By JEREMY OBERMYER
Salina Post Contributor
Southeast of Saline, ranked #1 in Class 2A by the KFBCA, traveled to Clay Center to take on the Tigers (3A) in an early season matchup between two heavyweights.
With both teams 1-0, coming off lopsided week one victories, many billed this as a high-caliber match up, and from the opening kick to the final horn, this game did not disappoint.
When all was said and done, the Trojans would hold on to win a 22-20 thriller.
Clay Center struck first on a 4-yard pass from Cole Pladson to Jace Welle to claim the game’s first lead at 7-0.
The Trojans answered right back on a 13 play 58-yard drive capped off by a 10-yard touchdown pass from Gannon Jacobson to Tucker Thaxton, but failed the 2-point try.
Not to be outdone, Clay Center took their next drive to paydirt, scoring on a 1-yard Weston Hammond run to take the 14-6 lead.
Southeast followed up with an 18-yard Jacobson to Thaxton touchdown pass, this time converting the 2-point try to tie the game at 14 a piece.
After that it was time for the defenses to shine as neither team scored again until the 1:06 mark of the third quarter when Jacobson and Thaxton connected for a third time on a 9 yard pass.
On their third two-point attempt, Jacobson ran to the right pylon to give the Trojans first lead at 22-14.
With 2:40 left in the game, the Tigers answered on a 2-yard run from Cole Pladson to make the score 24-22, but the Trojan defense came up big and stopped the 2-point attempt to secure the Southeast victory.
Southeast had a total of 383 yards with Grady Gebhardt leading the rushing attack with 161 yards on 33 carries. Meanwhile, Thaxton led all receivers with 11 catches for 119 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Jacobson completed 19 of 26 passes for 185 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
Next week, Southeast will host 2-0 Beloit while Clay Center will travel to Louisburg to take on the 2-0 Wildcats.