man rather than just a football player."Like most freshmen McNair has found college life to be different but has made the adjustments."Having to just stay focused and not fall into the distractions or anything like that," he said. "Not having mom or brothers to go to ask for help. Picking my big boy pants up and taking it one step at a time."McNair has two favorite NFL quarterbacks - Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and former New England great Tom Brady."Those really are the two I focus on more because of the mental part of the game," he said. "Tom Brady was in the league for such a long time and his attitude is such a great thing. I look at those guys as people too. I don't want to learn just football; I want to learn about becoming a better person."While pleased with his and the offense's progress McNair says there's work to be done. The Coyotes play Saint Mary on Homecoming and Family Weekend at 5 p.m. Saturday at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex."Everything is coming together but that's not the end of it," he said. "We have goals that we're trying to meet and we're not there yet. So, every week the focus level is 10 times higher, everybody is bonding more and we're trying to all get on the same page. Get to where nobody can stop us but us."

KWU Offense progressing with freshman McNair at quarterback

Wamego’s might was on full display in a week eight battle at Abilene, as the Raiders (6-2) handed the Cowboys (6-2) just their second loss of the season 38-14.

Abilene kept things close going into the intermission, but the Raider running game, and more specifically Thomas McIntyre, could not be stopped.

By the time the final whistle blew, the senior tailback had carried the ball 32 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns.

After forcing a quick three and out, Wamego fumbled the ball away on their first series of the game, but their defense needed just three more plays to get off the field.

Their next two drives were capped off by short touchdown runs for McIntyre, as the Raiders jumped out to an early 14-0 lead.

From there, the Abilene offense got to work, shortening their passes and stringing together an impressive drive that concluded with a 29-yard strike from Stocton Timbrook to Weston Rock.

Wamego would answer with another McIntyre touchdown of their own, but the Cowboys had one last scoring drive in them, and thanks to another Timbrook to Rock connection, trailed just 24-14 at the half.

The third quarter was uneventful, with both teams trading picks, but the fourth quarter belonged to the Raiders, who turned Abilene over two more times defensively, and scored 14 unanswered points to put the game on ice 38-14.

Both teams will open the postseason at home next week as the Raiders play host to El Dorado and the Cowboys entertain Ark City.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here</figcaption>
 </figure>Wamego’s might was on full display in a week eight battle at Abilene, as the Raiders (6-2) handed the Cowboys (6-2) just their second loss of the season 38-14.Abilene kept things close going into the intermission, but the Raider running game, and more specifically Thomas McIntyre, could not be stopped.By the time the final whistle blew, the senior tailback had carried the ball 32 times for 232 yards and four touchdowns.After forcing a quick three and out, Wamego fumbled the ball away on their first series of the game, but their defense needed just three more plays to get off the field.Their next two drives were capped off by short touchdown runs for McIntyre, as the Raiders jumped out to an early 14-0 lead.From there, the Abilene offense got to work, shortening their passes and stringing together an impressive drive that concluded with a 29-yard strike from Stocton Timbrook to Weston Rock.Wamego would answer with another McIntyre touchdown of their own, but the Cowboys had one last scoring drive in them, and thanks to another Timbrook to Rock connection, trailed just 24-14 at the half.The third quarter was uneventful, with both teams trading picks, but the fourth quarter belonged to the Raiders, who turned Abilene over two more times defensively, and scored 14 unanswered points to put the game on ice 38-14.Both teams will open the postseason at home next week as the Raiders play host to El Dorado and the Cowboys entertain Ark City.

McIntyre's Big Day Pushes Raiders Past Abilene 

The high school football playoffs are officially upon us, and on Saturday, KSHSAA released the brackets for this year's opening round.

Below you can find matchups for all the teams in our Salina, and Little Apple network.

5A Salina Central vs. Great Bend Salina South at Kapaun Mt. Carmel

4A Abilene vs. Ark City Wamego vs. El Dorado

2A SE of Saline vs. Chaparral Ellsworth vs. Haven Minneapolis at Silver Lake

1A Sacred Heart at Sedgwick Wabaunsee at Marion

8M-DI Ell-Saline vs. Quinter Bennington at Hoxie

The high school football playoffs are officially upon us, and on Saturday, KSHSAA released the brackets for this year's opening round.Below you can find matchups for all the teams in our Salina, and Little Apple network.5A Salina Central vs. Great Bend Salina South at Kapaun Mt. Carmel4A Abilene vs. Ark City Wamego vs. El Dorado3A Rock Creek vs. Chapman2A SE of Saline vs. Chaparral Ellsworth vs. Haven Minneapolis at Silver Lake1A Sacred Heart at Sedgwick Wabaunsee at Marion8M-DI Ell-Saline vs. Quinter Bennington at Hoxie

Area High School Football Playoff Matchups

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697862552232.png" alt="Class 3-5A scores" />
 <figcaption>Class 3-5A scores</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697862584182.png" alt="8M-2A scores" />
 <figcaption>8M-2A scores</figcaption>
 </figure>

Week Eight Area HS Football Scores

The Abilene Cowboys (6-1), and Wamego Red Raiders (5-2) will meet tonight in a heavyweight 4A bout, as an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

While Wamego has owned the series in recent memory, this year’s Cowboys are certainly on the rise, and with one more victory will hold the most wins in a season since 2016 heading into the playoffs next week.

“The growth of the program this season and the camaraderie among the kids has been really great to see,” Cowboy head coach Brad Nicks said. “We don’t get caught up in the stats, it’s a real team effort and the kids just want the W at the end of the day.”

In order to pull that feat off, Abilene will have to contend with last year’s 4A state runners-up and a Wamego defense that has returned to form, ranking 1st in scoring defense (9.6 PPGA), and 2nd in total defense (192 yds/GA).

“Our defense has been a strong point again and it needs to be for us to make a run down the stretch,” Weston Moody said. “We have a lot of really good guys on that side of the ball but the Timbrook kid throws it really well and he has a lot of good receiving threats.”

That aforementioned Abilene offense has been stellar in its own right this season, and ranks second in Class 4A in total offense (380 yds/g), and first in passing offense (270 yds/g).

With one of the top 4A offenses set to square off with one of it’s best defenses, the stage is set to see who will blink first, in what could very well be one of the best games across the state this Friday.

For Abilene, their keys to a win will lie in the trenches, where the Cowboys must buy time for Stocton Timbrook to get the air raid offense rolling once again.

