Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

FREE • TAKE ONE 

VOLUME 2 • 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

CLASS A 

99 Grand Island Senior High School 

114 Kearney Senior High School 

124 Lincoln East High School 

126 Lincoln High School 

130 Lincoln Northeast High School 

132 Lincoln North Star High School 

134 Lincoln Pius X High School 

138 Lincoln Southeast High School 

140 Lincoln Southwest High School 

CLASS B 

32 Aurora High School 

36 Beatrice High School 

62 Crete High School 

102 Hastings Senior High School 

110 Holdrege High School 

120 Lexington High School 

145 McCook High School 

160 Norris High School 

163 Northwest High School 

180 Seward High School 

211 Waverly High School 

218 York High School 

CLASS C1 

20 

28 

42 

44 

- 

60 

66 

80 

96 

Adams Central High School 

Aquinas Catholic High School 

Boone Central-Newman Grove High Schools 

Broken Bow High School 

Chase County High School* 

Cozad High School 

David City High School 

Fairbury High School 

Gothenburg High School 

98 Grand Island Central Catholic High School 

113 Kearney Catholic High School 

122 Lincoln Christian High School 

152 Milford-Dorchester High Schools 

154 Minden High School 

164 O’Neill High School 

166 Ord High School 

176 Raymond Central High School 

190 Southern High School 

CLASS C2 

31 Arcadia-Loup City High Schools 

50 Centennial High School 

52 Central City High School 

56 Centura High School 

64 Cross County High School 

70 Doniphan-Trumpbull High School 

82 Fillmore Central High School 

86 Freeman High School 

92 Gibbon High School 

104 Hastings St. Cecilia High School 

112 Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer High School 

128 Lincoln Lutheran High School 

144 Malcolm High School 

178 Sandy Creek High School 

182 Shelby-Rising City High School 

192 Southern Valley High School 

196 St. Paul High School 

202 Sutton High School 

209 Twin River High School 

214 Wilber-Clatonia High School 

216 Wood River High School 

CLASS D1 

21 Ainsworth High School 

22 

23 

38 

43 

48 

49 

- 

58 

68 

72 

74 

76 

84 

106 

108 

116 

146 

148 

156 

157 

158 

168 

- 

174 

188 

193 

200 

204 

206 

212 

Alma High School 

Amherst High School 

Bertrand High School 

Boyd County High School 

Burwell High School 

Cambridge High School 

Chambers-Wheeler Central-Ewing High Schools* 

Clearwater-Orchard High School 

Diller-Odel Secondary School 

East Butler High School 

Elgin-Pope John High School 

Elm Creek High School 

Franklin High School 

Heartland Community High School 

High Plains Community High School 

Kenesaw High School 

McCool Junction High School 

Medicine Valley High School 

Nebraska Christian High School 

Nebraska Lutheran High School 

Neligh-Oakdale High School 

Overton High School 

Perkins County High School* 

Ravenna High School 

South Loup High School 

Southwest High School 

Superior High School 

Thayer Central High School 

Tri County High School 

West Holt High School 

CLASS D2 

24 Anselmo-Merna High School 

26 Ansley-Litchfield High Schools 

30 Arapahoe High School 

34 

40 

46 

54 

- 

78 

79 

88 

90 

94 

109 

118 

142 

150 

162 

167 

169 

- 

170 

172 

184 

186 

194 

198 

- 

208 

210 

Axtell High School 

Blue Hill High School 

Bruning-Davenport-Shickley High Schools 

Central Valley High School 

Elba High School* 

Eustis-Farnam High School 

Exeter-Milligan High School 

Friend High School 

Fullerton High School 

Giltner High School 

Hitchcock County High School 

Lawrence-Nelson High School 

Loomis High School 

Meridian High School 

North Central High School 

Osceola High School 

Palmer High School 

Parkview Christian High School* 

Pawnee City High School 

Pleasanton High School 

Shelton High School 

Silver Lake High School 

St. Mary’s High School 

Stuart High School 

Sumner-Eddyville-Miller High School* 

Twin Loup High School 

Waunita-Palisade High School 

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2017 COVER ATHLETES 

BRYSON 

WILLIAMS 

Lincoln Southeast High School 

• Defensive Tackle 

• 2016 Honors: All-State, Super-State, 

Academic All-State 

• College Plans: Committed to 

Wisconsin 

• Goals for 2017 season: Super-State, 

15 sacks 

ZACH 

SCHLAGER 

McCook Senior High School 

• Inside Linebacker, Quarterback 

• 2016 Honors: Super-State, Class B Defensive 

Captain 

• College Plans: Committed to Colorado 

State 

• Goals for 2017 season: Win a state 

championship 

A note from our Sports Director. 

“It was the most popular magazine in the weight room” and “we read about opponents before each 

game” were among the comments we received after debuting the 1011 PrepZone Pigskin Preview 

last year. With the positive response and support from our readers, we are excited to present the 

second edition of the magazine, which highlights the teams, athletes, and communities across high 

school football in Nebraska. 

The 1011 PrepZone Pigskin Preview features more than 100 teams residing within the Lincoln-Grand 

JACOB 

JOHNSON 

Fairbury High School 

• Running Back, Linebacker 

• 2016 Honors: All-District, All-Sunland 

Team, All-State HM 

• College Plans: Undecided 

• Goals for 2017 season: Undefeated 

regular season 

MATT 

MASKER 

Kearney Catholic High School 

• Quarterback 

• 2016 Honors: 1st Team All-State, Hub 

Territory Player of the Year 

• College Plans: SDSU, NDSU, UNL, 

USD, Drake, UNI 

• Goals for 2017 season: Win a state 

championship 

Island-Kearney television market. School administrators and coaches have been graciously working 

with us as we compile as much information as possible to provide a comprehensive preview of the 

upcoming prep football season. This project is a joint effort between 1011 and NBC Nebraska, whose 

partnership allows wide-spanning coverage of high school athletics. 

Throughout this magazine, we hope to spotlight the hard-working student-athletes who make each 

Friday night in the fall special. We thank the parents, coaches, and fans for their enthusiasm and 

devotion toward high school athletics. 

MASRY 

MAPIEU 

York High School 

• Defensive Tackle 

• 2016 Honors: All-State, Super-State, 

All-Area, All-District 

• College Plans: Committed to Nebraska 

• Goals for 2017 season: Get at least two 

sacks each game 

CAMERON 

JURGENS 

Beatrice High School 

• Tight End, Middle Linebacker 

• 2016 Honors: Omaha Athlete of the Year, 

Journal Star Co-Athlete of the Year, All- 

Class Gold in Shot Put & Discus 

• College Plans: Committed to Nebraska 

• Goals for 2017 season: Get to the state 

championship 

On behalf of 1011 and NBC Nebraska, we offer special thanks to our advertisers, whose support 

makes this publication possible. 

We hope you find this magazine informative, fun, and useful as the high school football season 

nears. We encourage viewers to tune into “Sports Overtime” for highlights and interviews each 

Friday on 1011, while NBC Nebraska offers the “5th Quarter.” 

It is with great excitement that we present the 1011 PrepZone Pigskin Preview - Volume 2. 

ALEX 

THRAMER 

O’Neill High School 

• Quarterback 

• 2016 Honors: Class C1 All-State 

• College Plans: Play college football 

and major in business 

• Goals for 2017 season: Repeat a state 

championship 

BRYCE 

STAI 

Norris High School 

• Tight End, Defensive End 

• 2016 Honors: All-State Honorable 

Mention 

• College Plans: Undecided 

• Goals for 2017 season: District and 

State Champions 

Kevin Sjuts - Sports Director, KOLN/KGIN-TV 

PUBLISHER - 1011 News 

DESIGN - Bronson Gierhan 

CONTENT - Shelby Hamilton 

EDITORIAL - 1011 & NBC Nebraska Sports Teams 

To advertise in the 2018 edition of the 1011 Prepzone Weekly Pigskin Preview, contact sales@1011now.com 

All Rights Reserved 2017. For comments call or write 1011 Television - 840 N. 40th - Lincoln, NE 68503 - Phone: 402-467-4321 - www.1011now.com/prepzoneweeklypigskinpreview 


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ADAMS CENTRALPATRIOTS 

AINSWORTHBULLDOGS 

By: Austin Miller 

The Adams Central 2016 season 

could be described as a “what 

could have been” campaign. 

Despite a loss to open the year, 

the Patriots won their next 

two games and saw a path to a 

successful season; but instead 

they were hit hard by injuries. 

Running back Dylan Glaser 

was averaging over 100 yards 

per game to start the year, 

but suffered a season-ending 

injury just three games in. Evan 

Johnson came in as the starting 

quarterback as a freshman and 

threw for more than 1,500 yards 

his first seven games, before 

breaking his collarbone in week 

eight. 

The Patriots would end the 

2016 season at 3-6, and while 

the team returns six starters on 

offense and seven on defense, 

this year’s group will be 

extremely young. Head coach 

Shawn Mulligan expects to play 

a number of sophomores. 

“20 of our 62 players missed 

a game (reserve or varsity) 

because of injury. The injury 

bug allowed a number of 

younger players valuable 

playing experience,” Mulligan 

said. 

In addition to Johnson under 

center, the Patriots will rely 

on a two-headed attack out of 

the back field in Glaser and 

Gabe Conant. Conant is only a 

sophomore, but is a promising 

running back. Last year, 

Conant rushed for 103 yards 

on 11 carries in a game against 

Lakeview. If those two can stay 

healthy, they could prove to 

be solid chain movers for the 

Patriot offense. 

Defensively, the Patriots will 

rely on Max Winkler to anchor 

the front seven. Winkler was 

yet another player that saw his 

season cut short due to injury, 

suffering a concussion in week 

three. Winkler has started 

the past three seasons for the 

Patriots. As a sophomore, 

Winkler led the team with 34 

solo tackles and 55 assisted 

tackles. 

Adams Central is now four 

years removed from a playoff 

appearance, and despite the 

2017 SCHEDULE 

8/25 @ Kearney Catholic 

9/1 Milford-Dorchester 

9/8 @ Cozad 

9/15 Minden 

9/22 Ord 

9/29 @ Grand Island Central Catholic 

10/6 @ Boone Central/Newman Grove 

10/13 Columbus Lakeview 

10/20 @ Columbus Scotus 

youth there is talent on the 

squad. However, the Patriots 

will have a tough schedule to 

navigate though. They’ll have 

to face five teams that finished 

above .500 last season, including 

a road opener against a Kearney 

Catholic squad that finished 10- 

2. Regardless, if they can avoid 

the injury bug, the Patriots have 

a chance to return to postseason 

play. 

Key Players: 

Evan Johnson (6’0” 170 lbs) 

Soph. QB 

Dylan Glaser (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr. 

RB 

Max Winkler (5’10” 190 lbs) Sr. 

LB 

By: Justin Biegel 

After a thrilling 46-24 victory 

over Ravenna in the 2016 season 

opener, Ainsworth went on to 

lose seven of its remaining eight 

games. The Bulldogs finished 

the year 2-6 in its first season 

in class D1 and under first year 

head coach Jake Nelson. 

Nelson now hopes to write a 

different narrative in 2017, as his 

Bulldogs look to bounce back in 

the win column. And it will start 

with his returning players. 

“We are returning a lot of 

experience from last year’s 

team,” Nelson said. “The team 

improved a lot throughout the 

year, but had a brutal schedule. 

The main area of improvement 

will be concentrating on this 

year’s tackling in the open 

field.” 

The Ainsworth defense 

struggled mightily to get stops 

a year ago, surrendering an 

average of 45 points per game. 

The Bulldogs return six starters 

on both sides of the ball, 

headlined by quarterback and 

defensive back Payton Allen. 

The senior will start under 

center for the fourth consecutive 

season. He holds the school 

passing record (2111 yards) and 

began to better utilize his legs 

as a junior. Allen was also the 

leading tackler from both the 

safety and linebacker positions. 

This year’s team will also 

feature some familiar faces 

in different positions. One of 

Allen’s favorite targets at wide 

receiver – fellow senior Caeleb 

Irwin – will transition to a 

running back role this fall. At 

6-foot, 180-pounds, Irwin will 

likely get the majority of snaps 

at tailback. 

Another playmaker to keep 

an eye on this year will be 

tight end and linebacker Blake 

Schipporeit, who received alldistrict 

honors at the end of 

his junior season. With his big 

frame (6’2” 215 lbs), Nelson 

knows he’ll have a difference 

maker. Schipporeit has the 

ability to both seal the edge and 

block on run plays and take 

off downfield. Although, he 

doesn’t do that too often in the 

Bulldogs I-formation offense. 

His main contributions will be 

on the defense, where he tallied 

45 tackles as a junior, nearly 5.5 

per game. 

Like many other schools across 

the state, Ainsworth will play 


8/25 @ Ravenna 

9/1 South Loup 

9/8 Hemingford 

9/22 @ Clearwater-Orchard 

9/29 CWCE 

10/6 @ Boyd County 

10/13 Burwell 

10/19 @ West Holt 

the same opponents in the 

same order as it did in 2016 

with home and away games 

switched. That means the 

Bulldogs will once again open 

the year against Ravenna, who 

they defeated last year. That 

game will be held at the home 

of the Jays on Aug. 25. The only 

other win for the Bulldogs last 

year came against Boyd County, 

who they’ll travel to on Oct. 6. 

Key Players: 

Payton Allen (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr. 

QB/DB 

Caeleb Irwin (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Blake Schipporeit (6’2” 215 lbs) 

Sr. TE/LB 

TEAM FACTS 

Head Team Coach: Name: Patriots Shawn Mulligan 

Career Class: C1 Record: 7-11 

Assistant 2016 Record: Coaches: 3-6 

Class: Playoff C-1 Appearances: 20 

Team Head Coach: Name: Patriots Shawn Mulligan 

Career Record: 10-17 

Assistant Coach: Josh Lewis 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Bulldogs 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-6 

Playoff Appearances: 2 

Head Coach: Jake Nelson 


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ALMACARDINALS 

AMHERSTBRONCOS 


After a solid 2016 season, in 

which they finished 7-3, the 

Alma Cardinals could have 

another great team, but the 

big question around town is 

whether their star player will 

suit up. 

Jackson McKenzie is one of the 

top players in Class D1. The 

junior is a jack-of-all-trades 

player and has been used as a 

tight end, quarterback, running 

back, and linebacker. However, 

after suffering his second 

concussion in a playoff loss to 

Palmer last season, his status 

for this season is still up in the 

air with no timetable on when, 

or if, he can return. 

“Jackson is a difference maker 

on the football field,” Alma 

Head Coach Isaac Frecks said. 

“He has a nose for the ball on 

defense and is a playmaker on 

offense”. 

Even without their star player, 

this year’s team features plenty 

of upperclassmen, including 

four returning starters on 

offense and five on defense. 

Frecks will have an important 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Cardinals 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 7-3 


Head Coach: Isaac Frecks 


Assistant Coaches: Jesus Felix 

and Chris Mahalek 

piece in the trenches in senior 

offensive lineman David 

Ehrke. At 6-foot-3, 240-pounds, 

Ehrke has the look of a great 

lineman, but it’s his work ethic 

and awareness on the field 

that’s made him a problem for 

opposing defenses. 

“David really improved into 

one of the better lineman we 

have had at Alma last year,” 

Frecks said. “He is a great kid 

on and off the field. (He) does a 

great job finishing blocks and is 

a smart player”. 

Coach Frecks does have 

one concern, and that’s his 

backfield. With two of their 

three backs gone from last 

year, plus McKenzie’s status in 

question, the Cardinals could 

have to replace their entire 

backfield. Juniors Jarod Asche 

and Joseph Felix will need 

to step up in order to fill that 

void. 

If Alma’s schedule looks 

familiar this season, that’s 

because it’s the exact same 

opponents as last year in the 

same order. The only change is 

the home teams have flipped. 


8/25 @ Dundy County-Stratton 

9/1 Northern Valley KS (Almena KS) 

9/8 @ Franklin 

9/22 Medicine Valley 

9/29 @ Cambridge 

10/6 Bertrand 

10/13 Elm Creek 

10/19 @ Southwest 

“I see us being very 

competitive with everyone on 

our schedule,” Frecks said. 

One game this team will 

certainly have circled on their 

schedules is their rematch with 

Medicine Valley. Last year, the 

Cardinals lost by one on the 

road. This year, they’ll have 

their chance for payback at 

home. 

Key Players: 

Jackson McKenzie (6’1” 170 lbs) 

Jr. QB/RB/LB 

David Ehrke (6’3” 240 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Cooper Wright (6’3” 170 lbs) Sr. 

TE/DE 

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8/25 @ Bertrand 

9/1 Perkins County 

9/15 @ Burwell 

9/22 @ Overton 




10/19 Cambridge 

22 2017 Prepzone Pigskin Preview www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 23 

By: Spencer Schubert 

Talk about an about-face for 

the Amherst football team in 

2016. 

Just the year before, the 

Broncos were the talk of Class 

D football. They ran the table 

en route to an undefeated 

regular season, including a late 

season win over rival Burwell. 

They entered the playoffs as a 

top-seed, but bowed out early. 

Last season, the team went 

2-7, eventually losing in the 

first round of the playoffs as a 

16-seed, falling to top-ranked 

Palmer 56-15. 

It’s a season head coach Ron 

Evans saw coming. After all, 

staying on top of Class D 

might be the toughest chore 

in high school football, given 

the amount of turnover in the 

eight-man game. 

Now, with the calendar 

reading 2017, the Broncos 

are looking at a fresh start. 

Unlike in 2016, when there 

were a bunch of new faces in 

fall camp, Amherst will be 

returning 22 letter winners this 

year. They also have exactly 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Broncos 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-6 


Head Coach: Ron Evans 


Assistant Coaches: Joe Radke, 

Eric Rippen, Colin Pfeiffer 

half of their starters back on 

both sides of the ball, giving 

the Broncos some muchneeded 

guidance. 

Amherst enters the year 

looking to simply get better 

after a rough 2016. Will the 

Broncos make it back to the 

state championship game 

for the first time since 2000? 

Experts would go against 

the notion, but Evans says 

confidence can still be born 

from a losing season. 

After all, his team returns 

players at a lot of key 

positions. It starts under 

center, as quarterback Trace 

Baasch is back for his senior 

campaign after getting the 

reins of the team last year. 

He’ll be joined by three other 

senior returning starters, 

and they’re all ends - Holden 

Eckhout, Riley Thomsen and 

Evan Palmer. 

The spread offense of Amherst 

will look to establish more of a 

run game in 2017. The Broncos 

netted 251 yards per game 

through the air last season, 

but it didn’t open up much of 

a running attack. The Broncos 

only rushed for 64 yards per 

game. 

That’s where the head ball 

coach hopes to go to work over 

the summer, as Evans said his 

team’s success will start and 

end with how good his guys 

are up front. 

“Staying healthy and 

developing offensive and 


defensive line depth (will 

be important),” Evans said. 

“We should be explosive on 

offense.” 

The 2017 schedule doesn’t 

do the Broncos many 

favors, however. Upcoming 

opponents combined for a 37- 

27 record in 2016, but it’s a 

bit of a camoflauged statistic, 

considering half of their 

schedule is against four teams 

who combined to go 29-3. 

That includes defending state 

champion Burwell. 

It’s tough to tell if the 

upcoming season will be the 

bounceback campaign coach 

Evans is hoping for, but he’ll 

be the first to tell you if the 

Broncos want any chance 

this year it will begin with 

developing overall depth 

and keeping his quarterback 

upright early and often. 

Key Players: 

Trace Baasch (5’8” 175 lbs) Sr. 

QB/LB 

Holden Eckhout (6’ 200 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DE 

Riley Thomsen (5’11” 145 lbs) 

Sr. WR/DB

ANSELMO-MERNACOYOTES 

By: Derek Kopp 

Coming off a .500 season, the 

Anselmo-Merna Coyotes and 

head coach Matt McGinn are 

looking to capitalize on 14 

returning starters to push to 

the playoffs in 2017. 

The Coyotes missed out on the 

playoffs in 2016 after a strong 

2015 campaign that saw the 

team go to the quarterfinals 

before getting knocked out 

by eventual state runner-up 

CWC. 

“Last year we were a young 

team with not a lot of game 

experience,” McGinn said. “So, 

for this season we are going to 

find out which of those kids 

want to step up and show the 

way for the other.” 

Offensively, the Coyotes run a 

fast-paced, electric zone-read 

spread offense. In 2016 the 

team was heavy on the ground 

averaging 296 yards per game 

compared to just 47 yards 

through the air. But ultimately, 

the offense put up an average 

of 41 points a game. However, 

TEAM FACTS 

Head Team Coach: Name: Coyotes Shawn Mulligan 

Career Class: D2 Record: 7-11 



Team Head Coach: Name: Patriots Matt McGinn 


Assistant Coaches: Chad Duryea, 

Jason Reed, Stephen Rush 

last year it was the lack of 

consistency on that side of the 

ball that ended up hurting 

the Coyotes. In games against 

Twin Loup, Mullen and 

Sandhills/Thedford, the team 

combined for 18 points, but 

against Stapleton, Brady and 

Maxwell the Coyotes pumped 

out 222 points. 

The offense will need to 

replace three key players 

in quarterback Keenan 

Stupka, center Lane West, 

and offensive lineman Joel 

Mundorf. Under center 

expect to see a healthy dose 

of Jace Leibhart, as well as 

three-year letterwinner and 

senior running back Cameron 

Downey. The offensive line 

will be led by Reece Huhman. 

Last season Downey ran the 

ball 114 times for 1,017 yards 

and had a higher yard per 

run average than the team’s 

leading rusher. For Leibhart, 

the experience of Downey 

will be invaluable as the 

sophomore quarterback has 

only attempted seven passes in 

2016 and only had five carries, 

one going for a touchdown. 

On defense, the Coyotes 

will put forth a little bit 

of everything, with a 

combination scheme of a 3-4 

and a 4-4. The Coyotes defense 

will loom large in defeating 

what is considered their 

toughest competition of the 


8/25 Ansley-Litchfield 

9/1 Twin Loup 

9/8 @ Mullen 

9/15 @ Central Valley 

9/22 Stapleton 

9/29 @ Brady 

10/6 Sandhills/Thedford 

10/19 @ Maxwell 

season, state runner-up Twin 

Loup. 

“Twin Loup will be a tough 

opponent, they are state 

runner-up and have many 

starters returning,” McGinn 

said. 

The road to the state playoffs 

is never an easy one. But 

McGinn said he “likes our 

kids’ commitment to summer 

training and conditioning.” 

Time will tell if the 

commitment and conditioning 

will pay off and send the 

Coyotes to the playoffs once 

more. 

Key Players: 

Jace Leibhart (6’3’’ 160 lbs) 

Soph. QB/CB 

Cameron Downey (5’8’’ 140 

lbs) Sr. RB/CB 

Reece Huhman (6’0’’ 185 lbs) 

Jr. OL/DL 


YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG 

HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS 


ANSLEY-LITCHFIELDSPARTANS 

By: Jay Omar 

Even though months have passed 

since the conclusion of the 2016 

regular season, the Ansley- 

Litchfield football team is hoping 

that the momentum obtained last 

year can carry over into the 2017 

campaign. 

The Spartans went 6-5 in 2016 

under first year head coach Kurt 

Kulhanek, and after making their 

way into the playoffs, the youthful 

squad hit its stride. 

Ansley-Litchfield defeated 

Arapahoe 58-26 in the first round 

of the playoffs, and torched 

Loomis 65-20 in the second round. 

The Spartan’s season ended 

with a 61-25 loss to Sandhills- 

Thedford in the following round. 

But nonetheless, the season was 

successful for the Spartans, and in 

2017 a core group of athletes will 

be back on the gridiron. 

Ansley-Litchfield returns six 

starters on both the offensive and 

defensive sides of the ball, and 

brings back 15 letterwinners in 

total. 

Among those returners is 

sophomore Jaden Jones, who will 

be back under center after starting 

at the quarterback position during 

his freshman year. 

Protecting Jones will be an 

experienced center, as Mikey 

Harrop returns with two years 

of starting experience on the 

offensive line. 

The Spartans will have to fill the 

running back position in their 

I-formation offense, after losing 

Brady Rohde to graduation. 

However, Kulhanek expects 

sophomore Blake Racicky and 

senior Seth Racicky to help carry 

the load in the backfield. 

On the defensive side of the ball, 

Ansley-Litchfield will be anchored 

by Keaton Moore on the line, Seth 

Racicky at the linebacker position, 

and John Zimmer and Chris Paitz 

in the secondary. 

It is on defense that Kulhanek 

hopes to see improvement, as he 

said, “shoring up our defense” 

is the biggest key to a successful 

season. 

The 2017 campaign is quickly 


8/26 8/25 Axtell @ Anselmo-Merna 

9/9 9/1 Blue Stapleton Hill 

9/16 9/8 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 

@ Loomis 

9/23 9/15 Wauneta-Palisade 

Sandhills/Thedford 

9/30 9/29 Loomis @ Central Valley 

10/7 10/6 Wallace Twin Loup 

10/14 10/13 Hitchcock Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 

County 

10/21 10/19 Eustis-Farnam 

@ Pleasanton 

approaching, and the Spartans 

will get the season underway 

when they travel to Anselmo- 

Merna in week one. 

And as the group prepares, 

Kulhanek has high hopes for the 

season to come, saying what he 

likes best about his squad is that 

they “play with a lot of heart.” 

“If we improve our defense I 

believe we are going to have a 

very successful year,” he added. “I 

expect to be a top ten team.” 

Key Players: 

Jaden Jones (6’ 165 lbs) Soph. QB 

Chris Paitz (6’ 160 lbs) Jr. WR/DB 

Keaton Moore (5’7” 180 lbs) Soph. 

OL/DL 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Spartans 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 6-5 


Head Coach: Kurt Kulhanek 

615 Main Street 

Ansley, NE 

Brian Roberts • Sharon Roberts 

Karissa Marshall • Kathy Scott • Kiley Miller 

www.insheartland.com 

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800.935.1537 

Fax 308.935.1524 


AQUINAS CATHOLICMONARCHS 

By: Joe Musso 

Aquinas Catholic will look 

to build off of a solid 2016 

campaign when they take the 

field this season. We know 

what to expect by now from 

the Monarchs, as head coach 

Ron Mimick enters his 28th 

season at the helm. 

“Our initial strength will 

be our run quickness. We 

hope to have a good running 

attack with an athletic, quick 

backfield running with an 

ability to throw,” Mimick said. 

“If we can develop a great 

attitude and work habits we 

could play into November.” 

While other schools adjust 

to a pass-first offensive 

attack, the Monarchs will rely 

on their signature wing-T 

approach. 

Last season, Aquinas went 

8-2, losing in the second 

round of the Class C1 playoffs 

to eventual champion O’Neil. 

Their only regular season loss 

came to runner up Bishop 

Neumann. 

TEAM FACTS 

Head Team Coach: Name: Shawn Monarchs Mulligan 

Career Class: C1 Record: 7-11 



Team Head Name: Coach: Patriots Ron Mimick 


Assistant Coach: Tony Smith 

However, in 2017, the learning 

curve shouldn’t be all that 

steep. The Monarchs return 

nine starters on both the 

offensive and defensive sides 

of the ball. Two-way starter 

Kyle Ruth will anchor both 

the defensive and offensive 

lines. Last season, Ruth was 

named to the all-conference, 

all-district, and all-state 

teams. 

Quarterback and free safety 

Gavin Reach will lead the 

Aquinas option offense. Reach 

was voted all-conference and 

all-district in 2016. 

Last year, senior stand out 

Lane Napier took the lion’s 

share of the carries for the 

Monarchs. With Napier out 

of the picture, Coach Mimick 

will rely on up-and-coming 

talent to pick up the slack. 

“We can be a good team again 

if we avoid injuries, like all 

teams, and develop the skill 

kids,” Mimick said. 

On the defensive side of the 

ball, the Monarchs will look 

to their skilled edge rushers in 

a base 3-5 package. Ruth and 

Nate Uhrmacher will serve as 

the bookends on the defensive 

line. Last season, the stingy 

Aquinas defense only 

allowed 10 points per game 

and recorded three shutout 

performances. Opposing 


8/24 Raymond Central 

9/1 @ Pierce 

9/8 Grand Island Central Catholic 


9/22 @ Bishop Neumann 

9/29 David City 

10/6 North Bend Central 

10/13 @ Wahoo 

offenses only eclipsed the 

20-point mark twice the entire 

year. 

Having won four state 

championships in the past 

six seasons, the Monarchs 

will look to return to their 

dominant form in 2017. 

Aquinas was bumped to Class 

C1 last year after claiming 

its fourth title in Class C2. In 

turn, last season was the first 

time since 2010 that Coach 

Mimick’s team did not reach 

the championship game. 

Mimick and the Monarchs 

open the season on the road 

versus Raymond Central. 

Key Players: 

Kyle Ruth (6’2” 225lbs) Sr. C/ 

DE 

Nate Uhrmacher (6’1” 220lbs) 

Sr. OG/DE 

Gavin Reach (5’11” 150) Sr. 

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ARAPAHOEWARRIORS 

ARCADIA-LOUP CITYREBELS 

By: Josh Skluzacek 

In his first year at the helm, Head Coach 

Dustin Kronhofman and the Arapahoe 

Warriors finished with a 6-3 record. Now, 

with a full year to get familiar with each 

other and the system, Kronhofman hopes 

to improve upon last year’s success. 

“I think we have a chance to be a better 

team overall this year in our second year 

in this system,” Kronhofman said. 

The Warriors run both I-formation and 

spread-style offenses while lining up in a 

3-4 base defense. Kronhofman is hoping 

to add more strength and toughness to the 

team on both sides of the ball this year. 

Offensively, though, the Warriors don’t 

have much that they need to change. 

The team averaged better than 45 

points per game last season. With six 

returning starters on that side of the ball, 

Kronhofman feels good about what they 

can do with the ball. 

“We are bringing back 95 percent of our 

offensive production, and we’re very 

athletic,” Kronhofman said. “But we 

need to get better on the offensive and 

defensive lines and have guys step up and 

fill those roles.” 

However, the Warriors already have some 

important roles that are filled by some of 

their better players. 

Quarterback and safety Gentry Anderson 

returns after rushing for 1,560 yards and 

23 touchdowns, and throwing for 955 

yards and 18 touchdowns in 2016. 

“[He’s] a great athlete and team leader,” 

Kronhofman said of Anderson. “He has 

great football speed and quick decisionmaking 

skills, while making very few 

mistakes.” 

Kronhofman also said Anderson is not 

just one of the best athletes on the team 

but in Class D2, and adds that Anderson 

has the potential to be all-state with a nice 

run in the playoffs. He’s just a junior, too. 

He’ll have a solid top receiver to throw 

to in Yordi Gutierrez, who hauled in 13 

touchdowns last season and ran for two 

more. 

Kronhofman notes that Gutierrez has only 

played one year of football, but is hoping 

to see big numbers from him again this 

season. 

And leading the defense for the Warriors 

will be Jacob Pruitt. Pruitt is a force on 

defense and an all-district linebacker, as 

he totaled 136 tackles last season. Pruitt 

will also move from the offensive line to 

fullback on the offensive side of the ball 

this year. 

“[Pruitt is] probably the best pure football 

player on the team,” Kronhofman said, 

adding that Pruitt has a nose for the 

football. 

If Kronhofman and the Warriors are 

successful in adding the strength and 

toughness they’re seeking, and can 

replicate last year’s offensive production, 

they have the chance to be a dangerous 

team. 

“We are not real big, but we have several 


8/26 8/25 Axtell 

9/9 9/8 Blue Hill 

9/16 9/15 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 

9/23 9/22 Wauneta-Palisade 

9/30 9/29 Loomis @ Loomis 

10/7 10/6 @ Wallace 

10/14 10/13 Hitchcock County 

10/21 10/19 @ Eustis-Farnam 

playmakers,” Kronhofman said. “We will 

need to stay healthy and get tougher to 

make a run in the playoffs.” 

Key Players: 

Gentry Anderson (6’0” 185lbs) Jr. QB/S 

Yordi Gutierez (5’10”170lbs) Jr. WR/DB 

Jacob Pruitt (5’9” 205lbs) Sr. LB/FB 

By: Jay Omar 

At first glance, Arcadia-Loup City had 

a rough 2016 campaign, finishing the 

season with a 3-6 record. However, 

after a closer look, the win-loss columns 

could easily have been flipped if the 

Rebels were able to claim victory in a 

couple tight games. 

Four out of the first five games of 2016 

featured crushing defeats for Arcadia- 

Loup City Head Coach Mike Scott and 

his group. The Rebels started the year 

1-4, with losses by three, seven, six, and 

six. One of the losses came in double 

overtime, while another came in triple 

overtime. 

This year, Scott is hoping to flip the 

script, and said he will be pushing the 

importance of closing out games to his 

squad. 

“Winning the close games,” Scott said 

of the biggest challenge he foresees 

heading into 2017. “And getting our 

inexperienced players up to speed 

quickly.” 

Luckily for Scott, he won’t have too 

many inexperienced players to get up to 

speed, at least offensively. 

The Rebels have eight returning starters 

coming back on that side of the ball, 

including six seniors. 

One of those seniors will play a vital 

role if Arcadia-Loup City hopes to put 

points on the board. 

Running back Tige Calleroz will be back 

running the ball for the Rebels this fall, 

after rushing for 1,046 yards and 20 

touchdowns during the 2016 campaign. 

Calleroz won’t be alone in the backfield, 

however. Sophomore Caden Kusek will 

also receive a chunk of snaps from the 

running back position. 

According to Scott, the two-headed 

monster in the backfield could provide 

difficulties for opposing defenses. 

“Both bring a different style of rushing 

along with being very hard to bring 

down,” he said. 

When the Rebels aren’t pounding the 

ball on the ground, the offense has the 

ability to be effective through the air, as 

well. 

Senior quarterback Macrae Maschka, 

who will be back under center, and 

dynamic playmaker Nolan Baker, could 

develop into a deadly combination. 

“(They) should be a serious pass/catch 

threat,” Scott said. 

On defense, six starters return, including 

five seniors with a combined eight years 

of starting experience. 

Calleroz and Baker will both play key 

roles on the defensive side of the ball 

at the cornerback position, while two 

senior defensive lineman, Tyson Trotter 

and Peyton Lambrecht, will return in 

the trenches. 

The Rebels have all the pieces to 

improve on Scott’s career 44-40 record, 


8/25 @ North Platte St. Patrick’s 

9/1 Valentine 

9/8 @ Sandy Creek 

9/15 Cross County 

9/22 @ St. Paul 

9/29 Centura 

10/6 @ Twin River 

10/13 Central City 

10/20 @ Fillmore Central 

but the schedule, similar to 2016, won’t 

do the group any favors. 

“We have three of the largest C2 teams 

on the schedule,” Scott said of match 

ups against Central City, Valentine, 

and St. Paul. “Five of our six losses last 

season came to playoff teams. It will be 

a tough schedule again.” 

The Rebels will open the season on Aug. 

27 against North Platte St. Patrick. 

Key Players: 

Tige Calleroz (5’ 10” 195 lbs) Sr. RB 

Caden Kusek (6’0” 190 lbs) Soph. RB 

Macrae Maschka (5’ 9” 190 lbs) Sr. QB 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 

Head Team Coach: Name: Warriors Shawn Mulligan 

Career Class: D2 Record: 7-11 


Class: Playoff C-1 Appearances:19 

Team Head Coach: Name: Patriots Dustin Kronhofman 


Assistant Coaches: John Strand 

and Preston Blackmore 

Rehab locations in Arapahoe, 658 Pine Street, 308-962-5402 & Cambridge, 1305 Hwy 6/34, 308-697-4718 

Team Name: Rebels 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Kurk Kulhanek 


Assistant Coaches: Jason Phelps, 

Brandon Stickley, Jason Obarmaller 

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Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm 

Closed Saturday & Sunday 



AURORAHUSKIES 


The 2016 season for the Aurora 

football team might go down 

as one of the biggest “what if” 

seasons of the year. 

The biggest question likely still 

rattling around in the head of 

coach Kyle Peterson is what if 

standout tight end and future 

Husker Austin Allen didn’t get 

hurt before the season even began? 

Fact of the matter is, the Huskies 

were without Allen all regular 

season and still recorded an 

impressive year. Aurora did get 

him back for the playoffs and 

advanced to the second round, 

dominating rival York 24-3 in the 

opening round. 

However, Elkhorn South thumped 

the Huskies 42-13 in the next game 

in a rematch of the 2015 Class B 

title game, sending Aurora into an 

early offseason. 

Peterson enters his third year at 

the helm after going a combined 

20-4 in his first two campaigns, 

but 2017 might prove to be his 

toughest coaching job yet. 

The Huskies return just three 

starters on offense and one on 

defense, leaving the coaching staff 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Huskies 

Class: B 

2016 Record: 8-3 


Head Coach: Kyle Peterson 


Assistant Coach: Tim Elge 

with a lot of work to do before the 

first whistle of the season. 

“We will be a young and 

inexperienced football team this 

fall,” Peterson said. “We have 

talent at the skill positions, most 

of which is untested in varsity 

competition.” 

As with any football team, 

especially one that lost the likes of 

Allen in the trenches, Peterson said 

he’s giving a lot of attention to his 

offensive and defensive lines. 

“Line development will play a big 

part in how far this team can go,” 

Peterson said. “We will have great 

competition for most all positions, 

which we hope will provide us 

with much needed depth by 

midseason.” 

The only two-way starter returning 

from the 2016 quarterfinal team 

is running back Cal Narber, who 

is entering his senior season. He 

shared the backfield with Presten 

Dibbern up until now, so it’s safe 

to say he’s eager to see what he 

can do with the increase in carries 

in 2017. His head coach echoed 

that sentiment. 

“Cal has very good balance and 

vision as a back,” Peterson said. 

“(He) runs with good power and 

has breakaway speed. He’s also an 

exceptional open-field tackler.” 

Narber was third on the team 

in tackles, but considering he’s 

the lone starter returning on the 

defensive end, Peterson will be 

hoping the depth he’s worked on 

in years past pays off early and 

often. 


8/25 McCook 

9/1 @ Sidney 

9/8 Waverly 

9/15 @ Scottsbluff 

9/22 Gering 

9/29 @ Crete 

10/6 York 

10/13 @ Northwest 

10/20 Seward 

guys he expects to fill key roles 

defensively for the Huskies, 

including linebacker Ian 

Boerkircher, defensive back Rylan 

Willis, and linebacker Grant 

Bonifas. 

