WEEK 1 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Salina Central at Andover – 7 p.m.
The Mustangs averaged 35 points and 418 yards last season, but only return two starters from their offense. Senior Dylan Wentzel will inherit some of the carries of departed back Dalton Peters, while senior Tristan Harder is a key piece of an otherwise inexperienced line. Senior Isaiah Veal, who received All-Class 5A honorable mention, brings sprinter’s speed to a defense that returns three starters.
Salina South VS. Valley Center – 7 p.m.
Salina South returns seven starters after a puzzling season that came on the heels of three consecutive 10-win campaigns. Junior Casey Lanoue’s athleticism and toughness earned him a shot to direct the Cougars’ option offense, while Senior Justin Sullivan led South in tackles (109) in his first year as a starter. He is part of a talented group of linebackers.
Sacred Heart VS. Minneapolis – 7 p.m.
Sacred Heart enters the 2016 season after having made the playoffs each of the last six seasons and has not had a losing season since 2010. The Knights went through four quarterbacks in 2015 en route to a 5-5 season. Sacred Heart had problems with the passing game, going 48 of 136 for 778 yards with 8 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Junior Jacob Faerber rushed 1,537 yards, a single season school rushing record, on 179 attempts during his Sophomore campaign and scored 16 times.
Southeast of Saline at Republic County – 7 p.m.
The Trojans went 4-0 at home and 3-3 on the road in 2015, and suffered a first round playoff loss to Halstead. Southeast has finished 7-3 each of the past of three years, but has lost in the first round of the playoffs six times since 2008 and have not gone past the first round since 2006. The Trojans return five offensive and four defensive starters in 2016. The Trojans were balanced on offense last season, averaging 174 passing yards and 168 rushing yards per game. “As a team we must get better throughout the season,” said Head Coach Max Gebhardt.
Ell-Saline at Sedgwick – 7 p.m.
The Cardinals come into the 2016 season after a 3-6 season in 2015, that followed a magical 2014 that ended with a two point loss to Olpe in the Class 2-1A State Championship game. Last year, Ell-Saline tallied just 16 points per contest, a drop from 27.8 in 2014. Veteran Head Coach Terry King, now in his 17th season at Ell-Saline, listed keys to success this year as staying healthy, especially at quarterback, and coming together as a team with the players making a commitment to each other. “We played a lot of young athletes last year in a lot of positions,” King said. “Our success will depend on how much these young men have physically grown during the year and how willing they are to commit to each other and accept coaching.”