By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
If ever there had been a night for Southeast of Saline to lose a football game, this was it.
Yet despite suffering self-inflicted wounds, late-game adversity, and virtually insurmountable odds inside the closing minutes, the Trojans steeled their resolve and battled back to knock off Beloit on a walk-off game winner 34-30.
After building an early 14-6 lead things fell apart fast for SES, who allowed Beloit to march down and cut the deficit to two just before the halftime break.
Things did not improve in the third quarter as Evan Watkins had a punt blocked inside his own end zone on Southeast’s first drive, setting Beloit up for a Joel Rexroat touchdown run to take an 18-14 lead.
The two teams traded turnovers, but Beloit handed the ball back to Rexroat on the first play of their ensuing drive, and the tailback took it 76 yards to the house to extend the lead to 24-14.
For many teams, that would have been a knockout blow, but Southeast was far from finished, as Gannon Jacobson delivered a 33-yard beauty to Tucker Thaxton to put the game back within reach.
An SES stop to start the fourth quarter gave the ball back to the Trojans in purple and white, and on the very next play, Southeast responded on a screen play that Grady Gebhardt took 80 yards to paydirt to restore a 28-24 lead to SES.
While Southeast celebrated, those watching and on both sidelines knew this contes was still far from finished.
From the Southeast 42-yard line, Beloit flexed their muscle through the air as Jaxon Weston linked up with Jacob Hand on a deep ball to force yet another lead change and put Beloit in front 30-28.
SES was forced to punt but stood tall defensively and returned their offense to the field for one last 2:00 drill with a chance to win the game in the closing minutes.
Instead, Ryker Clark picked off Gannon Jacobson for his fourth interception of the season to line the nails around the SES coffin.
Understanding that a first down would spell the end of their season, Southeast once again stood tall, stopping Beloit on three straight plays, using their final two timeouts, and forcing Beloit to punt one final time with 53 seconds remaining.
The final drive would require 80 yards in under a minute, but a completion to Evan Watkins, a scramble by Gannon Jacobson, and another completion to Kanyon Douglas for his first catch of the day put the Trojans at the 25-yard line.
With time for just one last play, Jacobson took the snap, stepped up in the pocket, and delivered a ball to the front corner of the end zone that fell right into the lap of a streaking Kanyon Douglas.
Ballgame.
As the Trojan players and coaches rushed the field to celebrate the realization began to set in; for just the second time in program history, the Southeast of Saline Trojans will be playing for a state title.
“This is the way our kids are, they’re going to keep fighting and clawing. Could we have made some plays in the first half that would have made this easier? Sure, but our kids kept digging and even exhausted our guys found a way to get it done.”
The final hurdle will be a steep one in the form of the two-time defending state champion Nemaha Central Thunder (11-1), but with the wind of this win in their sails, Southeast of Saline will be amped and ready to come for the kings next Friday.
To watch the full broadcast of tonight’s game, click HERE.
Photo courtesy of Tanner Colvin.