As far as the schedule goes, it’s 

the exact same as last season as 

teams fulfill the second year of 

the alternating schedule, which 

means Aurora should have a good 

opportunity to grow early. In 2016, 

their opponents combined to go 

just 36-44. 

However, three teams on the slate 

combined to go 23-4, and one of 

those teams is who Aurora takes 

on first - a McCook squad that 

went 8-1 last year. 

Only time will tell if the 2017 

Aurora football season will be 

considered a reloaded season or a 

rebuilding campaign. 

Key Players: 

Cal Narber (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. RB 

Caden Schuster (6’4” 200 lbs) Sr. 

WR 

Ian Boerkircher (6’5” 210 lbs) Sr. LB 

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© 2017 Nedelco, Inc. 

Peterson gave a short list of 


AXTELLWILDCATS 



Following a first-round exit in 

the 2015 D2 playoffs, the Axtell 

Wildcats struggled in their 2016 

campaign, going winless on the 

season. This year, the Wildcats 

will be under the command 

of first year head coach Dean 

Marsh, who replaces Will 

Wagner after three years with the 

program. 

“We need to learn how to 

play as a unified team and not 

eight individuals,” Marsh said. 

“Mental toughness needs to 

improve along with the ability 

to trust our reads and our 

teammates.” 

The Wildcats were outscored last 

year 425-200, giving up nearly 60 

points per game. Axtell also had 

to forfeit a game at the end of 

September versus Shelton. 

“Our kids have been moved 

around a lot and given up a lot 

of big plays,” Marsh said. “My 

goal is to put them where they 

help our team the most and 

simplify things so they react 

without having to think first. 

Better blocking and tackling will 

be our focus going into the fall.” 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Head Coach: Name: Wildcats Shawn Mulligan 

Class: Career D2 Record: 7-11 

2016 Assistant Record: Coaches: 0-8 

Playoff Class: C-1 Appearances: 13 

Head Team Coach: Name: Patriots Dean Marsh 


Assistant Coaches: Barney Olson, 

Dan Schroer 

When asked what he liked most 

about this year’s team, Marsh 

said, “I like that fact that our 

kids seem to get along great off 

the field. We have kids with size 

and with speed. The athletes 

are definitely there and it is up 

to us coaches to put the pieces 

together to make a competitive 

team.” 

A lot of that size and speed can 

be seen in the senior class. The 

Wildcats return 12 letterwinners, 

six starters on offense and seven 

on defense. 

One of those key returning 

starters is two-way player Jake 

Marsh. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound 

senior is expected to start under 

center for the Wildcats and 

in the secondary. As a junior, 

Marsh averaged 13 yards per 

completion at quarterback, 

slinging for over 450 yards and 

five touchdowns. He’s also not 

afraid to use his legs, rushing 

63 times for one score. On the 

flip side, Marsh averaged over 

five tackles a game on defense, 

finishing the year with 38. 

Marsh will have a lot of help 

up front with fellow senior 

A.J. Skaggs. Listed at 6-foot- 

3, 285-pounds, Skaggs was 

the Class D2 runner-up this 

year at the state wrestling 

championships in Omaha. His 

big frame will be a force to 

reckon with on the offensive and 

defensive lines. 

The Wildcats also expect major 

contributions from tailback 

Braden Gomez. With a slightly 


8/25 @ Arapahoe 

9/1 @ Loomis 

9/8 Pleasanton 

9/15 BDS 

9/22 @ Blue Hill 

9/29 Shelton 

10/13 @ Lawrence-Nelson 

10/20 Giltner 

smaller frame (5’8” 165 lbs), 

Gomez is a shifty back who 

can weave his way through 

traffic. The senior came into the 

spotlight his sophomore year, 

averaging nine yards on just 11 

carries. His numbers jumped the 

following season, rushing for six 

yards a carry and 307 yards with 

four scores. He had one 100-yard 

rushing performance. Gomez is 

also projected to join Jake Marsh 

in the secondary. 

Axtell opens the season Aug. 25 

at Arapahoe, where the Wildcats 

lost by just six points a year ago. 

“We don’t have any team on our 

schedule that we can overlook,” 

Marsh said. “I’ll stress to our 

kids not to pick the wins and 

losses before the season starts. 

When November gets here, we 

will know who the toughest 

teams are. My goal is to be one of 

them.” 

Key Players: 

Jake Marsh (6’1” 165 lbs) Sr. QB/ 

DB 

A.J. Skaggs (6’3” 285 lbs) Sr. C/DL 

Braiden Gomez (5’8” 165 lbs) Sr. 

FB/DB 




BEATRICEORANGEMEN 

By: TJ Eck 

“The most powerful and 

talented football player I have 

coached” are the words Beatrice 

head coach Kevin Meyer, a 36- 

year coaching veteran, used 

to describe senior Cameron 

Jurgens. And Meyer’s opinion 

of Jurgens is not unique. The 

Nebraska commit is rated as a 

four-star recruit and the No. 4 

athlete nationally in the 2018 

class by Rivals.com. Jurgens 

is entering his senior season 

for the Orangemen where he 

brings three years of starting 

experience at linebacker and 

two as a tight end. 

Before he joins the Huskers, 

Jurgens will look to lead 

Beatrice back to the playoffs 

for the eighth straight year. The 

Orangemen are coming off a 

2016 season in which the team 

went 8-3 and lost to Gretna in 

the Class B quarterfinals. 25 

players who earned a letter 

return along with four starters 

on offense and five on defense. 

Senior Trevor Schmale (6’1” 

175 lbs) will take over at 

quarterback, and he’ll have 

an experienced group of skill 

TEAM FACTS 

Head Team Name: Coach: Orangemen Shawn Mulligan 

Class: B 


2016 Record: 8-3 

Assistant Playoff Appearances: Coaches: 18 

Class: Head Coach: C-1 Kevin Meyer 

Team Assistant Name: Coaches: Patriots Travis Schuster, 

Chuck Hamilton, Corey Wells, Jeff 

Keezor, Jordan Johnson, Eric Martin, 

Ethan Wright, Justin Coleman 

players surrounding him. Senior 

Dillon Buss (13 rec, 315 yds, 

3 TD in 2016) brings big-play 

capability to the passing attack, 

while Jurgens (23 rec, 286 yds, 

3 TD) provides an athletic passcatching 

option from the tight 

end position. In addition, Meyer 

said sophomore wide receiver 

Andrew Mahoney “will be a 

factor.” After playing as a wide 

receiver in 2016, senior Colton 

Gronewold (5 rec, 54 yds) will 

also see time as a running back 

in 2017 after Beatrice’s top three 

rushers from 2016 graduated. 

Seniors David Duncan (6’2” 245 

lbs) and Jerad Humble (5’11” 

230 lbs) anchor the offensive 

line. 

On defense, Jurgens leads the 

way for the Orangemen from 

the linebacker position. He was 

tops on the team with 123 total 

tackles in 2016. Playing in front 

of Jurgens will be Duncan (42 

total tackles) and Humble (31 

total tackles). In the secondary, 

Buss (23 total tackles, 2 INTs) 

and Gronewold (22 total tackles, 

1 INT) return with starting 

experience. The Beatrice defense 

was a strength in 2016 as the 

Orangemen surrendered just 

19.9 points per game, but 2017 

is a new year and Meyer said 

the group “needs to build 

depth and replace two outside 

linebackers.” 

Junior Adam Riekenberg is 

expected to handle the kicking 

duties this season while Jurgens 

serves as the punter. Schmale 

is the long snapper and Zach 

White is the holder. 


8/25 Ralston 

9/1 @ Nebraska City 

9/8 Elkhorn 

9/15 @ Gross Catholic 

9/22 Omaha Roncalli Catholic 

9/29 @ South Sioux City 

10/6 @ Waverly 

10/13 Crete 

10/20 @ Norris 

Despite playing in a tough 

district that includes Norris, 

Crete, and Waverly, Beatrice has 

a strong chance of reaching the 

state playoffs again in 2017. 

“We should be pretty 

competitive this season but 

need to build depth all across 

the board of offense, defense 

and special teams,” Meyer 

said, who’s entering his second 

season as Beatrice head coach. 

Even if the Orangemen struggle, 

watching Jurgens compete in his 

final season before joining the 

Huskers will be worth the price 

of admission. 

Key Players: 

Cameron Jurgens (6’4” 247 lbs) 

Sr. TE/LB 

Dillon Buss (6’2” 190 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

David Duncan (6’2” 245 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DE 

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BERTRANDVIKINGS 

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The 2016 football season was 

one of change for the Bertrand 

Vikings. Not only did they 

change their opponents, like 

every team on the two-year 

schedule rotation, but Bertrand 

also changed classes. 

The Vikings jumped from Class 

D2 to Class D1, and unfortunately 

for the fellas in blue, it showed in 

the win-loss column. 

Bertrand went 5-3 in 2015 in 

Class D2, but last season they 

only tallied two wins on the year 

compared to six losses. 

The schedule also didn’t 

do Bertrand many favors, 

considering three of their 

opponents were 7-1 or better by 

the end of the season. 

With 2017 comes the chance for 

the Vikings to turn the page, 

however. Now, they’re not 

necessarily the “newbies” in 

Class D1, and their schedule will 

feel familiar. Not to mention, 

they have a head coach in Steve 

Colfack who knows how to win, 

sporting a 125-99 career coaching 

record. 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Vikings 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-6 


Head Coach: Steve Colfack 


Assistant Coaches: Mark Dethlef, 

Bill Ford, Craig Newcomb 

Bertrand has a unique set-up 

this year, too. They have five 

returning starters on both sides 

of the ball, but only one player on 

the entire team is a senior - star 

running back/linebacker Wyatt 

Wilken. Colfack said the rare 

make-up of the team will test his 

guys early and often. 

“With only one senior on the 

team, the juniors will have to take 

on a huge role,” Colfack said. 

“We will have an inexperienced 

line, but hopefully can build it 

into a strength.” 

The 2017 schedule will mirror 

the 2016 edition, which means 

Bertrand will have a tall task at 

hand. Six of the eight teams on 

the ledger made the playoffs last 

season, with three of those teams 

winning their opening round 

game. Colfack said with his team 

getting another crack at many of 

the same guys, he feels that can 

only be a positive. 

“We had too many mistakes last 

year, but if we can improve in 

this area, we will be fine in a very 

tough district,” Colfack said. 

The Vikings are sure to be led 

by Wilken in the backfield 

offensively, who has been timed 

by coaches over the summer with 

a 4.7 second 40-yard dash, which 

on an 80-yard field can certainly 

do some damage. 

“He is a big and powerful 

player,” Colfack said of Wilken. 

“Look for him to have a good 

year. He (also) had 74 tackles last 

year.” 


8/25 Amherst 

9/1 Elm Creek 

9/8 @ South Loup 



10/6 @ Alma 

10/13 Southwest 

10/19 @ Medicine Valley 

Colfack also is hoping to see good 

production from a few of his 

top juniors, including fullback/ 

linebacker Jordan Holan, who 

was hampered by a foot injury 

for much of 2016. 

Junior Tyler Callahan is expected 

to be back under center for 

Bertrand as well, after running 

for nearly 300 yards and passing 

for more than 500 yards in 2016. 

Colfack said it’s the combination 

of Callahan’s feet and arm that he 

hopes to exploit in 2017. 

The Vikings kick off the year with 

two-straight home games after 

being road warriors out of the 

gate in 2016. They’ll host Amherst 

on Aug. 25th. Then, they’ll 

welcome in a tough Elm Creek 

squad the following week. 

Key Players: 

Wyatt Wilken (6’0” 205 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Jordan Holan (5’9” 175 lbs) Jr. 

FB/LB 

Tyler Callahan (5’9” 170 lbs) Jr. 

QB/DB 

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BLUE HILLBOBCATS 


Winning is a tradition at Blue 

Hill, as the Bobcats haven’t 

missed the playoffs since 2004. 

Last season, Blue Hill came 

within two points of booking 

a ticket to the Class D2 state 

semifinal. After a 7-1 finish to 

the regular season, the Bobcats 

cruised through the first two 

rounds of the playoffs, before 

a crushing 29-27 loss to Twin 

Loup. It marked the furthest 

the team had advanced in the 

state playoffs since 2008, when 

the squad won the Class C2 

championship. 

Now, Blue Hill is back and 

hungrier than ever to return to 

the postseason and finish what 

it started. For third year head 

coach Jon Coffey, he’ll have all 

but two players returning from 

last year’s team. That includes 

a group of 11 seniors, and seven 

offensive and defensive starters. 

“This team is loaded,” Coffey 

said. “We will be quick and very 

physical. Our key will be to stay 

focused on every week and not 

overlook anyone.” 

defense will be the strength of 

this year’s team, led by senior 

linebacker Lane Deisley. Listed 

at 6-foot-2, 220-pounds, Deisley 

is a force to be reckoned with. 

He tallied 83 tackles in 2016, 

along with a forced fumble and 

a blocked punt. Deisley will 

also be the heart of the Bobcat 

offense. As a junior, he rushed 

121 times for 722 yards and 15 

touchdowns. 

“[Deisley] is very strong, athletic, 

really runs the ball aggressive,” 

Coffey said, who added he 

thinks Deisley will be a top five 

player in D2 this year. 

Coffey also speaks highly about 

senior Trent Kort, who will play 

alongside Deisley at linebacker 

and fullback on offense. 

“He likes to open the holes for 

our running backs,” Coffey said. 

“He’s a very hard hitter for us.” 

Kort recorded 54 tackles his 

junior season and scored two 

touchdowns on 30 carries at 

fullback. 


8/25 Meridian 

9/1 Franklin 


9/15 @ Pleasanton 

9/22 Axtell 

9/29 Lawrence-Nelson 

10/6 @ Giltner 

10/19 @ Shelton 

opponents as it did in 2016, 

with locations being switched. 

The Bobcats host Meridian on 

opening night on Aug. 25, whom 

they defeated 54-6 a year ago. 

That was the first of five games 

in which the Bobcats scored 50 or 

more points. As a team, Blue Hill 

averaged 36 points per contest. 

Key Players: 

Lane Deisley (6’2” 215 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Trent Kort (5’8” 195 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

LB 

John Rouse (5’8” 160 lbs) Sr. QB 

Main Street 

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Coffey believes the Bobcat 

Blue Hill faces the same 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Bobcats 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 9-2 


Head Coach: Jon Coffey 


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BOONE CENTRAL-NEWMAN GROVECARDINALS 

BOYD COUNTYSPARTANS 

By: Jay Omar 

By: Kevin Sjuts 

Coming off a 5-4 season in 2016, 

the Cardinals of Boone Central/ 

Newman Grove will have no 

shortage of experience to draw from 

headed into the 2017 campaign. 

Eight starters are set to return on 

both sides of the ball under third 

year head coach Mark Hudson, as 

the Cardinals will look to navigate 

through Class C1 on their way to 

the postseason. 

That journey will be made slightly 

easier by the fact that most of the 

players on the roster won’t be new 

to playing on Friday nights. 

“We had a small senior class last 

year so we had to play some 

younger players,” Hudson said. 

Senior Dylan Gentrup will be one 

of the many players that will benefit 

from playing as an underclassman. 

Gentrup, who stands 6-foot-1, 

185-pounds, returns under center, 

and will enter the season as one of 

the top players in the class. 

“Dylan is a good dual threat QB,” 

Hudson said. “(He) ran and threw 

for 1,000 yards each (last season). 

He’s a real good player for us.” 

However, protecting Gentrup 

will be an important ingredient 

for success in 2017. Hudson 

acknowledged the interior play 

must be refined, adding he hopes 

“line play will be improved as it 

was a weakness versus playoff 

teams.” 

Senior Jessie Sullivan could make 

that hope a reality. Sullivan missed 

his entire junior season with an 

injury, but returns in 2017 looking to 

make a difference on the offensive 

and defensive lines. 

“He is an athletic big man that 

plays four sports,” Hudson said of 

Sullivan. “We are excited to see his 

impact after missing last year.” 

Cody Nelson, who is returning after 

an all-district 2016 campaign, will 

also be an impact player from the 

wide receiver position. 

Nelson, who also stands out on 

defense, will be a crucial cog in the 

Cardinal machine. 

“Cody is our best wide receiver and 

a leader in the defensive backfield,” 

Hudson said. “He is good deep 

threat but is sure handed and can 

make catches in traffic.” 

The Cardinals will roll out a spread 


8/25 Pierce 

9/1 @ Wayne 

9/8 @ O’Neill 

9/15 Norfolk Catholic 


9/29 @ Ord 

10/6 Adams Central 



offense and a 4-3 base defense 

once the season gets underway, 

and although a number of difficult 

schools fill the Class C1 division, 

the experienced squad hopes to 

improve on last year and push to 

the playoffs. 

“We hope to be more balanced 

offensively and do a better job of 

stopping the run,” Hudson said. 

“If we stay healthy, we should be 

competitive in our district and hope 

to be in playoff contention.” 

Key Players: 

Dylan Gentrup (6’1” 185 lbs) Sr. QB 

Jessie Sullivan (6’4” 240 lbs) Sr. DT 

Levi Krueger (5’9” 200 lbs) Sr. FB 

Cody Nelson (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr. WR 

Optimism oozes from Scott 

Ross’ voice when he talks about 

Boyd County football. The 

first-year head coach is taking 

over the program with great 

optimism, despite the team’s 2-6 

finish last season. 

“I’m not going to say we’ll go 

8-0,” Ross said. “But we’re going 

to compete. We should be very 

athletic. We won’t be big, but 

athletic and quick.” 

Ross took over the Spartans’ 

program after spending the last 

few seasons at Grand Island 

Central Catholic. The Creighton 

High School graduate served 

in several roles at GICC, but 

primarily focused on wide 

receivers and special teams. He 

says Charlie Shoemaker (former 

GICC coach who’s now the 

head coach at Hastings) played 

a big influence in his coaching 

philosophy. 

“We want to get the ball in our 

athletes’ hands,” Ross said. “We 

may try to get to the outside a 

bit more and let our players run 

free.” 

Ross says he doesn’t plan to 

make drastic changes to the 

Boyd County offense. The 

Spartans averaged 18 points 

in 2016, which included wins 

over Niobrara/Verdigre and 

Clearwater/Orchard. 

“We’ll be aggressive,” Ross said. 

“We want to keep things simple 

so they can run, play ball, and 

have fun on the football field.” 

Ross inherits a team with strong 

leadership. Five seniors return 

who all played significant roles 

last year. Justin Drueke is 

among the upper classmen with 

valuable experience. Drueke 

can play both running back and 

wide receiver. Ross says Drueke 

and his classmates have done a 

great job of encouraging others 

in the weight room over the 

summer. 

“I told the kids from day 

one that I want them to tell 

themselves, ‘I got better’,” Ross 

said. 

Boyd County’s season begins 

on Aug. 25th at North Central. 

Perhaps the most challenging 

stretch for the Spartans is at 

the end of the regular season 

schedule; Boyd County faces 

CWCE and Burwell both on the 


8/25 @ North Central 

9/1 Niobrara/Verdigre 

9/8 Creighton 

9/22 @ West Holt 

9/29 Clearwater-Orchard 

10/6 Ainsworth 

10/13 @ CWCE 


road in consecutive weeks. 

Key Player: 

Justin Drueke (5’10” 160 lbs) Sr. 

RB/WR 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C1 

2016 Record: 5-4 


Head Coach: Mark Hudson 


Assistant Coach: Dan Zoucha 

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Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-5 


Head Coach: Steve Colfack 


BROKEN BOWINDIANS 

By: Chelsea Croft 

The past decade had been a 

series of good, average, and 

not so good seasons for the 

Broken Bow Indians, and 

head coach Mike Garner has 

endured it all. 

After losing a number of 

players to graduation, as well 

as most of their guys up front, 

the Indians only have eight 

returning starters. 

“We have some good skill 

players. Our two returners 

on the line will be solid kids 

to build around. We will be 

very young; over half of our 

team will be either freshman 

or sophomores. We need to get 

a starting O-Line established 

early and develop depth, 

because with our schedule, 

there’s bound to be an injury 

at some point,” Garner said. 

With all of Broken Bow’s 

returning starters playing 

multiple positions, depth is 

a main point of focus if they 

want to earn the school’s first 

state football championship. 

The list of positions that need 

to be filled is long, ranging 

TEAM FACTS 

from running and fullback to 

linebacker and defensive end. 

However, Garner is optimistic 

he can fill the holes. 

“There are some really good 

athletes. Kevin Linn and 

Tanner Linn (no relation), 

Mason McMeen, and Josh 

Harvey all played extensively 

on the varsity basketball 

team,” Garner said. “Brooks, 

Drake, Cole Ulmer, and 

Spencer Gaffney all qualified 

for state in wrestling. Tycen 

Marten and Grayson Garey 

have a legitimate shot at 

qualifying for state track.” 

But it’s a rebuilding year for 

the Indians as they form their 

new offensive and defensive 

cores. 

An area they need to address 

from last season is allowing 

more rushing yards than 

they put up per game. In 

2016, Broken Bow gave up an 

average of 217 rushing yards 

a game and only gained an 

average of 148 yards on the 

ground. That may present a 

challenge for the young team 

Garner is forming for 2017. 


8/25 @ Ord 

9/1 @ Chase County 

9/8 Chadron 


9/22 @ Minden 

9/29 Gothenburg 

10/6 Ogallala 

10/13 @ Cozad 

10/20 Kearney Catholic 

again against Ord this year, 

the Indians are hoping to come 

out on top this time around. 

In fact, they have the same 

schedule as they did last year, 

in the exact same order of 

opponents. If Broken Bow can 

structure this new team, they 

can turn last year’s 2-6 record 

into a winning season. 

Key Players: 

Kevin Linn (6’3” 195 lbs) Sr. 

TE/LB 

Mason McMeen (5’11” 185 lbs) 

Sr. RB/LB 

Treyvon Brooks (6’ 220 lbs) Jr. 

OL/DL 

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Team Name: Indians 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 2-6 


Head Coach: Mike Garner 


Assistant Coaches: Luke Cosfal, 

Brandon Myer, Ryan Wetovick, 

Mark Shaw 

“We will be young and don’t 

have a lot of size. We are going 

to have to find ways to bring 

guys along quickly and make 

the best use of what we have. 

We need our seniors to be 

great leaders, on and off the 

field,” Garner said. 

Opening their season, once 


BRUNING-DAVENPORT-SHICKLEYEAGLES 

By: Megan McGill 

Bruning-Davenport Shickley will 

return as one of the top teams in 

Class D. After finishing 11-1, the 

Eagles are an experienced group 

who know how to win. 

BDS has enjoyed 16 straight 

playoff appearances. The Eagles 

clinched a state title in 2015 and 

got close to making it back-toback 

last season, but instead 

walked away after a devastating 

loss. BDS advanced to the 

semifinals and faced district 

powerhouse Falls City Sacred 

Heart. They lost 16-12. FCSH 

would go on to win the state 

title. 

It was a tough blow for a team 

who hadn’t experienced a loss 

up to that point. Just one step 

away from Memorial Stadium, 

head coaches Mark Rotter and 

Chris Ardissono hope that 

postseason loss will be fuel for 

the 2017 squad. 

“The semifinal loss at FCSH 

was devastating,” they said. 

“Hopefully it motivates us to 

work hard in the offseason.” 

BDS will return six starters on 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Eagles 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 10-1 


Head Coach: Christopher Ardissono 

Career Record: 

Assistant Coaches: Scott Shipley 

and Kole Ficken 

offense and five on defense. With 

most of the roster consisting of 

upperclassmen, the experience 

level this fall will be greater than 

last. 

“We have a very experienced 

team,” they said. “Our seniors 

have been in 14 playoff games.” 

John Christensen (6’1” 210 lbs) 

will transition into a much 

different role come this fall. The 

junior recorded two touchdowns 

last season as the team’s running 

back, but he’ll return this fall 

as the Eagles’ quarterback. 

Christensen will also see time on 

the defensive side of the ball at 

linebacker, where he made 103 

tackles in 2016. 

Veteran Thomas Mick (5’9” 140 

lbs) will return as BDS’ engine. 

The senior rushed for 401 yards 

and 12 touchdowns his junior 

year. Senior Caden Norder (5’11” 

190 lbs) will be another veteran 

who will make a big impact 

this season. The senior had 12 

touchdowns his junior year and 

played a key role at defensive 

back, where he made 82 tackles. 

Joining this list will be seniors 

Holden Stengel (6’2” 210 lbs) 

and Garrett Schardt (6’2” 185 

lbs), who combined for 11 

touchdowns and 182 tackles. 

Seniors Karson Dickson (6’3” 190 

lbs) and Kellen Reinsch (6’2” 215 

lbs) will return to the starting 

lineup at nose guard and center. 

The 2017 season looks to be 

promising based on the caliber 

of athletes coming back this fall. 


8/25 @ Osceola 

9/8 Tri County 

9/15 @ Axtell 

9/22 @ Pawnee City 

9/29 Sterling 

10/6 @ Falls City Sacred Heart 

10/13 Meridian 


There’s no question that the 

expectations will be high for the 

program that has made it to the 

post season for over a decade. 

The Eagles begin their journey 

back to the playoffs on Aug. 25 

on the road against Osceola. 

However, the most anticipated 

game of the year will be another 

road game on Oct. 6 against, 

who else but Falls City Sacred 

Heart. 

Key Players: 

John Christensen (6’1” 210 lbs) Jr. 

QB/LB 

Thomas Mick (5’9” 140 lbs) Sr. 

RB 

Caden Norder (5’11” 190 lbs) Sr. 

B/DB 

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BURWELLLONGHORNS 

CAMBRIDGETROJANS 



What a season 2016 turned out 

to be for Burwell. The Longhorns 

barely got into the playoffs last 

season, but once they got in they 

would not be beat on their way 

to a state championship. In the 

playoffs, the Longhorns faced 

four teams with undefeated 

records and beat them all, 

including a Palmer team they lost 

to earlier in the season by four 

points. 

Gone are a number of key 

contributors from that team, 

including tight end Tyler Gideon, 

who had almost 1,000 yards 

receiving and 17 touchdowns in 

2016. 

However, if there is one strength 

that remains a constant for head 

coach Luke Gideon, it’s depth. 

Last season, Burwell had 33 

players on their roster, certainly 

one of the biggest rosters in Class 

D1. Gideon returns five starters 

on offense, four on defense, and 

12 letterwinners. 

“We have to replace some good 

players again, but we have some 

younger guys ready to play,” 

Gideon said. 

A state title defense is certainly 

in the cards for the Longhorns 

this season, especially with 

quarterback Cayden Owens 

coming back. Last year, the 

senior threw for more than 20 

touchdowns, while running for 

10, as well. While the senior 

only threw for 1,000 yards, his 

legs are a huge weapon for the 

Longhorns. In two games last 

season, Owens rushed from more 

than 100 yards. The senior will 

also roam around on defense at 

safety. 

Fellow senior Thomas Hughes 

will be tasked with keeping 

Owens protected along the 

offensive line, while also clearing 

out rushing lanes. Hughes 

is a three-year starter for the 

Longhorns and will also play 

along the defensive line. 

Another key cog for Burwell 

will be fullback/linebacker Ryan 

Dawe. Dawe has started since his 

freshman year, and last season 

he tallied 95 tackles and a fumble 

recovery on defense, while also 

rushing for six touchdowns. 

If Burwell is going to repeat 

as state champions, they’ll 

have another tough path to get 

through. 

The Longhorns have two difficult 


8/25 Elgin Public/Pope John 

9/8 @ Palmer 

9/15 Amherst 

9/22 @ CWCE 

9/29 West Holt 


10/13 @ Ainsworth 

10/19 Boyd County 

road games on the schedule, with 

one against a Chambers/Wheeler 

Central/Ewing team that went 

10-1 last year, and the other will 

be a playoff rematch against 

Palmer. 

The Longhorns, though, have 

made it to the state title game for 

the past two years, so it would be 

foolish to count out a team with 

the championship pedigree they 

have. 

Key Players: 

Cayden Owens (5’10” 160 lbs) Sr. 

QB/S 

Thomas Hughes (6’0” 230 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Ryan Dawe (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr. FB/ 

LB 

The Cambridge Trojans are 

getting into the swing of eightman 

football, finishing with a 4-5 

record in 2016. 2017 will be head 

coach Scott Porter’s third year 

steering the team and he said 

progress is something they strive 

for every season. 

“We went 4-4 in the regular season 

and we grew each week. This 

season we’ll be more accustomed 

to eight-man football,” Porter said. 

“With having a year experience 

under our belts, we should be 

more competitive.” 

The Trojans have three returning 

players with all-district honors, 

each of them being seniors this 

year while bringing a lot of size 

and experience to the team. “I 

look forward to them being team 

leaders and possible role models 

for all the younger guys from their 

leadership this season and guiding 

the team in the right direction,” 

Porter said. “Most of these guys 

have been starting or playing quite 

a bit since their freshman year.” 

One of those seniors is running 

back Taten Benson, who rushed 

for 1,695 yards last season and is 

expected to do great things this 

fall. 

However, one of the positions that 

needs to be filled this season is the 

starting quarterback. There are 

two players who have game day 

familiarity and who took snaps 

throughout last season. Preston 

Carbaugh is a junior who has two 

years of experience and Paxton 

Ross is a sophomore who is still 

fairly new to the program. 

“I wish we could combine them to 

make one because they both have 

different strengths. But whoever 

wins the battle will be great and 

the back-up will still be a reliable 

quarterback. It will be a very 

interesting battle all the way up to 

the first game,” Porter said. 

Porter added, “I feel we need to 

do a better job of the little things 

that hurt us in some games last 

year. If we can fix that and our 

team chemistry is on the same 

page, we can have a successful 

season.” 

Most of those “little things” deal 

with penalties. “Another year of 

maturity and growth will lead to a 

successful year,” Porter said. 

With 12 upperclassmen coming 

back out for the squad this year, 

that also adds a bit of depth to the 

team. 


8/25 @ Perkins County 

9/1 Decatur Community KS 

9/15 Dundy County-Stratton 


9/29 Alma 

10/6 Southwest 

10/13 @ Medicine Valley 

10/19 @ Amherst 

Porter said, “Some positions have 

a lot more depth but I’m confident 

with younger guys, they got some 

playing experience last year so 

hopefully when they go in to play 

and switch out, they won’t miss a 

beat on both sides of the ball.” 

Key Players: 

Caden Houghtelling (6’5” 225 lbs) 

Sr. TE/DE 

Taten Benson (6’4” 205 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

DE 

Wyatt Fiene (6’0” 215 lbs) Sr. OG/ 

DT 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Longhorns 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 11-2 


Head Coach: Luke Gideon 


Assistant Coaches: Mike Max 

and Will Gideon 


Team Name: Trojans 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 4-5 


Head Coach: Scott Porter 


Assistant Coaches: Jason Benson, 

Lance Shifflet, Bronson Soucie, 

Waid Bontz 



CENTENNIALBRONCOS 


After a three-year playoff drought, 

the Broncos were back in the 

postseason in 2016, and return this 

fall as one of the top teams in Class 

C2. 

Centennial went undefeated in the 

regular season, winning tight games 

against Yutan, St. Paul and Shelby 

Rising-City. The Broncos proceeded 

to dominate the remainder of the 

schedule. 

Although, one team from the regular 

season would come back to haunt 

them in the playoffs. After beating 

Yutan 14-12 early in the season, the 

Chieftains knocked Centennial out 

of the first round of the playoffs 34-6. 

It was a successful season, but not 

enough to satisfy this year’s squad. 

Head Coach Evan Klanecky enters his 

eighth season with the team with an 

overall record of 39-27. 

“Last season wasn’t the way we 

thought it would end. It left a bad 

taste in our mouth,” he said. “You 

could call this season unfinished 

business.” 

Klanecky said time has healed that 

postseason wound, but the Broncos 

won’t completely drown out that 

Yutan loss. 

“We will use it as motivation,” he 

said. 

TEAM FACTS 

Centennial will return 16 startersnine 

on offense and seven on defense. 

The power spread offense that 

averaged 34 points a game will be run 

by junior Wyatt Ehlers (5’11” 165 lbs). 

Ehlers started as both a freshman and 

a sophomore, and for the first time 

will likely be starting on both sides 

of the ball at free safety. Klanecky 

praised the quarterback for his work 

ethic and leadership. 

“Wyatt controls the offense and really 

just runs the show,” he said. “He 

prepares hard. He works hard and he 

leads by example.” 

The Broncos averaged 156 rushing 

yards in 2016 with the help of 

running back Jake Prochaska (6’1” 

185 lbs). Klanecky described the 

senior as the team’s “emotional spark 

with a ton of energy.” The three-year 

starter scored five touchdowns last 

season and like Ehlers will see time 

on defense at linebacker, where he 

recorded 67 total tackles. 

The 4-2-5 defense that allowed only 

12 points a game will look to the 

leadership of Jackson Hirschfeld 

(5’11” 155 lbs). 

“He’s always calm,” Klanecky said of 

Hirschfeld. “He doesn’t get rattled in 

tough situations and, like Wyatt, he 

leads by example.” 

Hirschfeld will be a big target for 

Ehlers on offense at wide receiver, 

where last year he recorded seven 

touchdowns. 


8/25 @ Central City 

9/1 Yutan 

9/8 @ Palmyra 

9/15 Malcolm 


9/29 St. Paul 

10/6 Shelby-Rising City 

10/13 @ Cross County 

10/20 Sutton 

Although developing depth will take 

some work, Klanecky knows the 2017 

squad has what it takes to make it to 

the postseason again. 

“For those guys to go 9-0 last season 

was quite the feat,” he said. “This 

season our goal is to win our district 

and get to the playoffs again.” 

Centennial will face five playoff 

teams and will open their season on 

the road against Central City. 

With a successful season behind 

them, the team knows they will have 

a big target on their back come this 

fall. 

“It really is a double-edged sword,” 

Klanecky said. “Last season, teams 

threw the book at us and did things 

against us they hadn’t done all 

year. We know we are going to get 

everyone’s best, so we have to be 

ready.” 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 9-1 


Head Coach: Evan Klanecky 


Assistant Coaches: Craig 

Barjenbrach, Barry Eitzmann, 

Josh Warren 

The majority of starters are juniors, 

but the roster will feature three senior 

veterans in Tyler Perry, Gavin Avery 

and Heath Haberman. Although 

experience shouldn’t be a problem 

for the Broncos, depth will pose 

a challenge. Klanecky said, like 

every team, staying healthy will be 

huge as the Broncos’ freshmen and 

sophomore classes just don’t have the 

numbers. 

Key Players: 

Wyatt Ehlers (5’11” 165 lbs) Jr. QB/FS 

Jake Prochaska (6’1” 185 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

LB 

Jackson Hirschfeld (5’11” 155 lbs) Jr. 

WR/DB 


CENTRAL CITYBISON 


The Central City Bison enter 

2017 coming off of a 6-4 season, 

whereas the 10-seed in the Class 

C2 playoffs were beat 51-7 by 

Crofton. 

However, the Bison actually 

enjoyed a pretty solid 2016 

campaign. The team averaged 

33 points per game and won 

five straight before losing the 

regular season finale. This year, 

Central City returns five starters 

on offense, seven on defense 

and plenty of upperclassmen, 

meaning experience will likely be 

a strength. 

“We return a good amount of 

experience on both sides of the 

ball, many of which got more 

playing time as the year went 

on,” head coach Troy Huebert 

said. “Replacing a talented class 

that included three linemen 

with multiple games of starting 

experience will be a challenge, 

but it’s exciting to see the young 

guys step up as they compete for 

those spots.” 

One of the guys Huebert hopes to 

see step up is Dale Jones, a senior 

who has started his whole career 

TEAM FACTS 

at defensive back, but will add 

quarterback to his duties in 2017. 

Coach Huebert is confident that 

Jones will get the job done. 

“Dale is our leader and a flat-out 

football player,” Huebert said. 

“He will be an outstanding dual 

threat quarterback.” 

Heubert also said that Jones 

will be the team’s first two-time 

captain. 

Luckily, Jones won’t be pressured 

to carry the entire load on offense. 

Surrounding him will be an 

experienced and talented group 

of guys who can help make the 

Bison offense dangerous. Seniors 

Tucker Schneiderheinz and Cam 

Sciuga, who led the team with 

545 rushing yards last season, 

will head up the ground attack. 

When he drops back, three-year 

starter Mike Murray and the 

team’s 2016 reception leader, 

Ethan DeBoer, give Jones solid 

targets to throw to. Add four 

senior offensive linemen, two 

who started last year, and two 

juniors who will likely battle 

for the fifth spot on the line, 

and Jones has the tools to lead a 

potentially potent offense for the 

Bison. 


8/25 Centennial 

9/1 Logan View 

9/8 @ Battle Creek 

9/15 @ Hastings St. Cecilia 

9/22 Centura 


10/6 Sutton 

10/13 @ Arcadia-Loup City 

10/20 St. Paul 

line this year,” Huebert said. “A 

returning two-way starter, Noah 

is an explosive player with a nose 

for the ball on defense.” 

And leadership, like what 

Carlson offers, is what Huebert 

says can be one of the biggest 

reasons for any success the team 

has in 2017. “Our senior class is 

a motivated bunch who get after 

it and love the weight room,” 

Huebert said. “Leadership is a 

strength of this group and their 

ability to push the younger kids 

this offseason will be a big factor 

in our development.” 

If some of those younger players 

are able to step up and contribute 

alongside the upperclassmen, the 

Bison could be a team to watch 

during the upcoming season. 

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Team Name: Bison 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 6-4 


Head Coach: Troy Huebert 


Assistant Coach: Reub Burbach 

On the defensive side of the ball, 

Central City will be led by many 

of the same players, including 

Jones at defensive back, Murray 

and Sciuga at linebacker, and 

Noah Carlson and Brule Kearney 

in the trenches. 

Key Players: 

Dale Jones (5’9” 190lbs) Sr. RB/LB 

Mikey Murray (6’0” 185lbs) Sr. 

WR/LB 

Ethan DeBoer (6’2” 170lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

“Noah will be our leader on the 


CENTRAL VALLEYCOUGARS 


Under the direction of second 

year head coach and University of 

Nebraska at Kearney graduate Jess 

Rother, the Central Valley Cougars 

will look to improve upon last 

season’s 0-8 record and look for a 

playoff berth in class D2 this fall. 

