By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Salina Central Mustangs will kick off their postseason with a home game against the Liberal Redskins on Friday, looking to continue an impressive bounce-back season.
“We were expecting things to turn around quickly,” Mustang head coach Mark Sandbo said. “I felt like I put our kids in some bad situations last year and we were definitely better than 1-8. Our assistants have done an excellent job and our kids are playing really well.”
Central ended their dismal 2020 campaign at Wichita Northwest last season but enter this year’s playoffs at 6-2, hosting 4-4 Liberal.
“Playing this game in front of the Salina community is big for us,” Sandbo said. “That’s been our goal all season and obviously you have to play some good football to do that. For us to host three out of four years is a tip of the cap to our players and assistant coaches.”
While Liberal may come in at .500 on the season, this team will still present their challenges to the Mustangs, as their four losses are to opponents with a combined record of 24-8 this season.
Liberal leans on a run-heavy offense centered around senior running back Hunter Huskey, and that offense has outscored opponents 191-69 in the team’s four wins.
Central has their own dynamic backfield heading into this contest, led by Kenyon McMillan, who sits just 50 yards and a house call away from a 1,000 yard, 10 touchdown season.
While this won’t be an easy opener for the Mustangs, coach Sandbo and his squad like their odds when looking at the strengths of each team coming into this one.
“They’re a really good football team and they do some things really well but we like our matchups and we really feel like they’re a beatable team,” he said. “If we do the things we need to do we’re going to be celebrating on Friday night.”
The winner of this game will advance to the round of 32 to face the victor between Wichita Northwest and Valley Center. If both see the higher seed move on Central could have a shot at avenging last year’s playoff loss next week.
“Our kids believe and you have to have that mindset that anyone is beatable and if you’re playing good football you can win any game,” Sandbo said. Our kids definitely have that and that’s a by-product of having 14 seniors.”
Kickoff between Liberal and Central is scheduled for 7pm at Salina Stadium.
For continued coverage of the Mustangs playoff run stay tuned to the Salina Post.