By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
For those who have been around this program long enough, it can be easy to lose sight of just how special the last six seasons of Southeast of Saline football have been.
If you find yourself in Hutch on Saturday, take a moment to look around and take it all in.
From the teams that contended in Class 3A despite being the smallest school in the classification, to the one that raised the trophy as the kings of 2A a season ago, what SES has built in Gypsum is incredibly rare, and on Saturday, they can ascend to what many might consider the highest rung on the high school football ladder.
The definition of a true dynasty is one that will be debated until the end of time, but there are two things that tend to be associated with those elite programs: multiple titles, and in many cases, a changing of the guard.
For an example, look no further than Nemaha Central, a school that will be playing for a state championship for the fourth consecutive year, and one that has the same number of 2A titles in that span as total losses.
The Thunder have sat atop Class 2A three times in the last seven years, but have learned as the ancient Greeks did before them, that the Trojans are a scary foe to have at your gates.
If Southeast of Saline can find a way to repeat as state champions on Saturday, there may very well be a new dynasty in Class 2A.
Accomplishing that feat will be every bit as tricky as it was a season ago, especially against a Nemaha Central team hellbent on avenging their state loss from a season ago and reclaiming their throne.
“Coach Glatczak does a great job at Nemaha Central and has for a long time,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “They’ve got a great program and any time you match up against someone like that you know you’re going to have to play well.”
Just like 2024, both teams enter this matchup a perfect 13-0, with the Trojans taking down Southwestern Heights, Russell, Phillipsburg and Hoisington to reach Hutch, and the Thunder overcoming West Franklin, Council Grove, Sabetha and Osage City.
Unlike 2024, the Trojans have been here before and know what it takes to win a game like this on the biggest stage.
“These runs we’ve made in the playoffs have helped us in confidence and experience,” Gebhardt said. “We have a lot of guys who have played in the state championship game and know what that means but the excitement is definitely still here for getting to play in this game.”
A matchup of this caliber wouldn’t be complete without each side presenting a champion to the battle, and this 2A finale might just feature the best duel in the state.
Trojan tailback Grady Gebhardt has decimated opposing defenses, turning 183 carries and 27 receptions into 2,526 yards and 43 touchdowns.
On the other side a familiar foe emerges in the form of Carter Hajek, who has amassed 294 carries and completed 52 passes for a total of 3,223 yards and 51 touchdowns.
“You have to play good team defense because they have a good scheme for Hajek,” Gebhardt said. “He’s a load to bring down, and we’ll need to get a lot of hats to the football. You can’t just focus on him either because they have a lot of other athletes that can hurt you.”
Fortunately, the Trojan defense has been up to the task so far, pitching four second-half shutouts in their four playoff games this season.
“Our kids hunker down and get after,” he said. “We know how crucial the second half is and I think that’s where our guys really start to understand what an offense is doing. We’ve played some good teams here in the playoffs and that’s an impressive feat to have.”
Kickoff for the 2A state championship game is scheduled for noon on the campus of Hutch Community College.
As always, this game can be heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM) with Devin Hanney and Tyler Smith on the call and can be streamed with live video and audio commentary on Salina Post in the window below.