Luck has not been on the Cougars 

side in recent seasons, as the 

team has won just two games 

since 2014. The Cougars of 2016 

were outscored 365-130, and with 

the exception of a season finale 

two-point loss against Sumner- 

Eddyville-Miller, each of the losses 

came by double digits. 

“I would love to see us improve 

greatly,” Rother said. “I am very 

optimistic and I think we can 

make great strides and turn this 

thing around and be a competitive 

team this year.” 

The Cougars will return ten total 

starters with the offense and 

defense bringing back five a piece. 

letterwinners in senior Jeremy 

Ondracek and sophomore Enrique 

Martinez. 

Up front the Cougars will have 

the experience and leadership of a 

pair of offensive lineman that will 

set the tone for each game. Senior 

Nathan Poss and junior Donnie 

Nolze combine for multiple 

seasons of experience, and will 

help pave the way for Ondracek, 

Martinez and returning senior 

quarterback Josh Ibach. With all 

the returning experience, Rother 

believes that the leadership all 

around the team is a reason to be 

optimistic. 

Defensively, look for a 3-4 

defense with some speed from 

the Cougars in the fall. Much like 

the offense, the team will return 

several starters from 2016. Senior 

linebacker Colton Gydesen will 

take on a bulk of the leadership 

responsibilities, as well as the big 

guys up front in Poss and Nolze. 


8/24 Fullerton 

8/31 @ Stuart 

9/15 Anselmo-Merna 



10/6 @ Nebraska Lutheran 

10/13 Twin Loup 

10/20 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 

A fast start will be crucial if the 

Cougars want to flip the script and 

make the playoffs for the first time 

under Rother. Only one of their 

first three games will be against 

2016 playoff teams, but the second 

half of the season gets difficult 

with state runner-up Twin Loup 

coming to town on Oct. 13. 

“Barring injuries, and if we can get 

off to a great start, I really think 

we can get to the playoffs and see 

where it goes from there,” Rother 

said. 



The team runs the popular 

Power-I offense and with that 

comes a dependency on both the 

offensive line and the guys that 

will get the ball. At running back, 

Rother will lean on two previous 

For the Cougars, like many teams, 

their season relies on staying 

healthy. “With only having 21 out 

there this year we really need to 

stay as injury-freefree as possible,” 

Rother said. 

Key Players: 

Jeremy Ondracek (6’ 185 lbs) Sr. 

RB 

Josh Ibach (5’8’’ 130 lbs) Sr. QB 

Nathan Poss (6’ 205 lbs) Sr. OL 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Cougars 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 0-8 


Head Coach: Jess Rother 


Assistant Coaches: Jason 

McIntyre, Steve Kreiwald 

608 Howard Ave, St Paul, NE 68873 

308-754-4611 


CENTURACENTURIONS 


It has been awhile since Centura 

football has made the waves 

their home fan base has been 

wanting them to make. The last 

time the team made the playoffs 

was 2013, and the last time they 

won a playoff game the movies 

Christmas Vacation and Field of 

Dreams just hit theaters in 1989. 

What Larry Baker is building in 

Cairo as he enters his fourth year 

should get fans to come, even if 

one of them is cousin Eddie. 

the offseason, there could be no 

ceiling for the junior. 

“Austin is incredibly strong,” 

Baker said. “He hang cleans over 

275 pounds, he has a 30” vertical 

jump - these are great numbers 

as he finishes his sophomore year 

and heads into his junior year.” 

Baker went on to say if the team 

makes the playoff push in 2017, 

it will be through their defensive 

play. 


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9/1 Wood River 

9/8 @ Bayard 

9/15 Hershey 



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10/13 @ Shelby-Rising City 

10/20 Twin River 

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CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S 

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS 

LEADER 

The Centurions went 5-4 in 

2016 and had a very promising 

3-0 start to boot. It has the 2017 

bunch thinking this could be the 

year they return to postseason 

play, as a lot of the starters 

returning are in key spots. 

Quarterback Noah Wooden 

returns for his junior season after 

starting on both sides of the ball 

for coach Baker last year. Wooden 

earned an honorable-mention 

All-District nod for his solid play. 

But the player coach Baker might 

be most excited to have back is 

junior lineman Austin Simmons. 

Simmons was a First Team All- 

District player in 2016, and with 

the work Baker is seeing through 

TEAM FACTS 

“This year’s team will be defined 

by its defense,” Baker said. 

“We will have a very big and 

physical defensive line, and the 

linebackers and defensive backs 

are extremely athletic.” 

While Centura returns seven 

starters on offense and eight 

on defense, Baker says where 

his team might lack the most is 

leadership, as of those returning 

starters only four are seniors this 

fall. 

“The leadership component will 

be crucial as we’ve graduated 

most of the leadership from last 

year’s team,” Baker said. “Austin 

Simmons and Barrett Selden will 

have to fill this leadership role 

as they have done all through 

conditioning.” 

next five, with only one of those 

setbacks being relatively close - 

an 18-14 loss to Hershey. 

Centura will see the Panthers 

again, who finished 7-2 last year. 

The fellas from Cairo are also set 

for a road trip to Central City 

and a home contest against St. 

Paul. Those two teams combined 

to go 13-5 last year, proving that 

Centura certainly won’t have 

anything handed to them. 

Centura kicks off the season on 

the road at Kimball, which will 

give coach Baker his first chance 

to see how the team leadership 

roles take shape. 

“Weaknesses will be depth in 

general, but if everyone does 

their job, it shouldn’t affect us 

negatively,” Baker said. 



Team Name: Centurions 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 


Head Coach: Larry Baker 

Like every team this year, 

Centura will be seeing the same 

schedule they did in 2016, and 

it’s one coach Baker feels his 

guys can improve on. In 2016, the 

Centurions shot out to a 3-0 start 

with wins over Kimball, Wood 

River, and Bayard. 

Key Players: 

Noah Wooden (5’10” 150 lbs) Jr. 

QB 

Austin Simmons (5’11” 220 lbs) 

Jr. OL/DL 

Barrett Selden (6’3” 275 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 


SEPT 25 

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However, they lost four of their 


CLEARWATER-ORCHARDCYCLONES 

By: Joe Musso 

Last season, the Cyclones were 

caught in a tailspin. Aside 

from back-to-back wins in 

weeks three and four there 

were few bright spots for 

Clearwater. 

The Cyclones allowed 36 

points per game while only 

scoring 25.7. Both defensive 

and offensive production 

must improve for the Class 

D1 squad − a task head coach 

Jeff Shabram is confident his 

players are ready to tackle. 

“We return a lot of players 

who played a great deal as 

youngsters in 2016,” Shabram 

said. “If these kids continue to 

work and improve they should 

be fun to watch this season.” 

The Cyclones will return nine 

starters on both sides of the 

ball. 

One of the youngsters 

Shabram is talking about is 

junior linebacker Jacob Long. 

During his sophomore season, 

Long racked up 79 tackles and 

4.5 sacks to go along with two 

forced fumbles. 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Cyclones 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-7 


Head Coach: Jeff Shabram 


Assistant Coach: Dan Roeber 

Shabram calls Long, “a tough 

linebacker who has a nose for 

the ball carrier.” 

But if you’re looking for 

big time experience on 

the Cyclones roster, look 

no further than Creston 

Bertschinger. Bertschinger is 

entering his senior season with 

Clearwater and has lettered on 

varsity each of the previous 

three. 

“Creston is the leader of our 

team both statistically and 

emotionally,” Shabram said 

of his workhorse. “He’s a big 

play waiting to happen on 

offense, defense, or special 

teams.” 

The two-way talent is a 

productive ball carrier as 

well as a force on defense. 

Bertschinger ranked second on 

the roster last season with 84 

tackles and led his team with 

1,185 all-purpose yards and 10 

touchdowns. 

Despite their 2-7 finish, the 

Cyclones made their eighth 

playoff appearance in the last 

nine years. But their season 

came to an abrupt end in the 

first round of the playoffs at 

the hands of Class D1 runnerup 

Guardian Angels Central 

Catholic. 

Heading into his 16th season 

as head coach of the Cyclones, 

Shabram is aware of the past 

but refuses to let the team’s 

recent shortcomings temper 

his excitement. 


8/31 St. Mary’s 

9/8 @ Neligh-Oakdale 

9/15 @ Elgin Public/Pope John 


9/29 @ Boyd County 

10/6 Burwell 

10/13 West Holt 

10/19 @ CWCE 

“They are a hungry group of 

players,” Shabram said. “We 

have some hard working kids 

on this team. Hopefully they 

can experience a little success 

this season.” 

The Cyclones kick off the 2017 

season at home against St. 

Mary’s (O’Neill). 

Key Players: 

Creston Bertschinger (5’10” 

160 lbs) Sr. RB/DB 

Jacob Long (6’1” 180 lbs) Jr. 

RB/LB 

Andrew Steskal (5’10” 250 lbs) 

Sr. OL 


COZADHAYMAKERS 

By: Jay Omar 

After back-to-back losing 

seasons, the Cozad football 

squad will be looking to get 

back on a winning track in 2017. 

The Haymakers followed up a 

1-10 season in 2015 with a 3-6 

showing last year. The two rough 

campaigns came on the heels of 

a 10-2 performance in 2014, and 

Cozad will look to get back to 

their winning ways this fall. 

the field. 

Cozad will also have some 

experience coming back in the 

trenches, as senior center Fabian 

Chacon, who started all nine 

games last year, and senior 

Nathan Smock both return on 

the line. 

Smock was an all-district 

honorable mention last season. 


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9/1 @ Chadron 


9/15 Ogallala 


9/29 Minden 

10/6 @ Gothenburg 

10/13 Broken Bow 

10/20 @ Gordon-Rushville 

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The group will be led by fifth 

year head coach Brian Cargill, 

who carries a 39-38 career 

record into the upcoming 

campaign. 

The Haymakers will return five 

starters on the offensive side of 

the ball and six on the defensive 

as they prepare to once again 

battle in Class C1. 

On offense, junior Adam Cole 

will be back under center 

after starting four games at 

quarterback last season. 

Cole will have an athletic target 

to throw to, as senior Jordan 

Menagh, the group’s leading 

receiver in 2016, will be back on 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Haymakers 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Brian Cargill 


Assistant Coach: Scott Adkisson 

On the defensive side of the 

ball, Ian Branham, who Cargill 

calls a “solid player,” will return 

to start at middle linebacker in 

his senior season. 

The Haymaker secondary 

will get a boost this fall from 

Trestian Siemering, who got 

injured in the fourth game of the 

2016 season. Siemering will play 

defensive back. 

Another athlete to keep an 

eye on is Luke Schroeder, who 

played the last five games at 

linebacker last season, and left 

quite the impression on his head 

coach. 

“Luke played the last five 

games for us last season after 

recovering from shoulder 

surgery. He plays with a high 

motor and good toughness,” 

Cargill said. “(He) has been 

good as both an outside 

linebacker and an inside 

linebacker, depending on the 

offensive scheme we’re facing. 

As his reads improve he will 

be a player that can influence 

a game. (He) ended the 2016 

season with 39 tackles, three 

sacks and five tackles for loss.” 

As the beginning of the season 

approaches, Cargill and his 

group are preparing for the 

opener against Chase County on 

Aug. 25. 

The Haymakers will start the 

campaign at home, and if the 

right adjustments are made, the 

head coach has high hopes for 

2017. 

“We have some returning skill 

players with experience so I like 

our depth at those positions. 

If we can continue to develop 

our lines on both sides of the 

ball we will be able to compete 

at a high level,” Cargill said. 

“The key for us is to improve 

over the summer months and 

every week during the season. 

If we stay injury free we’ll have 

the opportunity to have a nice 

season.” 

Key Players: 

Luke Schroeder (6’ 3”) Sr. LB/ 

OL 

Adam Cole (6’ 2”) Jr. QB/LB 

Ian Branham (6’ 2”) Sr. TE/LB 

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CRETECARDINALS 

By: Joe Musso 

The Crete Cardinals are coming 

off of their second straight 3-6 

season, a rare departure from a 

dominant 20-year stretch. If the 

Cardinals plan on getting back to 

their winning ways this year they 

will have to lean on their depth of 

experience. 

“I am very excited to see how our 

young men compete this upcoming 

season,” said second year head 

coach Reed Manstedt. “We will 

return five starters on each side of 

the ball.” 

While the experience is there, 

Manstedt will be tasked with 

the ever-important job of filling 

a quarterback vacancy. Last 

year’s field general Rhett Harms 

accounted for nearly half of the 

Cardinals total yards in 2016. 

“Anytime you are breaking in 

a new quarterback it has its 

challenges,” Manstedt said. “But 

with the return of most of our wide 

receivers, I am hoping that helps 

with the early development and 

confidence of our QB.” 

Sophomore Zach Fye will 

most likely fill the vacancy at 

quarterback. Fye saw his first 

action under center last season 

as a freshman in week nine when 

Harms was kept out with an ankle 

injury. 

The Cardinal offense will often 

defer to the talents of two-way 

standout Jonah Weyand. Last 

season Weyand racked up 715 allpurpose 

yards on the offensive side 

of the ball, while tallying a teamleading 

80 tackles and six sacks at 

linebacker. The two-time First Team 

All-District selection will look to 

carry the load in 2017. 

“Jonah is just a great football 

player, he has a great nose for the 

ball and doesn’t miss tackles,” 

Manstedt said. “I really believe 

that Jonah has a chance to be one 

of the better all-around players 

this year in Class B, particularly at 

linebacker.” 

Last season the Cardinal offense 

stayed close to a 50-50 run pass 

breakdown, but with inexperience 

at the quarterback position Crete 

could look to control the tempo 

with a bolstered running attack. 

According to coach Manstedt, their 

success will be determined in the 

trenches. 

“The strength of this year’s team 

will be in our athleticism. We will 

be very young at certain positions, 


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9/1 Gretna 

9/8 @ Omaha Skutt Catholic 

9/15 @ Plattsmouth 

9/22 Elkhorn 

9/29 Aurora 

10/6 @ Norris 

10/13 @ Beatrice 

10/20 Waverly 

but if we can get our offensive 

and defensive lines to develop we 

should be competitive.” 

Manstedt and the Cardinals will 

look to return to playoff form after 

missing the postseason last year 

for just the third time in the last 18 

seasons. 

Key Players: 

Jonah Weyand (5’11” 190 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Zach Muff (5’11” 155 lbs) Sr. WR/ 

DB 

Klay Uher (6’4” 210 lbs) Sr. WR/LB 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: B 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Reed Manstedt 


Assistant Coach: Terry Van Horn 

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CROSS COUNTYCOUGARS 

By: Joe Musso 

Every single team across the 

country has to deal with roster 

turnover, it’s one of the realities of 

coaching high school sports. But 

not every team has to deal with 

a full coaching staff change. This 

season, Cross County football will 

be dealing with both. 

The Cougars welcome Hayden 

DeLano as their new head coach. 

This will be a new venture for 

DeLano, as this is his first head 

coaching job at the high school 

level. 

“First of all, with the staff 

transition this offseason, it is 

essential that we get a proper 

install and everybody on the same 

page,” Delano said. “After that it 

takes some buy in and hard work 

in the weight room, camps and 

early fall practices.” 

As for roster turnover, the newly 

appointed Cougars coaching staff 

will be tasked with navigating a 

major roster overhaul. 

“We lost a lot of starters to 

graduation,” DeLano said. 

“Anytime you lose kids in bulk, 

you’re going to go through some 

major changes getting ready for 

next season. But the kids coming 

up to the program have taken 

this challenge head on and are 

preparing to fill new roles this 

season.” 

Cross County is coming off of 

a successful 2016 season. The 

Cougars went 6-4 and earned a 

birth to their third consecutive 

Class C2 state playoffs. 

While DeLano is happy with 

his team’s ability to adjust, there 

might be some growing pains 

along the way. The Cougars will 

run a pistol spread offense and 

a 4-2 defense, schemes that may 

take some time to implement. 

And in times of transition, the 

majority of the responsibility 

usually falls on the quarterback. 

But Grant Hollinger is no stranger 

to the pressure. The 6-foot-1 junior 

has been starting for the Cougars 

since his freshman year. Last 

season, Hollinger threw for 654 

yards and five touchdowns. 

“The kids have been really 

focused and determined to learn 

their new roles for the upcoming 

season,” DeLano said. “I’ve seen a 

competitive nature in everything 


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9/29 Sutton 




that they do. It doesn’t matter if it 

is lifting weights, film study, chalk 

talk or seven-on-seven, these 

guys have a lot of grit. Whatever 

they lack in age and experience 

they make up for with being 

high-character guys with a lot of 

competitive spirit.” 

The Cougars will put that spirit 

to the test when they open the 

season on Aug. 25th against 

Lutheran-Northeast. 

Key players: 

Grant Hollinger (6’1” 160 lbs) Jr. 

QB/DB 

Colton Beebe (5’10” 165 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Kalin Gabriel (5’11” 175 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record:6-4 


Head Coach: Hayden DeLano 


Assistant Coaches: Mitch Boshart, 

Matt Carroll, Dan Conway 

605.366.3332 • 402.362.9083 


By: TJ Eck 

DAVID CITYSCOUTS 

David City is hoping a return to 

its past will help the team have 

success in the present and future. 

Cortney Couch takes over the 

program in 2017 in his second 

stint as the Scouts’ head coach. 

Couch led David City to a 34-31 

record during seven seasons at 

the helm from 2005-2011. Couch 

says he is “extremely excited” to 

be back in the role of head coach. 

However, Couch and the Scouts 

have their work cut out for them 

in 2017. David City is coming 

off a 1-8 season in 2016, and 

the program has won only five 

games total since the start of the 

2014 season. 

“Playing winning football will 

be the key for us,” Couch said. 

“We must develop some winning 

habits.” 

The Scouts should have the 

benefit of an experienced group 

returning this fall. David City 

brings back 19 letterwinners and 

eight starters on both sides of the 

ball. 

Junior Will Danielson (476 pass 

yards, 3 total TD in 2016) is 

back to quarterback the Scouts 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Scouts 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 1-8 


Head Coach: Cortney Couch 


Assistant Coaches: Cole Carraher, 

Travis Worm, Tyler Brester 

after starting as a freshman and 

sophomore. Couch expects to 

use Danielson in a pro-style, 

drop-back passing role in 2017. 

Senior fullback Colin 

Vandenberg (5’11” 180 lbs) 

and sophomore running back 

Clayton Denker (5’8” 160 lbs) 

could see significant time in the 

backfield. The top two passcatchers 

from 2016 have moved 

on, which creates opportunities 

for new players to step up in 

2017. Junior tight ends Nick Ruth 

(6’0” 170 lbs) and Luis Salazar 

(5’11” 165 lbs) return with 

starting experience. 

The offensive line could be an 

area of strength for the Scouts in 

2017. Four players with starting 

experience are back in senior 

tackle Matt Eilers (6’2” 220 lbs), 

senior guard Riley Kirby (5’11” 

170 lbs), junior center Trent 

Theewen (5’11” 210 lbs), and 

junior guard Colby Hopkins 

(5’11” 220 lbs). 

Defense was an area of concern 

for the Scouts in 2016, as the 

squad surrendered over 44 

points per game last fall. David 

City is hoping another year of 

experience will help the unit 

improve this season. Vandenberg 

is back at linebacker after 

registering 64 total tackles, four 

tackles for loss, and two sacks in 

2016. 

Eilers (45 total tackles, 1 sack), 

Kirby (43 total tackles, 1 sack), 

and Theewen are expected to 

anchor the defensive line. Three 

starters return in the secondary 


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9/1 Douglas County West 

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9/15 Wayne 

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9/29 @ Aquinas Catholic 

10/5 Bishop Neumann 

10/13 @ Conestoga 

10/20 North Bend Central 

with Salazar (10 total tackles, 1 

INT) and Justin White (30 total 

tackles, 1 INT) at the cornerback 

position. Danielson (17 total 

tackles) is back to play safety. 

Couch is looking to turn around 

a program that has fallen on 

hard times in recent years, but 

he’s had success in the past 

which can provide optimism for 

the future. 

“We’ve got a lot to learn,” Couch 

said. “We will have to be very 

engaged and attentive when 

installing offense and defense.” 

David City’s only state title came 

in 1971 and it will be tough for 

the Scouts to add another this 

season. But with an experienced 

group of players back in the fold, 

Couch has what he needs to 

begin a program rebuild. 

Key Players: 

Matt Eilers (6’2” 220 lbs) Sr. OL/ 

DL 

Will Danielson (5’11” 165 lbs) Jr. 

QB/S 

Colin Vandenberg (5’11” 180 lbs) 

Sr. FB/LB 

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DILLER-ODELLGRIFFINS 


Last season, quarterback Ryan 

Arnold took over Diller-Odell’s 

offense as a sophomore, and 

proceeded to lead the Griffins 

to the Class D1 playoffs. Arnold 

completed 117 passes and threw 

for eight touchdowns during 

his first season as a starter. 

Diller-Odell will lean on Arnold 

again this fall, with the hopes of 

reaching the postseason for the 

fourth straight year. 

Arnold is one of four returning 

starters on offense for the 

Griffins. Diller-Odell averaged 

nearly 30 points in 2016, but 

it must find a new full-time 

running back this fall. The 

front runner for the position 

is Peyton Mohr. The versatile 

senior (5’11” 175 lbs) can play 

multiple positions and may 

be the Griffins’ top offensive 

weapon. Mohr must replace 

the production of Christian 

McCown and Dylan Wolbert, 

who combined for 772 yards on 

the ground last year. 

Diller-Odell’s running backs, 

like several other positions, 

battled injuries during the 2016 

campaign. Head coach Chris 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Griffins 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 3-7 


Head Coach: Chris Schluter 

Schluter said the misfortune 

allowed his underclassmen to 

get valuable playing time. Many 

of those players will now take 

on leadership roles with the 

Griffins. 

“This group of seniors has had to 

play a lot over the past years due 

to injuries,” Schluter said. “It is 

now their opportunity to take 

over this team and put it on their 

backs.” 

The mounting injuries in 2016 

resulted in a late-season slide 

for Diller-Odell. The Griffins lost 

their final four games, including 

a 68-6 defeat at Creighton in the 

first round of the playoffs. 

Defensively, the Griffins had 

several breakdowns late in the 

year with multiple key players 

sidelined. Diller-Odell allowed 

184 points combined in its losses 

to Lourdes Central Catholic, Tri 

County, and Creighton. While 

the memories of those games 

sting, they serve as motivation 

for the current squad. 

“I believe this tight-knit group 

is ready to leave their mark on 

DOHS football,” Schluter said. 

“The amount of playing time 

they have had the past few 

seasons should allow them to be 

ready to play under the bright 

lights on Friday.” 


8/25 McCool Junction 

9/8 Superior 

9/15 @ Thayer Central 

9/22 Johnson-Brock 

9/29 @ Omaha Christian Academy 

10/6 @ Friend 

10/13 Lourdes Central Catholic 

10/19 @ Tri County 

Tyson Landenberger (5’10” 170 

lbs), in particular, has benefitted 

from extra playing time early 

in his career. Landenberger had 

a team-leading 91 tackles as a 

junior. He’s an athletic, hardhitting 

linebacker that will lead 

the Griffins’ eight-man scheme. 

Another defensive leader will 

be senior Shane Sutton (6’3” 

180 lbs). He had 62 tackles last 

season, which ranked second on 

the team. 

Diller-Odell’s schedule begins 

with back-to-back home games; 

the Griffins host McCool 

Junction on Aug. 25th for their 

season opener. 

Key Players: 

Peyton Mohr (5’11” 175 lbs) Sr. 

TE/LB 

Ryan Arnold (5’10” 160 lbs) Jr. 

QB/DB 

Tyson Landenberger (5’10” 170 

lbs) Sr. LB 

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DONIPHAN-TRUMBULLCARDINALS 

Four years ago, Doniphan- 

Trumbull completed the 

perfect season, going 13-0 and 

winning its first ever football 

championship. The Cardinals 

head coach then was Brent 

Breckner, the principal of the 

school. 

Following that championship, 

Breckner took an assistant 

coaching job and handed the 

reigns over to Clint Head, who 

in three seasons went 20-8 

with two state tournament 

appearances. 

After a 7-2 finish and firstround 

loss in the 2016 playoffs, 

Head took the offensive 

coordinator job at nearby 

Hastings College and Breckner 

once again steps in to lead 

the Cardinals, where he’ll 

have a plethora of talent from 

last season’s C2 District 7 

championship team. Breckner 

admits, however, that there 

will be some retooling 

required. 

“We will look to rebuild the 

entire offensive line and have a 

new starting quarterback,” he 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 7-3 


Head Coach: Brent Breckner 


Assistant Coach: Jordan Conner 

said. 

That quarterback will be 

senior Bret Johnson, who will 

transition from wide receiver, 

where he hauled in nearly 40 

receptions and eight scores as 

a junior. A difficult transition 

for some, Breckner believes 

Johnson has what it takes. 

“[He] is an all-state caliber 

QB,” he said. “[He’s got a] very 

strong arm with outstanding 

instincts. His athleticism will 

bring an added dimension to 

the offense and he will be a 

team leader.” 

Johnson will also contribute as 

a linebacker. 

While there may be a new 

quarterback under center, there 

will be a familiar face leading 

the receiving core. Logan 

Schuldt will likely take over 

the starting receiving role. The 

senior caught just 10 passes for 

a single score last season. 

“[He’s an] outstanding blocker 

and possession receiver with 

excellent ball skills,” Breckner 

said. 

The learning curve won’t be as 

difficult for Schuldt on defense, 

where he’s expected to start at 

defensive back. As a junior, he 

averaged nearly three tackles 

per game and finished the 

year with 34. He is one of five 

returners on defense. As a 

unit, the Cardinals return their 

entire secondary with most of 

the linebacking core still intact. 


8/26 Sutton 


9/9 Hershey 

9/16 @ Tekamah-Herman 


9/30 Hastings St. Cecilia 

10/7 @ Southern Valley 

10/14 Gibbon 

10/21 @ Wood River 

Another name Breckner says 

to keep an eye on is senior 

tailback and safety Triston 

Stephens. He’ll expect more 

production on offense after 

only getting 23 carries last 

season. 

Doniphan-Trumbull opens 

the season at Sutton, whom 

the Cardinals lost to last year 

at home. Breckner admits the 

schedule this fall will be much 

more difficult than in years 

past. 

“We have a tough non-district 

schedule,” he said. “But if 

everything comes together, we 

will be able to compete for a 

district championship and a 

shot at the playoffs.” 

Key Players: 

Bret Johnson (6’3” 175 lbs) Sr. 

QB/LB 

Logan Schudlt (6’3” 155 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Triston Stephens (6’0” 165 lbs) 

Sr. RB/LB 

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EAST BUTLERTIGERS 

East Butler’s 2017 roster will 

look nearly identical to the 

one last season. The Tigers 

return all eight starters on 

both sides of the ball, and will 

be the most experienced team 

in Class D1. With a veteran 

group, East Butler is poised for 

a big season that could result 

in a deep playoff run. 

“This is a proven group,” head 

coach Shawn Biltoft said. “Our 

team has excellent leadership 

and has a drive to get better 

every day.” East Butler hopes 

to improve from a 5-5 season 

that saw the Tigers advance to 

the second round of the Class 

D1 playoffs last year. 

“The combination of size and 

speed this team possesses will 

be needed throughout the 

season,” Biltoft said. “(We) 

will continue to focus on team 

goals and playing physical 

football.” 

For Biltoft, the list of his 

team’s attributes is long. The 

group is athletic, gritty, and 

smart, and are also cohesive, 

which is a result of many years 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Tigers 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 5-5 


Head Coach: Shawn Biltoft 


Assistant Coaches: Doug Glasshoff, 

Marty Hotory and Gary McGrath 

of playing football together. 

East Butler’s senior class will 

have a large impact on the 

2017 season. Ten members, 

including Trevor Havlovic, 

have extensive varsity 

experience. Havolvic is a 

6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker 

who’s on pace to break the 

school record for career 

tackles. 

“He has a relentless attitude,” 

Biltoft said of Havlovic. 

“Trevor is a talented player 

that will be looking to take 

his game to a new level this 

season.” Havlovic recorded 

128 tackles as a junior while 

earning All-State honors. He 

also recovered three fumbles, 

one of which was returned 

75 yards for a touchdown. 

Havlovic also stars on offense 

as a tight end. 

Quarterback Dalton Bohac 

triggers an East Butler offense 

that averaged more than 31 

points a game last season. 

Bohac threw 18 touchdowns 

while completing 59 percent 

of his passes. The senior signal 

caller also contributes to the 

Tigers running game. He had 

834 yards on the ground with 

10 rushing scores in 2016. 

“He makes good decisions 

and plays with poise under 

pressure,” Biltoft said. “Dalton 

will look to build from the 

positives from last season to 

make his senior year special.” 

Other playmakers include 


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9/8 Lourdes Central Catholic 


9/22 @ Clarkson/Leigh 

9/29 Nebraska Lutheran 

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Carter Stara, Wilson Wright, 

and Camden Robley, who 

are all seniors. Robley is a 

frequent red zone target for 

the Tigers. He had a team-high 

eight touchdown receptions 

last season. 

With so many returning 

weapons, East Butler’s offense 

could produce some eyeopening 

numbers in 2017. 

However, the Tigers must take 

better care of the football after 

committing 18 turnovers last 

season. 

East Butler will be tested 

early in its schedule. The 

Tigers open the season against 

perennial power Howells- 

Dodge, and eight of East 

Butler’s nine opponents 

reached the playoffs last year. 

Key Players: 

Trevor Havlovic (6’2” 210 lbs) 

Sr. TE/LB 

Dalton Bohac (5’9” 165 lbs) Sr. 

QB 

Brandon Rezac (5’9” 210) Sr. 

OL/DL 




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ELGIN-POPE JOHNWOLFPACK 


The 2016 season was a tough 

one for Head Coach Randy 

Eisenhauer and his team. The 

Wolfpack finished the season 

without a win, scoring only 

nine touchdowns in eight 

games. 

The schedule didn’t do them 

any favors either, as five of the 

eight teams they faced were in 

the playoffs last year, including 

the eventual state champion 

Burwell and a Neligh-Oakdale 

team that was undefeated. 

While depth could be a 

problem for this year’s team, 

they do have plenty of players 

returning. 

Junior Hunter Reestman will 

look to take over the reins 

in the backfield. Reestman is 

the top returning offensive 

weapon for the Wolfpack. Last 

year, Reestman ran for two 

touchdowns and also threw for 

one. 

Sophomore Conor Ramold 

will be back under center this 

season. Ramold struggled his 

freshman season throwing 

one touchdown versus eight 

interceptions. Now, with a 

season under his belt, Ramold 

is hoping that experience will 

lead to better results. 

As for the offensive line, 

senior Liam Heithoff will be 

anchoring the line. The threeyear 

starter is also the starting 

defensive end. Last year, 

Heithoff recorded more than 

100 tackles, one sack and a 

fumble recovery. 

Elgin-Pope John will be young 

once again this season and 

will face yet another tough 

schedule, but if the Wolfpack 

can stay healthy, they could be 

more competitive this season. 



9/1 High Plains Community 

9/8 @ CWCE 


9/22 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 


10/6 @ Clarkson/Leigh 

10/13 Neligh-Oakdale 

Key Players: 

Conor Ramold (5’7” 135 lbs) 

Soph. QB 

Hunter Reestman (6’0” 165 lbs) 

Jr. RB 

Liam Heithoff (6’0” 205 lb) Sr. 

OL/DL 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Wolfpack 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 0-8 


Head Coach: Randy Eisenhauer 


Assistant Coaches: Michael 

Becker and Scott Becker 


SEPT 25 

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ELM CREEKBUFFALOES 


The Elm Creek Buffaloes are 

looking to replicate last season’s 

success, but rewrite the ending. 

After going undefeated in the 

regular season, the 2016 campaign 

came to an end against Burwell in 

the state quarterfinals. 

Head Coach Jayce Dueland knows 

it will be challenging, but likes the 

players on his squad. 

“We will have to fill holes on the 

defensive line. With 10 seniors out, 

we will have to use all of them 

for depth,” Dueland said. “There 

should be some underclassmen 

that step up and help us do well.” 

One reason for optimism is the 

success the offense had last 

season, averaging better than 44 

points per game. Generating that 

level of production makes them 

hard to beat. 

“Our offense will come back with 

some weapons in the Walker 

boys. With two solid lineman up 

front, the O-line will have a good 

backbone to start the season,” 

Dueland said. 

Devon and Preston Walker are 

weapons any coach would like 

to have on his team. Needing a 

quarterback, Dueland may turn to 

Devon to fill the role. If the 1,000- 

yard rusher can pass like he runs, 

the Buffaloes will once again be 

tough to stop. 

The two also are great defenders. 

As linebackers, Devon finished the 

season as an all-state honorable 

mention, while Preston collected 

first team all-district and all-region 

honors. 

However, the amount of seniors 

lost from last year’s team will 

bring challenges, as plenty 

of production will need to be 

replaced. In fact, that may be the 

biggest challenge for the 2017 

Buffaloes. In addition, Dueland 

notes that Kenesaw and South 

Loup didn’t lose many players, 

part of the reason he expects those 

teams particularly to be tough 

opponents this year. 

Asked what some of the biggest 

challenges will be, Dueland 

started with scheduling. “Opening 

up with Kenesaw,” he said. “We’ll 

have holes to fill on defense with 

players that haven’t had a lot of 

experience on that side of the 


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ball.” 

The Buffaloes run-heavy offense 

is operated out of the I-formation, 

while the base defense is a 3-3 

formation. 

Last season the team outscored 

opponents by an average of 25 

points per game. We’ll get to see if 

they’ll be as dominant this season 

when they open the season on 

Aug. 25. 

Key Players: 

Devon Walker (5’8” 170lbs) Sr. 

QB/LB 

Preston Walker (5’11” 185lbs) Jr. 

LB 

Nate Fields (6’2” 215lbs) Sr. C 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Buffaloes 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 10-1 


Head Coach: Jayce Dueland 



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EUSTIS-FARNAMKNIGHTS 

EXETER-MILLIGANTIMBERWOLVES 


By: TJ Eck 

In 2016, Eustis-Farnam had a 

winning season in Class D2, 

finishing with a 5-4 record. 

And once again this season, 

the Knights are led by Bryan 

Fangmeyer, who is coming into 

his third year as the head coach. 

He said this year should 

be a solid season if the 

underclassmen step up and 

perform with the returning 

starters. 

“You know we only return six 

upperclassmen, but they’ve all 

played a lot of football. You 

know our incoming sophomore 

class, even though they were 

freshmen last year, also played 

quite a bit of varsity football 

for us and we look forward 

to having a very successful 

season,” Fangmeyer said. 

With only three seniors and 

three juniors returning to the 

team, Eustis-Farnman has 

more sophomores suiting up 

than upperclassmen combined, 

and that’s not to mention the 

incoming freshman. 

“We’re going to have to 

develop a little bit of depth. 

We won’t have a lot of 

numbers out so all of the kids 

that are out are going to have 

to be ready to step in on any 

Friday night and play some 

varsity football,” Fangmeyer 

said. 

In addition to working on 

their lack of depth, Fangmeyer 

said they have a couple other 

conditioning and strength 

building areas to focus on. 

“Right now, our biggest 

concern is our overall team 

speed. We need to develop a 

little bit more quickness — we 

have good size. Right now it’s 

more just going to come down 

to executing what we need to 

do and control the game and 

work on our team speed,” 

Fangmeyer said. 

In weight, the Knights 

are averaging over 213 

pounds for the six returning 

upperclassmen and the 

average height is about 6 feet. 

One of the biggest returners on 

the team is senior quarterback 

Kaleb Gibbens. 


8/25 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 

9/1 @ Brady 

9/15 @ Maxwell 

9/22 Loomis 

9/29 @ Hitchcock County 

10/6 Wauneta-Palisade 

10/13 @ Wallace 

10/19 Arapahoe 

Fangmeyer added, “We kind 

of follow his lead and when 

he keeps his head about him 

and does what we need him 

to do on offense and defense, 

our team really responds to 

him. And he’s just one of those 

natural leaders. He doesn’t 

force it upon himself and the 

kids really respond to what he 

does on the field.” 

Key Players: 

Kaleb Gibbens (6’3” 250 lbs) Sr. 

QB 

Christian Timm (5’9” 190 lbs) 

Jr. TB 

Ayden Boller (6’3” 250 lbs) Sr. 

G 

Playing in the postseason has 

been an annual affair for Exeter- 

Milligan. The Timberwolves enter 

the 2017 season having made the 

playoffs fourteen straight years. 

E-M’s recent success includes a 

pair of state titles (D1-2013, D2- 

2014) and a state runner-up finish 

(D1-2012). But the T-Wolves are 

looking to rebound after bowing 

out in the first round of the 2016 

playoffs following a 62-8 defeat to 

Bloomfield. 

E-M returns four starters on 

both sides of the ball, including 

junior Colton Bossaller and 

senior Joey Bartu, who are both 

two-way players. Despite a 

number of starters returning, 

the Timberwolves will have a 

relatively young team in 2017 with 

just two seniors expected to see 

significant time. “We will need our 

younger players to step up early,” 

head coach Dean Filipi said. “We 

will have good senior leadership 

and that should help the younger 

players.” 

Junior quarterback Spencer Pribyl 

(6’3” 167 lbs) is back to lead the 

E-M offensive attack. Filipi says 

the T’Wolves “will lean on (Pribyl) 

this year.” 

Bartu (5’10” 181 lbs) brings 

starting experience to the running 

back position and junior Mitchell 

Manning (5’10” 149 lbs) adds 

depth in the backfield. Bossaller 

(5’11 170 lbs) is back after starting 

last season at the end position. 

Senior Seth Maxson (5’11” 153 lbs) 

and juniors Trever Zelenka (5’9” 

115 lbs) and Blake Steuben (5’11” 

120 lbs) fill out the depth chart 

behind Bossaller. The offensive 

line is expected to feature a young 

group of players led by junior 

Johnny Babula (6’0” 216 lbs), who 

is the only returning starter up 

front. 

Defensively, E-M’s strength 

comes at the linebacker position. 

