By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
After steamrolling Larned 76-12 to open their playoff push, the Southeast of Saline football team will turn its attention to a fellow contender from 2023 when they welcome in the Norton Blue Jays.
The Trojans have been firing on all cylinders from the word go and enter this pivotal matchup at 9-0 while Norton comes in at 8-1 with their lone loss coming at the hands of Phillipsburg.
Southeast played arguably its best game a week ago, opening the playoffs with a beatdown that saw them score 70 points in the first half after falling behind on the first drive of the game.
“I felt like our kids were ready and locked in even before the game,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “They understand that we’re in playoff mode and that showed in the way we practiced. Our kids are playing with a lot of confidence right now. We were upset that we got scored on but nobody flinched and we just kept playing.”
To advance to the state quarterfinals for a fifth straight season, the Trojans will have to take down a perennial power in Norton, who somehow managed to slide to third place in their district despite finishing the regular season at 7-1.
“Norton is a very good football team,” Gebhardt said. “They’re very solid up front, they have a seasoned quarterback, good receivers and a back that does a good job of running the football. Defensively they present a lot of problems for people, we have a real battle ahead of us.”
The Norton offense runs through senior quarterback Eli Jones, who has put up ridiculous numbers in 2024, completing 59% of his passes for 1,467 yards, 12 touchdowns and only 3 picks, while also leading the running game with another 628 yards and 16 more touchdowns.
Norton’s defense will have to contend with Southeast’s own powerhouse offense, which sees Gannon Jacobson leading the way with exactly 1,467 passing yards of his own, and 30 total touchdowns to nine interceptions.
Grady Gebhardt has been a force on the ground for Southeast, racking up 889 yards and nine touchdowns on 106 carries, while Tucker Thaxton has roasted secondaries, hauling in 50 catches for 712 yards and 11 touchdowns.
All of this, coupled with a defense that has allowed less than ten points per game all season, has created a seemingly unstoppable brand of football that will be put to one of its toughest tests this week.
“We have to take care of the football in a game like this and continue to get first downs to keep their high-powered offense off the field,” Gebhardt said. “Defensively we have to rally to the football and take care of our responsibilities. In close ballgames a special teams play here and there can also make the difference so we have to be solid in all facets of the game.”
Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 at Kansas Wesleyan’s JRI Stadium in Salina, and as always, can be streamed with live video and commentary on Salina Post by clicking HERE, or heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM).