By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
An overtime win in Dodge City in week five. A massive late drive against Ulysses in week seven. A last-minute victory in Garden City in week eight. And the biggest of them all: a last-minute, 39-yard miracle on fourth-and-eight against Goddard-Eisenhower to keep the season alive. The Great Bend High School football team continues its journey forward with another Class 5A playoff game Friday at Salina Central.
Panther Activities Director Matt Westerhaus said the school is doing what it can to keep the train rolling with a spirit bus for Friday's game.
"They've just been playing with so much confidence and playing together as a team," he said. "They have the mentality of whatever comes their way they're going to find a way to make it happen, which has been awesome."
Great Bend's 17-game losing streak entering the 2022 season seems like ancient history. The Panthers lost the first two games this season and have rattled off seven-straight wins. Salina Central also enters the game at 7-2.
"It's been great for the school and community," Westerhaus said. "It's always nice to rally around somebody, in this case, the football program." It just provides a lot of spirit within the school and in the community. A lot of people say if the football team is doing well, it really sets the tone not only for the fall, but for the rest of the year. Hopefully, we can see some good things that come about from the success of the football program."
The high school and athletic booster club will be offering a spirit bus for students who want to travel to the game.
Weather is looking to be a factor with a 90-percent chance of rain and thunderstorms during the day Friday, and a 60-percent chance in the evening. Some games have been rescheduled for Thursday, but the Great Bend-Central game is still scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.