By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
In a game of inches, sometimes one yard makes all the difference, and on Friday night, one yard separated an opening-round victory for Southeast of Saline from an opening-round loss.
The Trojans fought back from a 12-0 halftime deficit to force overtime in Marysville and scored a touchdown on their first overtime drive, but a failed two-point conversion late would be their undoing as the Bulldogs survived in a 25-24 nail-biter.
Marysville scored the only touchdown of the first quarter, reaching into their bag of tricks with a 25-yard hook-and-ladder play to take a 6-0 lead.
The Bulldogs had the only score of the second as well, this time on a five-yard touchdown run from JT Becker on fourth-and-one to double the Marysville lead to 12-0 at the half.
Southeast came out of the locker room swinging as Tiernan Ptacek unleashed a 42-yard bomb on a deep post to Casson Klover to get the Trojans on the board.
After the two sides exchanged turnovers, the Bulldogs extended their lead on JT Beckerās second touchdown run of the game, but Southeast answered back quickly as Ptacek found paydirt on a short run from the goal line.
With just three minutes remaining in regulation, the Trojans finally broke even when Ptacek delivered an 18-yard drop-in-the-bucket to Klover to tie the game at 18.
Already 0-2 on 2-point conversion attempts, the Trojans attempted to take the lead but were stonewalled at the goal line, leading to overtime in Marysville.
With the wind in their sails, Southeast struck first in OT on a quarterback draw for Ptacek.
On the two-point attempt, Ptacek dove for the goal line but came up one yard short, leaving the Trojans up 24-18 and the defense in dire need of a stop.
Marysville wasted no time evening up the score, going back to old reliable with a ten-yard touchdown run from JT Becker.
Needing just one point to secure the victory, the Bulldogs sent out their kicker for the PAT, and the kick sailed through the uprights, delivering Marysville a 25-24 overtime win and ending the Trojansā playoff run prematurely.
Southeast finished the day 0-4 on 2-point conversions despite hanging with a very good Marysville squad in every other facet of the game.
The Bulldogs improve to 7-2 and advance to the second round, where they will host the Kingman Eagles next week.
For the Trojans, another strong season comes to a close at 5-4.