By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
In early September, 48 football teams opened their 2021 season in Class 3A.
Next week, just four teams will remain, and among them, the Southeast of Saline Trojans, who handed the Cheney Cardinals their first loss of the season in 34-28 on Friday night.
The Trojans forced five turnovers, and stopped one of the best offenses in the state three times in the red zone to remain one of just three undefeated teams in Class 3A.
SES had an opportunity to go up early as Matthew Rodriguez broke a big run down the sideline on the team’s first drive but had the ball punched out inside the five handing possession back to the Cardinals.
Cheney responded with two touchdowns bookending an ambush onside kick to take an early 14-0 lead.
It was the biggest deficit that the Trojans had faced all season but Southeast didn’t look rattled at all, forcing three turnovers and outscoring the Cardinals in the second quarter to go into the half down just 21-14.
After an uneventful start to the third quarter, senior Clayton Meier shot through the line on a Cheney punt, dropping the Cardinals punter at the four, where Matthew Rodriguez punched in the very next play to bring the Trojans back within one.
The teams traded scores to even the game at 28 all going into the fourth and final quarter, where Cheney marched the length of the field but coughed up the ball for their fifth turnover of the night, fumbling possession away to Southeast in the red zone.
The untimely mistakes continued for the Cardinals, who intercepted Luke Gebhardt but had the pick called back after a targeting call, to which Gebhardt responded by housing a run from 33-yards out to give the Trojans their first lead of the day 34-28.
Cheney converted a 4th and 17 to get into the red zone, but came up short again and turned the ball over on downs to SES with 4:30 to left to play.
Their offense wouldn’t touch the football again as the Trojans converted two first downs to take a hard-fought 34-28 victory.
Southeast will host the defending state champions in 11-0 Andale next week for a shot at the state championship game on Thanksgiving weekend.