By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The high school football playoffs are officially upon us, and the Southeast of Saline Trojans (8-0), will begin their postseason push on Friday when they play host to the Chaparral Roadrunners (1-6).
The winner of this game will advance to the second round of this year’s 2A playoff to face either Kingman (6-2) or Hillsboro (5-3).
Due to inclement weather and field concerns, tonight’s game has been moved to Bissell Field on the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University.
This will be the second all-time meeting between these two schools, but their second in as many years, as the Trojans got the better of the Roadrunners 50-14 in the second round of the 2022 playoffs.
While this will mark the first true postseason action for a number of Trojans, this year’s team has been thoroughly tested and should be more than up to the challenge this evening.
“We played quite a few younger guys early in the season but our guys have really grown up and they now understand the ins and outs of a high school football game,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “They know that every play isn’t going to be perfect but you need to line up and play the next one the best you can.”
While last year’s Chaparral team rode a confident 6-1 record into the postseason, this year’s Roadrunners limp into bracket play at 1-6, and have struggled mightily amidst a tough schedule.
Regardless of their recent struggles, Chaparral remains the most important team on Southeast’s schedule, and the next obstacle in their eternal quest for 1-0.
“Every week is all about going 1-0 and this week is no different,” Gebhardt said. “Chaparral has only won one game this year but they were solid when we saw them last year and their coaches do a good job. This time of year you have to play at your highest level or you’re going to get sent home.”
Part of the Roadrunner's struggles have come from their inability to run the football, averaging just 39 yards per game on the ground.
While Chaparral’s passing numbers look better from a yardage standpoint, a touchdown to interception rate of 9-12 has crippled their offense, delivering opportunities in bunches to their opponents.
Nonetheless, Southeast must remain vigilant against the pass-happy Roadrunners on Friday night.
“They throw the ball well and they do a good job of getting the ball downfield,” Gebhardt said. “They have a kid that runs the ball hard and Chaparral always has big guys on that line.”
Kickoff between the Trojans and Roadrunners is set for 7:00 at Bissell Field and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM), or streamed with live audio and video on the Salina Post HERE.