“We have to be able to handle them up front on offense,” Nicks said. “They mix up their front and they don’t blitz a ton but they get good pressure. We have to be able to take care of that in both the run and pass game and that’s priority number one.”

Meanwhile for Wamego, pressuring Timbrook and stringing out drives on the ground will be the name of the game, as the Raiders look to play hard-nose, smash-mouth football again this week.

“In football, you have to take away what a team is good at,” Moody said. “Our goal will be to take what they give us offensively and limit their passing game defensively. Ultimately this game will come down to who can make fewer mistakes.”

Kickoff between the Cowboys and Raiders is set for 7:00 and this game will be featured as our Salina Post Game of the Week.

You can stream the game for free on both the Salina, and Little Apple Posts 100% free HERE.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here</figcaption>
 </figure>The Abilene Cowboys (6-1), and Wamego Red Raiders (5-2) will meet tonight in a heavyweight 4A bout, as an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.While Wamego has owned the series in recent memory, this year’s Cowboys are certainly on the rise, and with one more victory will hold the most wins in a season since 2016 heading into the playoffs next week.“The growth of the program this season and the camaraderie among the kids has been really great to see,” Cowboy head coach Brad Nicks said. “We don’t get caught up in the stats, it’s a real team effort and the kids just want the W at the end of the day.”In order to pull that feat off, Abilene will have to contend with last year’s 4A state runners-up and a Wamego defense that has returned to form, ranking 1st in scoring defense (9.6 PPGA), and 2nd in total defense (192 yds/GA).“Our defense has been a strong point again and it needs to be for us to make a run down the stretch,” Weston Moody said. “We have a lot of really good guys on that side of the ball but the Timbrook kid throws it really well and he has a lot of good receiving threats.”That aforementioned Abilene offense has been stellar in its own right this season, and ranks second in Class 4A in total offense (380 yds/g), and first in passing offense (270 yds/g).With one of the top 4A offenses set to square off with one of it’s best defenses, the stage is set to see who will blink first, in what could very well be one of the best games across the state this Friday.For Abilene, their keys to a win will lie in the trenches, where the Cowboys must buy time for Stocton Timbrook to get the air raid offense rolling once again.“We have to be able to handle them up front on offense,” Nicks said. “They mix up their front and they don’t blitz a ton but they get good pressure. We have to be able to take care of that in both the run and pass game and that’s priority number one.”Meanwhile for Wamego, pressuring Timbrook and stringing out drives on the ground will be the name of the game, as the Raiders look to play hard-nose, smash-mouth football again this week.“In football, you have to take away what a team is good at,” Moody said. “Our goal will be to take what they give us offensively and limit their passing game defensively. Ultimately this game will come down to who can make fewer mistakes.”Kickoff between the Cowboys and Raiders is set for 7:00 and this game will be featured as our Salina Post Game of the Week.You can stream the game for free on both the Salina, and Little Apple Posts 100% free HERE.

Abilene Hosts Wamego in a 4A Heavyweight Bout

The Sacred Heart Knights will return to Salina for a big regular-season finale tonight as they welcome in the Republic County Buffaloes.

This game will serve as a win-and-in contest for the final playoff spot from District 5, as the Knights (1-6) and Buffaloes (0-7) each come in in search of their first district win.

Despite their recent struggles, Sacred Heart continues to get healthier each and every week, and believe they could be a prime candidate to play spoiler if they can crack the 1A bracket.

“This is absolutely the first week of the playoffs for us, there’s no other way to look at it,” Knights head coach Norm Jennings said. “Our guys don’t want this season to end for another month and they want to be the most dangerous 4-seed out there. They’ve got the potential to come in and be overlooked as we start to get some guys back and healthy.”

That opportunity seems likely, as the Knights prepare to do battle with a Republic County team down on their luck in 2023.

The Buffs have struggled in all facets of the game, having been outscored 381-18 collectively on the year, and ranking dead last in 1A in total offense and scoring defense.

Despite those struggles, Sacred Heart won’t be taking their week eight opponent lightly, and will be ready to come flying out of the gates come kickoff on Friday night.

“Republic County is fast and they’ve got a lot of heart,” Jennings said. “Like us, they’ve had a lot of injuries but they never quit on offense and they’ve adapted a lot with different personnel and improved throughout the year.”

In order to collect this must-win victory, the Knights will need to play with momentum, and take care of the football on each possession.

“We are going to come out of that locker room amped up and hitting fast,” Jennings said. “We want to get a quick start, put our foot on their neck, and never let it off. Games have gone our way when we’ve done that and that’s what we need to see tonight.”

Kickoff between the Knights and Buffaloes is set for 7:00 at Bissell Field on the campus of KWU, and as always the game can be streamed with live audio and video on the Salina Post <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJv9S7wvxvo">HERE</a>.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sacred Heart Knights will return to Salina for a big regular-season finale tonight as they welcome in the Republic County Buffaloes.This game will serve as a win-and-in contest for the final playoff spot from District 5, as the Knights (1-6) and Buffaloes (0-7) each come in in search of their first district win.Despite their recent struggles, Sacred Heart continues to get healthier each and every week, and believe they could be a prime candidate to play spoiler if they can crack the 1A bracket.“This is absolutely the first week of the playoffs for us, there’s no other way to look at it,” Knights head coach Norm Jennings said. “Our guys don’t want this season to end for another month and they want to be the most dangerous 4-seed out there. They’ve got the potential to come in and be overlooked as we start to get some guys back and healthy.”That opportunity seems likely, as the Knights prepare to do battle with a Republic County team down on their luck in 2023.The Buffs have struggled in all facets of the game, having been outscored 381-18 collectively on the year, and ranking dead last in 1A in total offense and scoring defense.Despite those struggles, Sacred Heart won’t be taking their week eight opponent lightly, and will be ready to come flying out of the gates come kickoff on Friday night.“Republic County is fast and they’ve got a lot of heart,” Jennings said. “Like us, they’ve had a lot of injuries but they never quit on offense and they’ve adapted a lot with different personnel and improved throughout the year.”In order to collect this must-win victory, the Knights will need to play with momentum, and take care of the football on each possession.“We are going to come out of that locker room amped up and hitting fast,” Jennings said. “We want to get a quick start, put our foot on their neck, and never let it off. Games have gone our way when we’ve done that and that’s what we need to see tonight.”Kickoff between the Knights and Buffaloes is set for 7:00 at Bissell Field on the campus of KWU, and as always the game can be streamed with live audio and video on the Salina Post <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJv9S7wvxvo">HERE</a>.

