The No. 5-ranked Eagles finished 10-0, earned their second straight District 25-2A championship and trailed for just 16 seconds of game action all year.
“You really can’t put into words how proud us coaches are of these kids,” eighth-year coach Jeff Cheatham said. “They really made sure of what they were doing each week and played well all the way through the stretch. It’s hard to play 10 solid games a year and they did that.”
Added third-year Hempstead coach Ricky Sargent about Salado: “Oh, boy. We are very impressed. They deserve to be ranked. Hopefully someday we’ll play on that level.”
Cheatham’s squad is making its third straight playoff appearance, but the postseason has been unkind to the Eagles in recent years. Salado hasn’t won a playoff game since 1995 and hasn’t won two postseason games since 1979.
Salado hopes to buck that trend and take its first step toward a state championship when the Eagles face Hempstead (5-5) in a Class 2A Division I bi-district playoff game at 7:30 tonight at Viking Stadium.
The winner of tonight’s matchup advances to face the Hitchcock-Edna winner.
“Those teams are gone,” Cheatham said, referring to Salado’s past playoff squads. “We played Blanco right off a state championship. We played very talented Brookshire Royal and Hearne teams. The legacy lies in the hands of these young men.”
The Eagles have remained focused all season in their quest for the school’s first state championship.
Salado’s 35-21 victory over Troy was the closest game the Eagles played all season. They scored at least 23 points in every game and never allowed more than 21.
In fact, Salado’s stellar defense, led by linebackers Josh Bush and Patrick Prince, has allowed only 70 points and 10 touchdowns.
Ranked first in the area, the Eagles’ defense has allowed an average of 59.3 rushing yards and has recorded three shutouts - two straight to end the regular season.
“Defensively, they fly to the football,” said Sargent, whose team is making its second playoff appearance in three seasons.
Hempstead got off to a rough start this season.
The Bobcats lost their first three games but rebounded to win five of their last seven and finish third in 26-2A.
“They’re a 5-5 ballclub, but that record isn’t indicative of who they are,” Cheatham said.
Despite a 49-0 loss in their final game against Franklin, the Bobcats had scored 145 points in their previous four games, but their offense has been maligned by injuries.
Quarterback Antonio Ragston, who suffered a shoulder injury, is back directing the Bobcats’ spread offense after playing a half against Franklin.
Starting running back Xavier Smith, who filled in at quarterback in Ragston’s absence, suffered a broken thumb two weeks ago and his return is doubtful.
Taking over in the backfield is Chris Busby, who teamed up with Smith on the Bobcats’ 2A 400-meter relay state championship team.
“He’s been doing a great job,” Sargent said, referring to Busby. “He has great size and has some moves.”
The Eagles are led on offense by the steady-handed David Rosenau. Salado’s senior quarterback has completed 60 percent of his passes, connected for 16 touchdown passes and thrown just two interceptions.
Running back Seth Collins has rushed for 903 yards and Leo Galvan leads the team with 12 touchdowns.
“They do a great job of running their offense out of multiple formations,” Sargent said. “We must be able to play assignment football and protect the football if we hope to play with them.”
The Eagles are considered one of the favorites in 2A’s 32-team Division I bracket. The three highest-ranked 2A teams (Mart, Cisco, Refugio) were placed in the Division II bracket, leaving No. 4 Tatum as the only higher-ranked team standing in Salado’s path.
But Cheatham’s determined bunch prefers not to look at the playoffs from that view point.
“Rankings are for everybody to talk about,” Cheatham said. “We just have to be as good as we can be and take care of business each week.”
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
