By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
Coming off a winless 2021 campaign, expectations for Sacred Heart were relatively tempered in Salina as first-year head coach Jeremy Hopkins assumed the helm looking to right the ship.
Despite all the noise, expectations inside the Sacred Heart locker far exceeded those outside it, and the Knights raised quite a few eyebrows around Class 1A after ripping off a 3-2 start to their season.
After defeating Republic County in a gritty 7-6 victory on the road last week, Sacred Heart, freshly punched playoff ticket in hand, will square off with 5-3 Marion for a chance to advance to the round of 16.
“We have a very hard-working, intelligent football team with great character and leadership,” Knights head coach Jeremy Hopkins said. “We are supported by our school, administration, community, and families. I’m absolutely proud that the work the boys and staff have put in this season is shining a spotlight on all of those things.”
While many in Sacred Heart’s position would simply be happy to be back in the 1A bracket, this Knights team remains hopeful that more football is still ahead, and will give the Warriors their best shot on Friday night.
“[Marion] is a well-coached and balanced football team,” Hopkins said. “They can run with power or speed, and have a QB and set of receivers that absolutely challenge secondaries. Our defense will have to play sound and tackle well to limit their success on offense.”
Statistically, this year’s Warriors rank middle of the road in most categories but do boast Class 1A’s eighth-best scoring offense, putting up 36 points per game on average.
Much of that success has come on the ground where Marion collects just under 240 of their 300 yards per game on average.
“They have a good power running scheme up the middle,” he said. “They’ll challenge us physically to see if we can slow that down. Teams that have been able to do that then face a QB with scrambling and escape abilities, and a good, accurate arm. We will rely on good tackling and sound fundamentals to try and slow both phases down.”
Offensively it will be critical for the Knights to control the line of scrimmage to open up running lanes and provide time for their passing game to develop against a Warrior defense that allows 21 points per game on average.
“We understand as a football team that we only score points if we block well,” he said. “We will need to start this game physically up front to have any chance at success on offense.”
With just four seniors on their roster, the future is looking bright for Sacred Heart, but for now, the Knights refuse to look ahead and will put everything into this week nine matchup in Marion.
“It’s hard to measure what it would mean going forward, only time will tell,” Hopkins said. “I can tell you for certain that the four seniors on this team would cherish the memory of a playoff win forever, and the rest of the team would like to help them achieve that.”
Kickoff between the Knights and Warriors is set for 7 pm at Marion High School with the winner advancing to take on 7-1 Wabaunsee or 1-7 Belle Plaine in the round of 16 next week.