Salina Central Defeats Cross-Town Rival South 49-24 in Playoff Thriller
Mustangs advance to 5A Final Four for first time since 2000s after dominant second-half performance
SALINA, Kan. — Salina Central overcame an early deficit to defeat cross-town rival Salina South 49-24 in a Class 5A quarterfinal playoff game that was much closer than the final score indicated. The Mustangs trailed 17-14 before exploding for five second-half touchdowns, rushing for 427 yards total to pull away from their rivals and advance to the state semifinals for the first time since the 2000s.
The victory was particularly sweet for Central, coming nearly 20 years after South's stunning 21-14 overtime upset in 2004 that propelled the Cougars to their only state championship in program history. Under head coach Mark Sandbo, the Mustangs have transformed from a 4-5 record in 2024 to a 10-1 powerhouse now just two wins away from their first 5A title since 2005. South, meanwhile, saw their season end with a 3-8 record after showing early promise in the contest.
Central will face a formidable challenge in the Final Four when they travel to Great Bend on Friday to take on the Panthers, whose stingy defense has allowed just 12 points per game this season. The Mustangs' high-powered rushing attack will need to find ways to penetrate a Great Bend defense that has been nearly impenetrable throughout their playoff run.
Greg Loving