Salina South head coach Sam Sellers lost his father in the week that lead up the game. Dan Sellers was a big supporter of Cougar football, and one could only imagine that the team members were playing with a heavy heart.
The first half started out slow, the only points put up were from a field goal kicked by Salina Central's Nathan Garlow to put the Mustangs up 3-0.
The Cougars came out of the locker room with a fervor. Mike Jones shot through a wide open gap to give Salina South the 7-3 lead.
Salina Central had the answer. Quarterback Mark Vaughn found JW Maldaner, streaking to the endzone to put the Mustangs up 10-7.
Salina South's defense responded on the Mustangs' next drive. On 3rd and 8 Mike Shirk sacked Vaughn for a loss of four and changes the momentum.
On Salina South's next possession quarterback Justin Stonebraker found Aaron Mar for an 80-yard bomb giving the Cougars the 14-10 lead.
It looked like South might have the game in hand, until the Mustangs marched down the field in the last few minutes. With 1:45 left to go in the game Vaughn found Spencer Schrader who made a diving catch to give the Mustangs a 17-14 lead.
Salina South regrouped and made a drive of their own. It was capped off with a field goal to send the game into over time.
The Cougars held the Mustangs to a field goal on their possession and then Mike Jones motored into the endzone from the one-yard line for the 23-20 win.
