By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Following a resounding week one victory, the Southeast of Saline football team will look to keep the good times rolling as they travel to Clay Center to face the Tigers.
Both teams enter this contest at 1-0 after the Tigers dispatched Abilene 34-7 at home last Friday.
For their part in a week one win, the Trojans dominated Minneapolis, handing the Lions a 64-14 walloping to extend head coach Mitch Gebhardt's perfect run of season-opening victories.
“We’ve got some things to work on, but I felt like our kids were ready for the first game,” Gebhardt said. “We struggled offensively to start out but once we got things going we did a good job, and our defense did a great job in that game.”
Now, the Trojans will turn their attention to a stout Tiger team dead-set on revenge after suffering two of its only six losses over the last two seasons to SES.
“Coach Henry and his staff do a great job and that was a knock-down drag-out game last time,” Gebhardt said. “It’s always a great football game when we play them and it’s a great place to play. They’re going to be physical, they’re going to run the ball hard and their defense is stingy.”
While the Trojan offense got all it needed and more from a 355-yard rushing performance last week, it will likely require more than 88 passing yards to beat a defense of Clay Center’s caliber.
“I know we can but we still need to take a step forward in the passing game,” he said. “We may have to throw the ball more throughout the season but there’s more we can do with the players that we have.”
To keep their absurd streak of over 1,800 days without a regular season loss intact, SES will need a total team effort on the road.
“You have to control the football and continue to get first downs in a game like this,” Gebhardt said. “Turnovers also play a big role but ultimately we have to play sound, make tackles and run to the football on every play.”
Kickoff is set for 7 P.M. with pregame coverage on Salina Post and KINA at 6:40.
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