By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
By seeding, Salina Central was the favorite in Friday's Class 5A state playoff opener. Not only did the Mustangs draw the higher seed at No. 8, but Central also played host to No. 9 Great Bend. But many around the state had their doubts. The Mustangs struck first but the Panthers dominated after that, leading 38-12 at one point before finishing with a 38-24 upset.
"You could just tell from the get-go our kids came out with their hair on fire," said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. "They were very ready for this one both physically and mentally. It just showed. Central is a good football team. I thought our kids really rose to the occasion. We gave some things up but it was just big play after big play. That's what you love this time of year."
Central needed every break in the book to score first. The Mustangs erased more than nine minutes off the clock, used two timeouts, and overcame a pair of late penalties before junior Tyrus Young caught an 11-yard bobble from junior quarterback Jack Gordon.
The Mustangs were moving on their next drive when Panther senior Dee'Onn Jones recorded a crucial sack. That forced Gordon to throw, and freshman Cooper Ohnmacht was there to pick it off and run 72 yards for the first Panther score. Sophomore Diego Soto soon added a 24-yard field goal to move the Panther lead to 10-6.
Sophomore Trenton Kern blocked a Mustang punt, and that set up some late-half dramatics from sophomore quarterback Daxton Minton. Facing fourth down from inside the Mustang 10-yard line, Minton was forced to scramble back several yards before finding sophomore Ian Premer in the back corner of the end zone with just nine seconds to play in the half. Great Bend took a 17-6 lead into the intermission.
That lead grew on a big Panther drive to open the third quarter. Senior Cody Miller punched it in from two yards out to extend the lead to 24-6.
Needing points to stay in the game, Central drove all the way to the Panther 2-yard line before freshman Kale Kern forced Mustang senior Elijah Wilson to cough up the ball.
"They gained yards. They gained first downs. They controlled the clock," Beck said. "But our defense got huge turnover after turnover, drive after drive, and got some huge stops when we needed it."
Senior Maddox Spray all but iced the game, going 67 yards for a touchdown on a pass from Minton on the first play of the fourth quarter. Central answered with a run from Wilson, but the ensuing onside kick attempt did not cover the requisite 10 yards. Trent Kern was there for the scoop at the 45-yard line and ran it back untouched for a 38-12 score.
"That's Trent for you right there," said Beck. "He's a heady player. That's why you work those things and tell the kids, that's a live ball. They can't touch it but you can. Once they all ran past it, you could see Fifty-One's eyes's light up."
Central picked up two late touchdowns for the final 38-24 score. Wilson ran the ball 24 times for 135 yards in the second half to finish with 205 yards on 38 carries. Gordon threw for 229 yards on 24-of-39 passing.
Minton completed 10 of his 19 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries. Miller added 51 yards on his 18 carries.
Central closes the book on a 6-3 season. The Panthers improve to 6-3 and head to top-ranked Kapaun next Friday for round two of the Class 5A playoffs.