By TYLER HENRY
Little Apple Post contributor
Last week, Riley County traveled to Silver Lake looking for just their third victory of the season in a win-or-go-home week nine matchup with the fifth-ranked team in Class 2A.
Despite facing long odds, the Falcons gritted out 48 minutes of physical football and came away with the upset, knocking off the Eagles 23-21.
“Our message has been the same week in and week out,” Riley County Head Coach Erik Willimon said. “When we put together four good quarters of football we feel like we can compete with anyone and the guys went out and executed last week. They made big plays and we came away with a big team win.”
While that victory was indicative of the play on the field, it was also the product of a renewed commitment to the process, as Riley County ramped up the intensity and focus in their preparation.
“We learned that we can’t just try to come out and win on Friday,” Willimon said. “We have to be winning in practice all week and we went back to looking at the little things. “Our kids, especially our senior leaders, responded to that well.”
In the round of 16, Riley County will once again play the role of the underdog as the Falcons shift their focus from #5 Silver Lake to #4 Sabetha.
“Sabetha is extremely talented, very well coached, very disciplined, and fundamentally sound in every facet of the game,” he said. “They’re physical and they have a strong running game but we also learned in that first matchup that they can really throw the football.”
This season, the newly minted 2A Falcons and Bluejays shared a district and met in week five where Sabetha came out on top 35-0.
Despite a lopsided final score, Riley County kept things close at the intermission, and knows they can hang with the #4 team in the state when they’re on their game.
“Our guys have been in every football game that we’ve played and it may not look that way on paper but if you watch these games on film that’s apparent,” Willimon said. “The Sabetha game was 7-0 at the half and we moved the ball well but we couldn’t capitalize and we struggled to stop the run.”
Stopping Sabethas rushing attack is something very few have managed to do in 2022, as the Bluejays have the second-best ground game in 2A, averaging just under 300 yards a game.
On the other side of that coin, the Jays have stifled their opponents all season, allowing the sixth-fewest points (10.9) in Class 2A.
“Defensively they’re not going to make a lot of mistakes fundamentally and they’re skilled at every position,” he said. “We have to be very methodical and eliminate mistakes but I feel like our kids are ready and this is why you play the games on Friday night.”
The Falcons know there isn’t much room for error in an elimination matchup against one of the best teams in the state, but remain vigilant in their abilities to slay another ranked goliath this week.
“We have to play almost a flawless game but we’re confident and our kids have a bounce in their step after the Silver Lake win,” Willimon said. “As long as we stay humble and stay hungry we feel like we can compete. We’ll get on the bus to Sabetha and we’ll see what happens after 48 minutes of football.”
Kickoff between the Falcons and Bluejays is set for 7 pm at Sabetha High School with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals to take on Caney Valley, who knocked off Council Grove on Thursday.