By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Salina Central football program has spent the last three seasons re-establishing itself among the upper echelon of Class 5A and will look to build upon that steady success in 2024.
The Mustangs are 21-9 in their last three campaigns, with a 3-3 record in the playoffs and a trip to the 5A state quarterfinals.
Last year’s 7-3 squad had the success that many in Salina expected them to, but did it in an unexpected way, with backup Jack Gordon, who didn’t even take preseason reps at QB, filling in for the injured Gunnar Gross for most of the season.
Now, Gordon returns for his senior campaign with a full season of varsity QB reps under his belt and expectations just as high around the Mustang locker room.
“The game is always slower to a kid with a year’s experience,” 7th-year head coach Mark Sandbo said. “There was a reason that Gunnar was going to be our starter last year, but Jack came in and did a phenomenal job. He was not only effective, he was tremendous at times, but he was throwing to three guys who aren’t here anymore, and we’re going to have to put a little more on his shoulders.”
Receiver will be one of the biggest question marks for this year’s Mustangs, who graduated their top four receiving options in Hunter Mowery, Ryker Grossner, Sam Payne, and Elijah Wilson.
In addition to catching 36 passes for 239 yards, Wilson also carried the brunt of the run game, accounting for 1,522 of Central’s 1,853 rushing yards and all but three of their 21 rushing touchdowns.
In the backfield, juniors Keaton Smith and Cooper Reves will anchor a run game that could go as deep as four backs this season, while newcomers like Bodie Rodriguez and Abram Owings join returners Tate Gary, Christian Carter and Noah Peck to fill out the receiving corps.
While several starters on the offensive side may appear to be fresh faces, this year’s Mustangs are as veteran-heavy as ever with a nucleus of 15 seniors and 18 juniors leading the charge.
“We have some guys that have been biding their time that I have a lot of admiration for and excitement to get out there.” Sandbo said. “Those guys are ready to step up and make some plays.”
On defense, the Mustangs return a wealth of talent, with seniors Zach Calisti and James MacKinney in the trenches, James Cathey, Brayedn Haase, and Tyrus Young holding down the linebacker corps, and Isaiah White, Christian Garcia and Kory Serocki patrolling the secondary.
“We look and feel like and old school Central team,” he said. “We’re awfully big, we’re awfully physical, and we’re going to use that to our advantage. We’re excited about the opportunities that our guys create on both sides of the ball, and we should put some pressure on teams this year.”
While the names and numbers in maroon and white change over the years, the expectations around Central do not, and 2024 is no exception.
“We want to win the opener, we want to win the cup, we want to win the league and we want to win in November,” Sandbo said. “That’s the expectation around football in Salina. I think we have an awfully good football team, and I don’t think we’d hesitate to play anybody on a Friday night.”
The Mustangs will open their 2024 campaign in Salina, taking on cross-town rival Salina South this Friday at 7:00.
The 55th Mayor’s Cup matchup will be broadcast with live stream video and audio commentary on Salina Post free of charge.
2024 Salina Central Schedule
9/6: vs. Salina South
9/13: at Ark City
9/20: at Haysville Campus
9/27: vs. Goddard-Eisenhower
10/4: vs. Newton
10/11: at Andover Central
10/18: at Andover
10/25: vs. Goddard