Three starters return in Bossaller, 

Manning, and Bartu. The trio will 

look to lead an improved defense 

after the T-Wolves surrendered 

44 points or more in a game four 

different times in 2016. The only 

other returning starter on defense 

is Maxson, who plays the safety 

position. 

Despite a playoff berth, 2016 

didn’t live up to the lofty 




9/8 Pawnee City 

9/15 @ Meridian 

9/22 Friend 

9/29 @ Weeping Water 

10/6 Parkview Christian 

10/20 @ Mead 

standards the Exeter-Milligan 

football program has set in 

recent years. With a young, but 

experienced core of players back, 

the T-Wolves have a chance to 

make some noise in 2017. E-M 

will be put to the test early this fall 

with two of the top teams in Class 

D2 on the schedule in the first two 

weeks. The T-Wolves open play 

Aug. 25 at Giltner before taking on 

Lawrence-Nelson the following 

week in the home opener. 

Key Players: 

Colton Bossaller (5’11” 170 lbs) Jr. 

E/LB 

Joey Bartu (5’10” 181 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

LB 

Spencer Pribyl (6’3” 167 lbs) Jr. 

QB/DL 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Knights 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 5-4 


Head Coach: Bryan Fangmeyer 


Assistant Coach: Nick Hodge 

“Kaleb’s been a four-year 

starter now at quarterback 

and he’s a very big boy for a 

quarterback in an eight-man 

school, and you know he’s 

really the glue to our team,” 

Fangmeyer said. 

Not only is he one of the 

standout players for the 

Knights, he’s also a leader for 

a young group. 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Timberwolves 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 5-4 


Head Coach: Dean Filipi 

Assistant Coaches: Jackson 

Krejci, Kory Kalandt 

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FAIRBURYJEFFS 


Head coach Kameron Lenhart 

returns for his second season 

with the Fairbury Jeffs after 

leading his team to the playoffs 

for the first time since 2010. 

The C1 2016 squad enjoyed an 

experienced roster last season, 

and the same will be true come 

this fall. An arsenal of offensive 

and defensive talent returns in 


A total of 14 letterwinners will 

be back, featuring six starters on 

offense and six returning starters 

on defense. But even with the 

returning talent, Lenhart said 

a lot of the responsibility this 

season falls on the coaching staff. 

“We have great talent coming 

back, but it’s up to the coaching 

staff to direct that talent in a 

positive way towards the team’s 

overall goal,” he said. 

The Jeffs’ spread offense will be 

led by senior quarterback Adam 

Wasserman. Last season, the 

offense averaged 32 points and 

217.4 rushing yards per game. 

Wasserman will also see time on 

the defensive side of the ball as a 

free safety. 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Jeffs 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 8-2 


Head Coach: Kameron Lenhart 


Assistant Coaches: Matt Edson, Derek 

Garfield, Mike Fisher, Cory Schweitzer, 

Jay Gerths, Logan Kats 

Senior running back Jacob 

Johnson will return as the 

offensive “engine”. 

“He’s got great vision in the 

backfield with a great stiff arm,” 

Lenhart said. 

Johnson will also play linebacker 

in the 3-5-3 defense that allowed 

only an average of 17 points a 

game in 2016. It’s a role he’s very 

comfortable in, as he has been 

playing there since his freshman 

year. 

In addition, the Jeffs will welcome 

back an experienced offensive line, 

led by seniors Trent Grizzle, Zach 

Reikofski, and Zach Holes, who 

will also see time at linebacker. 

Lack of experience will be no issue 

for Fairbury, as 13 seniors will see 

significant playing time come this 

fall. 

“I love that we bring back both 

our QB and RB with a handful of 

other experienced players. I think 

this group of seniors truly know 

how to work together and know 

that it is more than just one guy. 

These guys also just simply love 

the game of football. We have 

quite a few that want to play after 

high school which means their 

effort right now is phenomenal. 

I think this will be a great group 

of guys that will help mentor the 

younger players and teach them 

the Fairbury Football Culture,” 

Lenhart said. 

Even with the stacked returners, 

Lenhart will be relying on 

younger players to fulfill several 


8/25 @ David City 

9/1 @ Syracuse 

9/8 Falls City 

9/15 Auburn 

9/22 @ Lincoln Christian 

9/29 Ashland-Greenwood 

10/6 Southern 

10/13 @ Raymond Central 


roles of last year’s graduating 

class. Those positions that will 

need to be filled include: center, 

tackle, receiver, tight end, nose 

guard, defensive end, and outside 

linebacker. 

In 2016, Fairbury posted an 8-2 

record falling to only Falls City 

in the regular season and Boys 

Town in the first round of the 

playoffs. However, simply getting 

back to the playoffs is not enough 

for Coach Lenhart and his team 

this time around. The Jeffs have 

appeared in six playoff games, but 

have never come back with a “W”. 

“We don’t want to just reach the 

playoffs, we want to win when 

we’re there,” he said. 

The Jeffs will begin their season 

with two games on the road 

against David City and Syracuse. 

Key Players: 

Adam Wasserman (6’0” 180 lbs) 

Sr. QB/FS 

Jacob Johnson (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Zach Holes (5’11” 180 lbs) Sr. OL/ 

LB 

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FILLMORE CENTRALPANTHERS 


A promising start to the 2016 

season ended in disappointing 

fashion for the Fillmore Central 

Panthers. After winning their 

first three games of the year, 

the Panthers dropped their last 

six games, ending the season 

with a 3-6 record. It wasn’t the 

ending they had hoped for, but 

the Panthers expect 2017 will be 

different. 

Head Coach Mitchell Lockhart 

enters his second season with 

the team and hopes to build on 

last year’s progress with a solid 

group of returners. 

“Our lack of depth hurt us last 

year,” he said. “Our team is 

actively recruiting our student 

body. We established a positive 

atmosphere last year and we look 

to improve this year.” 

Six starters on offense and six 

on defense will be back this fall. 

Heading the wing-spread offense 

is senior Kole Karcher (5’8” 135 

lbs). The quarterback is a twoyear 

starter, who averaged 35.4 

yards a game, throwing for five 

touchdowns. Karcher will also 

make an impact on defense. 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Panthers 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Mitchell Lockhart 


Assistant Coaches: Alex Moses, 

Adam Verhage, Matt Tobias 

He led the team last season in 

interceptions and solo tackles 

at 33. The versatile senior will 

also play on special teams as 

the Panthers’ punter, where he 

averages 30 yards a punt. 

Another consistent veteran 

is three-year starter Parker 

Trowbridge (5’5” 160 lbs). Like 

Karcher, he’ll see time on both 

sides of the ball at running back 

and linebacker. 

Trowbridge rushed for 324 yards 

and five touchdowns. The senior 

was also a big part of the team’s 

3-5 defense. He led the 2016 

squad with 75 total tackles his 

junior year. 

According to Lockhart, the 

strongest athlete can be found 

on the line. Junior Riley Moses 

(6’3” 260 lbs) will anchor a line 

that will enjoy some experience. 

Senior Jordan Adams (6’0” 275 

lbs) will join Moses on both sides 

of the ball. 

It’s not just the upperclassmen 

Lockhart will be looking to. The 

new roster brings fresh talent to 

fill the gaps of recent graduates. 

The biggest holes to fill are wide 

receivers and ball carriers. A 

newcomer expected to make an 

immediate impact is freshman 

Jake Stoner (5’9” 150 lbs). 

Although Stoner hasn’t played 

a down of football in a Panther 

jersey, Lockhart said he’s “the 

best overall athlete” on the team. 

Stoner will see time at running 

back and defensive back. 

“He’s very fast,” Lockhart said. 

“We will look to him to play a big 


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9/1 Sandy Creek 


9/15 @ Freeman 




10/13 @ Sutton 

10/20 Arcadia-Loup City 

role on both sides of the ball.” 

Fillmore Central has enjoyed 

eight playoff appearances, most 

recently in 2014. After a season 

with a new head coach and a new 

system, the Panthers are hopeful 

that 2017 will showcase a more 

confident and experienced team. 

The Panthers have the talent and 

the tools to produce a winning 

record, but as Lockhart knows, 

the road to the playoffs won’t be 

easy. 

“We need to continue to get 

our athletes to buy into our 

system,” he said. “They need to 

understand how much sacrifice it 

takes to be competitive at the C2 

level.” 

The Panthers open their season 

on the road against Johnson 

County Central. 

Key Players: 

Kole Karcher (5’8” 135 lbs) Sr. 

QB/DB 

Parker Trowbridge (5’5” 160 lbs) 

Sr. RB/LB 

Riley Moses (6’3” 260 lbs) Jr. G/ 

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FRANKLINFLYERS 


After combining to go just 3-13 

the past two seasons, Franklin 

High School is seeing a changing 

of the guard when it comes to 

their head football coach. 

Enter Michael Miller. 

The first-year coach of the 

Flyers comes in with a career 

win-loss record of 23-35, and 

knows turning around this 

Franklin program won’t happen 

overnight. 

In fact, of the 16 players from 

last year’s squad, Miller has 

only six returning. However, 

the offseason has proven 

somewhat fruitful as a spring 

meeting brought interest from 16 

prospective players. 

“Even though we don’t have a 

lot of returning players, we have 

some key roles covered,” Miller 

said. 

In that regard, Miller should feel 

somewhat comfortable despite 

the concern regarding overall 

turnout. Senior Toby Shueneman 

is back in the backfield 

offensively as running back 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Flyers 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 1-7 


Head Coach: Michael Miller 


Assistant Coaches: Brian Meyer, 

Nicholas Stuart 

and at linebacker defensively. 

He’s a three-year starter at both 

positions. 

Miller will also have sophomore 

Ryan Weiss at quarterback 

in 2017 after his freshman 

campaign was riddled with 

injury problems. 

“He’s a returning starter, but as a 

freshman had an injury,” Miller 

said. “He’s projected to do big 

things.” 

Miller also has junior Chase 

Hasseurman at his disposal. The 

two-time letterwinner is back in 

Franklin red and likely to lead 

the offensive line from the center 

position. 

“Like I’ve always said, you have 

to get the ball snapped first,” 

Miller said. 

What won’t show up in the 

gameday lineup is what Miller 

is able to benefit from when it 

comes to his coaching staff in his 

first year at the helm. They will 

all be teaching at Franklin High 

School. 

“In my experience, this is a big 

advantage to the community 

members coaching, even if it is 

just for team communication,” 

Miller said. “Brian Meyer 

previously coached at Franklin, 

so he should be a great asset to 

the team.” 

Franklin’s 2017 schedule doesn’t 

do them any favors as their 

opponents combined to go 35- 

29 a year ago, with five of their 


8/25 Overton 


9/8 Alma 

9/22 Superior 

9/29 @ Kenesaw 


10/13 Heartland 

10/19 @ McCool Junction 

eight opponents posting winning 

records. They’ll be starting the 

year with a pair of opponents 

who clobbered the Flyers in 2016 

by a combined score of 103-12. 

The season-opener is against an 

Overton team that beat Franklin 

51-0 in 2016. They follow that up 

with a showdown against a Blue 

Hill team that went 7-1 last year 

and beat Franklin 52-12. 

Key Players: 

Toby Shueneman (5’ 10” 145 lbs) 

Sr. RB/LB 

Chase Hassuerman (5’7” 175 lbs) 

Jr. OL/DL 

Ryan Weiss (5’8” 135 lbs) Soph. 

QB/DB 


FREEMANFALCONS 


A four-game winning streak 

highlighted Freeman’s 2016 

football season, and the Falcons 

are hoping for sustained success 

in 2017. 

Freeman is eyeing a potential 

playoff berth after missing out 

on the postseason for the second 

straight year. Head coach Travis 

Andreasen said staying healthy 

and limiting turnovers will be 

key this fall. 

“The team should build off a 

solid 5-4 season and look to 

compete for the district title,” 

Andreasen said. “Freeman 

should be solid in all phases.” 

The Falcons have a wealth 

of experience with starters 

returning at 16 positions. 

Freeman’s offensive line, in 

particular, will be experienced. 

Colton Beebe (6’3” 250 lbs) leads 

the unit, which helped Freeman 

average 164 rushing yards last 

year. Beebe will be a three-year 

starter who also qualified for the 

state wrestling tournament. 

“He has good strength and size,” 

Andreasen said. 

TEAM FACTS 

A main priority for Beebe and 

his linemates is protecting 

quarterback Jacob Gramann (6’ 

175 lbs). The senior QB threw 

for 1,185 yards last season 

and had 18 total touchdowns. 

Freeman is hoping for continued 

improvement from Gramann, 

who will have several reliable 

receiving options. 

“We have to limit turnovers,” 

Andreasen said. “We can control 

the ball. When we were beat last 

year, we struggled to win up 

front. Our skill guys should be 

good enough, but we need our 

offensive line to create a better 

push.” 

Blake Kastanek (6’3” 165 lbs) 

led Freeman in receptions last 

year with 28 catches and seven 

touchdowns. Another target will 

be junior tight end Tyler Adams 

(6’3” 215 lbs). Freeman also 

welcomes back Lane Cacek this 

season, who’s 2016 campaign 

was cut short due to injury. The 

senior running back suffered a 

broken shoulder in week five. 

“He is very physical and 

athletic,” Andreasen said of 

Cacek. “(He) will look to carry 

the load again this season.” 



9/1 @ Elmwood-Murdock 

9/8 @ Southern 

9/15 Fillmore Central 


9/29 @ Lincoln Lutheran 

10/6 Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer 

10/13 Palmyra 

10/20 @ Wilber-Clatonia 

per game. The Falcons were 

solid in some facets, but allowed 

opponents to reach the end zone 

too often. 

“We have to limit big plays,” 

Andreasen said. “Teams didn’t 

drive on us often, but we had 

some errors go for big gains.” 

Freeman allowed at least three 

touchdowns in each of their 

losses in 2016. 

The Falcons are optimistic 

about their progress on defense. 

Gramann, Cacek, and Kastanek 

are all two-way players. Plus, 

senior Jacob Dorn (5’11” 175 lbs) 

is back after recording 54 tackles 

last season, which ranked second 

on the team. 

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Team Name: Falcons 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 5-4 


Head Coach: Travis Andreasen 


Assistant Coaches: Tony Jensen, 

Joe Gramann and Marshall Payer 

Cacek’s injury coincided with 

Freeman’s late-season slide 

last fall. With the Falcons’ top 

running back sidelined, Freeman 

had a 1-3 record. The Falcons 

were 4-1 with Cacek in the 

lineup. 

Defensively, Freeman hopes to 

improve after allowing 25-points 

Key Players: 

Lane Cacek (6’0” 170lbs) Sr. RB/SS 

Jacob Gramann (6’0” 175lbs) Sr. 

QB/FS 

Blake Kastanek (6’3” 165 lbs) Sr. 

WR/SS 


SEPT 25 

MON & TUES 

8/7c 


FRIENDBULLDOGS 

By: Joe Musso 

Last season, the Friend Bulldogs 

earned a spot in the Class D2 

state playoffs following a solid 

7-1 regular season. But first 

round opponent and eventual 

champion Falls City Sacred 

Heart served the Dogs a 75-0 

first round drubbing. A loss that 

has lingered with the program 

all off-season. 

Head coach Jim Pfeiffer believes 

that this year’s team can be 

something special. 

“Our seniors have played a 

lot of football the past two 

seasons,” Pfeiffer said. “They 

had decent success last year 

and are already talking about 

next year and what they hope to 

accomplish. As a group they’ve 

demonstrated great leadership.” 

That leadership comes in 

the form of eleven returning 

letterwinners and five returning 

starters on both sides of the 

ball. The Bulldog offense will 

be led by second year starting 

quarterback Kyle Dickinson. 

The senior QB hopes to have a 

breakout season with one year 

of experience already under his 

belt. 

The Bulldogs also return the 

rest of their backfield. The twoheaded 

monster of senior Kolby 

Houlden and junior Edwen 

Baptista will carry the load for 

the Friend rushing attack. The 

tailback tandem has five years 

of starting experience between 

them. 

Friend runs a traditional twoback 

I-formation offense. Last 

year the Bulldogs rushed for 

207 yards per game and passed 

for 74. The run-first approach 

helped Friend control game 

tempo with an offense that 

averaged 38 points per game. 

The Bulldogs run a hybrid 3-4 

defensive concept, a point of 

emphasis coming into 2016. 

Friend found themselves in a 

number of shootouts last year, 

allowing opposing offenses 32 

points per game. 

“The key to a successful season 

will be the development of 

depth at all positions and the 

growth of our lineman,” Pfeiffer 

said. “We expect to have 15 or 

16 kids out so our young kids 

will need to develop quickly in 

order for us to have success.” 



9/8 Sterling 


9/22 @ Exeter-Milligan 

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factors in the Bulldogs’ success 

this season. 

The Bulldogs have reached the 

postseason five of the last seven 

seasons but have only been able 

to notch five wins in the five 

trips. Friend has never won a 

state title. 

The Bulldogs kick off their 

season on the road versus 

Pawnee City. 

Key Players: 

Kyle Dickinson (6’2” 165 lbs) Sr. 

QB 

Edwen Baptista (5’10” 180 lbs) 

Jr. RB/LB 

Jared Lawver (5’11” 165 lbs) Sr. 

LB 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 7-2 


Head Coach: Jim Pfeiffer 


Assistant Coaches: Jake Clouse, 

Clayton Moore and Adam Smith 

Coach Pfeiffer tabbed a number 

of guys to keep an eye on. 

Senior Ray Sharkey was a 

quality back-up for the Bulldog 

line last season but will adopt a 

starting role this year. Sharkey 

is an impressive 6-foot-2, 

235-pounds. Slater Wells is also 

expected to fill a vacancy on 

both the offensive and defensive 

lines. Pfeiffer believes both of 

the up-and-comers will be key 


By: Jay Omar 

FULLERTONWARRIORS 

Under head coach Ryan 

Haughton, success is something 

the Fullerton High School 

football team has become 

accustomed too. 

Haughton sports a 60-40 

record while at the helm of the 

Warriors, and the 2016 campaign 

was another solid one as the 

group finished 6-3 and advanced 

to the Class D2 playoffs. 

Fullerton came out of the gates 

on fire last year, winning their 

first five games, all by double 

digits. 

However, the group tapered off 

toward the end of the season, 

dropping two of their last three 

regular season games before 

losing to Wynot 44-16 in the 

playoffs. 

As 2017 approaches, the outlook 

is bright once again for the 

Warriors, as the offense and 

defense both return seven 

starters. 

Among those returners are 

seniors Hunter Friend and Kole 

Prosoki, both of whom will play 

vital roles for Fullerton this 

season. 

Friend is a running back on 

offense and a linebacker on 

defense, and is coming off an allstate 

honorable mention season 

in 2016. 

“(Hunter is) a returning captain 

and an all-state honorable 

mention winner,” Haughton 

said. “He was a 1,000-yard 

rusher last year on offense. (He 

is) a tough runner that scored 35 

touchdowns last year.” 

While Friend will be trying to hit 

holes in the defense, Prosoki will 

be creating them. With a 6-foot, 

285-pound frame, the senior will 

be a force on both the offensive 

and defensive lines this fall. 

“(Kole is a) great kid with a 

great football mind,” Haughton 

said. “He will be a four-year 

starter and an all-state honorable 

mention and all district player. 

He is a returning captain and has 

always showed great character 

and leadership. He has anchored 

the middle of our line for three 

straight years.” 



9/1 Winside 

9/8 Shelton 

9/15 @ Wausa 

9/22 Scribner-Snyder 

9/29 @ Osceola 

10/5 Cedar Bluffs 

10/20 @ Humphrey St. Francis 

While there will be difficult 

opponents on the schedule for 

Fullerton this season, Haughton 

will be expecting to improve on 

his impressive career record. 

“We have lofty expectations as 

we return seven starters on both 

sides of the ball,” Haughton said. 

“(We were) a very young team 

last year and should be more 

experienced. A good freshman 

class is coming in which will also 

help add depth to the roster.” 

Key Players: 

Kole Prososki (6’ 0” 285 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Hunter Friend (5’10” 180 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Warriors 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 6-3 


Head Coach: Ryan Haughton 


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GIBBONBUFFALOES 


Gibbon football coach Mark 

McLaughlin begins his ninth 

season at the helm of the 

Buffalo this fall. He’ll look to 

bounce back after a 2-7 finish 

to the 2016 season. Gibbon lost 

five in a row to open the year, 

scoring only 12 points and 

getting shutout twice. But the 

team then went on to win backto-back 

games versus Sandy 

Creek and Wood River at home 

before losing their final two. 

In order to get back to the 

promised land, McLaughlin 

said his boys will have to avoid 

the injury bug. 

“We have to stay relatively 

healthy early in the year,” he 

said. “Last season we lost four 

players for four games or more 

within the first three games of 

the season. Injuries happen, but 

we need to avoid major injuries 

all-together, especially early.” 

The Buffalo will return 20 

letterwinners, including five 

starters on offense and six on 

defense. One of those key guys 

will be senior running back and 

linebacker Jacob Tracy. Listed 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Buffaloes 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 2-7 


Head Coach: Mark McLoughlin 


Assitant Coaches: Jeff Montgomery, 

Steve Bristol, Jaxson Kenton, Geoff 

Carnahan 

as only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, 

Tracy turned a number of heads 

as a junior, rushing for 1,312 

yards and 11 touchdowns. 

He’s also projected to start at 

linebacker. 

Alongside Tracy will be 

senior Wyatt Kee, an all-state 

selection who has 366 career 

tackles. McLaughlin also has 

high praise for Adam Hyde, 

a standout wide receiver and 

defensive back. Hyde led the 

Gibbon defense with three 

interceptions in 2016, and 

hauled in 25 receptions for 446 

yards and three scores. 

Overall, the Buffalo will have 

a ton of depth, something 

McLaughlin’s team has lacked 

in recent years. “We fought low 

numbers last season,” he said. 

“We need to get our roster size 

into the high 30s or 40s.” 

At one point, Gibbon dressed 

only 21 kids for a game last 

year. 

The season kicks off Aug. 25 

at Hershey, one of four teams 

on the schedule that made 

the C2 playoffs a year ago. 

McLaughlin knows the road to 

the postseason will not be easy 


“St. Paul, St. Pats, and St. 

Cecilia will be the best three 

teams we play,” he said. “I 

expect all three to be playoff 

teams. I also expect Crofton, 

Battle Creek, Central City, 

Wilber-Clatonia, Centennial, 

Sutton, Valentine, Oakland- 


8/25 @ Hershey 

9/1 Minden 

9/8 North Platte St. Patrick’s 

9/15 @ St. Paul 

9/22 Southern Valley 



10/13 Doniphan-Trumbull 


Craig, and Yutan to be good.” 

But McLaughlin understands 

he can only control his team 

and thinks they have the talent 

to get the job done. “[If] the 

boys are willing to put the 

time and work in to get better, 

we have some very talented 

players on our roster.” 

Key Players: 

Jacob Tracy (5’9”, 170 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Adam Hyde (6’1”, 160 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Wyatt Kee (6’0”, 205 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

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GILTNERHORNETS 


For the first time in a decade, the 

Giltner football team is entering fall 

camp with a brand-new head coach. 

However, unlike in 2007 when coach 

Jeff Ashby arrived in town, new 

coach Chip Bartos will be taking 

over a perennial state power. 

When Ashby took over ten years 

ago, he assumed the reins of a team 

that had won only four games in 

three seasons. The same can’t be 

said for Bartos, who takes over a 

team that has been to the playoffs 

for ten straight years, including 

a Class D2 championship year in 

2012. 

With Ashby embracing a new 

challenge as head coach of Wood 

River, Bartos says he can’t wait to 

get started. 

“As a new head coach (the biggest 

challenge) will be just learning a 

new offense and a different style of 

a past offense,” Bartos said. 

The new head ball coach comes 

from Wausa, and fortunately, is 

coming into an ideal situation when 

it comes to eight-man football. 

20 letterwinners are returning from 

the playoff squad of a year ago, 

including six starters on both sides 

of the ball. The team, however, went 

just 4-4 in 2016 — a far cry from the 

years where one loss was one too 

many for a championship-hungry 

town. 

Bartos said with so many returning 

starters to work with, he knows the 

expectations will be high as usual. 

“Leadership by this senior group 

and staying healthy will be the key 

to a successful season,” Bartos said. 

Another welcome sight for the firstyear 

head coach will be the start 

and end of the upcoming schedule. 

The first and final two opponents on 

the ledger went a combined 9-23 in 

2016, giving Giltner an opportunity 

to get their feet wet early this time 

around. 

Unfortunately for Bartos and 

company, the heart of the schedule 

is the exact opposite, as the four 

opponents combined to go 28-4 

in the regular season in 2016. 

Justifiably so, those were Giltner’s 

four in-season losses last year. 

The Hornets did make it to the 

playoffs a year ago, but fell woefully 

short in their opener against 

Sandhills-Thedford, losing 49-14. A 

nice note to make, though, is that 

Sandhills-Thedford made a run to 

the semifinal round before bowing 


8/25 Exeter-Milligan 


9/8 @ Heartland 

9/15 Osceola 


10/6 Blue Hill 

10/13 Shelton 

10/20 @ Axtell 

out to Twin Loup. 

The 2017 Hornets will be led by a 

solid collection of seniors on the 

offensive end, and a good majority 

of them are in skill positions. 

Quarterback Alex Goracke is 

back under center for his senior 

campaign, and he’s got three senior 

wideouts to keep an eye on. 

Seniors Josh Hinrichs, Brodi Hansen 

and Rees Lyon are expected to lead 

the aerial attack Giltner hopes to 

showcase this fall. 

Key Players: 

Alex Goracke (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr. QB/ 

LB 

Josh Hinrichs (6’3” 170 lbs) Sr. WR/ 

DB 

Brodi Hansen (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr. WR/ 

DB 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Hornets 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 4-5 


Head Coach: Chip Bartos 

Assistant Coach: Scott Dangler 

402.849.2400 • 216 Tonya Drive • Giltner, NE 


GOTHENBURGSWEDES 


After a hiatus from the postseason, 

the Gothenburg Swedes finished 

with a 6-4 record in 2016 and 

made a return to the state playoffs. 

Last year’s team was led by a 

host of seniors that now leave the 

team searching for a new identity 

this fall. One part of the team that 

has not changed in over 20 years, 

however, is the head coach, with 

Craig Haake returning with a 

career record of 131-99. 

The Swedes had an up-and-down 

season for most of 2016. The 

group went through the first four 

weeks at 2-2 before winning four 

of their last five games ahead of a 

round one playoff loss to Wahoo. 

Through the course of the season 

the team went 1-2 against the 

three other Class C1 playoff teams. 

If the Swedes are going to return 

to the postseason, one of the key 

contributors from last season’s 

team, Dawson Graham, will have 

to be replaced under center (and 

from a leadership standpoint). The 

Swedes do, however, have one of 

the most dynamic playmakers in 

Class C1 on the outside returning 

in three-year letterwinner Bennett 

Folkers, to help give sophomore 

quarterback Maguire Bartlett, 

or any of the Swedes options at 

quarterback, a reliable receiver 

and a strong locker room 

presence. 

“Best hands I’ve seen,” Haake 

said. “We look to get him the ball 

however we can.” 

Folkers stands at 6-foot-3, 

180-pounds and returns nearly 

900 yards on 46 catches and 14 

touchdowns to the Swedes’ pistol 

style offense. Along with Folkers, 

the Swedes will have the two-year 

letterwinner AJ Whiting to utilize 

on the outside and in the red zone. 

On defense, the Swedes will 

return a bulk of their players with 

five of them coming back on that 

side of the ball. Linebacker is 

always a key position in a base 4-3 

defense, as it needs vocal leaders 

to command the field. Junior Evan 

Peterson fits that bill. He, along 

with one of the only other twoyear 

returners on the defense, 

Vincent Nichols, will be leaned on 

to improve on a group that gave 

up 22.4 points per game. 

This fall the Swedes will take on 


8/25 @ Holdrege 

9/1 @ Ogallala 


9/15 Ord 

9/22 @ Chadron 

9/29 @ Broken Bow 

10/6 Cozad 


10/19 Minden 

2016 playoff team Ogallala in a 

yearly rivalry, with the Indians 

taking the advantage 42-35 in 

2016, and will close the season 

against one of the state’s best in 

Kearney Catholic. 

“We are still young,” Haake said. 

“Some of these younger players 

have a lot of playing time. We 

have a young set of skilled players 

who are talented, we are looking 

forward to this season.” 

Key Players: 

Bennett Folkers (6’3’’ 180 lbs) Sr. 

WR/CB 

Evan Peterson (6’0’’ 160 lbs) Jr. LB 

AJ Whiting (6’6” 210 lbs) Sr. WR 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Swedes 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 6-4 


Head Coach: Craig Haake 


Assistant Coaches: Tom Scott, 

Justin Dowdy, Jerry Wiggins 

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GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL CATHOLICCRUSADERS 

GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGHISLANDERS 


It’s the beginning of a new era at 

Grand Island Central Catholic. 

2008 graduate Tim Dvorak returns 

to his alma mater to become the 

fourth coach in four years for the 

Crusaders. “I feel privileged for the 

opportunity to return to Central 

Catholic as both a teacher and the 

head football coach,” he said upon 

his hiring in April. 

Dvorak will look to turn around a 

program that won just one game last 

season, and only four games over 

the last two seasons. Prior to that, 

GICC had a 10-year playoff streak 

dating back to Dvorak’s sophomore 

season in 2005. He believes it all 

starts with a great mindset. 

“Our kids have great attitudes that 

start with our senior leadership,” he 

said. “They are hungry to compete 

and move the program forward.” 

Those seniors include Jonah Bales 

and Tommy McFarland, along with 

eight other returning starters (eight 

on offense, eight on defense) and 

15 letterwinners. Bales was a Class 

C1 all-state honorable mention in 

2016, leading the Crusader rushing 

attack while averaging five yards 

per carry. He’s also expected to 

lead the defense as the starting 

middle linebacker, where he tallied 

one interception and three forced 

fumbles as a junior. 

McFarland was an all-district and 

all-conference selection last season 

for his play on both the offensive 

and defensive line. 

Dvorak knows his team will face a 

lot of adversity this season. “We will 

be the underdog in the majority of 

our games and will need to go out 

and compete for everything that 

we want with the idea that there is 

nothing to lose,” he said. 

He added, “I believe that we 

have one of, if not the toughest 

schedule in C1, which will provide a 

challenge that we will need to face.” 

GICC opens with reigning state 

champion O’Neill and will also 

see the likes of state semifinalist 

Kearney Catholic and state 

quarterfinalist Aquinas Catholic. 

“Our biggest challenge will be 

establishing a consistency in 

the program and maintaining 

that consistency through a very 

challenging schedule,” Dvorak said. 

“Many of our players will have to 

step up into new roles and compete 

to become better players and a 

better team.” 

Another challenge will be grooming 

the next starting quarterback. With 

the departure of Aiden Anspauch, 

Dvorak says he’s looking at junior 


8/25 O’Neill 






10/6 @ Columbus Lakeview 

10/13 @ Ord 

10/20 Boone Central/Newman Grove 

Jack Goering, who started two 

games last year. Goering is listed a 

5-foot-10, 155-pounds. 

The Crusader coaching staff hopes 

he molds well with the spread 

offense. Dvorak, a former defensive 

coordinator for Lincoln Northeast, 

will be implementing a 3-4 defense 

this fall. 

Key Players: 

Jonah Bales (5’9” 195 lbs) Sr. RB/LB 

Tommy McFarland (5’10” 215 lbs) 

Sr. OL/DL 

Jacob Herbek (6’5” 200 lbs) Jr. TE/ 

DL 


Head coach Jeff Tomlin will begin 

his 15th season with the Grand 

Island Senior High football team 

this fall. The Islanders will look to 

build off a 2016 campaign in which 

the team went 6-4 with a first round 

exit in the Class A playoffs to Tri- 

City foe Kearney. 

“We expect to have a very solid 

squad,” Tomlin said. “We don’t have 

much in the form of measurable, but 

I think we have tough kids who will 

play extremely hard.” 

What the Islanders do have are nine 

returning starters, four on offense 

and five on defense. Tomlin said it’s 

the defense that will lead his team 

come this fall. 

“Our strengths will be returning 

experience in the secondary and 

linebacking core,” he said. 

The success of the group will hinder 

on senior tight end and defensive 

end Laylaway Thoe, who Tomlin 

called, “our most explosive and 

versatile player.” 

As a junior, Thoe recorded nearly 

three tackles a game, finishing the 

year with 41 total. He also tallied 

three quarterback hurries, four sacks 

and a pass deflection. 

Tomlin expects Thoe to be a major 

contributor in stopping the run 

and getting even more pressure on 

opposing quarterbacks. 

Standing just behind Thoe will be 

middle linebacker Kohlten Keezer, 

who was one of the top tacklers in 

all of Class A last season, tallying 

132 tackles to go along with 2.5 

sacks and three tackles for loss. 

One player who could fly under the 

radar this fall is senior Tyler Sextro. 

Sextro is one of the smaller players 

on the field, but his presence will 

be felt in the secondary. He led the 

team in pass breakups in 2016 and 

uses his size and speed to maneuver 

around blockers and make big 

playes. Sextro will also see time as a 

slot receiver. 

But while the veteran leadership 

will be strong, Tomlin admits the 

youth of this year’s team could 

leave the Islanders exposed. 

“My biggest concern early on is the 

youth and inexperience, particularly 

on the offensive and defensive 

lines,” he said. 

Grand Island opens the season 

against the same team that 

eliminated them back in November, 

Kearney. Prior to the 2016 season, 

the Islanders had a three-year 

winning streak over their archrival 


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Bearcats. 

Key Players: 

Laylaway Thoe (6’1” 220 lbs) Sr. TE/ 

DE 

Kohlten Keezer (6’2” 200 lbs) Sr. MLB 

Tyler Sextro (5’9” 145 lbs) Sr. WR/DB 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Crusaders 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 1-8 


Head Coach: Tim Dvorak 


Assistant Coaches: Keith Kester, Tom 

Moore, Zach Schroder, James Danhaer, 

James Martinez, Scott Brokaw, John 

Goering 3404 W. 13TH STREET, GRAND ISLAND, NE • 308-382-7463 

Team Name: Islanders 

Class: A 

2016 Record: 6-4 


Head Coach: Jeff Tomlin 


Assistant Coach: Russ Harvey 

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HASTINGSTIGERS 

In his second season at the 

helm of the Hastings football 

team, Charlie Shoemaker came 

incredibly close to getting the 

Tigers back into the playoff 

picture for the first time since 

2010. 

Led by a shifty, gun-slinging 

quarterback in Vinny Schmidt, 

the Tigers offense averaged 

nearly 30 points a game and 

finished 2016 with a 6-3 record. 

But the man who accounted for 

20 scores a season ago is now 

gone, and it will be up to a new 

crop of young talent to fill the 

void. 

“We had a lot of kids play last 

season and we are looking 

to them to really improve,” 

Shoemaker said. “If we continue 

to have a great buy-in with 

the kids in the summer and 

put in our work, we will have 

an excellent chance to be very 

competitive this season.” 

Hastings returns 10 starters this 

fall, five on offense and five 

on defense. That includes twoway 

players Michael Shaw and 

Connor Laux. 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: B 

2016 Record: 6-3 


Head Coach: Charlie Shoemaker 


Assistant Coach: Briant Itzen 

Shaw is coming off ACL surgery, 

but the 5-foot-10, 220-pound 

offensive lineman and linebacker 

has nothing but high praise from 

his head coach. “Michael has 

been a tremendous player for us 

the last two years,” Shoemaker 

said. “[He] looks to be 100 

percent healthy and ready for his 

senior season.” 

Laux is a name Tiger fans have 

heard about for years. When 

he’s not on the football field, 

he’s winning state wrestling 

championships (in two different 

weight classes) and sprinting 

around the bases for the Tiger 

baseball team. 

“Connor is a tremendous 

competitor and athlete,” 

Shoemaker said. “He is the 

definition of an excellent football 

player and a total team guy. He 

will do whatever it takes to help 

the team win.” 

That blazing 4.7-caliber speed 

will come in handy in the 

Hastings’ receiving core and 

secondary. As a junior, Laux 

hauled in 25 receptions for 412 

yards and three scores. He also 

tallied 10 carries and a score. At 

5-foot-9 and only 155 pounds, 

Laux will rely on his shiftiness to 

avoid would-be tacklers. 

But a name Shoemaker wants 

people to keep on their radar 

this fall is Damen Pape. Only 

a sophomore, Pape saw 

significant snaps as a freshman 

at both running back and 

linebacker, finishing second 

on the teal in total tackles. He, 


8/25 Scottsbluff 

9/1 @ Schuyler 

9/8 @ Gering 

9/15 Sidney 

9/22 Seward 

9/29 @ Alliance 

10/6 @ McCook 

10/13 Lexington 


like Laux, is also a very good 

wrestler, finishing second in the 

170-pound class this February. 

“We are excited about the future 

for him,” Shoemaker said. “He is 

going to be an excellent player.” 

Hastings opens the season Aug. 

25 at home against Scottsbluff, a 

team the Tigers lost to last season 

by a score of 21-13. 

Key Players: 

Connor Laux (5’9” 145 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Michael Shaw (5’10” 220 lbs) Sr. 

OL/LB 

Damen Pape (5’10” 185 lbs) 

Soph. LB/RB 

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LEADER 





HASTINGS ST. CECILIABLUEHAWKS 


After finishing 5-4, 2016 did 

not meet the Bluhawk’s high 

expectations. The three-time state 

championship program is no 

stranger to the postseason. Hastings 

St. Cecilia has made an impressive 

27 playoff appearances. Last year’s 

postseason absence was the first in 

17 years. This fact alone is enough 

motivation for the 2017 to get back 

to the playoffs. 

Head Coach Carl Tesmer returns 

with a 232-51 record at the school. 

With another tough schedule ahead, 

Tesmer will have the help of 20 

returning letterwinners, including 

nine starters on offense and eight on 

defense. The line will be among the 

most experienced group on the field 

this fall. 

“We have a lot of experience in the 

line back,” he said. “These linemen 

have to step up and continue to 

improve throughout the season. Our 

defense needs to be as solid as we 

appear on paper.” 

Defensive end Josh Bohlke (6’0” 

225 lbs) will provide the Bluehawks 

with some size. The senior is a twoyear 

starter, who recorded a total of 

31 tackles and tacked on four sacks. 