Knights Battle Buffaloes for Final Playoff Spot in District Five

For a second straight season, the Southeast of Saline Trojans (7-0) and Ellsworth Bearcats (7-0) will meet in week eight as undefeateds with a whole pile of riches on the line.

Not only will the winner of this game remain perfect on the year, but the victor will also earn a league title, a district title, and perhaps most importantly, a 1-seed in the 2A playoffs.

“This is a good game for us,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “The most important game for us is always going to be our next one but this is a good challenge. Ellsworth has a fantastic football team and we’re going to have to be good on every down against them or they’re going to take advantage.”

Both of these programs have lit up the stat sheets this season, and each ranks top 20 in every statistical category in Class 2A.

The Trojans and Bearcats rank 5th and 6th respectively in scoring defense, each holding opponents under nine points per game, with both programs in the top 15 in scoring offense as well.

While SES did a fair bit of reloading over the offseason, Ellsworth graduated just one senior from last year’s squad, before adding Salina South transfer Ian Andalon (RB/CB), who has been a boon to the Bearcats in 2023.

“We picked up where we left off and our defense is really strong again,” Ellsworth HC Josh Homolka said. “We can also run the ball in ways we couldn’t last year and we’re bigger, faster, and stronger across the board with another year of experience.”

While both teams haven’t faltered for a minute this year, the Trojans have seen teams like this before after knocking off a pair of 3A foes in Clay Center and Rock Creek earlier this year.

“Ellsworth doesn’t have much of a weakness across the board,” Gebhardt said. “We look for areas where teams don’t do things as well but they really don’t have any of those. They’re aggressive, they’re physical, they play good team football and they do a good job in all facets of the game.”

That respect is mutual coming into this game, as the Bearcats prepare for far and away the toughest opponent they’ve faced throughout the 2023 campaign.

“The word that comes to my mind when I watch Southeast is chaos,” Homolka said. “They bring so many people and it feels like they have 15 guys on the field on defense. Offensively they want to run a lot of plays from the no-huddle and they take their shots.”

To have success, Southeast will have to shut down a whole stable of backs that includes Ian Andalon, Loden West, and Landin Johnson, and currently ranks 8th in 2A in rushing offense (237 yds/g).

“They run the ball very well, I would even say better than last year,” Gebhardt said. “We need to take care of the football, limit our penalties, pick up first downs, and play good solid team defense.”

On the other side, to hand the Trojans their first regular season loss since 2019, the Bearcats will have to handle the Southeast pressure on both sides of the ball, something opponents have struggled with all season.

“SES does such a good job of blitzing we have to get a hat on a hat to pick that up,” Homolka said. “Defensively we have to get settled into the tempo of the game and not let the speed of the game get to us early.”

Kickoff between the Trojans and Bearcats is scheduled for 7:00 at Ellsworth High School and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM), or streamed with live audio and video on the Salina Post <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfoNqY6DKx8">HERE</a>.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here</figcaption>
 </figure>For a second straight season, the Southeast of Saline Trojans (7-0) and Ellsworth Bearcats (7-0) will meet in week eight as undefeateds with a whole pile of riches on the line.Not only will the winner of this game remain perfect on the year, but the victor will also earn a league title, a district title, and perhaps most importantly, a 1-seed in the 2A playoffs.“This is a good game for us,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “The most important game for us is always going to be our next one but this is a good challenge. Ellsworth has a fantastic football team and we’re going to have to be good on every down against them or they’re going to take advantage.”Both of these programs have lit up the stat sheets this season, and each ranks top 20 in every statistical category in Class 2A.The Trojans and Bearcats rank 5th and 6th respectively in scoring defense, each holding opponents under nine points per game, with both programs in the top 15 in scoring offense as well.While SES did a fair bit of reloading over the offseason, Ellsworth graduated just one senior from last year’s squad, before adding Salina South transfer Ian Andalon (RB/CB), who has been a boon to the Bearcats in 2023.“We picked up where we left off and our defense is really strong again,” Ellsworth HC Josh Homolka said. “We can also run the ball in ways we couldn’t last year and we’re bigger, faster, and stronger across the board with another year of experience.”While both teams haven’t faltered for a minute this year, the Trojans have seen teams like this before after knocking off a pair of 3A foes in Clay Center and Rock Creek earlier this year.“Ellsworth doesn’t have much of a weakness across the board,” Gebhardt said. “We look for areas where teams don’t do things as well but they really don’t have any of those. They’re aggressive, they’re physical, they play good team football and they do a good job in all facets of the game.”That respect is mutual coming into this game, as the Bearcats prepare for far and away the toughest opponent they’ve faced throughout the 2023 campaign.“The word that comes to my mind when I watch Southeast is chaos,” Homolka said. “They bring so many people and it feels like they have 15 guys on the field on defense. Offensively they want to run a lot of plays from the no-huddle and they take their shots.”To have success, Southeast will have to shut down a whole stable of backs that includes Ian Andalon, Loden West, and Landin Johnson, and currently ranks 8th in 2A in rushing offense (237 yds/g).“They run the ball very well, I would even say better than last year,” Gebhardt said. “We need to take care of the football, limit our penalties, pick up first downs, and play good solid team defense.”On the other side, to hand the Trojans their first regular season loss since 2019, the Bearcats will have to handle the Southeast pressure on both sides of the ball, something opponents have struggled with all season.“SES does such a good job of blitzing we have to get a hat on a hat to pick that up,” Homolka said. “Defensively we have to get settled into the tempo of the game and not let the speed of the game get to us early.”Kickoff between the Trojans and Bearcats is scheduled for 7:00 at Ellsworth High School and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM), or streamed with live audio and video on the Salina Post <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfoNqY6DKx8">HERE</a>.

Bearcats Host Trojans with League and District Title on the Line

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chargers and the Chiefs have been predictably good on offense this season, at least statistically, which means in the complementary world of the NFL, the difference in their records probably resides on the opposite side of the ball.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chargers-cowboys-justin-herbert-0e234a21170fe533d94e27fbfaa29e60">The Chargers are 2-3</a>&nbsp;largely because they allow more yards than all but one team in the league.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-analysis-3aa0747d1c2807af3ac6071b3eff22b5">The Chiefs are 5-1</a>&nbsp;thanks to a defense that allows fewer points than all but one.

