By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
After obliterating Chapman 54-18 in a game that saw their defense score four first-half touchdowns, the Rock Creek Mustangs will be on the road this week to take on 5th-ranked Wichita Collegiate.
The Mustangs enter this contest at 6-3 while the Spartans come in at 8-1, fresh off a 49-7 blowout win of their own over Concordia.
“Collegiate is extremely athletic and they’ve got a quarterback that can make all the throws,” Rock Creek head coach Shane Sieben said. “They also have a number of weapons and talented receivers, most of the teams we’ve seen have been more run-heavy but we see good passing every day in practice with our team.”
In order to take down one of the top-ranked 3A squads in the state and advance to the quarterfinals next week, the Mustangs will need to take another step in the right direction and continue playing the best football of their season this week.
“We have to know our roles and assignments defensively and we have to do our jobs and have great communication,” Sieben said. “We need to understand what formation they're in and what their tendencies to cover everything up.”
Offensively, the Spartans rank fifth in scoring offense (44.1 PPG), and 3rd in passing offense (217 yds/g), all while surrendering the seventh fewest points in 3A (11 PPGA).
“They’re unbelievably fast on defense and that speed is a real challenge,” he said. “Their D-Line gets off the ball so fast and they have physical backers. They believe they have the better athletes and they play a style of football defensively that challenges you to beat them so we’ll have to do some things differently.”
While many view Collegiate as the favorites in this matchup, games with Southeast of Saline, Silver Lake, and Clay Center have prepared the Mustangs for this moment, and Rock Creek won’t be phased by what should be a rowdy playoff atmosphere.
“We like the idea of being the underdog,” Sieben said. “Lots of people around the state have talked about Collegaite but not many people have talked about us. Most people see us as underdogs but if we take care of our business we believe we’ve got a chance on any given Friday night.”
Kickoff between the Mustangs and Spartans is set for 7:00 on the campus of Wichita Collegiate, and the winner will advance to the 3A quarterfinals to face Andale (8-1) or Scott City (8-1).