The 4-4 defense will also welcome 

back two-year starter Sam Clark 

(5’10” 175 lbs), who was also able to 

pick up some impressive numbers 

last season. The senior was the 

team’s third-leading tackler with a 

total of 54 tackles. Seniors Nate Starr 

(5’10” 175 lbs) and Grant Farmer 

(6’0” 175 lbs) will also be big assets 

on the defensive side of the ball. The 

two combined for 62 tackles and six 

safeties. 

Although the Bluehawks have a 

good group coming back, there 

is still a major hole to fill at the 

quarterback position previously 

held by Grant Schmidt. Schmidt 

lead the team in scoring and total 

tackles. Junior Thomas Redinger 

(6’2” 170 lbs) will likely fill that spot. 

Tesmer is confident he has the right 

guy to lead the team. 

“We need to develop a complete 

well-organized offense that can 

perform error-free,” he said. 

Redinger will inherit the I-spread 

offense that averaged 200 rushing 

yards and 80 passing yards a game. 

Clark, Farmer, Bohlke, and Starr will 

all see time on the offensive side of 

the ball as well. Senior Chris Weidt 

(5’10” 170 lbs) and junior Jarred 

Prevette (6’1” 250 lbs) will both play 

key roles on offense and defense. 

Getting back to the postseason will 

not be an easy feat. Hastings St. 



9/1 Wilber-Clatonia 

9/8 @ Sutton 






10/20 Gibbon 

Cecilia will face defending state 

champion Wilber-Clatonia in week 

two. Tesmer expects Central City 

and Sutton to also be tough games 

in Class C. 

The Bluehawks open their 2017 

season and their journey back to 

the playoffs on the road against 

Freeman. 

Key Players: 

Josh Bohlke (6’0” 225 lbs) Sr. RG/DE 

Sam Clark (5’10” 175 lbs) Sr. FB/ILB 

Grant Farmer (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

CB 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Bluehawks 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 5-4 


Head Coach: Carl Tesmer 

Career Record: 339-89-2 

Assistant Coaches: Randy Ahrens, 

Cody Jackson, Lance Schmidt, Wade 

Dykeman, Gene Konen, Jim Jackson 


HEARTLANDHUSKIES 


It was certainly a memorable 

2016 season for the Hearltand 

Huskies. The team started the 

campaign with a loss to High 

Plains, but then rattled off nine 

straight wins. 

A big reason for the success 

was running back Austin Stuhr. 

Stuhr, who won state in pole 

vaulting, rushed for more than 

3,000 yards and found the end 

zone 44 times last year. Stuhr 

eventually set the state rushing 

record before moving on to play 

football at Northwest Missouri 

State. 

Replacing Stuhr will be a 

huge challenge for head coach 

Matt Maltsberger, but he’s 

not the only star player gone. 

The Huskies will also have a 

new quarterback this year to 

replace the production of Lane 

Huebert. Huebert threw for 15 

touchdowns last season, while 

also adding 10 scores on the 

ground. 

receiver. Last season, he ran for 

two touchdowns while catching 

eight more through the air. 

Expect to see a lot of young 

faces this season, but with a 

schedule that features just two 

games against opponents with 

a winning record last season, 

a return to the playoffs is 

attainable. 

Key Players: 

Hayes Oswald (6’0” 156 lbs) Sr. 

WR/CB 

Connor Boehr (6’3” 175 lbs) Sr. 

TE/DE 

Jackson Stebbings (5’10” 150 lbs) 

Soph. RB/DB 



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TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 9-2 


Head Coach: Matt Maltsberger 


Assistant Coaches: Greg Veerhusen, 

Ben Linday, Clark Ribble 

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HIGH PLAINSSTORM 

HITCHCOCK COUNTYFALCONS 


The 2016 season could not have 

got off to a better start for High 

Plains Community. They handed 

Heartland what proved to be their 

only loss of the regular season 

on the opening weekend of the 

season. 

They then reeled off two more 

wins to improve to 3-0 on the 

young campaign, beating their 

last two opponents by a combined 

score of 116-14. 

However, they weren’t able to 

secure another win the rest of the 

year. 

In their final five games of the 

regular season, along with 

their first-round playoff game, 

opponents outscored the Storm 

266-96. 

Head coach Greg Wood enters 

his 10th year at the helm of High 

Plains, and will be looking to right 

the ship with a good collection of 

returning starters - four on both 

sides of the ball. 

Wood knows he’ll have to lean on 

them to get his team going in the 

right direction. 

“We have a small freshman 

class coming in,” Wood said. 

“Developing depth will be a 

huge priority. We have the key 

pieces, we just need to put them 

together.” 

Some of those key pieces still have 

some youth to them, however. 

Take sophomore Keaton Van 

Housen for example. Last year, he 

led High Plains in rushing - toting 

the rock for 755 yards and eight 

touchdowns. He didn’t do too bad 

on the receiving end either, pulling 

in three touchdowns on just 15 

catches. 

That makes him the team’s leading 

receiver after the graduation of 

Kyle and Payton Stevens, who did 

the heavy lifting at wideout last 

season. 

The Storm won’t be left for dead 

when it comes to their line play 

either. After all, they have two 

returning starters up front with 

seniors Bo Dittmer and Timothy 

Markvicka coming back for their 

final seasons. 

At quarterback, expect to see 

a heavy dose of Dylan Soule 

under center after the sophomore 

attempted 55 passes a year ago. 

Also, don’t be shocked if you see 

Van Housen throw the rock some. 

In 2016, he completed 18 of 40 





9/22 Palmer 



10/13 East Butler 


passes for three touchdowns. 

As for areas to improve upon, 

Wood and his team will be looking 

to fix their ball control issues 

from 2016, when they lost 12 of 

13 fumbles in just nine games. 

Defensively, they also allowed 

nearly 300 yards per game. 

Wood knows there is plenty to 

work on as 2017 approaches. 

Plus, it wouldn’t hurt if the team 

wanted to go out and start 3-0 

once again. 

Key Players: 

Alex Goracke (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr. 

QB/LB 

Josh Hinrichs (6’3” 170 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Brodi Hansen (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

By: Jay Omar 

The 2016 season was one to 

forget for Hitchcock County, as 

the young squad finished the 

campaign with an 0-8 record. 

However, with a new season 

comes a clean slate and another 

opportunity for the Falcons 

to show improvement on the 

gridiron. 

Under the direction of head 

coach Dusty Gaston, Hitchcock 

County will be a youthful 

squad once again in 2017. But 

with six starters returning on 

both sides of the ball, and ten 

letterwinners back on the roster, 

Gaston expects steps in the right 

direction this season. 

“We are young and coachable,” 

he said. “We are building for a 

bright future.” 

But if the Falcons want to notch 

a few tallies in the win column, 

the offense will have to improve. 

Last season, Hitchcock County 

averaged 116 yards per game and 

only eight points a contest. 

The group will run a split back 

offense once again this year, with 

running back Noah Standiford 

and quarterback/running back 

hybrid Chase Matson anchoring 

the backfield. 

The offensive line could be a 

strength this year for the Falcons, 

as it will feature a few returning 

starters in sophomore Kaiden 

Smotherman, junior Corey 

Wickizer and senior Wes Merrill. 

Defensively, returning 

linebackers Logan Shafert 

and Zach Janousek will have 

a major impact, while Merrill 

and Wickizer will battle in the 

trenches on the defensive line. 

With youth likely playing a 

major role this season, Gaston 

highlighted the keys to success 

for 2017. 

“Get the young starters to play 

physical and stay healthy,” he 

said. “Of course, it all starts with 

a good attitude and hard work 

during the summer.” 

However, the head coach did 

acknowledge the difficulties that 

accompany coaching a young 

team, especially following a 

down year. 

“To get my team to grow and 

overcome adversity as a very 

young team once again coming 

off our 0-8 season,” Gaston said 

of the biggest challenges of the 


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upcoming season. 

The 2017 campaign will get 

underway for the Falcons on 

Aug. 25 when they travel to 

Stapleton. 

Key Players: 

Kaiden Smotherman (6’ 0” 185 

lbs) Soph. OL 

Chase Matson (5’ 10” 135 lbs) 

Soph. QB/RB 

Noah Standiford (5’ 8” 140 lbs) 

Soph. RB 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Storm 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 3-5 


Head Coach: Greg Wood 


Assistant Coach: John Kucera 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Falcons 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 0-8 


Head Coach: Dusty Gaston 




HOLDREGEDUSTERS 

In game of inches, razor-thin 

margins were the difference 

between a winning and losing 

record for the Holdrege Dusters 

in 2016. 

Last season, the Dusters finished 

with a 2-7 record, but three 

of those losses came by five 

or fewer points, including a 

one-point loss to Grand Island 

Northwest. 

Going into his 19th season as 

head coach, Jason Hale is hoping 

another year of experience for 

his returning starters and the 

number of incoming players on 

the roster can push the Dusters 

over the top. 

“We feel like we can be a factor 

in the district race after getting 

some much needed experience 

for some of our athletes early in 

the year,” Hale said. 

This season the Dusters return 

six starters on offense and five on 

defense, including two-way star 

Bronson Titus. Titus is coming 

off an all-state performance last 

season and will anchor both the 

offensive and defensive lines. 

While his size might not seem 

imposing, Titus is one of the 

team’s hardest workers, which 

has transformed him into a great 

run blocker and a hard-to-block 

defender. 

While Titus will be opening up 

the running lanes, it’ll be up to 

senior running backs Alex Wells 

and Prestin Melroy to make the 

most of them. Wells is coming 

off a 1,000 yard rushing season, 

while also finding the end zone 

13 times. Wells just missed out 

on an all-state selection, instead 

being named as an honorable 

mention. 

As for Melroy, he’ll certainly see 

his rushing attempts increase 

this season. However, it’s his 

play-making at the linebacker 

position that the Dusters will 

rely heavily on. Last season, 

Melroy was all over the field, 

picking off two passes, recording 

91 total tackles and tallying nine 

tackles for a loss. 

The trio of Titus, Wells and 

Melroy, to go along with eight 

other seniors, gives the Dusters 

plenty of experience this season, 




9/8 Alliance 

9/15 @ York 

9/22 @ Sidney 

9/29 Northwest 

10/6 @ Lexington 

10/13 @ McCook 

10/20 Hastings 

but their schedule will be tough. 

Hale will have his hands full 

week-to-week as Holdrege 

will play seven teams that had 

winning records last season. 

With a schedule that tough, the 

Dusters will have to make every 

possession count if they’re going 

to compete at the top of the 

district and finish above .500. 

Key Players: 

Bronson Titus (5’11” 255 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Alex Wells (5’10” 165 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

DB 

Prestin Melroy (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Dusters 

Class: B 

2016 Record: 2-7 


Head Coach: Jason Hale 


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HUMBOLDT-TABLE ROCK-STEINAUERTITANS 

KEARNEY CATHOLICSTARS 



Humboldt-Table Rock- 

Steinauer is looking to rebound 

from a one-win season. The 

Titans struggled through their 

2016 campaign, which saw 

HTRS play through a difficult 

schedule that included Class 

C2 champion Wilber-Clatonia. 

The Titans will again face the 

Wolverines this fall, along 

with playoff hopefuls Lincoln 

Lutheran, Yutan, and Freeman. 

HTRS has starters back at 

eight different positions, 

but its underclassmen will 

be key in 2017. “We will be 

asking some of the freshmen 

and sophomores to step up 

this year,” HTRS head coach 

Quentin Coatney said. “Some 

may not be as ready as they 

should be, but we will put the 

best 11 players on the field and 

see what we can do.” Coatney 

believes he has a hard-working 

squad that could see an 

increase in the win column this 

season. The Titans’ 1-8 record 

last year came following a 5-4 

finish in 2015. “They are willing 

to put in the work that brings 

success.” 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Titans 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 1-8 


Head Coach: Quentin Coatney 


Assistant Coach: Jason Cover 

Conner Bredemeier will be 

among the leaders for HTRS 

this season. The 6-foot, 

175-pound junior is a two-way 

starter that averaged 14 yardsper-carry 

last year. Bredemeier 

also had 63 tackles, which 

ranked second on the team. 

Linemen Carter Drake, Alex 

Flynn, and Kaje Faulks will 

also be important pieces to the 

HTRS puzzle in 2017. 

With experience up front, 

the Titans are hoping for an 

offensive resurgence. HTRS was 

shut out four times last season 

while averaging fewer than five 

points per game. Coatney lists 

juniors Hunter Hain and Kade 

Shiley as possible playmakers 

for HTRS. Both figure to be 

in the Titans’ running back 

rotation after combining for 175 

rushing yards last year. “We are 

going to have to stay healthy 

this season if we are going to 

be able to compete with anyone 

this fall,” Coatney said. “We are 

going to be asking a lot from 

our young guys.” Freshman 

Jayden McNealy is a player 

Coatney is keeping his eye 

on. He feels McNealy has an 

opportunity to see significant 

action during his first season of 

high school football. 

Defensively, HTRS uses a 

5-3 scheme which promotes 

strong line play. The Titans 

have three returning starters 

up front, including Faulks. 

However, HTRS must improve 

its takeaway total after forcing 

only 10 turnovers last season. 

Losing the turnover battle was 


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a main contributor to HTRS’ 

struggles last season. 

The Titans’ 2017 campaign 

begins on Aug. 25th against 

Lincoln Lutheran. The most 

difficult part of the HTRS 

schedule comes in mid- 

September when the Titans 

travel to Yutan and Wilber- 

Clatonia in back-to-back weeks. 

Key Players: 

Conner Bredemeier (6’ 175 lbs) 

Jr. WR/LB 

Carter Drake (6’6” 220 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Hunter Hain (6’ 150 lbs) Jr. RB/ 

DB 

In Rashawn Harvey’s first season 

as Kearney Catholic football 

coach in 2016, things couldn’t 

have gone much better. Sure, 

his squad suffered a loss in the 

regular season, but it was to a 

team from Kansas. 

The Stars ran the table otherwise, 

making it all the way to the 

state semifinals before being 

bounced emphatically by Bishop 

Neumann. 

Even after the 8-1 campaign, 

the Stars might be entering this 

season looking to prove doubters 

wrong. It’s a phrase not normally 

heard when a team performs as 

well as Kearney Catholic did last 

year, but let’s take a closer look. 

Of the eight regular season wins 

Kearney Catholic recorded, a 

whopping six of them were 

against teams with three wins or 

less, and only two of them with 

winning records. 

Fortunately for the fellas in gold 

and yellow, they get the same 

schedule in 2017, and they’re 

hoping for more of the same. 

KCHS returns star quarterback 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Stars 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 10-2 


Head Coach: Rashawn Harvey 


Assistant Coaches: Paul Brungardt, 

Rick Moses, Mike Pacheco, Matt 

Johnson, Matt Coop, Lance Sorensen, 

Dave Coling 

Matt Masker for his senior 

season, and he might be taking 

an eraser to the Kearney Catholic 

record books this fall. 

In 2016 alone, he threw for 36 

touchdowns and more than 2,700 

yards. Coach Harvey couldn’t be 

more excited to have him back 

under center. 

“Matt has a great combination 

of size, accuracy, footwork and 

arm strength as a quarterback,” 

Harvey said. “He throws well on 

the run, makes great decisions, 

and plays with poise. He’s a 

young man (who) goes the extra 

mile to be successful, plus he’s 

a great leader and excellent 

teammate.” 

Harvey went on to say Masker 

could be one of his team’s best 

college football prospects by the 

end of the season, but only time 

will tell. 

Masker won’t have to do it alone 

as the Stars look to make another 

deep run in the Class C1 playoffs. 

Wide receiver Brett Kaiser found 

himself on the receiving end of 

plenty of Masker touchdown 

passes in 2016 and figures to be a 

force again in 2017. 

“Brett’s size and speed will be 

difficult to match up for any 

defensive back,” Harvey said. 

“He has great footwork, runs 

excellent routes, plus catches 

anything thrown near him.” 

Usually lost on the mix of a 

team’s football roster is the placekicker, 

but that’s not the case for 




9/8 @ Ogallala 

9/16 Garden Plain KS 

9/22 Cozad 

9/29 @ Mitchell 

10/6 @ Minden 


10/20 @ Broken Bow 

the Stars. All-State kicker Caleb 

Hoyt is also back for his senior 

season after going a perfect 

10-for-10 on field goals last 

year. What’s worse for KCHS 

opponents is that Harvey said 

Hoyt extended his kicking range 

over the offseason. 

If you haven’t noticed, however, 

we’re not talking a lot about the 

KCHS defense. Mainly because 

there’s simply not a lot returning 

- two starters to be exact. Kaiser 

will be back at linebacker, as will 

senior Jake Gappa who doubles 

as a running back for the team. 

“We will need to develop players 

in multiple areas after the loss of 

nine defensive starters,” Harvey 

said. “Many new faces will 

challenge each other for playing 

time at linebacker and defensive 

back.” 

Key Players: 

Matt Masker (6’2” 220 lbs) Sr. QB 

Brett Kaiser (6’3” 200 lbs) Sr. WR/ 

LB 

Caleb Hoyt (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr. K/ 

LB 


KEARNEY SENIOR HIGHBEARCATS 



Since Brandon Cool took over 

the Kearney High football 

program in 2001, the Bearcats 

have missed the Class A playoffs 

only twice. Now, in his 17th 

season, Cool will look to lead 

Kearney back to the state 

championship game for the first 

time since 2006. 

It won’t be an easy task for the 

Bearcats, who return just two 

starters on offense and one 

starter on defense from last 

year’s 8-3 team that advanced 

to the second round of the state 

playoffs. 

However, one of those players 

on offense will be senior 

quarterback Kanon Koster, who 

threw for nearly 1,500 yards and 

17 touchdowns his junior season. 

When he wasn’t slinging the ball 

downfield, he used his legs to 

pick up another 500 yards and a 

score. 

“Kanon is one of the best athletes 

in Class A,” Cool said. “There’s 

nothing better than watching 

him compete on a Friday night.” 

Bearcat fans are also familiar 

with his heroics on the basketball 

court, averaging 16 points a 

game and helping lead Kearney 

to the state semifinals in March. 

Koster will have a big target 

at wide receiver in senior Bret 

Obermiller, who Cool expects 

to get a majority of the targets 

this fall. Last season, Obermiller 

appeared in seven games and 

hauled in just 10 catches, but 

averaged over 25 yards per 

reception. He finished his junior 

season with three touchdowns. 

Tyler Atchinson, a senior and 

two-way player at defensive end 

and tight end, will be another 

big target in the Bearcat passing 

attack. 

A player who could fly under 

the radar, but make considerable 

contributions, is senior offensive 

and defensive lineman Lee 

Herrington. The reigning Class 

A heavyweight wrestling 

champion saw significant snaps 

in 2016, tallying 25 total tackles. 

His supporting cast, however, 

will be filled by a number 

of players with little to no 


8/25 Grand Island 



9/15 Lincoln Northeast 

9/22 @ Fremont 

9/28 @ Millard North 

10/6 Papillion-LaVista 

10/13 Creighton Preparatory School 

10/20 @ Omaha Benson 

experience. It’s the biggest 

question mark and area of 

concern for Cool. 

Kearney opens the season for 

the second consecutive year 

versus Tri-City rival Grand 

Island. The Bearcats defeated 

the Islanders twice last season, 

first on opening night, then in 

the opening round of the Class A 

playoffs. 

Key Players: 

Kanon Koster (6’2” 210 lbs) Sr. 

QB 

Bret Obermiller (6’2” 200 lbs) Sr. 

WR 

Hunter Novacek (6’0” 195 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 



TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Bearcats 

Class: A 

2016 Record: 8-3 


Head Coach: Brandon Cool 

Assistant Coach: Brad Archer 

308.455.1335 

2112 CENTRAL AVE KEARNEY, NE 




KENESAWBLUE DEVILS 

It was an up-and-down 2016 

season for the Kenesaw Blue 

Devils. The team opened the 

season with back-to-back 

losses to Elm Creek and 

Palmer, before rattling off five 

straight wins. 

However, the Blue Devils’ 

season ended just like it 

started, with back-to-back 

losses to Heartland and 

Medicine Valley. 

In 2017, Kenesaw is returning 

nearly every starter from last 

season. The bad news for 

head coach Craig Schnitzler 

is that last year’s starting 

quarterback, Alex Heier, won’t 

be able to take the field due to 

an injury. In his place will be 

Taylor Pulver, who is moving 

from tight end to quarterback 

this season. 

If there’s one strength, besides 

experience, that the Blue 

Devils will rely on, it’s their 

running game. Kenesaw’s 

starting line features three 

seniors and a junior to go 

along with two-headed 

rushing attack. 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Blue Devils 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 5-4 


Head Coach: Craig Schnitzler 


Assistant Coaches: Chuck Roe 

and Casey Olson 

Last season, running back 

Tyson Burr was a weapon for 

the Blue Devils. Burr eclipsed 

1,000 yards rushing, caught 

30 passes, and totaled 19 

touchdowns. The senior will 

look to continue his all-around 

play and build on a solid 

defensive season, in which 

he totaled 45 tackles and two 

interceptions. 

“He will be one of our leaders. 

He has a very good work ethic 

and will work hard to get 

ready for the 2017 season,” 

Schnitzler said. 

Along with Burr in the 

backfield, Daniel Duffy will 

be relied on to clear out some 

running lanes and do the 

dirty work from the fullback 

position. Last season, Duffy 

rushed for more than 500 

yards, while also finding the 

end zone 10 times. The senior 

is also a key cog in the defense. 

Last year, he totaled 99 tackles 

and an interception from the 

linebacker position. 

“What Daniel lacks in size he 

makes up for with strength 

and desire. He’s very tough 

to tackle on offense and has 

a good nose for the ball,” 

Schnitzler said. 

Another key player, who 

could be a menace to opposing 

offenses with his speed, is 

junior defensive end John 

Schuster. Last season, Schuster 

tore his ACL in the fourth 

game of the season. He has 

since recovered from the 


8/25 @ Elm Creek 

9/1 Palmer 

9/8 Ravenna 


9/29 Franklin 


10/13 @ Superior 


injury. In fact, this past spring, 

Schuster ran the 100-meter 

dash for the track team in 11.3 

seconds. 

Kenesaw looks to be one of the 

top teams in their district on 

paper, but with a schedule that 

features games against Elm 

Creek, Palmer and Heartland, 

the road to the playoffs won’t 

be easy. 

Key Players: 

Tyson Burr (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr. 

RB/CB 

Daniel Duffy (5’9” 180 lbs) Sr. 

FB/LB 

John Schuster (5’10” 170 lbs) 

Jr. DE 

Enjoy the moment... 

knowing your local independent agent, and the company 

that stands behind them, has your family covered. 

KENESAW • HASTINGS • ROSELAND • MINDEN 

Kevin, Deb, Greg, Abby, Becky, Stacy & Wendell 

Kenesaw • 402.752.3700 



LAWRENCE-NELSONRAIDERS 

Lawrence-Nelson got off to a 

fast start in 2016. The Raiders 

won their first seven games of 

the season, before suffering two 

tough losses in a three-game 

stretch to end the year. 

The Raiders lost in the final game 

of the campaign to undefeated 

Bruning-Davenport/Shickley. 

That loss put them in a difficult 

playoff bracket, and after beating 

Mead 50-14 in the first round, 

Lawrence-Nelson squared off 

against a Bloomfield team that 

was 8-1 coming into the game. 

The Raiders would end up losing 

that game 50-20. 

While a tough bracket ended last 

season too soon, this year’s team 

could be another great one under 

head coach Brian Blevins. Blevins 

has six returning starters coming 

back this season, including some 

big-time athletes. It all starts with 

a running game that’s one of the 

best in all of Class D2. 

Among those returning is star 

running back/linebacker Kevin 

Schroer. Blevins calls Schroer one 

of the best players in Class D2. 

Last season, Schroer battled an 

TEAM FACTS 

ankle injury, but was still named 

all-state, totaling more than 

1,100 all-purpose yards. Schroer 

has also recorded back-to-back 

seasons of 100 tackles or more. 

Schroer should be able to find 

plenty of running lanes behind 

what could be one of the top 

offensive lines in the class. It’s a 

mixture of youth and experience 

in the trenches for the Raiders. 

Two underclassmen that Coach 

Blevins is excited about are 

guards Jake Sharp and Kyle 

Golay. 

Sharp is only a junior, but 

already has two years of starting 

experience as a guard and 

defensive end. Blevins calls 

the junior a “freak athlete” and 

expects him to break out in a big 

way this season. 

Golay is only a sophomore and 

stands at 6-foot-1, 230-pounds. 

Golay is also the team’s nose 

guard. 

Then there’s the senior anchoring 

the line, Anders Jenson. Jenson 

has started the last two seasons 

and is the strongest player on the 

team, benching 290 pounds and 

squatting 430 pounds. 


8/25 Sterling 


9/15 Friend 

9/22 Giltner 



10/13 Axtell 

10/20 @ BDS 

a deeper run in the playoffs. 

However, they’ll have to get 

through a tough schedule that 

features road games at BDS and 

rival Blue Hill, who was 9-2 last 

season. 

“I am once again really excited 

to start another season of Raider 

Football. Our potential is high, 

but with a brutal schedule it 

should again play out to be 

a great and exciting season,” 

Belvins said. 

Key Players: 

Kevin Schroer (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Jake Sharp (6’1” 230 lbs) Jr. G/DE 

Kyle Golay (6’1” 230 lbs) Soph. 

G/NG 

402.225.3581 

472 SOUTH MAIN - NELSON, NE 

GOOD LUCK RAIDERS! 

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK 

Team Name: Raiders 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 8-2 


Head Coach: Brian Blevins 


Assistant Coach: Jerad 

Niederklein 

Blevins will have to bring along 

a new quarterback this season 

in sophomore Luke Heikkinen. 

Heikkinen has some varsity 

experience and can use his legs as 

a weapon. 

This season the Raiders are 

hoping the players that are 

returning are enough to make 


LEXINGTONMINUTEMEN 


For the past two years, the 

Lexington Minutemen have 

ended their football seasons at 

1-8 in class B7, losing all of their 

away games. The school’s last 

winning season was back in 2008 

when the team went 6-4. 

But this year, the Minutemen 

have five returning offensive 

starters and six starters returning 

on defense. With 2017 being 

Jeff Rowan’s fifth year as the 

head coach for Lexington, he 

said, “Program numbers are 

improving, so we will have 

competition at almost every 

position.” 

In 2016, Lexington put up an 

average 11.7 points per game 

and allowed almost 41 points to 

be scored on them. 

Those numbers reflect the lack 

of experience on the roster, but 

Rowan said, “They played a 

lot of young kids last year and 

that experience will show this 

season.” 

The fact that the Minutemen 

scored 11 rushing touchdowns 

last year and only two passing 

touchdowns proves Lexington 

has more strength in their 

running game. The team 

accumulating 1,056 rushing 

yards in 2016 compared to the 

team’s 836 passing yards also 

speaks to the talent Lexington 

has in its backfield. 

Running a spread offense, junior 

quarterback Jake Leger will be 

returning with some experience 

under his belt. He has 387 career 

passing yards, one passing 

touchdown, and averages 48.4 

yards per game. 

However, Leger ran in six 

touchdowns during his 

sophomore year and had one 

game with over 100 yards 

rushing. 

The orange and black did break 

school records in 2016 for kickoff 

return yardage and punt return 

yardage in a single season, 

meaning the special teams is on 

the right track. 

Coach Rowan said there’s great 

senior leadership this year with 

five seniors coming out to be role 

models for the younger players. 


8/25 Sidney 

9/1 @ York 



9/22 Alliance 

9/29 @ Gering 

10/6 Holdrege 

10/13 @ Hastings 

10/20 McCook 

One of those seniors is three-year 

starter Oracio Corona, who is an 

offensive and defensive lineman. 

Rowan specifically praises 

Corona as a great team leader, 

but he’s also a top performer on 

the field. Corona has 17 career 

solo tackles and 57 total tackles 

averaging 3.6 tackles per game. 

Key Players: 

Oracio Corona (6’1” 240 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Ethan Woehrle (6’2” 230 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Javier Rivas (5”11” 180 lbs) Sr. 

RB 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Minutemen 

Class: B 

2016 Record: 1-8 


Head Coach: Jeff Rowan 


Assistant Coach: Mark Burson 

MAC’S 

SHORT 

STOP 

308-324-7220 

1110 N Adams St, Lexington, NE 

Good Luck to the 

Lexington Minutemen! 


LINCOLN CHRISTIANCRUSADERS 


A 72-point outburst in Lincoln 

Christian’s final game of 2016 

sends the Crusaders surging into 

the 2017 season. The Crusaders 

ended last year with a bang, 

defeating Southern by 40 points 

and breaking multiple Class C1 

records. Most notably, quarterback 

Treyson Bigler passed for 439 

yards and seven touchdowns, 

both Class C1 single-game highs. 

The mid-October win punctuated 

a late-season turnaround for 

Lincoln Christian, which ended 

the year on a three-game winning 

streak. Now, the Crusaders have 

their eyes set on playing beyond 

October in 2017. 

“If we can stay healthy and 

develop some linemen, I think we 

can turn the corner this year and 

be a playoff team,” head coach 

Kurt Earl said. 

Earl is entering his second year 

as Lincoln Christian’s head 

coach. His inaugural season had 

some highs and lows, but the 

energetic leader never wavered 

in his optimism. Earl believes he 

has a talented roster that can end 

the school’s three-year playoff 

drought. 

The Crusaders’ personnel features 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Crusaders 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 4-5 


Head Coach: Kurt Earl 


Assistant Coach: Wade Houchin 

many proven playmakers, which 

could provide many high-scoring, 

highlight-filled games this fall. 

Bigler, who stands 6-foot-3, will 

be in his second-year as the 

Crusaders’ starting quarterback. 

“Treyson got off to a rough start 

last year,” Earl said. “But he came 

back strong. He appears to be 

poised to have a breakout senior 

year.” 

Bigler’s productivity is aided by 

a pair of talented wide receivers. 

Reid Houchin is a FCS and NCAA 

Division II prospect, as well as 

Alex Schreiner. The wideout 

duo combined for 17 receiving 

touchdowns last fall. “Alex is 

probably the quickest, most 

explosive player I’ve coached 

in my 12 years of coaching high 

school football,” Earl said. The 

LCHS head coach describes 

Houchin as a “football junkie.” 

Lincoln Christian has starters back 

at 17 different positions. Junior 

Hunter Hohlen (6’ 165 lbs) adds 

depth to the receiving corps, along 

with classmate Trent Lockard (6’1” 

150 lbs). Joe Dworak will likely be 

the Crusaders’ featured running 

back for the second straight 

season. Dworak finished with six 

rushing touchdowns, which all 

occurred over the final four games 

of his sophomore campaign. 

Line play remains the biggest 

question mark for Lincoln 

Christian in 2017. Logan 

Schluckebier (6’1” 210 lbs) is the 

Crusaders’ most experienced 

player up front. Isaiah Young 

(5’11” 210 lbs), Max McEwen (6’ 

200 lbs), and Abram Stewart (5’11” 

210 lbs) will also be leaders along 


8/25 Omaha Concordia 

9/1 Wahoo 

9/8 @ Lincoln Lutheran 

9/15 @ Falls City 

9/22 Fairbury 


10/6 @ Ashland-Greenwood 


10/20 Southern 

the line. 

Defensively, Lincoln Christian 

allowed 29 points per game last 

season. With a high number of 

returning players, Earl is hoping 

his team can be more disciplined 

and limit opponents’ big plays. 

Lincoln Christian plans on playing 

all its home games at the school’s 

campus in southeast Lincoln this 

year. The Crusaders twice played 

at LCHS in 2016, after previously 

playing its home games at Abel 

Stadium or Beechner Field. 

Playing on the school grounds 

created a noticeable buzz 

across the Lincoln Christian 

community. The school had to 

bring in additional bleachers 

and a scoreboard for its home 

games. Now knowing the logistics 

of hosting a game at Lincoln 

Christian, the school plans to play 

there five times this fall. 

Key Players: 

Treyson Bigler (6’3” 180 lbs) Sr. 

QB/LB 

Alex Schreiner (5’11” 175 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Joe Dworak (5’7” 175 lbs) Jr. RB/ 

LB 


LINCOLN EASTSPARTANS 


After reaching the Class A 

semifinals in 2016, there will be 

tempered expectations at Lincoln 

East this fall. The Spartans lost a 

number of key players from last 

year’s 7-5 team, including All- 

City quarterback Carson Walters 

and Nebraska football signee 

Chris Walker. Those departures 

leave big holes at Lincoln East, 

but John Gingery doesn’t feel 

like there will be a big dropoff 

for the Spartans. Gingery 

says the 2017 roster has good 

chemistry and his players have a 

good work ethic. 

Running back Alex Hrnicek 

played an important role during 

the Spartans’ playoff run last fall. 

The 5-foot-8, 165-pound senior 

carried the ball 110 times, which 

ranked second on the team. 

Hrnicek scored four touchdowns 

and figures to be a key part of 

East’s offense this fall. He’ll 

share time in the backfield with 

classmate Peyton Aipperspach. 

He showed flashes of his bigplay 

potential as a junior, 

averaging more than six yards 

per carry. 

quarterback. Walters was 

the catalyst for a group that 

averaged 26 points per game and 

was explosive both through the 

air and on the ground. Walters 

finished his senior season 

with 28 total touchdowns. His 

replacement will likely come 

from Lincoln East’s junior 

varsity team. No player on the 

current roster has taken a snap at 

quarterback at the varsity level. 

Defensively, Lincoln East will 

lean on several first-time starters. 

The Spartans’ top seven tackle 

leaders all graduated leaving 

Gingery searching for new 

defensive playmakers. The 

long-time head coach feels the 

Spartans’ linebackers could be a 

strength. Braden Sellon (6’1” 210 

lbs) and Barrett Sellon (6’2” 210 

lbs) could step into leadership 

roles, as well as senior defensive 

end Jaden Roe. The secondary 

will be the Spartans’ most 

experienced unit on defense. 

Jerrod Searcey (5’8” 150 lbs) and 

Hrnicek are returning starters at 

cornerback. The duo combined 

for 57 tackles last season. 


8/25 @ Norfolk 

9/1 Kearney 




9/29 @ Omaha North 

10/6 Millard South 


10/20 @ Bellevue East 

8th showdown against rival 

Lincoln Southeast. The Spartans 

and Knights split their two 

meetings last season. Lincoln 

East defeated Lincoln Southeast 

24-21 behind a big second-half 

comeback in the first round of 

the Class A playoffs. 

Key Players: 

Alex Hrnicek (5’8” 165 lbs) Sr. 

RB/CB 

Zane Busekist (6’ 195 lbs) Sr. OL/ 

DL 

Jerrod Searcey (5’8” 150 lbs) Sr. 

WR/CB 

Perhaps the most important 

task for the Lincoln East offense 

is finding a new starting 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: A 

2016 Record: 7-5 


Head Coach: John Gingery 

Assistant Coaches: Bill Kechely, 

Mike Janesh, David Seizys, Ryan 

Fitzgerald, Jim Ebke 

Two added luxuries for Lincoln 

East this fall will be a talented 

kicker and returning punter. 

Johnny Hansen made three of 

four field goal attempts as a 

junior (22/23 PATs) and Chase 

Uher had 33 punts for 981 yards. 

Both Hansen and Uher are 

entering their senior seasons. 

Lincoln East’s season begins 

on Aug. 25th at Norfolk. The 

Spartans’ home opener will 

be the following week against 

Kearney. Many Lincoln East 

players look forward to the Sept. 

OUR TEAM COVERING YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG 




LINCOLN HIGHLINKS 

By: TJ Eck 

For the first time since 2004, Lincoln 

High is looking to make back-to-back 

appearances in the state playoffs. The 

Links advanced to the postseason in 

2016 after an 11-year drought, and a 

number of starters are back for a squad 

that could be a Class A sleeper in 2017. 

“I really like our competitive nature,” 

head coach Mark Macke said. “I like 

how our kids show up and work.” 

The Links didn’t have trouble scoring 

last season, as Lincoln High averaged 

34.7 points per game in 2016. With eight 

starters back on offense, the scoreboard 

operator could again be busy this year. 

Junior quarterback Cedric Case is 

expected to lead the charge, after 

throwing for 1,980 yards and 21 

touchdowns last season. Junior Frazie 

Wynn (54 rushes, 294 yards, 3 TD) and 

senior Dauntavis Lawrence (21 rushes, 

314 yards, 3 TD) are expected to share 

time at the running back position. Case 

has two experienced pass-catchers at 

the wide receiver position in senior 

Zion Perry (32 rec, 498 yards, 7 TD) and 

junior CJ Jones (30 rec, 480 yards, 4 TD). 

Junior Morgan Perry (19 rec, 181 yards, 

1 TD), who battled through injuries as 

a sophomore, could see significant time 

at wide receiver, as well. Junior John 

Goodwin (8 rec, 69 yards, 2 TD) returns 

after starting last season at tight end. 

The Links should have an experienced 

group up front with four returning 

starters on the offensive line. Seniors 

Malachi Norval (5’10” 235 lbs) and 

Mason Sullivan (5’10” 265 lbs) are 

joined by juniors Draven Long (6’0” 

245 lbs) and ZZ Zollicoffer (5’10” 325). 

Junior Garrett Hoagland (5’10 250 lbs), 

who was a starter for the Links in 2016 

until suffering an injury in week two, is 

expected to be back in the fold. 

Lincoln High will need to replace 

three-year starting linebacker Anthony 

Magor, who earned all-state honors 

last season. But the Links also have 

experienced players coming back at 

the position. Senior Jack Buchanan led 

the team in tackles with 73 and added 

nine tackles for loss and three sacks last 

year. He will team up with fellow senior 

Rashad Rucks (26 total tackles, 4 TFL) 

and junior Ethan Bruha (70 tackles, 5 

TFL) to form a strong unit. 

Opposing offenses might have a hard 

time throwing on Lincoln High in 2017, 

as the Links have three starters back in 

the secondary. Juniors Darius Luff (34 

total tackles, 2 INTs) and Isaiah Alford 

(46 total tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT) will be 

joined by senior Isaac Thomas (13 total 

tackles, 1 INT). 

