Imagine looking at the football scoreboard before Friday’s kickoff at Memorial Stadium and seeing — SALINA SOUTH 14, GREAT BEND 0
That’s the challenge facing Great Bend football coach Tony Crough when the Panthers (3-5, 1-1) face state-ranked Salina South (7-1, 2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.  Salina Central (5-3, 1-1) faces Newton (2-6, 0-2) in the other Class 5A District 6 showdown.
Because of the tiebreaker points involved in a potential three-way tie, the Panthers must beat the Cougars, but also win by at least 14 points. Great Bend’s last playoff trip came in 2010 when the Panthers lost 49-13 to Wichita Carroll
Crough realizes the Panthers’ only reasonable chance of reaching the Class 5A playoffs is winning by 14 points. South has outscored two district foes by 28 points. Central has a 14-point advantage and Great Bend is at 0 points after a 28-0 victory over Newton and a 41-15 loss to Salina Central.
“We are not counting on Newton beating Salina Central. The kids already knew this, but to get in, we have to beat South by 14 points,” Crough said. “We’re putting together a game plan to be in the ballgame. We have yet to put together a great football game. To have a chance, we’ve got to play our best football game of the season. We’re glad we still have a shot after two weeks.”
Crough said it’s a similar challenge the Panthers faced last year against Garden City, an eventual Class 6A state qualifier.
“We were not expected to win that ballgame,” he said.
Crough said the Panthers’ hopes rely on playing turnover-free football and gaining an edge in special teams.
Crough said South is a balanced offensive team with quarterback Dalton Wassenberg throwing for 1,280 yards with Eric McCullough (572), Kieran Stegmeier (442) and Wassenberg (327) sharing the rushing wealth.
That being said, film study of South indicates that the Cougars are a solid football team, perhaps the best team the Panthers have faced.
“South is probably the best football team we’ve played,” Crough said. “South throws the ball more than past years. Wassenberg is a pocket style passer. As far as a passing quarterback, he’s at the top of the list.  They are very balanced offensively and work off play-action passing after they establish the running game. Playing in their league, they’ve learned to do more than one thing on offense.”
The Cougars’ weight on defense concerns Crough.
“They have  a huge defensive line with a 4-4 defense,” he said.
Great Bend back Thomas Bobbitt scored a touchdown last week and Trent Uselton had a 50-yard run. Bobbitt has gained more than 650 yards with five touchdowns. Uselton has more than 400 yards and four scores. Quarterback Shade Wondra has scored seven touchdowns and passed for more than 500 yards. Bryce Lytle is the leading receiver.  Christian Rivas leads the defense.

CLASS 4A
Larned (4-4, 0-2) faces a virtually identical challenge against Pratt (4-4, 1-1) in Friday’s home game at Larned.
Because of the tiebreaker points with a potential three-way tie, Larned must beat Pratt by 15 points to earn a playoff berth.
After two games, Pratt is at 0 points and Larned is minus 29. District favorite Holcomb (7-1, 2-0) is expected to cruise past Hugoton (2-6, 1-1).