The Salina Central Mustangs find themselves at 3-3 overall and 1-3 in district play midway through the season with questions surrounding their quarterback position.
Senior Jack Gordon has been the starting quarterback for two years, but sophomore Griffin Hall is showing promise in recent games. As of week six, Hall has managed to achieve 231 passing yards, 123 rushing yards, and three touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Bodie Rodriguez voiced his support for Gordon given his experience.
“Griffin is a great athlete, but Jack has been doing this for two years now,” Rodriguez said. “Jack has got the experience and that is what you need. He is good in the pocket, and our line gives him the time to make throws.”
Rodriguez said that Hall and Gordon bring different styles of playing.
“Jack’s more of a pocket passer, and we’ve got a solid offensive line to protect him,” Rodriguez said. “Griffin moves well and makes plays outside the pocket. But with Jack’s experience, it’s hard to make a switch.”
Through six weeks last season, Gordon had 1,370 passing yards, a .600 completion percentage, and was ranked 36th in passing yards in the state. This year, he has 1,022 passing yards, a .537 completion percentage, and is ranked 41st in the state for passing yards.
Rodriguez said the team still remains confident in their starting quarterback.
“A few bad plays don’t define a player,” Rodriguez said. “Jack’s shown he can come back strong, like when we beat Newton after a tough loss. He’s still our quarterback, and we trust him to lead us.”
Head coach Mark Sandbo also praised Gordon’s leadership but acknowledged Hall’s development.
“Jack’s been accurate and made good decisions for us,” Sandbo said. “There’s always room for improvement, but overall, he’s done a solid job. Griffin is still developing, but he’s been an excellent runner and knows how to protect himself when he gets outside the pocket.”
Sandbo stressed the importance of both quarterbacks learning from each other.
“They’re both helping each other grow,” Sandbo said. “Griffin is learning from Jack’s experience, and when Griffin gets the chance to play, he’s shown what he can do. They both bring different strengths, and that helps the team.”
Hall, who has been put in and out since Week 1 against South High, shared how he stays prepared as a backup while learning from Gordon.
“I’ve learned a lot from Jack, especially how he reads defenses and makes decisions on the field,” Hall said. “It’s been good to watch him work with Coach Sandbo and see how they communicate during games. That’s helped me a lot in terms of my development.”
Hall also expressed his readiness to step in if needed, though he said he remains patient for his opportunity.
“I’m always preparing, just in case,” Hall said. “It starts with confidence, knowing that if my number’s called, I’ll be ready. I’ve been watching what other teams do and learning from Coach Sandbo’s advice in the offense. If I’m asked to step up, I feel ready, but I also understand the importance of being patient and waiting for my time.”
Hall expressed excitement about what he can bring to the offense in the future.
“I’m excited to see what I can do when it’s my turn,” Hall said. “I’ve never played quarterback at this level, so it’ll be a lot different, but I’ve been working hard, and I’m excited for the challenge.”
With only three more games until the playoffs, Rodriguez said the team is all aligned on one goal.
“At the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same goal – winning,” he said. “Whether it’s Jack or Griffin, we trust our coaches and each other. We’re a team, and we’ll fight for every win, no matter who’s under center.”
The Mustangs will play at Andover, 3-3, tonight at 7 as they look to get back above .500.
