By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Fourteen years ago, Southeast of Saline hired Mitch Gebhardt to lead their football program.
The rest is history.
In the decade and change since, Coach Gebhardt has led his Trojans to ten playoff wins, eight league titles, four district championships, and two appearances in the 2A state quarterfinals, with a trip to the semis in 2022.
On Friday, the legendary head coach added another milestone to his already stellar resume, as a convincing 60-7 victory over Lyons marks the 100th win of his time in Gypsum.
“It takes a lot of people to make this thing work and my assistant coaches are unreal,” Gebhardt said. “This staff has been together for nine years and everyone that’s been a part of this has been so great. I’d also like to thank the Southeast of Saline community for everything they do, this is a great place to be. All of my kids are going to go all the way through school here, and I’m proud of that.”
From the beginning, this game was never in doubt, as the Trojans followed a 94-point victory over the Lions in 2022 with a 53-point victory in 2023.
Southeast scored 24 points in the first quarter, and 29 more in the second, allowing their second and third-stringers to close out the game and get some experience under the Friday night lights.
“I thought we played well in the first half,” Gebhardt said. “Our offense moved the ball well, we ran the ball well and Dan threw it well. We had a few lapses defensively but we got to play everybody tonight and that’s a pretty good deal.”
Nathan Friesen headlined the Trojan attack, posting yet another 100+ yard, four-touchdown game, made all the more impressive by the fact that all of that work came in just the first two quarters.
With Ellsworth handling their business against Halstead tonight (21-0), the stage is set for yet another battle of undefeateds in week eight, as the Trojans and Bearcats get set to fight for a league, and district title in Ellsworth next Friday.