By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
In week seven of the 2024 season, Salina South defeated Haysville-Campus 42-23.
That win snapped a 30-game losing streak stretching back to 2021, and while cause for celebration, was the highlight of an otherwise 1-9 campaign, marking a decade since the last winning season at Salina South.
For those who only follow high school football through box scores and social media, the steady progress the Cougars have made could be easy to miss, but things aren’t the way they were for the green and gold, and that progress has begun with a change in mindset.
“I think we’re really close to having the football culture where we’d like it to be here,” second-year head coach Christien Ozores said. “Our coaches have done a lot of work over the offseason, not just getting kids stronger physically but mentally as well. Trying to fix attitude, behavior, mindset, things like that. Hopefully, we can get this thing turned around. I know we have a challenging schedule, but I think we’re going to sneak up on some people.”
The 2024 season had massive obstacles from the very beginning. The team played 13 sophomores and 11 juniors, implemented its third different defensive scheme in as many years, and had to go through all the growing pains a young team with a new head coach would in one of the most competitive leagues in the state of Kansas.
While a 1-9 season isn’t enough to move the needle considerably, the swarm of returning Cougars who make up this year’s team has leveled up physically and mentally, and should be far more prepared to take on the challenges that lie ahead with a new intensity.
“From a mental standpoint, we have more confidence,” Ozores said. “Our guys have bought into being close to each other and doing the right things on and off the field, and it’s made a difference.”
On the field, the Cougars will be led by a quarterback tandem of sophomore Izzy Telles and senior Aiden Spellman, who each bring a unique skill set to the table.
In the trenches, the Cougars have hit the weight room with three of their returning starters combining to put on 65 lbs this offseason.
That group will work to carve a path for returning back Armane Redmond in the ground game, and look to buy time for South’s quarterbacks to find talented receivers like Jaxon Myers, Jay Curtis, Kolton Herbal, Kobie Henley, and Jaxton Kitchener.
“We have a few guys that have moved to different positions and into the spots we feel fit best with our system,” he said. “That can be a big change but the kids are doing a good job of making adjustments and playing fast and physical.”
On defense, the Cougars will start just one underclassman in sophomore defensive tackle Corbin Beason, who started in the majority of games his freshman year and who has also added 20 pounds this offseason.
Beason will join Jayven Correa-Brown and Conner Riley in the trenches, backed up by the experienced linebacking corps of Jaxon Anthony, Gabe Wheelbarger, Maddox Girard and Ra’Shawn Jones.
In the secondary, Kobie Henley and Landon Huffman return at safety, while Caden Stauffer and Jalen Cheeks work to lock up receivers from the corner positions.
“Our kids feel more comfortable being in the same defensive system for the first time in three years,” Ozores said. We still want to tackle better, we need to be more physical, and we need more sacks and turnovers; all of those will be big points of emphasis this season.”
With another season of learning experiences under their belts, and another offseason in the weight room, the Cougars could very well be primed to take the next step this season if they can put all the pieces together.
“I think we can sneak up on a lot of teams and I’m sure we’ll be underestimated but we have to use our experience to our advantage,” he said. “These kids have so much experience, now, hopefully we can establish that winning mindset.”
The Cougars open their 2025 season in Salina with cross-town rival Salina Central.
This year’s Mayor’s Cup matchup will be broadcast with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post.
Full 2025 Football Schedule
9/5 - vs. Salina Central
9/12 - at Maize South
9/19 - at Derby
9/26 - at Hutch
10/3 - vs. Valley Center
10/10 - at Goddard
10/17 - vs. Haysville Campus
10/24 - vs. Maize