By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
On a cold and dreary Friday night amidst rainy conditions, the Southeast of Saline Trojans remained as hot as ever, taking down the Norton Blue Jays 34-7 in a game they led from wire to wire.
Southeast remains perfect at 10-o on the year and will advance to the quarterfinal round for a rematch with Hoisington (6-4), who held off Haven tonight.
Norton meanwhile, sees its season draw to a close at 8-2.
“I was impressed with the way our players adapted to whatever needed to be done,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “Norton is a very good, well-coached team, and our guys played well tonight.”
From the opening kick, both teams knew that weather would play a role in this second-round matchup, which suited Southeast just fine.
“Our guys embraced the challenge of the weather,” Gebhardt said. “I didn’t hear a single person complain about the conditions.”
The Trojans took their opening drive right down the field, converting from 13 yards out on a touchdown run from Grady Gebhardt.
On the ensuing kickoff, Norton fumbled, giving excellent field position back to the Trojans, who immediately put the ball back in Gebhardt’s capable hands, leading to his second rushing score in as many drives.
That start would set the tone for the Trojans and Gebhardt, who finished his night just shy of 250 rushing yards.
Norton cut the deficit to one possession following a long, 14-play drive, but Southeast came right back as Gannon Jacobson got the passing game involved on a 20-yard strike to Malachi Hopkins.
After a stop, Jacobson would carry in the next score in himself, this time from the five-yard line on the ground to put SES ahead 28-7 at the intermission.
With a comfortable lead, the Trojan defense would do the rest, forcing a turnover on downs, a fumble, and a late interception to put the game on ice, with one last touchdown pass to Tucker Thaxton serving as the icing on the cake of yet another playoff victory.
When the final whistle was blown, the Trojans had held Norton, a team that averaged 363 yards and 36 points per game, to just 90 yards of total offense and 7 points.
Offensively, the Trojans looked completely unfazed by the wet conditions, and by playing away from home, finishing the night with 324 yards, including 243 from Gebhardt, and two passing touchdowns to complement three rushing scores.
The Trojans will host Hoisington in a grudge match next week as they look to avenge a loss against the team that ended their run in 2023.
Check out the full broadcast of tonight's game below!