Salina Central and Hays battled it out Friday night for a chance to go to the playoffs.
The Mustangs got on the board first when Nathan Garlow tackled Indians runningback David Cardinal in the endzone to make it 2-0 Salina Central.
Salina Central had a chance to extend the lead later in the quarter, but Mark Vaughn threw a pick to Derek Bixenman in the endzone. The Indians made the most of the opportunity. Sophomore quarterback Alex Delton threw a 52 yard bomb to Cardinal. Cardinal would later finish the job with a 1-yard touchdown run that made it 6-2 Cardinals.
It looked like the Mustangs might get some momentum back when Nathan Garlow found a big hole in the defensive line, but then Emilio Mitchell stripped the ball from his hands and Hays recovered.
Again, the Indians were able to turn a Mustang mistake into points for them when Delton capped off a drive with a 7-yard touchdown run.
A fourth-quarter field goal made it 15-2, but the Mustangs kept fighting. Vaughn busted out a 34-yard touchdown scamper to make it 15-9.
The Mustangs tried the onside kick, but they were unsuccessful and Hays held on to win it 15-9.