“Yeah, that helps a ton, especially when you don't play your best ball,” said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has been openly critical of his own play heading into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">Sunday's game between the AFC West rivals</a>&nbsp;at Arrowhead Stadium.

“Our defense is holding it down for us right now, but let's take the pressure off them so they can play free and be even better.”

Imagine that: The Chiefs are tied for the best record in the NFL with an offense Mahomes thinks has yet to hit its stride.

Still, the Chiefs are second in yards passing, fourth in total offense and ninth in scoring the first six weeks of the season. And while those numbers were inflated by a blowout of the Bears, Kansas City's offense has nevertheless been impressive enough on a week-to-week basis to win every game since a season-opening loss to Detroit.

Part of the reason Mahomes is lamenting the offense has been its failure to reach the end zone. The Chiefs have piled up the yards between the 20s, taking advantage of short passes while opposing defenses continually take away the deep stuff, but their offense has been bogged down by turnovers and penalties when it reaches the red zone.

“You have to continue to push, continue to get better and better. That’s all you can do regardless,” Mahomes said. “We understand that it’s going to take the offense at some point to have to have the big game to win it.”

Might happen this week. The Chargers, despite some desultory lulls of their own, are a top-10 offense when it comes to passing, total offense and scoring, so the Chiefs might well need their offense to finally pop to win a shootout.

It should help their cause that the Chargers have among the worst defenses in the league.

“This is going to be a different week because it’s a shorter week,” said Chargers coach Brandon Staley, whose team is coming off a Monday night game while the Chiefs played the previous Thursday, giving them four more days to prepare.

“But in terms of the approach of how we attack a plan and what’s needed to be our best for Sunday, that has to stay the same,” Staley said. “What you have to focus on are the keys to winning. What ultimately is going to impact winning on Sunday? That’s where our full focus has to be right now. From now until kickoff, just focusing on the things that are going to help us win.”

The Chiefs should get even better on defense with the return of Charles Omenihu, who was suspended the first six games for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. The former 49ers pass rusher, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal with Kansas City, is expected to be active against the Chargers despite having only a week to get back up to speed.

Kansas City brought back wide receiver Mecole Hardman this week in a swap of late-round draft picks with the Jets, who had signed him to a $4 million deal in the offseason. Hardman was part of both of the Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl-winning teams, but he barely got on the field in New York, which had made it clear in recent weeks that it was eager to move on.

The Chargers are tied for third in the league with 21 sacks, and all of them have come in their last four games. Morgan Fox has four straight games where he has taken down the quarterback, the longest streak of his career, and Khalil Mack has seven in the past two games alone, including a franchise-record six in a win over the Raiders.

“He is really healthy, and a healthy Khalil Mack is a productive Khalil Mack," said Staley, whose veteran pass rusher has sacked Mahomes twice over the years. “We’ve done an outstanding job against the run, which has earned him more opportunities to rush. I think he has capitalized on his matchups. When you can get into a rhythm, as a rusher, that’s as good as Khalil is, I think that you’re going to be consistent around the quarterback, which is what he has been.”

Justin Herbert has completed fewer than 60% of his passes in consecutive games for only the third time in his four-year career, going 22 of 37 for 227 yards with two touchdowns and a pick last week against Dallas. Yet he also has three 300-yard games in six starts against the Chiefs.

“They are kind of young, but they don’t play like it. They play like they’re veterans all around the board,” Herbert said. "They’re really well-coached. When you have a group like that together, it’s going to make for a really good defense.”

The Chiefs have won three straight against the Chargers, part of an era of AFC West dominance that has yielded seven straight division titles. One reason for that sustained success is that Chiefs coach Andy Reid spends time during training camp working specifically on division opponents, and that could give his team an advantage when game week arrives.

“I don’t know if most teams do that but I’m sure other teams do,” Reid said. “I think taking the time for the coaches and players when it’s not quite so chaotic as during the season, I think helps.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697752888994.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs' Nick Bolton (32) reacts after an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs' Nick Bolton (32) reacts after an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chargers and the Chiefs have been predictably good on offense this season, at least statistically, which means in the complementary world of the NFL, the difference in their records probably resides on the opposite side of the ball.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chargers-cowboys-justin-herbert-0e234a21170fe533d94e27fbfaa29e60">The Chargers are 2-3</a>&nbsp;largely because they allow more yards than all but one team in the league.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-analysis-3aa0747d1c2807af3ac6071b3eff22b5">The Chiefs are 5-1</a>&nbsp;thanks to a defense that allows fewer points than all but one.“Yeah, that helps a ton, especially when you don't play your best ball,” said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has been openly critical of his own play heading into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">Sunday's game between the AFC West rivals</a>&nbsp;at Arrowhead Stadium.“Our defense is holding it down for us right now, but let's take the pressure off them so they can play free and be even better.”Imagine that: The Chiefs are tied for the best record in the NFL with an offense Mahomes thinks has yet to hit its stride.Still, the Chiefs are second in yards passing, fourth in total offense and ninth in scoring the first six weeks of the season. And while those numbers were inflated by a blowout of the Bears, Kansas City's offense has nevertheless been impressive enough on a week-to-week basis to win every game since a season-opening loss to Detroit.Part of the reason Mahomes is lamenting the offense has been its failure to reach the end zone. The Chiefs have piled up the yards between the 20s, taking advantage of short passes while opposing defenses continually take away the deep stuff, but their offense has been bogged down by turnovers and penalties when it reaches the red zone.“You have to continue to push, continue to get better and better. That’s all you can do regardless,” Mahomes said. “We understand that it’s going to take the offense at some point to have to have the big game to win it.”Might happen this week. The Chargers, despite some desultory lulls of their own, are a top-10 offense when it comes to passing, total offense and scoring, so the Chiefs might well need their offense to finally pop to win a shootout.It should help their cause that the Chargers have among the worst defenses in the league.“This is going to be a different week because it’s a shorter week,” said Chargers coach Brandon Staley, whose team is coming off a Monday night game while the Chiefs played the previous Thursday, giving them four more days to prepare.“But in terms of the approach of how we attack a plan and what’s needed to be our best for Sunday, that has to stay the same,” Staley said. “What you have to focus on are the keys to winning. What ultimately is going to impact winning on Sunday? That’s where our full focus has to be right now. From now until kickoff, just focusing on the things that are going to help us win.”GETTING HELPThe Chiefs should get even better on defense with the return of Charles Omenihu, who was suspended the first six games for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. The former 49ers pass rusher, who signed a two-year, $16 million deal with Kansas City, is expected to be active against the Chargers despite having only a week to get back up to speed.SPEAKING OF HELPKansas City brought back wide receiver Mecole Hardman this week in a swap of late-round draft picks with the Jets, who had signed him to a $4 million deal in the offseason. Hardman was part of both of the Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl-winning teams, but he barely got on the field in New York, which had made it clear in recent weeks that it was eager to move on.SACK ATTACKThe Chargers are tied for third in the league with 21 sacks, and all of them have come in their last four games. Morgan Fox has four straight games where he has taken down the quarterback, the longest streak of his career, and Khalil Mack has seven in the past two games alone, including a franchise-record six in a win over the Raiders.“He is really healthy, and a healthy Khalil Mack is a productive Khalil Mack," said Staley, whose veteran pass rusher has sacked Mahomes twice over the years. “We’ve done an outstanding job against the run, which has earned him more opportunities to rush. I think he has capitalized on his matchups. When you can get into a rhythm, as a rusher, that’s as good as Khalil is, I think that you’re going to be consistent around the quarterback, which is what he has been.”LOOKING TO REBOUNDJustin Herbert has completed fewer than 60% of his passes in consecutive games for only the third time in his four-year career, going 22 of 37 for 227 yards with two touchdowns and a pick last week against Dallas. Yet he also has three 300-yard games in six starts against the Chiefs.“They are kind of young, but they don’t play like it. They play like they’re veterans all around the board,” Herbert said. "They’re really well-coached. When you have a group like that together, it’s going to make for a really good defense.”DIVISION DOMINANCEThe Chiefs have won three straight against the Chargers, part of an era of AFC West dominance that has yielded seven straight division titles. One reason for that sustained success is that Chiefs coach Andy Reid spends time during training camp working specifically on division opponents, and that could give his team an advantage when game week arrives.“I don’t know if most teams do that but I’m sure other teams do,” Reid said. “I think taking the time for the coaches and players when it’s not quite so chaotic as during the season, I think helps.”

