The Salina Central Mustangs are facing off against the Emporia Spartans this Friday at Salina Stadium after a road loss last week against the Eisenhower Tigers.

Although last week’s loss may have set back the Mustangs, they have moved on and are ready to face the Spartans, Central head coach Mark Sandbo said.

“You got 24 hours to enjoy it or sulk, ” Sandbo said. “But then you gotta move on.”

The Mustangs are working towards always improving in order to face teams like the Spartans, who Sandbo thinks are comparable to the Tigers.

“They’re very similar to the team we played last week (Eisenhower),” Sandbo said. “They’re maybe not as skilled in the back end as Eisenhower was.

“We’re hopefully making improvements every week. Hopefully, we’re a bit cleaner and a little faster.”

The improvements will be much needed as the Mustangs are playing against players like Bobby Trujillo, who averages 13 tackles per game as a defender and 138 yards per game as a running back.

Sandbo says that some players are progressing nicely and he has high expectations for the upperclassmen.

“Ty Young has been progressing faster than we have anticipated,” Sandbo said. “Those juniors and seniors, we’re expecting them to be pretty flawless.”

He hopes that progress adds up to tallies in the win column.

“We’re just gonna have to play good football,” he said. “Our football.”