There are holes to fill up front, however, 

where Norval (18 total tackles, 6 TFL, 

2 sacks) is the only returning starter. 

Hoagland is expected to start on the 

defensive line in 2017 as he returns from 

injury. 

After an 0-3 start in 2016, the Links 

surprised some people by rattling 


8/25 Omaha Northwest 


9/8 @ Papillion-LaVista South 

9/15 Omaha Bryan 

9/22 @ North Platte 

9/29 Omaha Central 

10/6 @ Fremont 

10/13 @ Lincoln Southwest 

10/20 Millard West 

off five straight wins on their way to 

a Class A playoff berth. A return to 

the postseason in 2017 isn’t out of the 

question, but Macke says health and 

depth will be two major factors for the 

Links. 

“Our kids work hard and are very 

competitive,” Macke said. “Hopefully 

that will carry over to a successful 

season.” 

However, with an offense that can score 

points in bunches and a defense that 

brings back seven starters, Lincoln High 

could be a team to watch this fall. 

Key Players: 

Cedric Case (6’1” 180 lbs) Jr. QB 

Zion Perry (5’8” 170 lbs) Sr. WR 

Jack Buchanan (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr. LB 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Links 

Class: A 

2016 Record: 5-5 


Head Coach: Mark Macke 


402.975.2048 • 906 L STREET • LINCOLN, NE 


LINCOLN LUTHERANWARRIORS 


Lincoln Lutheran is coming off 

a breakthrough season where 

the Warriors turned a winless 

record into a 7-2 finish. Greg 

Nelson’s team is hoping for an 

even bigger breakthrough in 

2017. The Warriors are aiming 

for the school’s first playoff 

berth since 2012. Lincoln 

Lutheran narrowly missed out 

on the postseason last fall which 

has served as motivation over 

the off-season. 

“This group of juniors and 

seniors has worked so hard to 

get to the place they are in,” 

Nelson said. “Their dedication 

in the weight room has made 

them successful.” 

Nelson, who’s entering his 

fourth year at Lincoln Lutheran, 

may have his deepest and most 

talented team this fall. Lincoln 

Lutheran returns starters at 

18 positions, including junior 

quarterback Zach Clausen. The 

strong-armed QB has nearly 

3,000 career passing yards. 

Clausen has triggered Lincoln 

Lutheran’s offensive resurgence, 

which scored 30 or more points 

five times last season. 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 7-2 


Head Coach: Greg Nelson 


Assistant Coaches: Brett Shamblin, 

Chris Schaedel, Drew Guiney, 

Shannon White and Ryan Stantz 

“We must become more 

diversified on offense,” Nelson 

said. “Our passing game should 

be able to give defenses trouble. 

We hope that will open the way 

for our veteran offensive line to 

create some holes in the running 

game.” Clausen led the Warriors 

with 667 rushing yards in 2016. 

Sam Rathe (6’1” 175 lbs) was 

the Warriors’ most often-used 

running back with 111 carries. 

Rathe is now in his senior year, 

along with Lincoln Lutheran’s 

top three wide receivers. 

Logan Kreizel, Joe Admiraal, 

and Cole Schaedel are all 

reliable targets in the Warriors’ 

passing game. The trio 

combined for 104 receptions 

with Schaedel (6’ 160 lbs) being 

the most often-used wideout. 

Kreizel, who will be a four-year 

starter, creates several matchup 

problems with his 6-foot-3, 

195-pound frame. 

Another strength for Lincoln 

Lutheran is its offensive line. 

All five starters return up front, 

including Jacob Wendland (6’2” 

210 lbs). The unit has shown 

tremendous growth over the 

past few seasons, according 

to Nelson. He says the team’s 

dedication to weight training 

has been key in its development. 

Defensively, Lincoln Lutheran 

is experienced but has holes in 

the middle of the unit. Nelson 

must replace starters at both 

defensive tackle and middle 

linebacker. “If we can find 

strong players to stop the run 

up front, we can be successful,” 


8/25 @ Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer 


9/8 Lincoln Christian 

9/15 @ Lutheran High Northeast 

9/22 @ Malcolm 

9/29 Freeman 

10/6 Elmwood-Murdock 

10/13 @ Omaha Brownell Talbot 

10/20 Yutan 

Nelson said. The Warriors held 

opponents to 14 points per 

game last season, but had major 

hiccups in their two losses. 

Lincoln Lutheran allowed 

34 points in a shutout loss to 

Lutheran High Northeast and 

41 in a season-ending defeat to 

Yutan. 

Overall, the outlook is bright 

for Lincoln Lutheran in 2017. 

With the Warriors’ skill and 

momentum from last season, 

the Warriors are poised to take 

another step forward this fall. 

“With high expectations, we 

must remain humble and work 

to get better each practice, day, 

and game,” Nelson said. 

Key Players: 

Zach Clausen (6’6” 190 lbs) Jr. 

QB/LB 

Logan Kreizel (6’3” 195 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

James Lavicky (6’1” 210 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DE 


LINCOLN NORTHEASTROCKETS 


A scouting report of Lincoln 

Northeast centered around Talon 

Little, Tivon Phillips, and Caden 

Highsmith in 2016. Now, opposing 

coaches will have new names to 

fill in while evaluating the Rockets. 

Lincoln Northeast is seeking 

replacements for its three most 

productive offensive players, who 

all graduated following last season. 

“A lot of guys are going to be 

pressed into varsity service as 

sophomores,” head coach Bump 

Christensen said. “(They) will 

have to grow up fast and gel as a 

team. We are extremely young.” 

Phillips was a 1,000-yard rusher 

during his senior season, while 

Little completed 58 percent of his 

passes. Highsmith, a three-year 

starter, holds the school record for 

receptions in a season. Those three 

departures, along with several 

other starters, could change the 

outlook for the Rockets this season. 

Lincoln Northeast is coming off a 

2-7 campaign that included wins 

over Fremont and Omaha Benson. 

Both the Tigers and Bunnies remain 

on the LNE schedule as district 

opponents. The Rockets hope to 

end a two-year winless streak 

against city competition. LNE faces 

Lincoln Southeast, Lincoln North 

Star and Lincoln East this fall. 

Christensen expects the Knights 

and Spartans to be among the best 

teams in the capitol city this year. 

Regardless of the schedule, Lincoln 

Northeast hopes to improve 

defensively after allowing 42 points 

per game in 2016. The Rockets 

return three starters on that side 

of the ball, including Ayden Koss- 

Marshall. The 6-foot, 195-pound 

middle linebacker’s 62 stops last 

season ranked second on the 

team. Lincoln Northeast’s other 

defensive playmakers figure to be 

Korbin Amen (5’11” 160 lbs) and 

Tobin Vocasek (6’2” 170 lbs). LNE’s 

defensive scheme could have some 

new wrinkles after coordinator 

Tim Dvorak left to become the 

head coach at Grand Island Central 

Catholic during the off-season. 

The offensive playcalling remains 

the same, and moving the football 

has rarely been an issue under 

Christensen. In 2016, Lincoln 

Northeast’s balanced attack 

averaged 343 yards. The fifthyear 

head coach must decide on a 

new starting quarterback during 

preseason practice. Sophomore 

Shadon Shannon is battling 

junior Hahler Groth for the No. 1 

quarterback job. 


8/25 Lincoln Southeast 

9/1 @ Lincoln North Star 

9/7 Omaha Benson 

9/15 @ Kearney 


9/28 Fremont 

10/6 Millard North 

10/13 @ Papillion-LaVista 

10/20 @ Creighton Preparatory School 

Emanuel will likely anchor the 

offensive line from the center 

position. Despite the unit’s youth, 

the Rockets should have good size 

up front. 

In Lincoln Northeast’s spread 

offense, there is a need for skilled, 

athletic playmakers. Christensen 

is especially looking at wideouts 

Kaleb Merrill (5’9” 160 lbs), Grant 

LeMay (6’ 180 lbs), and Jakobi 

Rose (6’1” 175 lbs) to contribute. 

As for the running back position, 

Christensen describes sophomore 

Nick Halleen a “fast, hard-nosed 

runner.” 

With Lincoln Northeast’s new 

wave of talent, there is an increased 

level of curiosity and excitement 

for the upcoming season. 

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ON 


TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Rockets 

Class: A 

2016 Record: 2-7 


Head Coach: Bump Christensen 


Assistant Coaches: Dion Gaston, 

Javonta Boyd, Donald Defrand and 

Buch Rausch 

Not only will the Rockets have a 

first-year starting quarterback, but 

the offensive line will be mostly 

inexperienced, too. Senior Brett 

Sewart (6’ 225 lbs) is the only 

returning starter at the position. 

Youngsters expected to contribute 

include Anthony Gomez (5’10” 

250 lbs), Nate Karr (6’2” 275 

lbs), Mason West (6’2” 270 lbs), 

and Orion Emanuel (6’ 270 lbs). 

“There is a high amount of 

enthusiasm on the team,” 

Christensen said. “The kids have 

put in a lot of work and they are 

ready to put it out on the field.” 

Key Players: 

Korbin Amen (5’11” 160 lbs) Sr. DB 

Kole Connick (6’1” 190 lbs) Sr. TE 

Ayden Koss-Marshall (6’ 195 lbs) 

Sr. MLB 


LINCOLN NORTH STARNAVIGATORS 

By: Joe Musso 

The Navigators are coming off a less than 

stellar 2016 season. North Star went 3-6 

last year against an extremely difficult 

Class A schedule. 

A silver lining to the sub .500 season, the 

Navigator roster was made up of plenty 

of underclassmen. Coach Mark Waller 

will return nine starters and a number 

of key contributors for the 2017 season. 

Coach Waller is entering his 15th season 

as the ‘Gators head coach. 

“We should be much better on both the 

offensive and defensive lines,” Waller 

said. “Our experience at the quarterback 

position with Gavin (Leitschuck) is key. It 

really all starts with our quarterback play. 

We took our lumps there last year but 

he’s grown immensely. We’ll also look to 

establish depth.” 

Last season, Leitschuck took the reigns at 

QB for the Navigators as a sophomore. 

Waller describes the now junior as a 

natural leader with a big arm and the 

toughness to stand in the pocket. 

With the offense relying heavily on 

their spread passing attack, North Star 

has no shortage in targets for the junior 

QB. 6-foot-4 senior wide receiver Matt 

Alexander provides a rare combination of 

size, speed, and ball skills. 

Navigators’ offense. Housh is comfortable 

both in a three-point stance or in the slot 

and provides in-game experience as a 

two-year starter. 

The Navigators will look for increased 

production on both sides of the football. In 

2016 the ‘Gator defense surrendered 25.4 

points per game while the offense only 

averaged 21.5 points per game. 

In addition, Waller hopes to take better 

advantage of their home turf this season. 

The ‘Gators only won once on their home 

field in 2016. 

“They completely understand that last 

fall was the worst win-loss record we 

had in a decade,” Waller said. “But 

our expectations haven’t changed. We 

expect to win a district title and get to the 

playoffs. In order for that to happen we 

need to get after it this summer, the kids 

realize that.” 

History has not been friendly to the 


8/25 @ Lincoln Pius X 


9/8 @ Bellevue West 

9/15 Norfolk 

9/22 Omaha South 

9/28 @ Omaha Northwest 

10/6 Omaha Westside 

10/13 @ Omaha Burke 

10/20 Lincoln Southwest 

Navigators. North Star has only been 

to the state playoffs six times in school 

history, most recently in 2015. Their lone 

playoff victory came in 2008. 

Key Players: 

Gavyn Leitschuck (5’11” 180 lbs) Jr. QB 

Matt Alexander (6’4” 180 lbs) Sr. WR 

Tyric Scott (6’4” 210 lbs) Jr. DE/TE 

“Matt has Division 1 talent and skill set,” 

Waller said. “He has all the tools. He just 

needs to put it all together and make some 

strides mentally this summer.” 

6-foot-3 senior tight end Jonah Housh 

will provide another big body for the 

CHECK THE 511 WEBSITE FOR: 

• current construction and detours 

• road closures due to construction, snow, flooding, or accidents 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Gators 

Class: A 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Mark Waller 

Assistant Coach: Brian Lauck 

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LINCOLN PIUS XTHUNDERBOLTS 

By: TJ Eck 

Ryan Kearney’s first year as 

head coach for Lincoln Pius X 

couldn’t have started better as 

the Thunderbolts opened the 

season with five straight wins in 

2016. However, the second half 

of the season produced opposite 

results, as Pius lost its final four 

regular season games before 

falling in the first round of the 

playoffs. 

Kearney is now preparing for 

year two on the sidelines at 

Pius, and he now has last year’s 

experiences to lean on as the 

Thunderbolts look to bounce 

back in 2017. 

“It’s been a little bit smoother 

(preparing for year two),” 

Kearney said. “But the nerves 

and losing a bit of sleep is 

starting to come back.” 

Kearney said one of the strengths 

for the 2017 squad comes at 

quarterback position. Three 

players, who all saw time last 

season, are expected to compete 

for the starting job this fall. 

Seniors Thomas Robertson (650 

passing yds, 7 total TD) and Joe 

Raun (391 passing yds, 6 total 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Thunderbolts 

Class: A 

2016 Record: 5-5 


Head Coach: Ryan Kearney 


Assistant Coaches: Mike Aldrich, Steve Andersen, 

Jeff Aylward, Mike Aylward, Alex Adams, 

Troy Charf, PJ Book, Jim Hansen, Alex Hain, 

Nate Heimes, Derek Hartman, Steve Engstrom, 

Tom Schneider, Cody Wallinger 

TD), along with junior Austin 

Jablonski (198 passing yds, 3 

total TD), give the Thunderbolts 

multiple options at QB. Whoever 

wins the quarterback battle 

is expected to have a talented 

group of wide receivers to throw 

the ball to. Senior Zach Kerkman 

(6’2” 220 lbs) is an impact player 

on the offensive line. 

Pius is hoping for more 

consistent play on offense this 

fall. The Thunderbolts averaged 

28 points per game in their five 

wins last season, but just 13.2 in 

the five losses. 

Defensively, Pius leans on senior 

linebacker Chris Cassidy. He 

led the Thunderbolts with 47 

total tackles and six tackles for 

loss last fall. Joining him on the 

second level of the defense are 

fellow seniors Josh Andreasen 

(41 total tackles, 5 TFL) and Joey 

Pynes (27 total tackles). Only 

four defensive starters return for 

Pius, opening the door for new 

players to step up and fill roles 


Lincoln Pius X faces the 

challenge of competing in Class 

A with one of the smallest 

enrollments in the class. 

However, the Thunderbolts 

proved last season that they can 

play with some of the biggest 

schools in the state. Kearney 

and company again face a tough 

schedule this fall that includes 

city matchups against Lincoln 

North Star (8/25), Lincoln High 

(9/1), Lincoln Southeast (9/29), 

and Lincoln East (10/13). The 

Thunderbolts also travel to 


8/25 Lincoln North Star 

9/1 @ Lincoln High 




9/29 Lincoln Southeast 

10/6 @ Grand Island 


10/20 Omaha North 

Grand Island (10/6) and play 

host to Omaha North (10/20) in 

the regular season finale. 

“Every team we play will 

be tough to beat,” Kearney 

said. “We will need to meet a 

daily goal of improvement in 

execution of fundamentals and 

improved consistency.” 

Key Players: 

Chris Cassidy (6’1” 220 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Zach Kerkman (6’2” 220 lbs) Sr. 

OL 

Josh Andreasen (5’10” 185 lbs) 

Sr. LB 

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By: TJ Eck 

LINCOLN SOUTHEASTKNIGHTS 

When the final seconds ticked off 

the clock in Lincoln Southeast’s 

season-ending loss to Lincoln 

East in the first round of the 

2016 Class A playoffs, players, 

coaches, and fans were left 

thinking: “What could have 

been?” LSE is looking to bounce 

back in 2017 after the Knights 

went 8-1 in the regular season 

last fall before surrendering a 

21-0 halftime lead to the rival 

Spartans in a 24-21 playoff loss. 

The good news: LSE brings back 

big-time players on both sides of 

the ball. Senior quarterback Jack 

Strong, who missed time last 

season with an injury, will look 

to lead the Knights’ offensive 

attack. Meanwhile, senior 

defensive tackle Bryson Williams 

is a Division 1 recruit. While the 

Knights return quality players, 

quantity may be an issue. Only 

six starters are back, including 

just two on defense. Open spots 

will provide younger players 

with a chance to fill a void, 

especially in the secondary and 

at wide receiver. 

“Younger players in our program 

must be ready to step into 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: A 

2016 Record: 8-2 


Head Coach: Ryan Gottula 


Assistant Coaches: Fred Thorne, Scott 

Vampola, Andy Ryan, Justin Freitag, Jesse 

Foster, Josh Severin, Troy Bergt, Dan 

Dougherty, Montana Jones, Colin Clare 

starting roles or provide depth 

at those positions,” head coach 

Ryan Gottula said. 

Strong, who returned to play in 

LSE’s playoff loss after missing 

the final three games of the 2016 

regular season, is a talented 

passer at the QB position. He 

threw for 991 yards and 10 

touchdowns last season while 

also adding 202 yards and 

five TDs on the ground. When 

Strong was injured, junior Jampe 

Gergen stepped in and played 

well, throwing for 655 yards 

and 7 TDs. Gottula says both 

Strong and Gergen will have a 

role in the offense in 2017. While 

the Knights have to replace a 

number of skill position players, 

LSE should have a strong 

offensive line. Three starters are 

back including Williams (6’3” 

290 lbs) at the guard position, 

senior center Riley Spicer (5’10” 

245 lbs), and junior tackle Luis 

Trujillo (6’2” 250 lbs). 

The Lincoln Southeast defense 

will have a new look in 2017. 

Williams and senior linebacker 

Calvin Kyker (40 total tackles 

in 2016) are the only returning 

starters. Replicating last year’s 

performance when the Knights 

allowed just 17.8 points per 

game may be tough, but a 

number of rising seniors are 

ready to step into starting roles. 

Lincoln Southeast has one of 

the strongest traditions of any 

high school football program 

in Nebraska. The Knights have 

won nine state titles, with the 

most recent coming in 2011. But 


8/25 @ Lincoln Northeast 

9/1 Lincoln Southwest 

9/8 Lincoln East 

9/15 @ Omaha North 


9/29 @ Lincoln Pius X 


10/12 Omaha South 


LSE hasn’t won a playoff game 

since 2012. The Knights have 

the pieces in place to make a 

postseason run in 2017 but a 

number of players must step 

into new roles and contribute 

immediately. 

“Our senior class is a group 

that has experienced a great 

deal of success the past few 

years,” Gottula said. “They are 

motivated to have a great year in 

2017.” 

Key Players: 

Bryson Williams (6’3” 290 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Jack Strong (6’3” 200 lbs) Sr. QB 

Calvin Kyker (6’0” 195 lbs) Sr. LB 

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LINCOLN SOUTHWESTSILVERHAWKS 

By: TJ Eck 

Andrew Sherman’s first year as head 

coach produced a playoff appearance 

for the Silver Hawks in 2016. In turn, 

Sherman and company are hoping 

2017 yields even better results, as 

Lincoln Southwest brings back an 

experienced team. 28 players who 

earned a letter are back in the fold 

including 16 returning starters. 

“We will have the most depth in 

school history,” Sherman said. 

“Platooning is a possibility.” 

Offensively, the Silver Hawks are 

looking for improved production in 

2017 after averaging just 19.8 points 

per game last fall. Senior Jakob 

Ahlschwede (6’4” 180 lbs) is expected 

to take over the quarterback position 

after starting the final two games of 

the 2016 campaign. 

LSW could use a committee approach 

in the backfield. Among those vying 

for time at running back are seniors 

Noah Kruger (5’11” 155 lbs), Jacob 

Buckner (6’0” 160 lbs), and Anthony 

Banderas (6’1” 205 lbs), along with 

juniors Caden McCormack (6’2” 210 

lbs) and Brett Lenners (6’3” 200 lbs). 

Sherman said depth at the running 

back position is “a good problem to 

have.” 

LSW returns a pair of starters at the 

wide receiver position in seniors 

Justin Holm (6’6” 180) and Cooper 

Samway (6’1” 180 lbs). Senior 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Silverhawks 

Class: A 

2016 Record: 4-6 


Head Coach: Andrew Sherman 


Assistant Coaches: Brett Schuster, Grant Traynowicz, 

Scott Bender, Adam Aschenbrenner, Doug 

Ayars, Brad Devall, Terry Berks, Jeff Jochum, Troy 

Kantor, Michael Roscoe, Christian Summers, 

Kevin Schrad, Ashley Wimes, Aaron Finley 

Cameron Pieper (6’4” 220) brings 

size and experience to the tight end 

position after starting in 2016. 

The strength of the Silver Hawks 

offensive attack may come from up 

front. Four starters are back along the 

offensive line in seniors Collin Shefke 

(6’4” 260 lbs), Hayden Davis (5’11” 

240 lbs), Jarrett Myers (5’10” 210 lbs), 

and junior Taylor Boutmahavong (6’0” 

200 lbs). 

But if Lincoln Southwest makes it 

back to the postseason in 2017, it 

might be the Silver Hawk defense 

that leads the way. Nine starters 

are back from a group that allowed 

seven points or less three times last 

year while surrendering 23.4 points 

per game in the regular season. The 

defensive line is led by a pair of 

seniors, as two-year starters Shefke 

and Will Uebele (5’10” 220 lbs) both 

return. Juniors Nick Leader (6’1” 

185 lbs) and Lenners also bring back 

starting experience up front. Banderas 

and McCormack are expected to man 

the linebacker spots in LSW’s 4-2-5 

scheme. 

Opposing offenses will be tasked 

with throwing against an experienced 

secondary as the Silver Hawks have 

three returning starters on the back 

end. Senior defensive backs Michael 

Ayars (5’7” 160 lbs) and Jayce Conklin 

(6’0” 170 lbs) have four years of 

starting experience between them, 

and fellow senior Cade Moeller (5’11” 

160 lbs) also started at defensive back 

in 2016. 

Playing in the postseason is a regular 

occurrence for Lincoln Southwest, as 

the program has missed the playoffs 

just once since 2003. However, LSW’s 

last playoff win came in 2011. The 

2017 Silver Hawks have the pieces 

in place to end a five-game playoff 

losing streak, but they will need to 

show improvement on offense and 

more consistency on defense. The 

season opens on Aug. 16 against 




9/8 Millard West 

9/15 @ Papillion-LaVista South 

9/22 @ Omaha Bryan 


10/6 @ Omaha Central 

10/13 Lincoln High 

10/20 @ Lincoln North Star 

Papillion-La Vista. 

Key Players: 

Anthony Banderas (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Collin Shefke (6’4” 260 lbs) Sr. OL/DL 

Caden McCormack (6’2” 210 lbs) Jr. 

RB/LB 

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LOOMISWOLVES 

Team Phelps 


By: Jay Omar 

The Loomis football team’s 

2016 regular season can be 

summed up in one word — 

dominant. Under long-tenured 

head coach Denis Reese, the 

Wolves went a flawless 8-0, 

with only one of those wins 

coming by single digits. 

The impressive season was 

unfortunately cut short, 

however, when Loomis was 

defeated by Ansley-Litchfield 

in the second round of the 

playoffs 65-20. 

This season, the Wolves will 

be hoping to make a similar 

run, perhaps with a different 

ending. 

Six starters return on both sides 

of the ball for Loomis, with 12 

letterwinners coming back in 

total. 

However, one challenge that 

Reese will be faced with will be 

replacing a backfield that led a 

high-powered offense in 2016. 

Last season, Loomis averaged 

an outstanding 46 points per 

game, while averaging nearly 

300 yards a game on the 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Wolves 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 9-1 


Head Coach: Denis Reese 


Assistant Coaches: Jason Maaske 

and Drew Billeter 

ground. 

But the offense will take on 

a new look this season, as 

quarterback Levi Arp, running 

back Cale Abramson, and 

offensive lineman Trevor 

Maaske all graduated. 

Reese knows it will be difficult 

to plug the holes, as he said 

“replacing graduated seniors 

and being consistent in our 

play” will be the biggest 

challenges his group faces this 

season. 

But there is still a lot of talent 

returning for the Wolves on 

offense, particularly on the 

offensive line. 

Hunter Banzhaff, Isaac Dunn, 

and Allen Shultz will all return 

in the trenches for Loomis, in 

addition to tight ends Drew 

Lauby and Joshua Marcy. 

Defensively, the group will roll 

out a 3-4 base defense after 

allowing 25.4 points per game 

last season and pitching two 

shutouts. 

Banzhaff, Marcy, and Shultz 

will also return to power the 

defensive line, while Isaac 

Wahls and Drew Lauby will 

anchor the secondary. 

On the surface, the Wolves 

return enough talent to put 

forth a similar product as last 

season. But according to Reese, 

avoiding injuries and finding 

players to compliment the 

starters will be vital to success. 


9/1 Axtell 



9/22 @ Eustis-Farnam 

9/29 Arapahoe 


10/13 @ Wauneta-Palisade 

10/19 Wallace 

“We must develop some depth 

on both sides of the ball,” he 

said. “We must stay healthy.” 

The 2017 season begins on Sept. 

1 for the Wolves when they 

host Axtell at 7 p.m. 

Loomis will battle the same 

schools in the same order as 

last season, boding well for 

a repeat performance of its 

undefeated campaign in 2016. 

Key Players: 

Isaac Wahls (6’ 0” 170 lbs) Jr. RB 

Drew Lauby (5’ 11” 165 lbs) Sr. 

End 

Allen Shultz (5’ 10” 185 lbs) Sr. 

OL 



SEPT 25 

MON & TUES 

8/7c 


MALCOLMCLIPPERS 

McCOOKBISON 


Every season, there seems to be a 

member of the Sackett family on the 

Malcolm roster. 2017 is no different. 

Senior Beau Sackett will be Clippers’ 

starting quarterback this fall, but he also 

marks the end of his family’s lineage 

with the Malcolm football program. 

Sackett threw for seven touchdowns and 

rushed for six scores last season. 

“I’ve coached a Sackett for as long as I 

can remember,” head coach Scott Amen 

said. 

Amen, who is entering his 11th season 

at the helm, describes Sackett as a smart, 

well-rounded athlete. “He runs well 

and is hard to bring down,” Amen said. 

“He’ll get the hard yards that we need 

from him.” 

Sackett hopes to lead Malcolm back to 

the playoffs after a 4-5 record last season. 

He’ll be complimented by junior running 

back Adam Stewart, who averaged more 

than 10 yards per carry in 2016. “We’re 

really going to rely on him a lot,” Amen 

said. Stewart played on Malcolm’s 

varsity team as both a freshman and a 

sophomore. 

Beyond Stewart and Sackett, Malcolm 

has a youthful roster. The Clippers 

return starters at just nine positions. 

The offensive line, in particular, will be 

inexperienced. 

“I don’t need 250 and 280-pounders,” 

Amen said. “Give me a 200-pounder and 

teach him the right technique and you 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Clippers 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 4-5 


Head Coach: Scott Amen 


Assistant Coaches: Matt Coufal, Chris 

Dishman, Dustin Tobey, Zach Wehner, 

Cole Gore, Dane Sackett, Zach Holka 

can be successful.” 

Amen emphasized the importance of 

player development up front and said 

his linemen must commit themselves to 

the weight room. 

“That’s a concern of mine and I’ve told 

them that,” Amen said. 

Perhaps the strongest of the group is 

Dustin Plautz (6’1” 210 lbs), who played 

in six games last fall. Plautz, along with 

Haydn Deinert (5’9” 180 lbs) and Allen 

Morsett (6’1” 175 lbs) figure to anchor 

Malcolm’s offensive line. 

Defensively, the Clippers’ strength will 

be in the linebacking corps. Sackett and 

Stewart both bring leadership on that 

side of the ball, while Gavin Goracke 

(5’10” 200 lbs) is also a returning starter. 

In the defensive backfield, Dylan 

Zoucha (5’10” 160 lbs) is coming off a 

freshman season where he had a pair of 

interceptions. 

Malcolm’s season begins on Aug. 25 at 

Oakland-Craig. The Clippers’ schedule 

includes a match-up with Douglas 

County West, which was a late addition 

to the 2017 slate. Malcolm was originally 

scheduled to host Omaha Brownell- 

Talbot on Oct. 6, but the Raiders canceled 

their football season. Malcolm had the 

option of receiving a forfeit win, but 

instead reached out to DC West, who 

was on a bye in week seven. 

“That will be a tough game,” Amen said. 


8/25 @ Oakland-Craig 

9/1 Sutton 

9/8 @ Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer 

9/15 @ Centennial 

9/22 Lincoln Lutheran 



10/13 @ Yutan 


“I’d rather play than just sit around.” 

The two teams will meet in Malcolm. 

Key Players: 

Beau Sackett (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. QB/LB 

Adam Stewart (5’7” 165 lbs) Jr. RB/LB 

Haydn Deinert (5’9” 180 lbs) Jr. OL/DL 






When football season rolls around, 

there is usually one certainty in the state 

of Nebraska: the McCook Bison will be 

gunning for a Class B crown. 

The Bison are coming off their fourth 

straight trip to the state semifinals, 

losing a heart breaker to eventual state 

champion, Elkhorn South, in doubleovertime 

last season. 

For head coach Jeff Gross, who is 

entering his 20th season at the helm, 

expectations are simple, “we expect to 

be very competitive and look to push 

deep in the playoffs.” 

Describing the Bison’s program as 

excellent since 1998 doesn’t do them 

justice. The team has a record of 179- 

41, two state titles, three state runnerups, 

ten semifinal appearances, and 

16 district titles, along with numerous 

accolades. If the team wants to capture 

a third title in 2017, the road will not 

be an easy one. The Bison will have 

six playoff teams from 2016 on the 

schedule, including an opening game 

against Aurora. 

Overall, the team will bring back 

five starters from the offense and 

six starters from the defense. Maybe 

none as important as the return of 

senior quarterback and linebacker 

Zach Schlager, a recent Colorado State 

commit who had seven scholarship 

offers. 

“His play last year spoke loud and 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Bison 

Class: B 

2016 Record: 10-2 


Head Coach: Jeff Gross 


Assistant Coach: Ross Schlager 

clear,” Gross said. 

Last season Schlager led the way in total 

tackles with 119, rushing yards with 

1,134, rushing touchdowns with 16, and 

as a starting quarterback added over 

500 yards and six touchdowns. 

Offensively, the team runs the 

I-formation as its base and has done 

so with success. If you catch a game in 

McCook, expect a high flying, athletic 

offense that can make you pay with 

a ground-and-pound and option 

approach as well as the home run 

threats. The passing attack is dangerous 

with a trio of playmakers at wide 

receiver, as Hunter Pothoff, Morgan 

Fawver, and James Mockry all return. In 

addition, DJ Gross will hold down the 

tight end position. 

The offensive line will be loaded with 

a blend of experience and grit led 

by seniors Hunter Hays and Justin 

Barenburg. 

“The offensive line should be another 

strength heading into the season,” 

Gross said. “This group is deep and 

there are a number of players that may 

even push for time.” 

The 4-4 defense the Bison use has been 

instrumental in the success over the 

years and will be a key to becoming 

champs once again. The Bison will 

bring back three linebackers in 

Schlager, Gross, and Gabe Sehnert, who 

combined racked up 284 tackles in 2016. 

Up front the defensive line brings back 

two starters, including senior Kaleb 

Taylor, who recorded 63 tackles and 

four sacks in the 2016 season. 

On special teams, junior kicker Trey 

Koetter returns after a sophomore 

season that saw him go 38 for 45 in 

extra points and five of seven in field 

goals. This is in addition to two punters 

that can “flat out punt,” Gross said. 

“The Bison are excited to bring in a new 

year and a new core of group players,” 

Gross said. “A core group of 20 seniors 


8/25 @ Aurora 

9/1 Gering 

9/8 Sidney 

9/15 @ Alliance 

9/22 York 


10/6 Hastings 

10/13 Holdrege 

10/20 @ Lexington 

and 20 juniors have been developing 

and waiting for their turn to lead this 

proud program.” 

Key Players: 

Zach Schlager (6’2’’ 220 lbs) Sr. QB/LB 

DJ Gross (6’2’’ 215 lbs) Jr. TE/LB 

Kaleb Taylor (6’4’’ 230 lbs) Sr. DE 

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McCOOL JUNCTIONMUSTANGS 


The Mustangs recorded their first 

victory since 2013 this past fall. 

Unfortunately, it would be their 

only win of the season. McCool 

Junction recorded that win in 

week two against Meridian, who 

they beat 60-26. 

After a tough 1-7 finish, Head 

Coach Jarrod Weiss remains 

optimistic about the upcoming 

season. 

“We have a good group of 

underclassmen that have put 

in the time in the offseason to 

get better,” he said. “They are a 

great group to be around and are 

excited to get started.” 

Developing depth is high on the 

to-do list for the coaching staff. 

They will be looking for guys 

to fill in the gaps of graduated 

seniors at positions such as 

running back, center, linebacker, 

defensive tackle, and safety. 

Although they haven’t played 

a down of high school ball yet, 

Weiss is hopeful freshmen Koden 

Kirkpatrick (6’2” 185 lbs) and 

Owen McDonald will play key 

roles this fall. Kirkpatrick will 

see time on the offensive and 

defensive line and McDonald will 

TEAM FACTS 

see action at guard and linebacker. 

Weiss will be looking for younger 

guys to step up, but he also brings 

back a good amount of experience 

to his 2017 roster. The Mustangs 

return five starters on offense and 

seven on defense. 

Seniors Zane Hess (5’8” 180 lbs) 

and Connor Lewis (5’6” 185 lbs) 

will anchor the offensive and 

defensive lines. The two-year 

starters combined for a total of 55 

tackles last season. 

Junior Isaac Melton (5’7” 169 

lbs) will return as the starting 

quarterback of a team who 

averaged 18.5 points a game. 

Melton rushed for 198 yards and 

threw for 113. He will also play 

linebacker, where he recorded 22 

tackles last year. 

Daulton Todd (6’0” 185 lbs) will 

be another key player for the 

Mustangs, especially on defense. 

The junior started last season and 

is the team’s returning leading 

tackler. Todd made 64 tackles last 

season and Weiss believes he will 

have an even bigger impact this 

time around. 

“He is a strong, physical kid,” he 

said. “He has the capability of 

being a difference maker.” 


8/25 @ Diller-Odell 

9/1 @ Meridian 




10/6 @ Kenesaw 


10/19 Franklin 

injuries last season, Weiss says the 

biggest key to having a successful 

season is staying healthy. Growth 

and development is the second. 

“Playing with consistency each 

game and developing our young 

guys early in the season and 

getting them acclimated to the 

high school style of play will be 

big,” he said. “We also need to 

find depth at several positions on 

the field.” 

The Mustangs haven’t been to 

the playoffs since 2013. They will 

once again face an uphill battle 

competing against three playoff 

teams this season. However, the 

mix of young and old talent has 

an opportunity this time around 

to get some redemption. The 

Mustangs will once again begin 

their fresh start against Diller- 

Odell on Aug. 25. 

Professional and Experienced Caterers 

exceed your expections, not your budget 

Team Name: Mustangs 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 1-7 


Head Coach: Jarrod Weiss 


Assistant Coaches: Scott Yates, 

Dustin Arduser, Bill Hobbs 

The Mustangs’ 4-2-2 defense 

struggled, allowing an average 

of 53 points a game. Weiss will 

also look to Jaden Gonnerman 

(5’0” 142 lbs) for leadership on 

the defensive end. The two-year 

starter had 37 tackles at linebacker 

last season and will also serve as a 

target for Melton on offense. 

After being plagued by numerous 

Key Players: 

Daulton Todd (6’0” 185 lbs) Jr. LB 

Isaac Melton (5’7” 169 lbs) Jr. QB/ 

LB 

Zane Hess (5’8” 180 lbs) Sr. OL/ 

DL 


MEDICINE VALLEYRAIDERS 

By: Joe Musso 

Medicine Valley is looking to 

build off a solid 2016 season, 

where the Raiders went 8-2 and 

notched their first playoff win 

since 2013 before falling to Elm 

Creek in the second round. 

Head coach Scott Johnsen is 

entering his 12th season at the 

helm and hopes to keep the ball 

rolling in the right direction. 

“After a positive 2016 season, 

we look to continue the process 

of building a successful 

program,” Johnsen said. 

“Depth at several positions will 

be a concern as we begin the 

season.” 

The Raiders return five starters 

on the offensive side of the 

ball and four on defense. 

While experience may not be a 

strength at Medicine Valley this 

season, Johnsen expects senior 

leadership to carry the Raiders. 

“We have a good group of 

returning seniors,” Johnsen 

said. “But we will need several 

underclassmen to make 

improvements and fill the spots 

vacated by graduation.” 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 8-2 


Head Coach: Scott Johnsen 


Assistant Coaches: Jason Maier 

and Derek Bantam 

While it may come at a 

premium, the senior talent at 

Medicine Valley knows what it 

takes to win. 

Senior running back Landon 

Lenz will carry the load for the 

Raiders’ offense. Last season 

the 5-foot-10 tailback amassed 

an astounding 1,129 yards 

on the ground on his way to 

18 rushing touchdowns. The 

junior broke the 100-yard mark 

in seven of the Raiders ten 

games last season. His 8.4 yards 

per carry was among the best in 

the state. 

“Anytime you have a returning 

1,000-yard rusher, you feel 

fortunate,” Johnsen said. “He 

has top-level speed and vision 

which has helped him to be 

successful.” 

The Raiders will need an encore 

performance out of Lenz, as 

their offensive breakdown last 

season was 80-20 run to pass. 

Lenz will have the luxury of 

running behind an offensive 

line with some experience. The 

anchor in the middle is threeyear 

letterwinner Sheldon 

Johnsen. Coach Johnsen 

describes the stout center as a 

second quarterback on the field. 

“He will be a three-year 

starter at the center position,” 

coach Johnsen said. “With our 

shotgun formation, he has 

done an excellent job of making 

great snaps as well as being our 

best blocker the last couple of 

seasons.” 



9/1 @ Sutherland 

9/8 Dundy County-Stratton 

9/15 Brady 

9/22 @ Alma 

9/29 @ Southwest 


10/19 Bertrand 

Following a solid 2016 season, 

there’s no doubt that the 

Medicine Valley program is 

headed in the right direction, as 

they’ve improved their record 

in each of the last three seasons. 

