Final:

Salina Central 63

Ark City 40

In a game that lasted over three hours, the Salina Central Mustangs outlasted the Arkansas City Bulldogs 63-40 on Friday night. It took an impressive offensive effort from senior quarterback Griffin Hall to win the contest as he accounted for a total of seven touchdowns, five through the air and two on the ground. 

Hall’s big night started on the first drive, finding Ethan Gragg on a 29-yard touchdown pass. Ark City answered though, as quarterback Brake Rule found Max Wilson on a 28-yard touchdown reception. After the score from the Bulldogs, Salina Central began to pull away.

Hall found wide receiver Akeem Anderson in the end zone three times in the first half. Hall’s first of two rushing touchdowns on the night came in the first half on a 72-yard touchdown run. 

Eli Kreighbaum also rushed in a touchdown from seven yards out. Kreighbaum took the majority of the snaps at running back for an injured Alex Garcia. Ark City would not go away though, they stayed in the ballgame and had touchdowns from running back Xavier Lawler and Rule finding wide receiver Trevin Miller and Noah Longoria on touchdown passes to keep the game close. 

The halftime score was 42-26 with the Mustangs having the advantage.

In the second half, Ark City got to within nine on two separate occasions and gave the Mustangs trouble. A storyline in the second half was penalties by both squads.

Drives for both teams would be stalled due to flags. Every time it seemed the Mustangs might be in danger, they would answer back with a touchdown. Salina Central in the second half scored on touchdowns by Kreighbaum, Tucker Rice, and Hall’s second rushing score of the night to ice the game.

The Mustangs got a solid test against the Bulldogs. The way Ark City played tonight, they will give teams on their schedule some trouble. Both teams now stand at a record of 2-1 with the Mustangs now winning back to back games and the Bulldogs dropping their first game of the season.

Salina Central will travel to Eisenhower next week while Ark City will travel to Andover.