🏈 Tale of 2 defenses: Chiefs brilliant, Chargers awful ahead of AFC West showdown

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jets-chiefs-mecole-hardman-b22fa23cdf88852183aa58d3e0c4b1ff">traded from the New York Jets</a>&nbsp;back to the Kansas City Chiefs this week, said Thursday that he spent part of last season in the hospital after an abdominal injury caused him to lose feeling in his legs.

The injury occurred during a game against Tennessee in early November, Hardman said. He finished the game, and it was the following day that he began feeling cramps in his abdomen. The pain was getting worse by the hour, and after Hardman phoned Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder, he was taken to the emergency room and admitted to the hospital.

He lost feeling in his legs for “four or five days,” Hardman said, and was hospitalized two more days after getting it back, before he was finally discharged. Hardman missed the final nine games of the regular season and the Chiefs' postseason win over Jacksonville, then hurt his groin in the AFC title game against Cincinnati, forcing him to miss their Super Bowl win over Philadelphia.

“It was scary as hell, not being able to move my legs,” Hardman said in his first comments since returning to Kansas City. “It makes you think, ‘Is this it?’ The feeling came back — the doctor said it would come back, and that gave me hope. But the 10 days I was there, I slept maybe 8 hours or so, 10 hours max, because I was in so much pain.”

Doctors went back and forth on a diagnosis before settling on osteitis pubis, an inflammation of the joint between the left and right pubic bones that causes swelling and pain that extends from the groin to the lower abdomen.

The injury caused Hardman to miss the majority of his contract year, when his rookie deal was ending and he was hoping to land a big pay day. He had some interest in free agency from the Browns and several other teams, but he ultimately decided to sign a $4 million prove-it deal with the Jets in part because of the potential to play with Aaron Rodgers.

When the quarterback tore his Achilles tendon in the Jets' opener, Hardman said that threw their offense into disarray. He barely played the first five games, catching a single pass, and it soon became clear that New York was ready to move on from him.

“I got with my agents and they said there's some talk they could possibly trade you,” Hardman said. “After that, that's when we just started waiting for the inevitable, seeing what would happen. They kept it low-key the teams that were interested — in the mix. When I heard it was Kansas City, I was excited to get back here.”

The Chiefs waived wide receiver Montrell Washington and defensive tackle Keondre Coburn to clear the way for Hardman and defensive end Charles Omenihu, who is expected to be added to the roster after finishing his six-game NFL suspension.

Chiefs coordinators Matt Nagy and Steve Spagnuolo said they hope to get Washington and Coburn on the practice squad.

In the meantime, Hardman is trying to get up to speed in time to play Sunday against the Chargers. He said the playbook has changed little since he was part of the offense, though some of the terminology is different. And while the Chiefs hope he can provide some punch at wide receiver, special teams coordinator Dave Toub also plans to use him as a returner.

“He looks good,” Toub said. “We saw him at the Jets game when we played there. It's good to see him back in the building. If he's up (on the gameday roster), he's going to be a guy that will play on some special teams for sure. But obviously he just got here. He has to get established again, and Andy (Reid) will make that decision pretty soon.”

Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend has been dealing with hamstring soreness this season that has landed him on the injury report but has yet to keep him out of a game. That led someone to ask Toub who his backup would be if Townsend went down during a game, and the anticipated answer — big-legged kicker Harrison Butker — turned out to be far off base.

“Believe it or not, 15 is our backup punter,” Toub said, referring, of course, to quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “He wants to do it. He shows me all the time. He's out here on Saturdays booming punts. He wants to do it.”

Incidentally, the backup to Butker is not Townsend but Chiefs safety Justin Reid. He made a PAT in emergency duty last year.

Some bragging rights will be on the line Friday night when the kids of Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt meet in a high school football game in suburban Kansas City. Nagy's son, Tate, plays quarterback for Blue Valley West while Merritt's son, Dawson, is a linebacker for rival Blue Valley.

