Southeast of Saline blows by Scott City

Gypsum, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–It was a bitterly cold and windy night at Steve Fritz Field on Friday night, as the Southeast of Saline Trojans played host to the Scott City Beavers for the Class 3A, District 6 Championship. The Trojans entered ranked in the top five in Class 3A, and took advantage of short field throughout the night, as they defeated the Beavers 40-6 to win their first district title since 2011.

Southeast of Saline started the night off with a long kickoff return to the Scott City 29 yard line. The Trojans would convert a fourth down on their opening series, and scored on the seventh play of the drive, on a Bryant Banks four yard run with 9:08 left in the first quarter to go up 8-0, after the Jaxson Gebhardt two-point run. That was the first points that the Beavers allowed in the first quarter all season. On their third series of the first quarter, Southeast of Saline used another short drive of 22 yards on two plays to get into the end zone, as Banks rushed in from two yards out with 1:58 left in the first quarter to lead 16-0, after the Gebhardt to Tyler Breeding two-point pass.

There would be only one score in the second quarter, and for the third time, the Trojans took advantage of short field. A 14-play, 43-yard drive that took 6:53 off the clock, was finished off on a Jaxson Gebhardt six-yard pass to Chase Poague to make it 22-0 with 1:11 left in the half. Gebhardt ran in the two-point conversion to make it 24-0 at the break.

Southeast of Saline scored two more times in the third quarter. Their first came on a six-play, 47-yard drive in one minute and 45 seconds. Quarterback Jaxson Gebhardt would score from 15 yards out to make it 32-0, with the Poague two-point conversion. The Trojans’ last score would be a 13-play, 74-yard drive in 4:29. Gebhardt’s second rushing score came on third down came from 13 yards out, and the two-point conversion from Poague to Tyler Breeding extended the score to 40-0 Southeast of Saline.

Scott City scored on the ensuing drive, on a two-play drive, as Harrison King connected with Isaac Tarango on a 74-yard pass play to make the score 40-6. The extra point kick was no good. It was the first time that the Trojans allowed a passing touchdown all season.

There was no scoring in the fourth quarter. The Beavers were unable to move it pas the Trojan 12 yard line. Southeast of Saline would run off the final 9:07 of the game to get the victory 40-6.

Jaxson Gebhardt was 9-14 passing for 98 yards, with a touchdown pass and an interception. It was his first interception thrown this year. Chase Poague had two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown, while Gebhardt led the ground game with 82 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Southeast of Saline finished with 312 yards, and had 18 first downs.

Harrison King was 3-15 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown pass. Isaac Tarango had a 74 yard touchdown reception and Blaine Culp had a 53-yard reception. The Beavers were only able to rush for 38 yards, as they finished with 163 yards of offense, and only four first downs.

Two games into the series, the series is tied at one game apiece. Scott City has now scored in 151 consecutive games, and with their 4-1 district mark, saw their all-time district record go to 96-30, when district play began in 1981. The Beavers are runner-up in district play for a second consecutive year, as they dropped to 5-3 on the season. Southeast of Saline is 7-0 for the first time since 2016.

Scott City will host Concordia to open the playoffs next Friday night. The Panthers are 5-3 on the year, after they defeated Chapman 41-28 on the road Friday night. Southeast of Saline will host Clay Center.

Assistant Coach Landon Frank Postgame