By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
There’s a lot on the line in any semifinal game, but on Friday night, both Salina Central and Great Bend will each have an opportunity to return to the state title match for the first time in over 20 years.
For Central, a program with six state titles and nine finals appearances, this is an opportunity to take the next step on a long path to restoring the program to its former glory.
For Great Bend, it’s a chance to reach new heights for a team that has never won a state title on the gridiron.
In either case, Friday’s game is shaping up to be one of the best in the state in front of what should be a ruckus home crowd for Great Bend.
The Panthers enter this contest ranked as the #1 team in Class 5A, undefeated at 11-0, and boasting arguably the best athlete on either side in Ian Premer, who has committed to play tight end for Notre Dame after graduation.
Great Bend has destroyed each of its opponents in short order, playing in their first one-score game of the campaign last week in a 29-22 quarterfinal victory over Hays.
On the visiting sideline, the Mustangs have enjoyed a revival this season after a disappointing 4-5 finish to 2024, and come into this game 10-1 with a lone loss to Andover on their resume.
Central has beaten Topeka West, Goddard, and Salina South by a combined 101 points to reach its first semifinal since 2007.
Despite all the noise and jubilation surrounding a colossal win over Salina South last week, the focus in the Mustang locker room hasn’t wavered one bit ahead of a new biggest game of the season.
“Our guys have handled this really well mentally,” Central head coach Mark Sandbo said. “You would expect that out of a group with 18 seniors. There’s an emotional high when you beat your rival in a game like that in front of a crowd like that but come Monday there was a regrouping and our eyes were on a different opponent. That takes maturity and leadership and we understand what’s in front of us.”
For as good as Central has been on both sides of the ball, the Mustangs will have their hands full with a Great Bend team that ended their most recent playoff run, and that looks as good on film as they do on paper.
“Great Bend has some electric players,” Sandbo said. “The Premer kid is huge and on film he doesn’t look like he’s moving but 6-6 looks different on tape, you can say the same of the Ohnmacht kid, the Kern kids, Minton at quarterback, they have pieces that make them really special and for us to get a win in a hostile environment like that we’ll have to take care of the football, capitalize on our opportunities and play really sound physical football.”
While Premer gets a lot of attention, senior quarterback Daxton Minton has run the show for Great Bend, completing 67% of his passes for 1,660 yards, 26 touchdowns and just three picks.
Premer and Ohnmact have been real problems in space, combining to catch 84 passes, tally 1,908 scrimmage yards, and score 35 touchdowns on the year.
Defensively, Kale and Trenton Karn have been stoppers in every sense of the word, combining for 230 tackles on the year, and shifting their attention this week to finding an answer for Cooper Reves, who scored five touchdowns in the win over South last week.
Reves has put up video game numbers this season, rushing for over 2,400 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Griffin Hall has complemented Reves nicely, adding 114 more carries, 826 rushing yards, and 8 rushing touchdowns to a revived aerial assault.
All of these pieces will need to be in full effect on Friday if Salina Central is to eliminate a team many see as favorites in this game, and advance to state for the first time since 2005.
“We have to limit the explosive plays from guys like Premer and Ohnmacht, and we have to capitalize on our opportunities,” Sandbo said. “They really bow up inside the red zone and when we get into those opportunities, we have to score. We also need to find a way to force a few turnovers and continue to take care of the football.”
Tonight’s game will be streamed with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post 100% free courtesy of the Bennington State Bank. You can tune in for this broadcast in the window below.