“They went to Iowa State together on a (recruiting) visit earlier this year," Merritt said. "Last year they were sophomores; they didn't know each other. Now they're both in their junior year. So we're calling it the Nagy-Merritt Bowl.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697752778609.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, talks with New York Jets wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. before playing in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, talks with New York Jets wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. before playing in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jets-chiefs-mecole-hardman-b22fa23cdf88852183aa58d3e0c4b1ff">traded from the New York Jets</a>&nbsp;back to the Kansas City Chiefs this week, said Thursday that he spent part of last season in the hospital after an abdominal injury caused him to lose feeling in his legs.The injury occurred during a game against Tennessee in early November, Hardman said. He finished the game, and it was the following day that he began feeling cramps in his abdomen. The pain was getting worse by the hour, and after Hardman phoned Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder, he was taken to the emergency room and admitted to the hospital.He lost feeling in his legs for “four or five days,” Hardman said, and was hospitalized two more days after getting it back, before he was finally discharged. Hardman missed the final nine games of the regular season and the Chiefs' postseason win over Jacksonville, then hurt his groin in the AFC title game against Cincinnati, forcing him to miss their Super Bowl win over Philadelphia.“It was scary as hell, not being able to move my legs,” Hardman said in his first comments since returning to Kansas City. “It makes you think, ‘Is this it?’ The feeling came back — the doctor said it would come back, and that gave me hope. But the 10 days I was there, I slept maybe 8 hours or so, 10 hours max, because I was in so much pain.”Doctors went back and forth on a diagnosis before settling on osteitis pubis, an inflammation of the joint between the left and right pubic bones that causes swelling and pain that extends from the groin to the lower abdomen.The injury caused Hardman to miss the majority of his contract year, when his rookie deal was ending and he was hoping to land a big pay day. He had some interest in free agency from the Browns and several other teams, but he ultimately decided to sign a $4 million prove-it deal with the Jets in part because of the potential to play with Aaron Rodgers.When the quarterback tore his Achilles tendon in the Jets' opener, Hardman said that threw their offense into disarray. He barely played the first five games, catching a single pass, and it soon became clear that New York was ready to move on from him.“I got with my agents and they said there's some talk they could possibly trade you,” Hardman said. “After that, that's when we just started waiting for the inevitable, seeing what would happen. They kept it low-key the teams that were interested — in the mix. When I heard it was Kansas City, I was excited to get back here.”The Chiefs waived wide receiver Montrell Washington and defensive tackle Keondre Coburn to clear the way for Hardman and defensive end Charles Omenihu, who is expected to be added to the roster after finishing his six-game NFL suspension.Chiefs coordinators Matt Nagy and Steve Spagnuolo said they hope to get Washington and Coburn on the practice squad.In the meantime, Hardman is trying to get up to speed in time to play Sunday against the Chargers. He said the playbook has changed little since he was part of the offense, though some of the terminology is different. And while the Chiefs hope he can provide some punch at wide receiver, special teams coordinator Dave Toub also plans to use him as a returner.“He looks good,” Toub said. “We saw him at the Jets game when we played there. It's good to see him back in the building. If he's up (on the gameday roster), he's going to be a guy that will play on some special teams for sure. But obviously he just got here. He has to get established again, and Andy (Reid) will make that decision pretty soon.”MAHOMES THE PUNTERChiefs punter Tommy Townsend has been dealing with hamstring soreness this season that has landed him on the injury report but has yet to keep him out of a game. That led someone to ask Toub who his backup would be if Townsend went down during a game, and the anticipated answer — big-legged kicker Harrison Butker — turned out to be far off base.“Believe it or not, 15 is our backup punter,” Toub said, referring, of course, to quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “He wants to do it. He shows me all the time. He's out here on Saturdays booming punts. He wants to do it.”Incidentally, the backup to Butker is not Townsend but Chiefs safety Justin Reid. He made a PAT in emergency duty last year.HIGH SCHOOL CLASHSome bragging rights will be on the line Friday night when the kids of Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt meet in a high school football game in suburban Kansas City. Nagy's son, Tate, plays quarterback for Blue Valley West while Merritt's son, Dawson, is a linebacker for rival Blue Valley.“They went to Iowa State together on a (recruiting) visit earlier this year," Merritt said. "Last year they were sophomores; they didn't know each other. Now they're both in their junior year. So we're calling it the Nagy-Merritt Bowl.”

🏈 Chiefs WR Hardman says he was hospitalized 10 days, lost feeling in his legs

Marc Allen from Salina is Gridiron Glory's Week 6 winner! He won&nbsp;$100 gift card to Cashway Direct  courtesy of the Salina Pain Clinic. Marc scored 13 out of 15 pts.&nbsp;

Although the season has begun, you still have time to win!

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!

Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697036292966.png" alt="Gridiron Glory" />
 <figcaption>Gridiron Glory</figcaption>
 </figure>Marc Allen from Salina is Gridiron Glory's Week 6 winner! He won&nbsp;$100 gift card to Cashway Direct courtesy of the Salina Pain Clinic. Marc scored 13 out of 15 pts.&nbsp;Although the season has begun, you still have time to win!<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697740470292.png" alt="Marc Allen " />
 <figcaption>Marc Allen </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!

Gridiron Glory Week 6: Congratulations Marc Allen!

Abilene High School has always had a proud tradition of football in the state of Kansas, but the era of four state titles felt like little more than a distant memory as the team walked off the field in 2021.

That campaign came to an end the way campaigns often do for struggling teams; in week nine, at the hands of a much stronger foe.&nbsp;

While a 52-12 loss at the hands of Buhler was nothing remarkable in and of itself, it marked a real low point for Abilene football, as the team finished its third straight winless season, and took a 25th consecutive loss into the offseason.

“We walked off that field with one question on our minds,” Cowboy head coach Brad Nicks said. “How can we take the next step and win with the guys we have”?

High school football is a funny thing; there’s no trade deadline, no rookie draft, no transfer portal, and no waiver wire, but what Abilene did have, just like any other football team, was a weight room, and they hit it hard.

“Participation in the weight room was a big issue when I first got here and that was a big challenge we faced early on,” Nicks said. “We knew we had to get stronger, especially on our line, and we needed the leaders on this team to hold everyone accountable because without that we weren’t going to get better.”

After a grueling offseason of hard work, the Cowboys went into their 2022 campaign in search of their first win in 1,400 long days.

In front of a home crowd, in dramatic fashion, that win came as the Cowboys defeated Marysville 14-7, sending the Abilene faithful into raptures.

“For us to make a goal-line stand and finally get that first win, you really do exhale and it’s big for them to know that they can win,” Nicks said. “We turned around and beat Concordia the very next week and from then on we never talked about it again.”

Sometimes, winning really is a mindset, and with the monkey of the streak off their back, Abilene was free to focus on the games in front of them, rather than the failures of the past.

The 2022 season came to a close at 4-5, but not a single soul in the locker room was content, and as the offseason got underway, the Cowboys got back in the weight room.

