It’s all about winning this week for the Great Bend High School football team.
The Panthers, 5-2 overall, are 0-1 in Class 5A District 7 play, meaning Friday’s game at Salina Central is a win-or-go-home proposition.
Great Bend is currently at -13 in the district points system, so its mind-set entering the 7 p.m. kickoff at Salina District Stadium is to win — and win decisively.
“Just winning,” Great Bend head coach Bo Black said. “We still feel like we control our own destiny with a win on Friday night, and we have to have some help from Hays, too.
“Then we’ll figure it out from there.”
Hays, 6-1, sits at 1-0 in district play after handing GBHS a 31-13 loss last Friday night. The Indians are +13.
Salina South, also 6-1, 1-0, travels to Hays on Friday. The Cougars are +3 after beating Salina Central in overtime, 23-20, in another battle of arch rivals. The Mustangs currently sit at -3.
“I think things have gone well,” Black said of the Panthers’ practices. “I think they’ve had a good week, and they have bounced back well.
“They’re excited they control their own destiny, and they realize how important this game is now.”