By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
In the top four divisions of Kansas high school football, just four undefeated teams remain.
Three of them are in the Class 3A semifinals, and two will square off on Friday night as the Southeast of Saline Trojans prepare to host the Andale Indians.
The numbers for this matchup sound like something out of a rookie-level video game simulation.
The 11-0 Indians have outscored their opponents 604-52 for a point differential of +552.
The 11-0 Trojans have outscored their opponents 560-53 for a point differential of +507.
Neither team has lost a regular-season game in more than two years, and coming into this contest, they boast the two top-scoring offenses, and the two top-scoring defenses in the state.
Despite all of this, only one can advance to the state championship game next week, and the state of Kansas should be in for an instant classic in Gypsum.
Andale has rolled through the playoffs so far, defeating Hugoton 53-2, Holcomb 51-0, and Concordia 54-14.
Southeast rolled through the first two rounds knocking off Marysville 60-7 and Chapman 52-6 before needing a come from behind win over Cheney to win 34-28 last week.
“I really think last week was a big showing of what our kids believe in,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “They believe in what we do and they believe in each other and I don’t think they ever doubted that we would come back and win that football game.”
The Trojans have now reached the state semifinals for the first time in the Mitch Gebhardt era, and sit two wins away from a state title.
To punch that ticket, they will have to dethrone the two-time defending champion Indians, who haven’t lost a football game since falling to Pratt in the semifinals back in 2018.
While many teams have cowered in that shadow, not an ounce of fear exists for Andale in the SES locker room ahead of this matchup.
“It’s been business as usual all year,” Gebhardt said. “That’s how we built this and we may change or tweak things throughout the week but no matter who we’re playing we prepare to go 1-0 every week and the kids have done that so far.”
To get this critical victory, SES will have to find an answer for one of the best rushing attacks in the state featuring running backs Cody Parthemer and Jonah Meyer, as well as mobile QB Wyatt Spexarth.
“They run the ball really really well, they have for a number of years,” he said. “You can’t completely stop it but we want to slow that running game down and get them into third and fourth down situations where our guys can step up and make a play.”
Offensively, the Trojans will need to remain balanced to crack the code of a physical Andale defense that has allowed just 5 points per game this season.
“First downs are huge, and I think the running game is going to be important for us,” Gebhardt said. “They’re very physical and we have to match that to have success. That defense is good in all three phases and their D-Line is really quick off the ball.”
It’s also worth noting that Andale is one of the three largest schools in Class 3A, coming down from 4A in 2017, while Southeast, which will drop to 2A next season, is one of the smallest.
That sets up a David vs. Goliath matchup for the ages as the two get set to meet in Gypsum on Friday night.
The winner will advance to play either 11-0 Holton or 9-2 Frontenac in the state championship game next Saturday.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm at Southeast of Saline high school and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.