Entering 2023 not only was Abilene a year stronger, and a year wiser, they were also healthier, having returned five key pieces who did not play in the final game against Rose Hill.

“We came into this season knowing that we had some question marks, but knowing that if we could stay healthy, this could be a special year for us,” Nicks said.

Many expected the Cowboys to take another step forward in 2023, but very few expected this.

Going into their week eight matchup with Wamego, Abilene is 6-1, holds the top passing offense in Class 4A, and is holding their opponents to a top-three 11.3 points per game.

“Every time we step on the field now our kids feel like we can win and the second half of this season has really solidified that for us,” Nicks said. “Our kids have done a great job of facing adversity, weather conditions, and some really good teams.”

So how did the Cowboys go from 25 straight losses, to a 4A powerhouse seemingly overnight?

One piece of that answer can be found in the culture surrounding the weight room, where 20 players failed to meet the offseason criteria in Coach Nick’s first year at the helm, compared to just 2 of the 55 players on the roster this offseason.

Another piece belongs to the Cowboy coaching staff, who avoided the easy road of harsh criticism and malice that so many other struggling programs have fallen victim to.

“Our kids were bought into this from the very beginning and they knew we were going to get there,” Nicks said. “We continued to be positive with them. It’s easy to harp on everything you’re doing wrong when you’ve had three losing seasons but we wanted to really emphasize our growth across the board.”

Credit is also due to the Abilene administration for buying into a long-term solution instead of seeking the sort of short-term gratification that has cost many coaches across the state their jobs before the fruits of their labor could be recognized.

“We knew four years ago when Coach Nicks came aboard that there was going to be a process to become competitive again,” Abilene AD Will Burton said. “Coach Nicks and his staff have stayed true to the process of promoting a growth and achievement mindset, getting stronger physically and mentally, and increasing our overall football IQ.”

And finally, credit must be given to all the classes that laid the groundwork for this turnaround to be realized, even though they themselves would not be present to enjoy it.

“We never had an effort issue in any of this, the kids of 20 and 21 played their hearts out even down 40,” Nicks said. “That senior class of 2021 really led the charge of building the foundation of this program knowing that they wouldn’t be the ones to reap the rewards. That class really bought in and it showed others in our locker room what real leadership looked like.”

With hard work, positivity, confidence in leadership, and the sacrifice of others, Abilene has faith that the best days of its program still lie ahead, and that the successes of this season are only the beginning of a new chapter of Cowboy football.

“Everything for us comes back to leadership and that’s something this year’s seniors have done an excellent job of,” Nicks said. “They’ve set the expectations not just on the field and in the weight room but in the community as well. Everything that our program does is done one way, and that’s the right way, the Cowboy way. The bar has been set high but our kids understand that and they want to live up to that now.”

Abilene returns to action this Friday to face the 5-2 Wamego Red Raiders at 7:00.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here</figcaption>
 </figure>Abilene High School has always had a proud tradition of football in the state of Kansas, but the era of four state titles felt like little more than a distant memory as the team walked off the field in 2021.That campaign came to an end the way campaigns often do for struggling teams; in week nine, at the hands of a much stronger foe.&nbsp;While a 52-12 loss at the hands of Buhler was nothing remarkable in and of itself, it marked a real low point for Abilene football, as the team finished its third straight winless season, and took a 25th consecutive loss into the offseason.“We walked off that field with one question on our minds,” Cowboy head coach Brad Nicks said. “How can we take the next step and win with the guys we have”?High school football is a funny thing; there’s no trade deadline, no rookie draft, no transfer portal, and no waiver wire, but what Abilene did have, just like any other football team, was a weight room, and they hit it hard.“Participation in the weight room was a big issue when I first got here and that was a big challenge we faced early on,” Nicks said. “We knew we had to get stronger, especially on our line, and we needed the leaders on this team to hold everyone accountable because without that we weren’t going to get better.”After a grueling offseason of hard work, the Cowboys went into their 2022 campaign in search of their first win in 1,400 long days.In front of a home crowd, in dramatic fashion, that win came as the Cowboys defeated Marysville 14-7, sending the Abilene faithful into raptures.“For us to make a goal-line stand and finally get that first win, you really do exhale and it’s big for them to know that they can win,” Nicks said. “We turned around and beat Concordia the very next week and from then on we never talked about it again.”Sometimes, winning really is a mindset, and with the monkey of the streak off their back, Abilene was free to focus on the games in front of them, rather than the failures of the past.The 2022 season came to a close at 4-5, but not a single soul in the locker room was content, and as the offseason got underway, the Cowboys got back in the weight room.Entering 2023 not only was Abilene a year stronger, and a year wiser, they were also healthier, having returned five key pieces who did not play in the final game against Rose Hill.“We came into this season knowing that we had some question marks, but knowing that if we could stay healthy, this could be a special year for us,” Nicks said.Many expected the Cowboys to take another step forward in 2023, but very few expected this.Going into their week eight matchup with Wamego, Abilene is 6-1, holds the top passing offense in Class 4A, and is holding their opponents to a top-three 11.3 points per game.“Every time we step on the field now our kids feel like we can win and the second half of this season has really solidified that for us,” Nicks said. “Our kids have done a great job of facing adversity, weather conditions, and some really good teams.”So how did the Cowboys go from 25 straight losses, to a 4A powerhouse seemingly overnight?One piece of that answer can be found in the culture surrounding the weight room, where 20 players failed to meet the offseason criteria in Coach Nick’s first year at the helm, compared to just 2 of the 55 players on the roster this offseason.Another piece belongs to the Cowboy coaching staff, who avoided the easy road of harsh criticism and malice that so many other struggling programs have fallen victim to.“Our kids were bought into this from the very beginning and they knew we were going to get there,” Nicks said. “We continued to be positive with them. It’s easy to harp on everything you’re doing wrong when you’ve had three losing seasons but we wanted to really emphasize our growth across the board.”Credit is also due to the Abilene administration for buying into a long-term solution instead of seeking the sort of short-term gratification that has cost many coaches across the state their jobs before the fruits of their labor could be recognized.“We knew four years ago when Coach Nicks came aboard that there was going to be a process to become competitive again,” Abilene AD Will Burton said. “Coach Nicks and his staff have stayed true to the process of promoting a growth and achievement mindset, getting stronger physically and mentally, and increasing our overall football IQ.”And finally, credit must be given to all the classes that laid the groundwork for this turnaround to be realized, even though they themselves would not be present to enjoy it.“We never had an effort issue in any of this, the kids of 20 and 21 played their hearts out even down 40,” Nicks said. “That senior class of 2021 really led the charge of building the foundation of this program knowing that they wouldn’t be the ones to reap the rewards. That class really bought in and it showed others in our locker room what real leadership looked like.”With hard work, positivity, confidence in leadership, and the sacrifice of others, Abilene has faith that the best days of its program still lie ahead, and that the successes of this season are only the beginning of a new chapter of Cowboy football.“Everything for us comes back to leadership and that’s something this year’s seniors have done an excellent job of,” Nicks said. “They’ve set the expectations not just on the field and in the weight room but in the community as well. Everything that our program does is done one way, and that’s the right way, the Cowboy way. The bar has been set high but our kids understand that and they want to live up to that now.”Abilene returns to action this Friday to face the 5-2 Wamego Red Raiders at 7:00.

