By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Despite graduating a great deal of talent over the offseason, the Rock Creek football team has gotten off to a solid start in 2023, and will look to continue putting the pieces together as they enter the home stretch of their campaign at 3-2.
To this point in the season, the Mustangs’ only two stumbles have come at the hands of 4th-ranked Southeast of Saline (5-0) and Silver Lake (4-1), in a pair of well-fought battles.
Even with their youth, this year’s Rock Creek squad has, in many ways, picked up right where last year’s team left off, which has led to some early success.
“We have a young group that is learning to play together and play for one another,” Mustang head coach Shane Sieben said. “The improvement we've seen in our run blocking up front and on the edge has been what I've been most pleased with.”
Under first-year quarterback Mack Lee, the Mustangs once again boast a top-five passing attack in Class 3A, as one of just four teams posting over 200 yards per game through the air.
Lee has been excellent about taking care of the football as well, racking up over 1,000 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns while turning the ball over just three times.
On both sides of the ball, the Mustangs have spread our their production, and that unified attack has made keying in on individuals much tougher for their opponents.
“I think the thing that excites me the most about this team is there isn't one superstar,” Sieben said. “We have a team full of talented players that can all make plays. It's been someone different each week and that is what it's going to take for this team to continue to be successful.”
While Rock Creek has come through the teeth of their schedule already, the Mustangs will still face a tall task in week seven when they travel to 5th-ranked 4-1 Clay Center, and will need to continue taking things one game at a time to put themselves in a position to make another playoff run.
“At this point every game is important for district standings,” Sieben said. “Then you start playoffs and it truly is a one game season. Everyone left on our schedule is going to give us their best shot. We have to be locked in and prepare to the best of our ability, but If we can continue to just do our job and focus on our job we can have a great finish.”
Rock Creek returns home this week to take on 1-4 Hiawatha at 7:00 in St. George.