A third-quarter scoring spurt left Great Bend High School’s football team in the dust as Salina Central ran away with it on Friday night.
The Mustangs won 41-14 in the Class 5A District 7 game.
The fast-paced Mustangs offense had the Panthers back-pedaling, but the defense stiffened when it needed to, forcing a 27-yard field goal from
Salina Central’s Tanner Robl.
Malik Veal added to the Mustangs’ lead with a 23-yard trot into the end zone with 1:23 remaining in the first half.
Things opened up in the third quarter.
Central fullback Dalton Peters bruised his way in for a 15-yard touchdown just one minute into the second half.
Great Bend finally got on the scoreboard as quarterback Bryce Beck turned on the jets for a 16-yard touchdown.
Salina Central quickly responded, handing the ball off to Veal for a 57-yard TD.
Veal scored again after a Panthers interception, a 76-yard score.
Robl hit a 25-yard field goal to make it 34-7 heading into the final quarter.
Terrell Rodriguez had a 3-yard TD run for the Mustangs with 4:39 remaining in the game.
Great Bend’s Trent Uselton lowered his shoulder for a 10-yard score.