By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
Throughout the tenure of head coach Mark Sandbo, there’s a saying that has summed up the ideals of Salina Central football.
Pressure is privilege.
That statement will ring true in the Central locker room this week more than ever, as the Mustangs look to knock off the third-ranked Hays Indians and advance to their first 5A semifinal in over a decade.
READ: 🎥Can't make it to the Central game Friday? Watch it here!
“It means a lot to these guys to be one of the last eight teams playing in 5A and it means a lot to this small group of seniors,” Sandbo said. “They’ve taken a good step forward for our program but when you talk to them there’s no contentment with where they’re at right now.”
To reach this round of eight the Mustangs had to survive a gritty, defensive 21-15 affair with Andover Central, before winning a 40-35 shootout with Great Bend in the round of 16 last week.
Central has peaked at the right time, playing their best football, especially defensively, in the first two weeks of the playoffs.
“Our progression in the postseason has been good to see,” he said. “We’re playing more confident, more sound, and more physical. Andover and Great Bend were very physical football teams and I think our confidence and physical play have taken a good jump in the playoffs and that’s what you have to do to win in November.”
To take another step, the Mustangs must knock off a Hays team that enters this contest at 9-1, having eliminated Wichita West 44-20, and Valley Center 28-6 to arrive at this point.
“We’re going to have to play really good defense against an explosive Hays team that’s as physical, if not more than any team we’ve seen,” Sandbo said. “ We’ve seen teams that have individuals like what Hays has but we’ve never played a team that’s got the full package like they do.”
The Indians have been phenomenal on defense this season, allowing the third-fewest points (15.4) and yards per game (220.5) through the regular season.
“Hays is very sound defensively,” he said. “They keep everything in front of them and they’re good about rallying to the football. They have good, smart, physical kids and for them to be a top defense in yards allowed per game isn’t a surprise from what I’ve seen on film.”
To match pace, Central will need to find ways to get their defense off the field against an imposing Indians offense and lean on one of the most explosive rushing attacks in the state with Gunnar Gross and Kenyon McMillan in the backfield.
Unlike their first two playoff bouts, the Mustangs will be on the road and viewed by many as underdogs in this quarterfinal contest but remain unphased at the prospect of taking on this challenge in front of the always-rowdy Indian faithful.
“In these last two rounds, we were the team that was picked by many to win it,” Sandbo said. “Now that shoe is on the other foot but I think going on the road and into a new environment is something that excites our kids. Hays does a really good job of elevating the experience with a big-time atmosphere, and I think it’ll be a fun Friday night.”
Kickoff between the Mustangs and Indians is set for 7 pm at Hays High School with the winner advancing to the 5A semifinals to take on either 10-0 Maize or 8-2 Hutchinson.