However, success in 2016 will 

depend on a core group of 

seniors hoping to put their 

final stamp on four years of 

progress. 

Key Players: 

Landon Lenz (5’7” 150 lbs) Sr. 

RB/DB 

Sheldon Johnsen (5’10” 220 lbs) 

Sr. C/LB 

Ryan Klintworth (6’1” 170) Sr. 

QB 




MERIDIANMUSTANGS 


After a disappointing 1-7 finish 

to the 2016 season, the Meridian 

football squad is looking forward 

to a fresh start and new beginning 

this fall. 

The Mustangs won just a single 

game last season, but faced a 

daunting regular season schedule, 

competing against five playoff 

teams including Sacred Heart 

(the 2016 D2 state champion) and 

Bruning-Davenport Shickley (the 

2015 state champion). 

Despite the Mustangs record, 

Meridian is no stranger to the 

playoffs. The football program 

has made eight total playoff 

appearances, most recently in 

2014. However, getting back to 

the playoffs will be another uphill 

battle as the 2017 schedule will be 

no easier. 

Head Coach Clint Jones enters his 

12th season at the school with a 29- 

65 overall record. Despite having 

two rocky seasons, Jones is excited 

for the talent that he has returning 

this fall. 

“The Mustangs will be more 

experienced than the previous two 

seasons,” he said. 

The last few seasons, Meridian 

has not had the numbers or the 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 1-7 


Head Coach: Clint Jones 


experience on the field, but this 

new roster will. After starting 

freshman and sophomores the 

past few years, the Mustangs will 

finally have some upperclassmen 

in the rotation. This experience is 

something Jones thinks will make a 

big impact. 

“There’s a big difference between a 

freshman and a senior physically,” 

he said. “This year we will be able 

to start some juniors and seniors, 

and physically I think we’ll finally 

be able to compete with these 

teams.” 

Jones will welcome back five 

returning starters on offense and 

six on defense. Senior Carlos Dimas 

(5’6” 160 lbs) will see time on both 

sides of the ball at fullback and 

linebacker. 

“Carlos has a nose for the ball and 

always seems to be in the right 

place at the right time,” Jones said. 

“I think he’ll be able to provide 

some leadership for our young 

guys.” 

Garrett Klipp (6’1” 170 lbs) will 

be one of two juniors gracing the 

roster. Like Dimas, Klipp will 

play on both sides of the ball, 

but staying healthy will be his 

biggest challenge. The two-year 

letterwinner was injured last 

season, but Jones said Klipp is a 

“good kid and hard worker, who 

has grown a lot physically and 

finally started to develop.” 

Jones is excited to welcome a 

new addition to the Mustang 

squad, who he believes will have 

an immediate impact. Tybor 

Smith (6’1” 210 lbs) transferred 

to Meridian from Diller-Odell. 

The senior will serve as both a 

defensive end and running back 

for Meridian. The transfer helped 





9/15 Exeter-Milligan 

9/22 @ Sterling 

9/29 Falls City Sacred Heart 

10/13 @ BDS 

10/20 Pawnee City 

lead the Griffins to the playoffs last 

season. 

The heart of the offense is still 

up in the air for now. Jones will 

have the task of replacing recent 

graduate Baxter Beals, who was the 

majority of the Mustang’s offense 

last season. The battle for starting 

quarterback will be between 

sophomores Kolby Schafer (5’8” 

150 lbs) and Peyton VanWesten 

(5’6” 155 lbs). 

Schafer plays primarily I-back and 

linebacker, but will likely spend 

time at the quarterback position. 

VanWesten did get some QB 

experience in his freshman season. 

With a blank slate in front of them 

and a bigger and stronger team 

than they’ve had in past years, the 

Mustangs are excited to get back to 

work with a new winning mindset, 

which will hopefully translate to a 

winning record. 

Key Players: 

Carlos Dimas (5’6” 160 lbs) Sr. FB/ 

LB 

Garrett Klipp (6’1” 170 lbs) Jr. E/ 

DE 

Tybor Smith (6’1” 210 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

DE 

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MILFORD-DORCHESTEREAGLES 


The 2016 season was one 

of growing pains for the 

Milford-Dorchester Eagles. 

The team’s young roster 

produced a 2-7 finish on the 

campaign. However, last year’s 

inexperience has brought more 

depth and returning starters this 

year. 

With 251 career wins under 

his belt as one of Nebraska’s 

longest-tenured high school 

football coaches, Marty Hingst’s 

2017 squad will be looking to 

redeem themselves. 

“Last year we had zero returning 

starters on the offensive line,” 

Hingst said. “This year we have 

four, but we need to improve 

on the offensive line and on 

offense.” 

Returning offensive linemen 

include seniors Jesse Beel and 

Cole Kepler, as well as juniors 

Evan Richards and Zach 

Schluckebier. 

Three-year letterwinner Jacob 

Bitterman will return as the 

starting quarterback. He rushed 

for 534 yards and passed for 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C1 

2016 Record: 2-7 


Head Coach: Marty Hingst 

Career Record: 251-159-2 

Assistant Coaches: Tony Muller, 

Tim Fichtner, Ryan Voelker, 

Brent Zoubek 

685 yards in 2016. However, 

the senior’s targets remain 

uncertain. Hingst will be looking 

for receivers to replace those that 

graduated last season. 

Junior Mitch Wingard will be in 

line for the starting running back 

role. Wingard started on defense 

last season and will see time at 

linebacker come this fall. 

But it’s the defensive side of the 

ball that Hingst really wants to 

hone in on in 2016. The Eagles 

allowed an average of 28.4 points 

and 202 rushing yards per game. 

The 4-2-5 defense has some gaps, 

as the Eagles need to fill starting 

positions at defensive tackle, 

inside linebacker, safety, and 

corner. 

“Defensively we have to prevent 

big plays, something that 

bothered us to no end in 2016,” 

he said. 

Hingst hopes that the tough 

losses and adversity from last 

season will only make for a 

stronger roster come this fall. 

He added that it all starts in the 

weight room. 

“Our work in the weight room 

has improved. We went through 

some hard knocks last year 

and we’re trying to use the 

experiences to get better,” he 

said. 

The Eagles will have to get past 

a difficult start to their schedule, 

as Bishop Neumann, Columbus 

Lakeview, and Fairbury will be 



9/1 @ Adams Central 

9/8 David City 

9/15 Bishop Neumann 


9/29 @ Southern 


10/13 Lincoln Christian 

10/19 @ Fairbury 

among their toughest opponents. 

Most of those team’s key players 

will return or have enough in 

their arsenal to replace those 

who graduated. 

“The schedule at the start of 

the season is still really tough,” 

Hingst said. “It will be a close 

fight in each game.” 

Milford-Dorchester will open 

their season at home against 

Columbus Lakeview, who 

made it to the playoffs last 

season and defeated the Eagles 

30-14. The following week the 

team will host Adams Central 

and continue with an identical 

opponent lineup as last season. 

It’s the same teams and stories, 

but the Eagles hope this season 

will have a much different 

ending. 

Key Players: 

Jacob Bitterman (6’1” 175 lbs) Sr. 

QB/S 

Jesse Beel OF line (6’4” 205 lbs) 

Sr. OL/DE 

Mitch Wingard (5’9” 165 lbs) Jr. 

RB/LB 

402-761-2110 

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Dorchester • 402.946.4321 



MINDENWHIPPETS 

After back-to-back seasons 

without a victory, Minden took 

a step in the right direction in 

2016. The Whippets went 3-6, 

but will have yet another uphill 

battle in 2017. 

Jebb Hatch has stepped in as 

the new head coach for the 

Whippets, replacing former 

head coach Shannon Lovin. 

Hatch returns only seven 

starters from last season, 

four on offense and three on 

defense. He will also have a 

first-year starter under center 

and just three seniors in total. 

“We will be a very young 

team, so we will need to build 

confidence throughout the 

season,” Hatch said. “We will 

also need to develop leadership 

in the offseason.” 

While there are plenty of 

newcomers, three of the 

returners are within the 

trenches. 

Seniors Ethan Hanson and 

Gabe Walmsley will each 

enter their third season as 

starters along the offensive 

line. Hanson will also be a 

starter along the defensive line, 

while Walmsley will play at 

linebacker. 

Another key returner for 

the Whippets is sophomore 

running back Eduardo 

Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a 

starter last season, rushing for 

just over 400 yards. 

Gonzalez is one of several 

playmakers who could kickstart 

a Whippet offense that is 

transitioning from a power run 

to a spread concept. 

A change in philosophy could 

be the answer for an offense 

that has struggled in recent 

years. Last season Minden 

labored to put points on the 

board, eclipsing 20 or more 

points just once in 2016, while 

averaging roughly 90 yards 

on the ground and 70 yards 

through the air. 

The Whippets hope that a 

spread approach creates more 

running lanes and one-on-one 

situations for Gonzalez and the 

other Whippet playmakers. 


8/25 Ogallala 

9/1 @ Gibbon 




9/29 @ Cozad 

10/6 Kearney Catholic 



take advantage of a schedule 

that features five straight 

games against opponents that 

finished last season under .500. 

However, the Whippet’s week 

one match-up is a home game 

against an Ogallala team that 

finished 8-3 last season. 

Key Players: 

Ethan Hanson (6’0” 220 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Gabe Walmsley (6’0” 195 lbs) 

Sr. OL/LB 

Eduardo Gonzalez (5’8” 160 

lbs) Soph. RB 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Whippets 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Jebb Hatch 


Assistant Coaches: Tony Marino 

and Donnie Miller 

In order to make that transition 

into a new offense, Hatch 

has focused this offseason on 

strength and conditioning. 

“We had a great offseason in 

the weight room,” Hatch said. 

“The kids have been willing to 

show up and work hard.” 

If the offense can kick into 

gear, the Whippets could 




NEBRASKA CHRISTIANEAGLES 

NEBRASKA LUTHERANKNIGHTS 

By: Jay Omar 

For the Nebraska Christian 

football squad, the 2017 campaign 

will hinder on one thing — 

development. 

With only four starters returning 

on offense and five on defense, the 

Eagles will have to develop young 

talent quickly to compete in Class D1. 

And coming off a 3-5 season, head 

coach Carl Ostand is hoping to see 

steps in the right direction this year. 

In total, Nebraska Christian has 

eight returning letterwinners, 

and the vast majority of their 

experienced talent lies in the 

trenches. 

Ends Joel Kaczor and Noah Boersen 

will return with three years of 

combined starting experience, 

and will be joined by center Seth 

Hower and guard Luke Swanson, 

who have four years of combined 

service. 

Unfortunately, the backfield will 

need to be revamped, as running 

back Andrew Winsterman and 

fullback Benny Stevens both 

graduated. 

Defensively, Toby Watson and 

Kaczor will play big roles, while 

Boersen and Jake Twogood will 


Swanson will bring a plethora 

of experience to the linebacker 

position. 

There are a number of new faces 

who are expected to make major 

impacts, as well. 

Quarterback Ben Griess will be 

taking snaps from under center, 

while Sam Twogood could be an 

impact player at the tight end 

position. 

Defensively, Elijah Boersen will 

compete for a cornerback position, 

and Joel Poppe should make a 

difference from the safety spot. 

The defense will be relatively 

young, but offensively Ostand is 

confident in the key pieces he has 

returning. 

“The offense is experienced,” 

Ostand said. “The kids are very 

coachable and want to learn.” 

However, getting all of the youth on 

page with the returning talent will 

be vital to the success of the Eagles 

this season. 

“Having the newer/younger 

players develop quickly,” Ostand 

said of the biggest challenges facing 

his squad. 

The season will get under way for 

the Eagles on Aug. 25 when they 

host Guardian Angels. 

The 2016 season was a disappointing Kyle Richert will be the quarterback 

2017 SCHEDULE 2017 SCHEDULE 

one for the Nebraska Lutheran 

for the squad in 2017. With nine 

Knights. 

touchdown passes and seven rushing 

touchdowns last season, Richert has 

the potential to be a good dual-threat 

player for the team this season. 

8/25 Guardian Angels Central Catholic 

9/1 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 




9/30 @ Palmer 


10/19 East Butler 

Key Players: 

Noah Boersen (5’ 11” 155 lbs) Jr. 

End 

Joel Kaczor (6’ 2” 190 lbs) Sr. End 

Luke Swanson (6’ 225 lbs) Sr. OL 


After starting the season 0-4, the 

Knights were able to win three of 

their next four games before falling to 

Heartland to end their season. 

Head Coach Benjy Wells will hope to 

build upon the success the team found 

in the second half of the season and 

work to improve this year. 

Luckily for Wells, the Knights return 

eight starters on each side of the ball, 

and that experience could help the 

group take a step forward this year. 

“We are blessed to return everyone 

from a senior-less 2016 team and 

must continue to work hard to keep 

getting better,” Wells said. “It will 

be important for us to maintain the 

hunger and drive that helped us 

improve quite a bit from 2015 to 2016 

in order for us to get to where we want 

to be in 2017.” 

Wells’ team uses the pistol formation 

on offense and a 3-2 formation 

on defense as base sets. With the 

experience the Knights will have, the 

2017 team has the potential to break 

out. 

“We have the potential to be a good 

team,” Wells said. “How we prepare 

will determine whether that potential 

is realized or not.” 

Ben Riegsecker is another option 

offensively, as the senior can bulldoze 

his way through the defense. 

Riegsecker uses that physicality to be a 

good linebacker for the team, too. 

“He’ll do anything you ask him to do 

and leave it all on the field,” Wells said. 

“He’s especially good defensively, but 

a physical runner on offense as well, 

and perhaps the best leader on the 

team.” 

Coach Wells also recognized seniors 

Marco Machado and Leonardo Lima 

as important players for the team this 

season. 

Machado, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound 

lineman adds more physicality to the 

team. 

“He moves well for his size, is very 

physical with a little bit of a nasty 

streak on the field, and is very 

intelligent,” Wells said. “We believe he 

can be one of the very best linemen in 

the state in 2017.” 

As for Lima, a great second half of last 

season certainly caught the coach’s 

attention and Wells hopes he’ll carry 

9/1 @ Johnson-Brock 

9/8 Osceola 

9/15 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 


9/29 @ East Butler 

10/6 Central Valley 

10/13 @ Palmer 


that over into the upcoming campaign. 

“In our last four games alone, he 

rushed for 688 yards and eight 

touchdowns,” Wells said. “He has nice 

burst and good vision as a runner, 

and he will finish his runs physically. 

We believe Leo can be one of the best 

running backs in D1 in 2017.” 

The experience and talent for the 

Knights is there. Add in the toughness, 

and if the Knights can carry last 

season’s momentum into this year, 

they can be a surprisingly good team. 

“We believe that a strong half of 2016 

can help us take another step forward 

in 2017,” Wells said. 

Key Players: 

Marco Machado (6’3” 295lbs) Sr. OL/ 

DL 

Ben Riegsecker (5’8” 180lbs) Sr. RB/LB 

Leonardo Lima (5’9” 190lbs) Sr. RB/LB 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 3-5 


Head Coach: Carl Ostrand 


Assistant Coaches: Andy Falk, 

Dave Gee and Levi Laudrigan 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Benjy Wells 


Assistant Coach: PJ Bunyard 

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NELIGH-OAKDALEWARRIORS 

The 2016 football season was a 

good one for Neligh-Oakdale. 

They went undefeated and won 

all eight of their games by large 

margins. Head coach Ron Beacon 

formed a team that outscored all 

of its opponents by an average of 

40 points per game. 

However, a lot of those players 

have since graduated and the 

Warriors are preparing for 2017 

with a younger, less experienced 

group of athletes. 

“We have a couple linemen back 

on both sides of the ball and we 

have our running back back on 

offense and a linebacker back on 

defense. Unfortunately, we’re 

going to miss out on five starters 

on both sides,” Beacon said. 

Neligh-Oakdale needs to fill ten 

crucial positions this year with 

only three starters returning on 

both sides of the ball. 

Beacon said, “We need to really 

figure out who our third lineman 

is going to be on both sides of the 

ball, and we need a kid to step 

up or maybe two kids, one on 

each side. I think skill-wise we’ll 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 8-0 


Head Coach: Ron Beacon 


Assistant Coaches: George Loofe, 

Matt Parr 

be pretty good, just having kids 

understand that they’re going to 

have to step up into a larger role 

and be confident in their role.” 

Other positions include finding 

a starting quarterback, a running 

back, the receiving core, as well 

as the defensive backs and the 

majority of special teams. 

“We had a four-year starter at 

quarterback last year who fully 

understood exactly what we were 

doing. So he completed right at 

79% of his passes. That’s a big 

number regardless of what level 

you play at,” Beacon said. “So in 

order for us to do that, our skill 

kids are really going to have to 

gel in a hurry. I mean he was 

throwing to the same kids for 

three years in a row. So to think 

that we’ll go out and score 60 

points a game, I don’t foresee that 

happening early, but I do think 

that we can get there because I 

think our skill kids are going to 

be pretty good.” 

The Warriors expect incoming 

sophomore Hunter Charf to fills 

the role of quarterback. 

“He was our backup last year 

as a freshman so he’s been in 

our system for a full year. He 

understands the terminology, 

he understands the concepts 

that we teach. He hasn’t had the 

opportunity to do it in a game 

where the game was on the 

line,” Beacon said. “I mean he 

obviously has a lot of playing 

time in games last year because 

of the scoring statistic. But he 

hasn’t started in a game and done 


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9/29 Clarkson/Leigh 

10/6 @ Pender 



that kind of thing. Hunter really 

wants to be good and he’s gone 

to some camps and he’s really 

worked on his craft and I really 

think he’s going to do a nice job 

for us. He’s an intelligent kid. I 

don’t know what the time table 

will be for him but I think he’ll be 

very, very good by the time that 

he’s done.” 

With a large freshman class 

coming in, Beacon said they need 

to see a lot more production 

and leadership from the 

upperclassmen. 

“We certainly are going to have 

to rely on some new kids, so from 

that standpoint I suppose you 

could call it a rebuilding year, 

but on the other hand I think that 

we have very capable people 

that we’re hoping to count on. 

Therefore I’m not looking at it as 

a rebuilding year,” he added. 

Key Players: 

Andrew Herley (5’9” 145 lbs) Jr. 

RB 

Nate Buck (5’11” 220 lbs) Sr. C/ 

DL 

Austin Rice (6’1” 170 lbs) Jr. OLB 

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NORRISTITANS 

By: Joe Musso 

The Norris Titans are coming 

off of a solid 2016 season. 

Coach Jim Jacobsen led the 

Titans to the Class B playoffs 

for the fourth time in his seven 

years with the program. 

His expectation for 2017: more 

of the same. 

Norris will return four players 

on offense and five on defense, 

and in terms of their attack you 

can expect a run-first offense. 

Last season, Norris rushed for 

an astronomical 324 yards per 

game. 

Just as in years past, the success 

for the program will rely upon 

underclassmen stepping up 

into key roles. 

“As with every season we will 

need to find young men to 

step up and fill key spots on 

the offensive line,” Jacobsen 

said. “We look for this team 

to be tough and have great 

leadership. Our ability to play 

great defense early will be a 

key to the season. Expectations 

and attitudes are high for a 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: B 

2016 Record: 8-3 


Head Coach: Jim Jacobsen 


Assistant Coaches: Gary DeBoer 

and Jack Guggenmos 

very good year at Norris.” 

That defense Jacobsen speaks 

of recorded 16 sacks and seven 

interceptions in 2016 while only 

allowing 16 points per game. 

Senior defensive end Bryce 

Stai will lead the way for the 

Titan defense. Stai wracked up 

51 tackles, six sacks and three 

pass deflections as a junior. 

Jacobsen touts Stai as a toughas-nails 

athlete with a great 

understanding of how the game 

is played. 

But anyone who watched 

Norris football last season 

knows that the main attraction 

wears No. 9 on the offensive 

side of the ball. 

Senior all-state running back 

Austin Schultz has the ability 

to turn a three-yard loss into a 

highlight-reel touchdown every 

time he touches the ball. 

Last season, Schultz averaged 

just shy of 150 yards per game 

on his way to 1,643 yards and 

23 touchdowns. Schultz broke 

100 yards rushing in every 

game but one last season. 

“He’s the best we have ever 

coached,” Jacobsen said. “He’s 

tough to tackle, he always finds 

positive yardage, and he’s 

elusive. Austin is one of the 

very best we have ever seen.” 

On top of his game-breaking 

ability at running back, Schultz 

will return kicks and punts, 

play defensive back and punt 


8/25 Gretna 

9/1 @ Plattsmouth 

9/8 @ Seward 

9/15 Columbus 

9/22 @ Platteview 

9/29 @ Nebraska City 

10/6 Crete 

10/13 @ Waverly 

10/20 Beatrice 

for the Titans. 

Schultz is also the reigning 

Gatorade Nebraska High 

School Baseball Player of the 

Year. 

“We have been very impressed 

with how many of our players 

were involved in winter and 

spring sports,” Jacobsen said. 

“The 2017 edition of Norris 

football will be very athletic at 

the skilled positions. And we 

will look for this dedication 

to continue throughout the 

summer of ‘17.” 

The Titans will kick off their 

season on Aug. 25 at home 

versus Gretna. 

Key Players: 

Austin Schultz (5’10” 190 lbs) 

Sr. RB/DB/PR/KOR/P 

Bryce Stai (6’3” 230 lbs) Sr. DE/ 

TE 

Gus Woeppel (6’3” 290 lbs) Sr. 

C 

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ON 



NORTH CENTRALKNIGHTS 

NORTHWESTVIKINGS 

By: Joe Musso 

Despite only winning three games 

in 2016, the North Central Knights 

made their third trip to playoffs in 

the last four seasons. 

It was anything but smooth sailing 

for head coach Ryan Richey in his 

first year at the helm. The season 

started out with a win followed by 

four consecutive losses, but North 

Central managed to win two of 

their final three games and sneak 

into the playoffs. 

Despite the roller coaster ride that 

was 2016, Richey is optimistic about 

the outlook for 2017. 

“We return a good nucleus of 

players,” Richey said. “Our young 

guys are very experienced and we 

expect to be a competitive team.” 

That core of experienced leadership 

includes 12 returning starters, six 

on each side of the ball. 

“We have good overall team speed 

and a bunch of kids that work hard. 

But a lack of size and depth will be 

our weaknesses,” Richey said. 

The Knights will present a 

traditional I-formation attack on 

the offensive side of the ball. Last 

season North Central hung right 

around 50-50 run to pass. 

Whether through the air or on 

the ground, junior quarterback 

Jakob Heerten will be responsible 

for a large portion of the Knights 

production. 

“Jakob is a very accurate passer, he 

throws a good deep ball,” Richey 

said. “He’s mobile enough to buy 

extra time in the pocket as well.” 

Heerten was thrown into the fire 

last season as a sophomore and 

emerged a grizzled veteran. During 

his first season as a starter, Herteen 

threw for just shy of 1,000 yards. 

His touchdown to interception ratio 

was above 12-10, an impressive feat 

for a 15-year-old. Richey expects 

increased production from his now 

seasoned junior QB. 

One of Herteen’s favorite targets 

in 2016 was also a sophomore. 

6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver Colton 

Munguer poses rare size and 

strength at the eight-man level. 

Last season, Munger hauled in 20 

receptions for 286 yards, averaging 

over 14 yards per catch. Expect an 

increase in targets for Munger in 

2017, as the sophomore led the team 

with four receiving touchdowns 

while only averaging two catches a 

game. 

The North Central Knights will kick 

off the season against Boyd County. 

Key Players: 

Jakob Heerten (6’0” 170 lbs) Jr. 



9/8 @ Sandhills/Thedford 

9/15 Twin Loup 

9/22 Osmond 

9/28 @ Bloomfield 

10/5 Stuart 

10/13 @ St. Mary’s 

10/19 @ Elkhorn Valley 

QB/S 

Colton Munger (6’1” 185 lbs) Jr. 

WR/DE 

Griffin Smith (6’1” 160 lbs) Sr. 

WR/S 


The 2016 season can be summed 

up quite simply for the Northwest 

football team. They beat the teams 

they were expected to beat and lost 

to the teams they were expected to 

lose to, and they didn’t vary from 

that narrative. 

The teams Northwest defeated 

combined to go 9-35. As for the 

teams that beat the Vikings, it was 

a different story as they went a 

combined 37-8. Head coach Kevin 

Stein knows his team has some work 

to do, but they might not be far off 

of where they need to be. 

“We have a great opportunity to 

have a nice season,” Stein said. “Our 

first four to five games will be very 

crucial for us to hit on all cylinders.” 

Fortunately for Stein and the 

Vikings, he’s got plenty of fresh tape 

to look at as the first five games will 

be exactly the same as 2016. It’s a 

stretch where Northwest went 3-2 

and recorded their best win of the 

season - a 17-7 win over an Alliance 

team that eventually went 5-4 on the 

year. 

To do so, Northwest will be leaning 

on plenty of returning talent. 

Quarterback Carter Terry is back for 

his junior campaign, and he’ll have 

one of his favorite targets to throw 

to - senior receiver Brady Gause, 

who clocked a 4.8 40-yard-dash this 

summer. 

The Vikings will also be aided this 

fall with a few transfers that might 

see playing time immediately. 

Offensive and defensive lineman 

Ryan Melvin comes to Northwest 

from Bennington after starting last 

season on both sides of the ball. 

Northwest will also be welcoming in 

Cal Bosard from Sidney, who Stein 

believes would have been a two-way 

starter at his old school. 

One big change for the Vikings 

this fall will be a new man barking 

orders for the defense. Kyle Suttles 

takes over as defensive coordinator 

for the team, and Stein said the 

offseason has been spent getting him 

acquainted with his new role. 

“He will have to get the feel for the 

players and vice-versa,” Stein said. 

“He is extremely knowledgeable and 

the remaining defensive coaches will 

stay intact.” 

After a 5-4 regular season in 2016, 

coach Stein and the boys will be 

looking to turn a couple of those 

losses to wins with what Stein 

believes is a much more experienced 

team. 


8/25 @ Gering 

9/1 Alliance 

9/8 @ Columbus 

9/15 Lexington 



10/6 Seward 

10/13 Aurora 

10/20 @ York 

“Two of the best things about this 

year’s team (is we are) returning a 

lot of starters and contributors, and 

(we have) depth at all positions,” 

Stein said. “Class B is so brutal from 

week-to-week. Having an immature 

team that does not have solid backups 

is scary.” 

Stein continued to say he feels 

confident this team can weather 

those storms unlike last year, and 

his team will need to do so in order 

for them to be in a good place come 

district time. 

The Vikings kick off the season with 

a long road trip to Gering before 

coming home in week two to take 

on Alliance. It’s a stretch that got 

Northwest off to a 2-0 start in 2016 

- a start Stein would be more than 

pleased with in 2017. 

Key Players: 

Carter Terry (6’0” 185 lbs) Jr. QB 

Chance Hall (6’3” 220 lbs) Sr. LB 

Brady Gause (6’2” 185 lbs) Sr. WR 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Ryan Richey 


Assistant Coach: Alex 

McCleary 


Class: B 

2016 Record: 5-5 


Head Coach: Kevin Stein 


Assistant Coaches: Bill Bombeck, Kyle 

Suttles, Ken Terry, Brandon Harrington, 

Jeff Eynetich, Jeff South, Maurice Donely 

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O’NeillEAGLES 


The 2016 season will be a hard 

one to top for the O’Neill Eagles. 

Last year, the Eagles completed an 

undefeated season, winning their 

first-ever state title. Head Coach 

Brock Eichelberger has quite the 

nucleus returning this season, but 

repeating could be a difficult task 

for the Eagles. 

This year’s team returns four 

starters on offense and five 

on defense, including star 

quarterback Alex Thramer. 

Thramer, like the team last 

year, was practically flawless. 

As a junior, he threw for 2,300 

yards, 28 touchdowns and zero 

interceptions. Thramer also ran for 

more than 350 yards and added 

nine rushing touchdowns. 

“Alex has a great presence in the 

pocket, is very confident, and puts 

the ball where it needs to be,” 

Eichelberger said. 

Thramer will also have a pair of 

targets returning this season in 

Wyatt Liewer and Justin Appleby. 

At 6-foot-4, Liewer is a huge target 

on the outside and an imposing 

red zone threat for defenses. 

Last year, Liewer had 600 yards 

receiving while also hauling in 

eight touchdowns. Liewer is also 

a playmaker in the secondary, 

snagging four interceptions and 

deflecting six other passes. 

“He was our ‘lock down’ 

defender,” Eichelberger said. 

“Wyatt is a big-time playmaker 

and will play a huge part in what 

we do offensively and defensively 

this season.” 

Opposite of Liewer is Appleby, 

who’s one of the top returning 

players in Class C1. Last season, 

Appleby caught 46 passes for 768 

yards and 11 touchdowns. Like 

Liewer, Appleby is also a turnover 

machine in the secondary. During 

his junior season, Appleby 

intercepted five passes, deflected 

another two, and also forced a 

fumble. Two of those interceptions 

came in the state title game. 

“Justin is a very intelligent 

player,” Eichelberger added. “His 

craftiness and attention to detail 

when running routes is one of the 

biggest reasons for his success.” 

Despite the star power coming 



9/1 Ord 



9/22 @ West Point-Beemer 

9/29 Norfolk Catholic 

10/6 @ Pierce 

10/13 Madison 

10/19 Wayne 

back, Eichelberger, like any coach, 

views this season as an uphill 

battle. While the target is certainly 

on their back, he has seven other 

teams ranked ahead of his own. 

It could certainly be one of those 

motivational tools coaches use 

to keep their team hungry, but it 

also shows the amount of talent 

other teams have coming back. 

Regardless, with weapons O’Neill 

has back, they will certainly be in 

the hunt this fall. 

Key Players: 

Alex Thamer (6’4” 175 lbs) Sr. QB 

Wyatt Liewer (6’4” 175 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Justin Appleby (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

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P.O. Box 836 

1100 E. Douglas Street 

O’Neill, NE 68763 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: C1 

2016 Record: 13-0 


Head Coach: Brock Eichelberger 


Assistant Coaches: Brett Kaczor, 

Ed Johnson and Seth Kallhoff 

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ORDCHANTICLEERS 

OSCEOLABULLDOGS 


The Ord Chanticleers enter the 2017 

football season filled with optimism 

after finishing the 2016 campaign 

6-3, the school’s first winning record 

since 2013. 

Third-year head coach Nate Wells, 

a University of Nebraska-Lincoln 

graduate, has compiled a record of 

10-8 in his first two seasons as the 

head coach of the Chanticleers. 

Last season the Chanticleers came 

out of the gates on fire, winning four 

of their first five games with the lone 

loss to the eventual state champions 

in Class C1, O’Neil 14-0. The team 

knocked off two playoff teams, 

beating Gothenburg early on and 

Columbus Scotus later in the season. 

Both games were won by less than a 

touchdown. 

This year’s team has returners that 

made last season’s run possible, 

including quarterback and defensive 

back Jesse Ulrich. The 5-foot-11, 

185-pound junior is described by Wells 

as someone that, “makes our offense 

go. He is a great runner and thrower 

and is not afraid. He would rather run 

over you than around you.” 

Ulrich has lettered in each of his 

first two seasons at Ord, and will be 

expected to carry the load both with 

his legs as well as his arm in the 

popular spread formation. 

When using his arm, Ulrich will 

have a pair of talented, returning 

wide receivers to help take the 

pressure off. Garrett Bundy is the 

shorter, slot style of wide receiver. 

Described by coach Wells as a “very 

explosive player with excellent ball 

skills. A threat to score every time he 

touches it.” Then on the other side is 

the stouter, towering Nate Wells that 

comes in at 6-foot-3 and can help 

make those plays in the red zone. 

The offensive and defensive lines 

will be young in terms of experience. 

No player has more than one year 

as a letterwinner but will be led by 

sophomore Ethan Gabriel, who will 

be leaned on in his second year of 

playing varsity. 

In the team’s base 3-4 defense, along 

with Ulrich and Bundy at defensive 

back, Reggie McKenney will assist 

on the back end. 

While speed, overall athletic ability 

and toughness can be considered 

strengths for the Chanticleers, the 

team’s lack of size and experience at 

other positions could be a concern 

with only five starters from each 

side of the ball returning. 

Their mental toughness will be 

tested early on with a week one 

game against Broken Bow, and in 

week two the squad will head for 

a rematch against reigning state 

champs O’Neil. 



9/1 @ O’Neill 

9/8 Madison 




10/6 Columbus Scotus 



Key Players: 

Jesse Ulrich: (5’11’’ 185 lbs) Jr. QB/ 

CB 

Garrett Bundy: (5’9’’ 160 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Nate Wells (6’3’’ 160 lbs) Sr. WR/ 

OLB 

By: Jay Omar 

Although the season started and 

ended with a loss, the 2016 campaign 

featured a lot of winning for the 

Osceola football squad. 

The Bulldogs finished the year with 

an 8-2 record under head coach TJ 

Nielsen, winning eight straight games 

following a loss to BDS in week one. 

The campaign came to a close for 

Osceola following a 34-28 second 

round playoff loss to Sacred Heart. 

Even though the season ended a 

bit prematurely for the Bulldogs, 

expectations are high as Fall 2017 rolls 

around. 

Osceola returns ten letterwinners 

in total, with five returning starters 

coming back on the offense side of the 

ball and four on defense. 

The senior group is incredibly 

talented, but Nielsen said that one of 

the biggest challenges his team will 

face this season is finding younger 

players to compliment the standout 

athletes. 

“In Class D2 football, the challenge 

is always that you need to develop 

depth and stay healthy,” Nielsen 

said. “We will be focused on finding 

a few role players to go along with an 

outstanding senior group.” 

On the offensive side of the ball, a 

handful of top-tier players return for 

Osceola. 

On the offensive line, senior Tristin 

Johnston will be joined by senior 

center Derek Voigt in the trenches. 

Both players received all-district 

honors last year. 

Senior Caden Theis will be back under 

center at the quarterback position, 

as he looks to build off an all-state 

campaign in 2016. 

Helping Theis carry the load will be 

running back Brennan Bryan, another 

senior, who also earned all-district 

recognition last season. 

“We have outstanding leadership. 

We have four, four-year starters that 

understand what it takes to win,” 

Nielsen said. “As a program, we have 

developed a culture of hard work 

and discipline. I really like just being 

around our team and going to practice 

each day.” 

On defense, many of the same players 

will play vital roles, as Voigt and 

Johnston will both play defensive line, 

while Theis will roam as a linebacker. 

In addition, Brody Ienn and Tanner 

Kropatsch will join Theis in the 

linebacker role, and senior Tad Racek 

will battle in the trenches. 

The Bulldogs will once again open up 

the season against BDS, a group that 

handed Osceola a 72-42 loss last year. 


8/25 BDS 

9/1 Mead 



9/22 @ Cedar Bluffs 

9/29 Fullerton 

10/6 Humphrey St. Francis 

10/13 @ Scribner-Snyder 

And with a core group of returning 

starters coming off a successful 

season, Nielsen said that he is 

confident with a few adjustments his 

squad can be difficult to beat. 

“We will have an opportunity for 

a great season if we get strong 

leadership in practice,” he said. “If 

we can work hard and develop our 

depth, we will have a chance to be 

pretty tough out in the playoffs.” 

Key Players: 

Caden Theis (5’ 11” 190 lbs) Sr. QB/LB 

Derek Voigt (5’ 11” 235 lbs) Sr. C/NG 

Tristin Johnston (6’ 4” 240 lbs) Sr. OL/ 

DL 

Brennan Bryan (5’ 10” 200 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

DL 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Chanticleers 

Class: C1 

2016 Record: 6-3 


Head Coach: Nate Wells 


Assistant Coach: Nick Gates 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 8-3 


Head Coach: TJ Nielsen 

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OVERTONEAGLES 

PALMERTIGERS 


By: Joe Musso 

The 2016 season for the Overton 

Eagles was the continuation of 

a recent trend the program is 

not used to seeing. Since 2010, 

Overton has three district titles 

and an overall record of 42-26. 

However, 17 of those 26 losses 

have come in the last three years. 

The Eagles and seventh-year 

head coach Paul Heusinkvelt 

are looking to return to 

previous glory this fall, thanks 

in part to the return of ten 

starters and the leadership 

of nine seniors. “We have the 

majority of our team coming 

back and a group that has 

been starting since they were 

sophomores,” Heusinkvelt said. 

On offense, the Eagles will have 

two returning juniors with a 

lot of snaps under their belt. 

Braden Kizer is returning to 

quarterback the Eagles after 

starting the last 12 games 

under center. Last season, Kizer 

threw for over 600 yards, five 

touchdowns and added another 

touchdown on the ground. 

On the ground, Caleb Moore 

is one of the fastest players 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-6 


Head Coach: Paul Heusinkvelt 


Assistant Coach: Eric Ryan 

not only on the team but 

potentially in the district. 

“Another fast, hardworking 

running back that will blow 

by many defenders. This will 

be a statement year for him,” 

Heusinkvelt said. 

Last season Moore ran for 

over 300 yards and an average 

of 5.4 yards a carry plus two 

touchdowns. 

The Eagles will also look to 

lean on the team’s returning 

leader in all-purpose yards and 

all-district kick returner Ryan 

Lauby. Lauby, as a freshman, 

ran for six touchdowns, good 

for second on the team. 

Defensively, the Eagles have 

playmakers at each level. On 

the defensive line, the team 

returns junior Drake Davenport 

and seniors Schuyler Brown 

and Chevy Davenport, each 

weighing over 200 pounds. 

They also return 250-pound 

sophomore Kien Martin, who is 

looking to make an impact in his 

second year on the varsity roster. 

On the back end, the team 

returns their best defensive 

back in senior Brenden Meier, 

who was tied for second on the 

team in tackles with 54 in 2016. 

“As long as we get the job 

done in the weight room this 

summer, we should be a team 

that will make some noise this 

season,” Heusinkvelt said. 

Last season the Eagles began 



9/1 Southwest 

9/15 @ Hemingford 

9/22 Amherst 

9/29 Bertrand 



10/20 Ravenna 

with a 51-0 win over Franklin 

and will look for a similar 

result in week one this fall. But 

following the Franklin win the 

Eagles lost six straight and will 

have the exact same stretch of 

games this year. 

