By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The first half of Southeast of Saline’s 2021 football season has been nothing short of pure dominance.
The team has won their first four games by a combined score of 229-12 and has scored 143 points in their last two games.
Despite all of this early success, the SES locker room is still focused on shoring up the little things to be the best they can be, and committed to taking things one week at a time.
“This group of kids wants to continue to get better and our player’s willingness to want to improve each and every week on both sides of the ball has been a real positive for us,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said.
Quarterback Luke Gebhardt has looked lethal in his debut season under center, completing 76% of his passes for just under 800 yards and 11 touchdowns compared to just two picks in four games.
Luke has added over 100 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to go along with eight touchdowns from running back Matthew Rodriguez, who has averaged over five yards per carry so far.
Chase Poague has been the elite X-Factor SES hoped he would in his senior season, turning in 11 touchdowns as a runner, a receiver, and a returner throughout the first half of the season.
While the offense has been good, the Southeast defense has looked even better, allowing an average of just three points per game throughout the first four weeks.
That defense has been forcing turnovers in bunches as well picking off opponents three times and recovering seven fumbles. Add to that the fact that 18% of Southeast’s tackles have been for loss and you have one of the best defensive units in the state.
While the returners have played a huge role in the success of this team, several newcomers on both sides of the ball have fit nicely into the big empty shoes left by last year’s senior class.
“We returned several key pieces on both sides of the ball and the expectations for them were high,” Gebhardt said. “But the guys we had to plug in have passed this first test and I’ve been really happy with how they’ve adjusted to what they’re doing.”
District play will continue for the Trojans this week when they face the 2-2 Colby Eagles, followed by a road trip to Goodland, a home game against Smoky Valley and another trip to Scott City.
“Our district is very good and we’d like to do what we can to win that to set ourselves up for success come playoff time,” he said.
For continued coverage of the SES football team in 2021, stay tuned to the Salina Post.