From the Ashes: How Abilene Revived It's Program into a 4A Powerhouse

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NCAA is tweaking how block/charge calls are made in men’s basketball.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved rule changes this past summer that require a defender to be in position to draw a charge at the time the offensive player plants a foot to go airborne for a shot. If the defender arrives after the player has planted a foot, officials have been instructed to call a block when there’s contact.

Defenders had to be in position to draw a charge before the offensive player went airborne under previous rules.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee members made the proposal after NCAA members complained that too many charges were being called on those types of plays.

Big 12 coordinator of officials Curtis Shaw met with
the media&nbsp;to discuss the new block/charge rule that will be implemented
during the 2023-24 season. Shaw went into detail about how the rule will change
the game of basketball.

“It’s going to be drastically different. What I’ve
told our coaches is, and what I want the media to understand, we watched 100
plays from last year that were called charges. 96 are now blocks under the new
rule,” Shaw said. “It’s almost impossible to take a legal charge anymore. Not
impossible but almost.”

Shaw went on to show the media examples of what
would be called blocks this upcoming season.

In May, the&nbsp;NCAA released a
modification&nbsp;of the rule:

“Under the recommendation, a defender would have to
be in position to draw a charge at the time an offensive player plants his foot
to go airborne to attempt a field goal. If the defender arrives after the
offensive player plants a foot to launch toward the basket, officials would be
instructed to call a block when contact occurs between the two players.&nbsp;

A secondary defender still would have to be outside
the restricted-area arc to legally draw a charge.

Currently, defenders must be in position to draw a
charge before the offensive player goes airborne.”

"It
is almost impossible to take a legal charge anymore," Big 12 coordinator
of officials Curtis Shaw said Wednesday in the T-Mobile Center. "Not
impossible, but almost."

For as
long as anyone can remember, block-charge calls have been the most heated
arguments over officiating. Turns out, fans were right in thinking referees
were calling too many. In fact, there probably shouldn't have been any called
at all.

"The
rules committee basically said, 'We don't like the rule,'" Shaw said in
his presentation during Big 12 basketball media days. "'We don't believe
the charge on the secondary defender should be allowed. We think that's bad
defense.'"

Shaw
called this change the most significant of his 30-plus years working as a
basketball official. In essence, Shaw said, the rules committee decided the
call has been wrong for a long time and now was the time to change it.

A
smattering of videos were played for the assembled media to show how different
the rule will be this year.

Officials
are now geared toward allowing physical play as long as it is within reason.
Exaggerated reactions — or flops — will not be rewarded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697719303835.png" alt="Curtis Shaw.png" />
 <figcaption>Curtis Shaw.png</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NCAA is tweaking how block/charge calls are made in men’s basketball.The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved rule changes this past summer that require a defender to be in position to draw a charge at the time the offensive player plants a foot to go airborne for a shot. If the defender arrives after the player has planted a foot, officials have been instructed to call a block when there’s contact.Defenders had to be in position to draw a charge before the offensive player went airborne under previous rules.NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee members made the proposal after NCAA members complained that too many charges were being called on those types of plays.Big 12 coordinator of officials Curtis Shaw met with
the media&nbsp;to discuss the new block/charge rule that will be implemented
during the 2023-24 season. Shaw went into detail about how the rule will change
the game of basketball.“It’s going to be drastically different. What I’ve
told our coaches is, and what I want the media to understand, we watched 100
plays from last year that were called charges. 96 are now blocks under the new
rule,” Shaw said. “It’s almost impossible to take a legal charge anymore. Not
impossible but almost.”Shaw went on to show the media examples of what
would be called blocks this upcoming season.In May, the&nbsp;NCAA released a
modification&nbsp;of the rule:“Under the recommendation, a defender would have to
be in position to draw a charge at the time an offensive player plants his foot
to go airborne to attempt a field goal. If the defender arrives after the
offensive player plants a foot to launch toward the basket, officials would be
instructed to call a block when contact occurs between the two players.&nbsp;A secondary defender still would have to be outside
the restricted-area arc to legally draw a charge.Currently, defenders must be in position to draw a
charge before the offensive player goes airborne.”"It
is almost impossible to take a legal charge anymore," Big 12 coordinator
of officials Curtis Shaw said Wednesday in the T-Mobile Center. "Not
impossible, but almost."For as
long as anyone can remember, block-charge calls have been the most heated
arguments over officiating. Turns out, fans were right in thinking referees
were calling too many. In fact, there probably shouldn't have been any called
at all."The
rules committee basically said, 'We don't like the rule,'" Shaw said in
his presentation during Big 12 basketball media days. "'We don't believe
the charge on the secondary defender should be allowed. We think that's bad
defense.'"Shaw
called this change the most significant of his 30-plus years working as a
basketball official. In essence, Shaw said, the rules committee decided the
call has been wrong for a long time and now was the time to change it.A
smattering of videos were played for the assembled media to show how different
the rule will be this year.Officials
are now geared toward allowing physical play as long as it is within reason.
Exaggerated reactions — or flops — will not be rewarded."I
will tell you in the Big 12," Shaw said, "the only flop calls you're gonna
see is when a jump-shooter shoots and clearly nobody around him and he goes
flying to the floor. That's a flop. That's a technical foul. But when you have
contact in the post, contact on these drives, it's contact. It's not a flop.
It's not faking anything. Rule it a block or a charge."Shaw, who is the coordinator of officials for the Big 12, Conference
USA, Ohio Valley and Southland conferences, has officiated in seven Final Fours
and 19 seasons.