By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Salina South’s season met an unexpected end on Friday night at the hands of a Maize South team playing their fourth-string quarterback in one of the most bizarre games of the opening round.
The Cougars battled to the final whistle, even scoring late to make it a one-score game, but the clock struck midnight on a magical 6-3 season, with a 17-14 final against the Mavericks.
Each side struggled to get things rolling in the first half, with three total fumbles to just two touchdowns through the first two quarters.
South got on the board early in the second when Armane Redmond took a direct snap 19 yards to paydirt to open the scoring and put the Cougars ahead 7-0.
After recovering a fumble on a bad snap, the Mavericks responded, running a trick play that left Griffin Root wide open for a 30-yard touchdown catch to even the score at 7-all.
The third quarter saw two punts followed by two picks on back-to-back plays, setting up a chaotic fourth quarter full of twists and turns.
Backed up deep in their own territory, an unexpected snap sailed over the head of Cougar quarterback Izzy Telles, who scampered into his own end zone to retrieve it.
Before Telles could throw the ball away or take the safety, the ball was punched out and bounced toward Jackson Carpenter, who scooped it up in the end zone for a defensive touchdown.
The Cougars appeared to go three-and-out on the following drive, but after a successful fake punt, drove deep into Maverick territory before stalling out and turning the ball over on downs.
Maize South appeared to put the game away with an unlikely 48-yard field goal from Adolpho Acosta, extending the Maverick lead to 17-7 with just 1:25 to go.
Telles did manage to lead one final touchdown drive, but it was too little too late as Maize South held on for the unlikely upset on the road.
The Mavericks improve to 4-5 on the season and advance to the second round, where 8-1 Bishop Carroll is waiting fresh off a 41-7 beatdown of Liberal in the opening round.
Despite the loss, this 6-3 season represents yet another building block in the Cougars’ turnaround, and despite heavy senior losses, the future is still bright entering year four of the Christien Ozores era.