By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
With a resounding 72-6 victory over the Ellsworth Bearcats, the SES Trojan football team wrapped up their league campaign 3-0, collecting an NCAA league title for the sixth time in seven years.
Through those three games, Southeast gashed opponents on offense, putting up 158 points, while their defense held those same opponents to just 12.
To put that in even more ridiculous terms, the Trojans are scoring 14 points every quarter while holding opponents to just one.
“I feel like we’re getting in the flow of our offense,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “We still have some things to work on but our guys understand where they need to be and what they need to do.”
Despite the dominant performances, Gebhardt stressed that the team still has work to do heading into district play this week.
“I think we need to continue to block downfield,” he said. “Our line and receivers can both do a better job of that and we still need to have everyone giving maximum effort on every play.”
To open district play, the Trojans will return home for the first time in two weeks to face the much-improved 2-1 Russell Broncos.
Much like Beloit, Russell relies heavily on their run game, carrying the ball for 85% of the team’s total yards on offense.
That rushing attack is led by a senior backfield of quarterback Andrew Roth, and running back Jacob Windholz, who have amassed 323 yards on the ground this season.
That duo will look to avenge a 60-0 loss at the hands of Southeast a year ago, in which the Trojans allowed 104 total yards and denied the Broncos the end zone for four quarters.
“We want to continue to do what we do and that means staying balanced on offense and playing really excellent defense,” Gebhardt said. “If we can do that we like our chances of keeping defenses off balance and that’s huge for us.”
Historically this rivalry has favored the Trojans, who have won the last three matchups by a combined score of 140-24.
This game also marks the first game of district play, which will set the field for this season’s playoffs across the state.
SES will be at home to face Russell and Colby before traveling to Goodland, hosting Smoky Valley, and finishing their season at Scott City.
Kickoff between the Trojans and Broncos is set for 7pm at Southeast of Saline high school and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.
For continuing coverage of the SES football team in 2021, stay tuned to the Salina Post.