By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
For the fifth consecutive season, the Mayor’s Cup belongs to Salina Central, who defeated their cross-town rivals in Salina South 31-21 on Friday night.
The result was one that many expected, but how it unfolded and how close it was in the end were anything but.
This game began, like many recent Mayor’s Cup matchups, with a 3-and-out by the South offense, followed by an explosive 75-yard touchdown run by Keaton Smith to put Central ahead 7-0.
Another punt by the Cougars led to another deep drive for the Mustangs. But that’s where the similarities to past blowouts ended.
Backed up deep in their own red zone, South stood tall, turning Central over on downs, and manufacturing a 92-yard touchdown drive that ended when sophomore quarterback Izzy Telles found star wideout Jay Curtis for a 35-yard touchdown bomb to make it 14-7.
New Central starter Griffin Hall would quickly undo that progress with his first career touchdown pass, finding Bodie Rodriguez for six, but again, the Cougars moved the ball efficiently on the ground, and found Curtis for his second touchdown of the day.
At the half, the Mustangs led but only 21-14.
Central’s ground game ate up clock on their first drive of the second half, wasting nearly half of the quarter on one drive that culminated in a Griffin Hall rushing score.
South was turned over on downs, and an Elijah Duxler field goal all but sealed the deal.
The Cougars would score on one final 65-yard strike to Curtis to complete his hat trick, but it was too little too late as the Mustangs held onto the cup by a final score of 31-21.
Central looked all but unstoppable in the run game, as Cooper Reves toted the rock 26 times for 230 yards and a touchdown, with Griffin Hall adding 17 more carries for an additional 103 yards and another score.
In the passing game, Hall was ruthlessly efficient, completing 13 of 15 for 156 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Both teams played this game with zero turnovers, but 27 penalties muddied the water on both sides.
South looked as sharp as they had in a long time on both sides of the ball, with Armane Redmond averaging nearly five yards a carry, and Izzy Telles completing 11 of his 17 passing attempts for 230 yards and three touchdowns, all to Jay Curtis.
The Mustangs return home to host Ark City next week, while the Cougars begin a three-game road trip that begins at Maize South.
You can watch the full broadcast on demand any time below.