SALINA - Thanksgiving weekend is about eating turkey, relaxing with family and watching the Salina Wildcats playing football.

“Playing on Thanksgiving weekend is a privilege, men. Not many people get to do that,” said Head Coach Matt Williams to his team after the game.

The Wildcats did what they have done all year, take the opposing team’s best shot, then wearing them down in the second half.

The game was tied at the half, 8-8. First downs were about even. Total yards were about even.

But the second half was all Wildcats, and Salina came out with a 26-8 victory over visiting Central-Sallisaw.

Central came out charging like most teams do against the Wildcats. Good running by Ryan Rogers, Shade Kutil and Brandon Holt marched the Tigers down the field and Kutil plunged in from a yard out to get the early lead. Kutil found Jacob James for the 2-point conversion and the Tigers led 8-0.

Salina put together a good drive as well, but a turnover gave the ball back to the Tigers.

The next three possessions were punts, and Salina was set up again for a drive. This time, they made it pay off.

The Wildcats converted two fourth downs on the drive, as neither third down conversion was good. The first was on a 3-yard run by Darin Pettit on fourth-and-2. The second was a big one.

On fourth-and-12, Dillon Manchell threw it up for Brody Hibbs. Hibbs got interfered with, but still caught the ball to set the Wildcats up at the 3-yard line. Pettit did the rest on one run.

On the two-point conversion, the toss went to Pettit who threw it to Weston Williamson for the two.

That score would hold until the half.

The Wildcats came out pumped up in the second, as they went 66 yards on eight plays, only having to face one third down in the process.

Pettit got the first big chunk on the second play of the drive with 22 yards. The rest were three to five yard gains, until Manchell broke loose 19 yards for the score. The two-point conversion run failed, and Salina led 14-8.

Central had an answer. The Tigers put together a long drive on runs by Kutil and Rogers, as well as a few passes to Holt. The drive went 15 plays, but it didn’t end like the Tigers intended.

After a pass interference call set the Tigers up at the 6-yard line, the Wildcats were in a situation their coach had told them about from day one.

“I told them, we are going to have to make a goal line stand at some point this season,” said Williams.

He was right, and the Wildcats defense was up to the challenge.

The first three plays were for zero yards, and the fourth down might have been the biggest play of the year.

Kutil handed it off to Rogers, but Spanky Kingfisher burst through the line and almost met Rogers when he was getting the ball. Kingfisher put the smack down and both sides of the stadium let a collective “oooohhhh.”

It was a 5-yard loss, and the Wildcats took over.

“It was so big,” said Williams about his senior lineman’s stop.

Central deflated after that play, and Salina started hitting harder on both sides of the ball.

Both teams went three-and-out, but Salina was able to get a key score on their next drive.

Manchell started the drive with a 20-yard run, and a beautiful pass play to Paul Harvey gave the Wildcats 28 yards. Manchell faked the screen pass, something the Wildcats had run unsuccessfully earlier in the game, then found Harvey on the go route. Five plays after that, Pettit got his second touchdown on a 1-yard run. Manchell was sacked on the two-point conversion, but Salina led 20-8.

Four straight incompletions on the next drive gave the ball back to Salina. The Wildcats only needed two Darin Pettit runs to get back in the end zone as he ran for 10 and 26 yards to get the deciding score. The kick was wide right, and Salina led 26-8.

Central tried to put together another drive, but Jerod Gates came up with the big hit on the quarterback and forced a fumble. Dusty Rogers fell on it, and Salina was able to eat away most of the clock.

Darin Pettit went over 100 yards again with 138 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. Dillon Manchell had 91 yards rushing on 12 carries and a touchdown. He also was 4-for-6 passing for 47 yards. The Salina defense had six sacks in the game.

The Wildcats now hit the road for the first time in the playoffs.

Salina will travel to Oklahoma Bible Academy in Enid. The Trojans put a big time beat down on Cordell Friday, 51-8. OBA is known for having a tough defense, as the most points put up on them this season is 19 by Hennessey, the Trojans only loss. Salina has never won a third round game in school history. Only one Mayes County team has, and that was Locust Grove, which did it twice. Kickoff will be Friday at 7:30 p.m.