Key Players: 

Schuyler Brown (6’0’’ 230 lbs) 

Sr. OL/DL 

Ryan Lauby (5’11’ 160 lbs) 

Soph. RB/LB 

Caleb Moore (5’7’’ 155 lbs) Jr. 

RB/LB 

The Palmer Tigers are hungry. 

The type of hunger that only a 

semifinal loss can spark. 

The 2016 season ended in 

dramatic fashion for the Tigers. 

With just over a minute remaining 

in their semifinal match up against 

Burwell, Hunter Reimers plunged 

in for a one-yard score to pull 

the Tigers within two. Moments 

later the Tigers lined up for a 

two-point conversion that never 

materialized, and the season 

ended on a botched snap. 

Putting last season behind them 

might be the toughest task of 2017 

for head coach Nathan Glause and 

the Tigers; but if they are able to 

do so, success will follow. Palmer 

returns nine starters to a team that 

was undefeated through the regular 

season and into the playoffs. 

“We will have a solid team with 

plenty of experience,” Glause said. 

“We don’t have much depth and 

we won’t be very big, but we do 

have some quickness.” 

That quickness will be key in 

matching last year’s offensive 

production for the Tigers. In 2016, 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 11-1 


Head Coach: Nathan Glause 


Assistant Coaches: Luke 

Thompson and Jim Sake 

Palmer averaged just shy of 400 

yards per game, an even split 

between the run and pass. The 

Tigers had a habit of lighting up 

the scoreboard as well last season, 

averaging 48.3 points per game 

while only allowing 23.5 per 

game. Palmer broke the 50-point 

mark six times in 2016. 

Glause and the Tigers will need to 

find their production elsewhere, 

as Palmer lost their leading passer, 

rusher, and receiver to graduation. 

The up-and-coming talent is led 

by senior quarterback Spencer 

Wichmann. Wichmann has plenty 

of experience but will be adopting 

a new role at quarterback. Last 

season, Wichmann scored nine 

touchdowns as a running back/ 

receiver combo threat. 

On the defensive side of the ball it 

will be Dominic Donahey leading 

the way. Donahey was the Tigers 

third leading tackler in 2016 with 

99 total tackles. 

Expectations remain high for the 

Tigers in 2017. Palmer has made 

it to the state playoffs nine of the 

last 12 seasons. 



9/1 @ Kenesaw 

9/8 Burwell 




10/6 @ East Butler 

10/13 Nebraska Lutheran 

Key Players: 

Spencer Wichmann (5’10” 160 

lbs) Sr. QB/LB 

Dominic Donahey (6’0” 190 lbs) 

Sr. LB/OL 

Chad Samuelson (5’10” 200 lbs) 

Jr. RB/LB 


PAWNEE CITYINDIANS 


For Head Coach Scott Brumbaugh, 

winning is more than the numbers 

on a scoreboard, it’s a mindset and 

an attitude. It’s an attitude he hopes 

his 2017 squad learns to adopt after a 

disappointing 2-6 finish last season. 

The Indians won just two games in 

2016 against Weeping Water and 

Meridian. In addition, Pawnee City 

both won and lost by large margins 

last fall. 

“We need to change our attitude and 

learn how to win,” Brumbaugh said. 

“We played well most of last season, 

but we just couldn’t finish games.” 

Pawnee City has made eight playoff 

appearances, but hasn’t competed 

in the playoffs since 2014. With a 

new mindset and the return of six 

starters on both offense and defense, 

Brumbaugh hopes this season will 

be a much different story. 

Unlike last season, the second-year 

head coach will enjoy plenty of 

returners and upperclassmen on his 

roster. 

Senior Andrew Davis (6’3” 200 

lbs) will be the heart of the offense 

and perhaps the whole team. 

Brumbaugh describes him as the 

“leader of the team.” Davis averaged 

28.3 receiving yards a game and 

recorded three touchdowns. 

Davis will also play an integral role 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Indians 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 2-6 


Head Coach: Scott Brumbaugh 


Assistant Coach: Tyler Colvin 

in the Indians’ 3-2 defense. He’ll 

see time at defensive end, a spot he 

was very comfortable in last season. 

Davis was the second leading tackler 

on the team in 2016 with 67 total 

tackles. 

“Overall, Andrew is a great kid 

and works hard at getting better,” 

Brumbaugh said of Davis. 

Kaisonn Koester (6’0” 190 lbs) 

will return for his senior season 

at running back. Koester was the 

leading rusher for the Indians last 

season and will be a big piece of 

the squad’s pistol offense. Koester 

totaled 560 rushing yards his junior 

year and five touchdowns. 

Like Davis, Koester will see time 

on the other side of the ball on the 

defensive line. Last season, Koester 

recorded 65 tackles and one sack. 

Shamar Willey will be the engine of 

the offense. The junior wide receiver 

totaled 89 rushing yards and 

averaged 12.7 yards a game. 

Like most teams, the Indians dealt 

with several injuries. 

“Like any team, we aren’t very 

deep,” Brumbaugh said. “We need 

to stay healthy to have a chance.” 

Staying healthy will be especially 

true for Caleb Ouding (6’0” 205 lbs) 

and Marcus Gray (6’2” 285 lbs). 

Ouding will return for his senior 

season determined to make up for 

lost time. The running back missed 

his junior year due to a torn ACL. 

Gray will enter his junior year at 

nose guard. 

“Marcus has great potential, if he 

can just stay healthy,” Brumbaugh 

said. 

Sophomore TJ Mawhiney (6’0” 160 

lbs) will head the Indian offense. 

Mawhiney saw playing time last 


9/1 Omaha Christian Academy 


9/15 Falls City Sacred Heart 

9/22 Weeping Water 



10/13 Mead 

10/19 @ Friend 

season as a freshman, but will likely 

play a much larger role come this 

fall. 

Despite the team’s fair share of 

returning starters, Brumbaugh is 

looking for other guys to aid in the 

comeback effort. 

“In order to have a successful 

season, someone needs to step up 

and share the load running the ball 

with Kaisonn,” he said. “TJ must 

be able to throw the ball to loosen 

the box up some. Andrew is a great 

receiver, but we need more than just 

him to catch the football.” 

With winning comes confidence, 

and confidence translates to more 

victories. Brumbaugh said that 

getting off to a good start will be 

imperative to the rest of the season. 

“We are returning a lot of players, 

but we need to win early to build a 

winning confidence,” he said. “If we 

aren’t successful early, the season 

could easily end up like last year.” 

Key Players: 

Andrew Davis (6’3” 200 lbs) Sr. TE 

Kaisonn Koester (6’0” 190 lbs) Sr. RB 

Shamar Willey (6’0” 150 lbs) Jr. WR 


PLEASANTONBULLDOGS 


Pleasanton has become a name 

synonymous with winning 

when it comes to high school 

football in Nebraska. However, 

like any traditional power, if 

you don’t keep winning at a 

solid clip that reputation starts 

to diminish. 

Unfortunately for head 

coach Ricci Westland and the 

Bulldogs, they are on the bubble 

of being one of those teams that 

look back at the glory days. 

From 2007 to 2011, Pleasanton 

was one of the most feared 

teams in the state. They went 

a combined 36-4 in regular 

season match-ups during that 

span, but never turned any 

of those seasons into a state 

championship. 

In fact, the Bulldogs have never 

made it to a state championship 

game in school history, with 

the closest efforts being in 2007, 

when they lost to Chambers, 

and 2009 when they lost to 

Hayes Center - both in the 

semifinals. 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 3-5 


Head Coach: Ricci Westland 


Assistant Coaches: Rocky Hatch, 

Casey Loomis 

Now, there isn’t a studentathlete 

in Pleasanton High 

School who has been a part of 

one of those treasured teams. 

The last five years could be 

considered average, as the team 

went 16-24 in the regular season 

during that stretch, winning 

no more than four games in a 

season. 

They haven’t won a playoff 

game since 2011, which has 

Westland more than eager to get 

back to the style of football he 

knows how to coach, and this 

year might be the year he does 

it. 

Pleasanton has a slew of 

returning starters, with six on 

defense and four on offense. The 

team will likely be led by junior 

quarterback Tyler Pawloski who 

will be entering his third season 

at the helm of the offense. 

“He was all-district both his 

freshman and sophomore year,” 

Westland said. “He’s a very 

smart and talented athlete and 

is a two-time state champion 

wrestler as well.” 

Pawloski will be far from alone 

in the team’s push to return to 

the top of Class D2. Running 

back Eric Eply returns for a 

sophomore campaign after 

starting on both sides of the ball 

for Pleasanton as a freshman. 

Westland also said to keep 

an eye on Travis Tolles this 

season, as he might be one of 

the toughest, most hard-hitting 

players on the team. 

The Bulldogs also see a good 



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9/8 @ Axtell 



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number of returners in the 

trenches, as senior Bronson 

Gibbons and juniors Dillon 

Sievert and Caleb Riessland 

help bring experience up front 

for Pleasanton. 

As Westland enters his 22nd 

year on the sidelines at 

Pleasanton, he’ll be staring 

down the same schedule he 

had a year ago. Pleasanton will 

start the season on the road at 

Shelton, a team they beat 40-0 in 

2016. 

They’ll then face a Giltner 

team who will be coming to 

Pleasanton with a brand-new 

head coach. The Bulldogs were 

able to start 3-2 before dropping 

their final three contests of the 

year in 2016, and Westland is 

optimistic that 2017 will mark 

the beginning of a turnaround 

for his team. 

Key Players: 

Tyler Pawloski (5’6” 150 lbs) Jr. 

QB 

Eric Epley (5’10” 150 lbs) Soph. 

RB 

Bronson Gibbons (6’1” 220 lbs) 

Sr. Lineman 

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RAVENNABLUEJAYS 

As the Ravenna Blue Jays gear up 

for their second season in Class 

D1, the team is still looking for 

their first win in the class after 

going 0-8 in 2016. 

Head coach Dan Bolling will be 

back for his fifth season with 

the team and will bring back a 

majority of the team’s starters 

with 12 total, six on each side 

of the ball. Leadership will 

undoubtedly be a key for the Blue 

Jays in 2017. 

The Blue Jays will be led on 

offense by returning sophomore 

quarterback Jake Jarzynka. 

Jarzynka brings the passing and 

running ability to the option 

offense that is crucial for success. 

Senior running back Trey Nelson 

will be in the backfield along with 

returner Brayden Mueller. The 

combo will help alleviate some 

of the pressure, and fellow senior 

Josh Bauer will be on the outside 

utilizing his big frame at wide 

receiver. 

On both sides of the ball, expect 

a strength of the team to be in 

the trenches, with the offensive 

and defensive lines. Ravenna 

will run the 3-3 base defense and 

rely on the big men up front to 

get a good push. The Blue Jays 

boast five linemen that are 200 

pounds or more, as well as five 

upperclassmen led by a returner 

on both sides of the ball, Alex 

Chapa. 

At linebacker, the team will 

return three starters from 2016 

in Jarzynka, Nelson and the 

sophomore Mueller. On the 

back end, only sophomore 

Drew Bolling will return in the 

secondary, but expect new faces 

to emerge in the fall. 

In 2016, the team lost by an 

average of 36.6 points a game, 

including a pair of forgetful 

games against Superior (64-6) and 

Elm Creek (68-16). Unfortunately 

for the Blue Jays, this season’s 

schedule is identical to last 

season, with five of the teams 

being 2016 playoff teams. The 

group’s homecoming game will 

be against state quarterfinalist 

Palmer. 

After opening the season at home 

against Ainsworth, the Blue Jays 

will have their only back-to-back 




9/8 @ Kenesaw 

9/15 Palmer 



10/13 Amherst 


away games of the season, facing 

Superior and Kenesaw. The two 

teams outscored them last season 

120-20 in the two games. 

But this is not a Blue Jays team 

that is going to roll over. 

“We are looking to make drastic 

improvements with a bunch 

of young kids getting a lot of 

playing time last year,” Bolling 

said. 

Key Players: 

Jake Jarzynka (5’10’’ 160 lbs) 

Soph. QB/LB 

Brayden Mueller (5’9’’ 170 lbs) 

Soph. RB/LB 

Alex Chapa (5’6’’ 210 lbs) Jr. OL/ 

DL 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Blue Jays 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 0-8 


Head Coach: Dan Bolling 



RAYMOND CENTRALMUSTANGS 


The Mustangs of Raymond 

Central are looking to rebound 

after a bit of a rollercoaster year 

in 2016. After losing their first 

four games, the Mustangs won 

three in a row before dropping 

the final two games of the 

season. This year, they’ll hope to 

find some more consistency, but 

it won’t be easy. 

Head coach Nathan Liess said 

he expects Aquinas Catholic and 

Boys Town to lead the class once 

again, and those teams happen 

to be the first two matchups of 

the upcoming season for the 

Mustangs. 

But the schedule won’t be the 

only difficultly for Raymond 

Central. They’re looking to 

replace some key positions left 

void due to graduation, and will 

need some players to step up 

and fill the roles in order to have 

a successful campaign. 

However, the Mustangs should 

have strong play in the trenches, 

as they return four starters 

along the offensive line and 

three on the defensive line. 

Now, the Mustangs need to find 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C1 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Nathan Liess 


Assistant Coaches: Steve Rose, Pat 

Harington, Adison Kenning and 

Corey Serrano 

playmakers at other positions. 

“Developing skill positions 

on offense to play behind an 

experienced offensive line,” said 

Liess when asked what his team 

needs to do to be successful. 

“Defensively, we must rebuild 

our secondary and replace lots of 

tackles at linebacker, but expect 

to be better along the defensive 

line.” 

It’s no secret that the play of 

those filling skill positions for the 

Mustangs will be a determining 

factor in how successful the 

team is this season. One of those 

key positions they’ll need solid 

play at is quarterback, and the 

Mustangs could have a battle 

for the spot between senior 

Tucker Randall and junior Aiden 

Urbom. 

Despite the lack of experience in 

skill positions, Liess is optimistic. 

He said he likes the team they 

have, in large part because they 

have good attitudes, a good 

work ethic, and people who are 

ready to step into those bigger 

roles. 

The six players Liess and the 

Mustangs will lean on this 

season are OT/DE Jackson 

Fowler, C/LB Duke Nelson, 

OG/DE Nate Boyd, Randall, and 

TE/LB Jett Burklund. The six 

seniors all have at least one year 

of starting experience and will be 

relied on to play big roles both 

offensively and defensively for 

the Mustangs. 

The other players the team will 



9/1 Boys Town 


9/15 @ Syracuse 

9/22 Southern 



10/13 Fairbury 


look to when filling big roles 

include DT Kody Swartz, LB/ 

RB Eli Pickel, DT/OG Garret 

Moudry, LB/WR Easton 

Albrecht, Urbom, LB/RB Dylan 

Thornburg, and LB/RB Josh 

Palensky. These seven juniors 

will be needed to fill the void left 

by some of last year’s seniors 

and could be a big part of the 

reason if the Mustangs are able 

to improve upon last year’s 3-6 

record. 

Key Players: 

Jackson Fowler (5’11” 220 lbs) Sr. 

OT/DE 

Tucker Randall (5’8” 155 lbs) Sr. 

ATH/FS 

Duke Nelson (5’9” 155 lbs) Sr. C/LB 


SANDY CREEKCOUGARS 


For a program looking to 

rebuild, its not ideal to face 

the reigning state champs in 

week one. But for Sandy Creek, 

there’s a different perspective. 

The Cougars get the first 

opportunity to end Wilber- 

Clatonia’s 29-game regular 

season winning streak, which 

they will try to accomplish 

on August 25th. Sandy Creek 

knows the match-up will 

be challenging, especially 

considering the Cougars’ recent 

struggles. The 2017 squad, 

however, is full of optimism 

with starters returning at 15 

different positions. 

Sandy Creek has a solid core 

back from last season’s 1-8 

team. Running backs Nick 

Slater and Bailey Zimmerman 

lead the Cougar offense after 

combining for 639 rushing 

yards. Regardless of the ball 

carrier, Sandy Creek’s ground 

game hinges on the success of 

the offensive line. The unit is 

the strength of the team with 

starters returning at all five 

spots. Senior Hunter Rempe 

(5’10” 270 lbs) is the best of the 

group. Rempe has started every 

year since his freshman season. 

“We have an experienced 

offensive line,” Sandy Creek 

head coach Jeremy Borer said. 

“They are the key to allowing us 

to break in new skill players.” 

Other returning starters up front 

include Ty Schweer, Ryan Haack 

(5’7” 185 lbs), Colt Rademacher 

(5’10” 190 lbs), and Austin 

Wilson (5’9” 200 lbs). 

Sandy Creek hopes to increase 

its offensive production after 

averaging 10 points in 2016. 

Borer believes sophomores 

Connor Crumbliss and Wyatt 

Mach could be nice additions to 

the varsity team. The Cougars 

must also find a new starting 

quarterback after losing Nick 

Bailey to graduation. The 

departed QB threw 147 of Sandy 

Creek’s 150 passes last season. 

Defensively, Sandy Creek’s 

focus is stopping the run. The 

Cougars struggled in that area 

in 2016, allowing opponents 

to rush for an average of 300 

yards. To their credit, Sandy 

Creek faced some of Class C2’s 

most talented running attacks, 

including Wilber-Clatonia. 





9/15 Sutton 

9/22 @ Doniphan-Trumbull 

9/29 Gibbon 




times over their past 22 games. 

Borer is entering his first season 

as Sandy Creek’s head coach. 

He also takes over the school’s 

tradition-rich girls basketball 

program after legendary coach 

Russ Ninemire announced his 

retirement. 

“We want to build Sandy Creek 

football back to a respectable, 

winning program,” Borer said. 

Key Players: 

Hunter Rempe (5’10” 270 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

Ryan Haack (5’7” 185 lbs) Sr. 

OL/LB 

Colt Rademacher (5’10” 190 lbs) 

Sr. OL/DL 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 1-8 


Head Coach: Jeremy Borer 


Assistant Coaches: Matt Whitten, 

Chris Hollister, Ryan Bauer 

Haack, who plays linebacker, is 

the team’s top returning tackler. 

Rempe can also be a force along 

the defensive line. Together, 

Haack and Rempe combined for 

102 tackles last season. 

Sandy Creek is hoping 2017 

can be the start of the school’s 

resurgence in football. The 

Cougars have won just four 



SEWARDBLUEJAYS 

The Bluejays were left with a 

bad taste in their mouth after an 

uncharacteristic and disappointing 

2016 season. 

Having won just a single game 

last fall, Seward is looking for 

redemption. 

Head coach Jamie Opfer enters 

his fifth season with the school. 

His team’s 1-8 finish is something 

he hopes his returners use as fuel 

come this fall. 

“We had a rough go,” he said. 

“Last season is something we 

never want to happen again.” 

Seward has the talent to produce 

a winning record. With nine 

returning starters on offense and 

seven on defense, Opfer likes the 

experience of his roster. 

Perhaps, the squad’s biggest tool 

will be returning quarterback 

Joseph Krause. The junior threw 

for 1,669 yards and 14 touchdowns 

in 2016, and produced on the 

ground too, running for 127 yards 

and five touchdowns. 

“He’s athletic with a strong arm 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Bluejays 

Class: B 

2016 Record: 1-8 


Head Coach: Jamie Opfer 


Assistant Coaches: Wade Miller, 

Casey Makey, Joe Troester 

and he’s smart,” Opfer said. “He’s 

got all the tools to be a big-time 

player.” 

Brett Meyer will be a big target for 

Krause come this fall. The junior 

wide receiver has great hand-eye 

coordination to go along with 

his tall and athletic frame. Meyer 

averaged 23.6 receiving yards a 

game and had five touchdowns his 

sophomore season. He will play a 

vital role on the Bluejay’s offense. 

Veteran Connor Ruth will be big 

for the ground game. The senior 

running back is the younger 

brother of Corbin Ruth, who 

will start his career at Northwest 

Missouri State this fall. 

The senior running back rushed for 

300 yards and three touchdowns 

last season, adding eight receptions 

and one touchdown. The one-year 

letterwinner will also see time on 

defense at linebacker. 

Opfer says the team’s strength will 

be on defense. Ruth will be joined 

by other experienced linebackers, 

including seniors Broc Lavelle and 

Victor Sigala. 

“We are returning all of our 

linebackers from last year’s team,” 

Opfer said. “We hope they can 

elevate their game this season.” 

The offensive and defensive lines 

will not enjoy this same amount of 

experience, but Opfer is confident 

in the young guys he has to fill 

those positions. He will look to 

underclassmen like sophomores 

Tyler Lenz and Jacob Potraz to 

step up on the line. Another 


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underclassmen who will see some 

playing time is running back 

Davon Brees. The sophomore 

gained a lot of experience in his 

first season at Seward. 

“He’s going to be a good one,” 

Opfer said. 

The Bluejays haven’t been to the 

playoffs since 2014, but Opfer 

hopes that is about to change this 

fall. 

“We want to get to the playoffs and 

we have the tools to get there,” he 

said. 

Fueled by that daunting record and 

several close games that slipped 

through their fingers, the Bluejays 

are determined to end the threeyear 

playoff drought and get back 

to the football they know they are 

capable of. 

Key Players: 

Joseph Krause (6’1” 185 lbs) Jr. QB 

Brett Meyer (6’3” 180 lbs) Jr. WR 

Connor Ruth (6’0” 205 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

LB 

Since 1968 

321 Jackson Ave. 

Seward, NE 

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3501 Progressive Rd - Seward, NE 68434 

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1519 W Highway 34 Seward, NE 

402.643.6609 





ON

By: Joe Musso 

SHELBY-RISING CITYHUSKIES 

Head Coach Kevin Kopecky is 

entering his third season at the 

helm for the Huskies and his 

28th season as a head coach. 

Although his coaching roots date 

back to the 80’s, Kopecky has 

implemented a new-wave no 

huddle offense during his time at 

Shelby-Rising City. 

Last season, the Huskies limped 

to a 3-6 record in Class C2, and 

Kopecky is well aware of the 

uphill battle the Huskies face in 


“We have a very tough schedule 

and we lack size and experience,” 

Kopecky said. “Our defense must 

improve a lot and our offensive 

line must continue to get better.” 

The schedule Kopecky mentioned 

features five state playoff 

qualifiers and a week four match 

up with the defending class C2 

champion Wilber-Clatonia. It 

will be a challenge for a team of 

relative newcomers. The Huskies 

graduated 13 of 22 starters from 

last season. 

According to Kopecky, the 

Shelby-Rising City defense 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Kevin Kopecky 

Assistant Coaches: Eric Lindsley, 

Todd Pinneo, Jonathon Riggs, 

Jessie Truksa 

does have plenty of room for 

improvement. The Huskies 

surrendered 29 points per game 

while only averaging 26 as an 

offense. 

The brunt of the responsibility 

will fall on the shoulders of senior 

linebacker Brenden Johnston. 

Johnston is one of only three 

seniors on the Husky roster. The 

two way stand-out earned alldistrict 

honors in both his junior 

and sophomore seasons. 

“Brendan is a very good 

linebacker,” Kopecky said. “He 

also started at offensive tackle as 

a Junior and despite his size and 

lack of experience, he did a solid 

job. He’ll also serve as a team 

captain for the 2017 season.” 

Fellow senior Lincoln 

Schoenrock will be featured in 

the Husky offense. Schoenrock 

rushed 50 times for 269 yards 

and seven touchdowns in a 

limited role last season. Look for 

the 5-foot-9 running back and 

special teams threat to see an 

increased roll in 2017. Kopecky 

hopes to utilize Schoenrock’s 

top-end speed. The senior 

back broke the 100-meter and 

200-meter school records during 

last spring’s track season. 

“It will take a lot of hard work for 

us to have any success.” Kopecky 

said. “We’ll be young, small and 

lack experience.” 

The Huskies start the season on 

the road versus Twin River. They 

have not been to the state playoffs 

since 1999. 



9/1 Hartington Cedar Catholic 

9/8 Lutheran High Northeast 


9/22 @ Sutton 



10/13 Centura 


Key Players: 

Brenden Johnston (6’1” 190 lbs) 

Sr. OT/LB 

Lincoln Schoenrock (5’9” 165 lbs) 

Sr. RB/DB 

Austin Coffin (5’10” 150 lbs) Jr. 

WR/CB 



LEADER 




“Helping people to achieve and 

maintain good health” 




SHELTONBULLDOGS 


The Shelton Bulldogs struggled 

in 2016, claiming only one win 

throughout the season. 

They finished 1-7, with that victory 

being a forfeit by Axtell. However, 

the bulldogs are under new 

leadership with Jeff Pohl at the helm. 

This is Pohl’s fifth year with Shelton 

High School, as he began as an 

assistant coach four years ago. 

Pohl attributed last year’s struggles 

to the lack of experience on the team. 

“We were extremely young. We 

had like three freshman that played 

quite a bit out of necessity more than 

necessarily skill at times. We only 

had five upperclassmen and seniors 

and then we only had small numbers 

in the junior class. Like this year, 

we’re going to have a couple kids 

that will hopefully come back out. 

Last year we only had two juniors 

out and two sophomores out. We 

had five seniors and 10 freshman,” 

Pohl said. 

With only three returning starters, 

Shelton needs to fill all of the line 

positions, the running back position, 

and the punter/kicker. 

“It’s definitely a rebuilding year. I 

think though we do have a couple 

kids that have moved in that if 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 1-7 


Head Coach: Jeff Pohl 


Assistant Coaches: Ed Lowe, 

Taryn Hawks 

they stick around we’re going to be 

competitive, even more competitive 

than last year. Only because we’ve 

got some kids that are willing to buy 

into what it takes to win whereas 

you kind of change your attitude,” 

Pohl said. “So I’m not going to say 

we’re rebuilding talent-wise but 

we’re probably rebuilding as far as 

the culture of the program goes.” 

One area the Bulldogs can improve 

and continue to build on is the 

quarterback position. Marcus Lauber 

is a sophomore this year and he 

already has a full year of experience 

under his belt at the position. 

Pohl said, “He came in from day one 

and was our first and only option, 

so we didn’t even really have a 

backup plan. We had to kind of be 

conservative with some of our play 

calls to keep him upright. This year 

we’ve got a couple kids and some 

different packages we can use if 

something happens, so I’m looking 

for more out of him this year. But I’m 

pleased where he’s at, but just like 

any kid he’s got a long way to go.” 

Pohl has certain expectations for 

Lauber coming into this season, and 

is optimistic he can be the strong 

leader the team needs. 

“Well hopefully things will just come 

to him a lot slower. We just got done 

with one of our summer camps that 

we’ve signed up to go to and he 

looked a little bit more poised back 

there,” Pohl said. “It’s tough to come 

in as a freshman and play anywhere, 

to play every single snap at 

quarterback for us and run the plays 

that we had in mind, I commend 

him for that. I wouldn’t have wanted 

to try and do that my freshman 

year, any of it. So I just want him to 

continue to grow and maybe become 

more of a vocal leader this next 

year.” 




9/8 @ Fullerton 

9/15 Loomis 

9/29 @ Axtell 




Pohl also touched on the lack of 

depth the Bulldogs dealt with last 

year in all positions, and how that 

issue was the cause of the majority of 

their losses. 

“I’m actually extremely excited about 

the kids that we’ve got. A couple 

upperclassmen that have come back 

out, they took a year off for different 

reasons and they’re going to come 

out. Plus we’ve got our large group 

of incoming sophomores. They’re 

all getting bigger, stronger and 

can hopefully contribute,” he said. 

“We’ve got another group of possibly 

anywhere from six to eight freshman 

coming in, so we’re going to have, 

if everything goes well, we’ll have 

25 kids out which is awesome. And 

even if we don’t get a few of those 

outliers out, we’ll still have around 

the 20 mark which is great. That will 

allow us to play a full JV slate with 

our youth and that’s going to be a 

huge thing too.” 

Key Players: 

Daniel Romero (6’ 180 lbs) Sr. WR/ 

DE 

Marcus Lauber (6’2” 165 lbs) Soph. 

QB 

Ben Bombeck (5’ 10” 190 lbs) Soph. 

RB/ OL 

DENTAL CARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY 

SERVING THE SHELTON AREA FOR 30+ YEARS 

GO BULLDOGS! 

DR GAYLE KNOLL • 106 C STREET, SHELTON • 308-647-6658 


By: TJ Eck 

SILVER LAKEMUSTANGS 

Six-man football is a different 

game than its 11-man and eightman 

counterparts, and over 

the past few years Silver Lake 

has been one of the top teams 

in the state. The Mustangs are 

coming off an 8-2 record and 

an appearance in the state 

semifinals in 2016. Expectations 

are again high this fall as Silver 

Lake brings back a young, yet 

experienced group. 

“Because of injuries last fall, 

underclassmen got valuable 

playing time and experience,” 

said head coach Duane Arntt, 

who owns a 42-8 record with the 

Mustangs (93-43 overall). 

Silver Lake’s offense is led 

by dynamic senior running 

back Mark Thurston who is 

a threat in the running and 

passing game. Thurston rushed 

for 1,489 yards in 2016 while 

adding another 676 through 

the air and scoring a combined 

36 touchdowns (rushing & 

receiving). The Mustangs will 

have a new quarterback leading 

the offense in 2017 as junior 

Alex Ehrman is expected to 

assume the duty. Senior end 

Reid Parr (174 receiving yards, 

3 TD) and sophomore running 

back Zane Journey (4 total 

offensive touchdowns) return 

with starting experience. 

Much like offense, Thurston is 

the top player of Silver Lake’s 

defense. He recorded 88 total 

tackles - nine tackles for loss 

- and two sacks last fall and 

will again be looked on to lead 

the group in 2017. Journey (67 

total tackles) brings size to the 

defensive front with his 6-foot, 

200-pound frame. Ehrman (43 

total tackles, 3 INT, 11 passes 

defensed) and Parr (13 total 

tackles, 3 TFL) are expected to 


Roster size is a key factor for 

most six-man teams and Silver 

Lake is no different. Arntt hopes 

a large freshman class will help 

the Mustangs have a group of 12 

or 13 players this fall, enough to 

scrimmage live in practice. 

“We have a good-sized group 

of freshmen coming in and 

many will have to play right 

away,” said Arntt. “How well 

they step up and contribute will 


9/1 Hampton 

9/8 @ Harvard 

9/15 Red Cloud 

9/22 @McPherson County 

9/29 Maywood-Hayes Center 

10/6 @Wilcox-Hildreth 

10/12 Deshler 

10/20 @Elwood 

determine where we will finish 

at the end of the season.” 

Silver Lake is entering its sixth 

season of six-man football 

and the Mustangs have been 

successful since making the 

switch. With four returning 

starters on offense and three 

on defense, including All-State 

talent Thurston, Silver Lake 

should again be one of the top 

six-man teams in 2017. 

Key Players: 

Mark Thurston (5’9” 190 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Zane Journey (6’0” 200 lbs) 

Soph. RB/DE 

Alex Ehrman (5’10” 140 lbs) Jr. 

QB/DB 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: 6-Man 

2016 Record: 8-2 


Head Coach: Duane Arntt 


Assistant Coach: Kyle Conroy 




SOUTH LOUPBOBCATS 


A promising 2016 season came 

to a screeching halt and a 

disappointing end for the South 

Loup Bobcats. The team started 

7-0, outscoring its opponents by 

an average score of 45-13 along the 

way. Then came a disappointing 

loss to Elm Creek to wreck the 

perfect regular season, and a 

playoff loss carried even more 

heartache and abruptly ended a 

great season. 

2017 brings renewed hope and 

optimism for the Bobcats, and 

perhaps more motivation to make 

sure the season doesn’t end like 

last year. 

Head coach Andy Schwarz seems 

to know how to help his team 

improve and succeed. Before last 

year’s 7-0 start, the Bobcats went 

just 3-6 in 2015. Another fourwin 

improvement would put the 

team in the state semifinals and 

within striking range of a state 

championship. 

“Last season, injuries killed us, so 

we need to stay healthy,” Schwarz 

said. “We need to develop on the 

offensive and defensive lines.” 

Those will be the big challenges for 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Bobcats 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 7-2 


Head Coach: Andy Schwarz 


Assistant Coaches: Abe Hinman, 

Mike Weverka and Clint Lewis 

the Bobcats this season. Graduation 

created some holes along the 

offensive and defensive lines, so 

some newcomers will be relied on 

heavily. But the schedule doesn’t 

do the team any favors, either. 

“We have a very difficult 

schedule,” Schwarz said. “I expect 

Elm Creek, Amherst, Hemingford, 

and Bertrand to be near the top (of 

the class).” 

The Bobcats won’t get the luxury 

of a tune-up game, as they’ll open 

the 2017 season against one of 

those tough teams — Hemingford. 

Schwarz will rely heavily on 

a group of juniors this season, 

but he’s confident they can lead 

the way to another successful 

campaign. Landon Furne is one of 

those players. The two-year starter 

gives the Bobcats a quick and 

explosive option to hand the ball 

off to. Blake Schwarz is another 

great option on the ground, as 

he led the team in rushing last 

season, and also was a leading 

tackler at linebacker. 

And you won’t miss Jack Rush if 

you watch a South Loup game. 

The quarterback and defensive 

back has the potential to be great, 

according to his coach. If he can 

play up to that potential, it will be 

another fun year for Bobcats fans. 

There are certainly obstacles for 

this year’s team to overcome, 

but Schwarz is confident he’s got 

the right group of guys to have 

another great season. 

“They are great young men,” 


8/25 Hemingford 

9/1 @ Ainsworth 

9/8 Bertrand 

9/15 @ Sutherland 

9/29 Ravenna 


10/13 Overton 


Schwarz said. “They work hard, 

are responsible and they love the 

game.” 

As for the keys to success for 

the upcoming year, Schwarz 

doesn’t think his team needs to 

change much, but rather, just be 

themselves. 

“We need to play with confidence 

and enthusiasm,” he said. “We 

are a good team, we just need to 

believe.” 

Key Players: 

Jack Rush (6’4” 180 lbs) Sr. QB/DB 

Blake Schwarz (5’10” 180 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Landon Furne (5’9” 160 lbs) Sr. LB 



SOUTHERNRAIDERS 

The Southern Raiders struggled 

throughout the 2016 football 

season. As the smallest school 

in Class C1, the team - which is 

really Southern/Lewiston - has 

many obstacles to overcome, and 

many of those same challenges 

will need to be addressed this year 

for the team to have a successful 

campaign. 

The team will still struggle with 

depth and will need to have a few 

players to have breakout seasons 

for the team to get on track this 

year. The one good thing the 

Raiders did gain from last season 

was experience. Through the ups 

and downs of the challenging 

season, many of the players will 

have learned something that can 

help them improve from last 

season. 

Coach Kane Hookstra will likely be 

preaching that to his players, but 

the good news for the coach and 

the team is that 16 letterwinners 

and seven seniors return to the 

team for the upcoming season, 

eight on offense and six on defense. 

Of course, there are still many 

challenges the team will face, but 

the slight advantage of having an 

experienced group should be able 

to help Southern/Lewiston bounce 

back this year. 

Another key to the season, as is 

the case for every team, is health. 

Coach Hookstra says the team 

has a chance to have a successful 

season if they can avoid numerous 

injuries. Of course, the coach also 

knows a lot depends on how 

successful the offseason for the 

team is. 

“It will take a lot of hard work 

and dedication to get back on the 

winning track,” Hookstra said. A 

strong offseason combined with 

the experience the team returns 

gives plenty of hope for a bounce 

back season this year. 

With all of that said, the Raiders 

still may need a breakout season 

from a few players on the team to 

really have a great turnaround. 

Trevin Saathoff is one of the 

candidates for a breakout season 

for the team. The senior plays 

receiver and defensive back for 

the Raiders and can be a leader 

through both his words and actions 

on the field. 


8/25 @ Falls City 

9/1 @ Auburn 

9/8 Freeman 


9/22 @ Raymond Central 


10/6 @ Fairbury 

10/13 Ashland-Greenwood 


Mention for All-District and All- 

Conference awards, and recorded 

38 solo tackles for the team last 

season. 

The 2017 season shapes up to 

be another tough one for the 

Southern/Lewiston Raiders, 

but the experience and a strong 

offseason should give Raiders’ fans 

hope for the potential of a bounce 

back year this season. 

Key Players: 

Trevin Saathoff (6’0” 160 lbs) Sr. 

WR/DB 

Dalton Trauernicht (5’10” 160 lbs) 

Sr. WR/DB 

Trenton Munstermann (6’2” 200 

lbs) Sr. OL/DL 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: C1 

2016 Record: 1-8 


Head Coach: Kane Hookstra 


Assistant Coaches: Shane Saathoff, 

John Creek and Devan Garcia 

Junior quarterback and defensive 

end Drake Adams is another 

player to watch. In just three games 

last season, Adams passed for 341 

yards and 4 TDs. If he can complete 

a higher percentage of passes, he 

can be a threat for the Raiders. 

Finally, sophomore Braden Klover, 

a tight end and defensive end for 

the team, will be a big player for 

the Raiders. He was an Honorable 


SOUTHERN VALLEYEAGLES 

SOUTHWESTROUGHRIDERS 



The Southern Valley Eagles 

football team has a new coach this 

year. Darren Tobey, the school’s 

superintendent, is expected to 

take over the coaching duties 

after Bob Frederickson accepted a 

job in Coal Ridge, Colorado. 

The Eagles finished 2016 with a 

record of 3-6, and will return just 

two starters on each side of the 

ball. Southern Valley didn’t score 

in double figures any of their 

first three games last year before 

finally breaking out, scoring 35 in 

a three-point loss at Bayard. 

But the Eagles were able to win 

their next two games, averaging 

40 points while surrendering 21 

points per game in the two wins. 

Another two losses followed the 

wins before they finished the 

season with a 58-13 win over 

Sandy Creek. 

The big problem for the Eagles 

this season will likely be depth 

and experience. As mentioned 

earlier, just two starters return 

on offense and defense — OG/ 

DT Jose Olivas and TE/DE Chase 

Becker. 

Sophomore Jaden Quinn 

could be the team’s starting 

quarterback, with seniors Riley 

Mustin and Chase Becker his 

likely targets. Outside of that, 

Tobey and the Eagles will have 

to figure out who can step up 

and fill the holes in the roster. 

The Eagles will open the 2017 

season on the road when they 

take on Bridgeport on Aug. 25. 

Key Players: 

Jose Olivas (5’10” 260 lbs) Sr. G/ 

DT 

Chase Becker (6’3” 175 lbs) Sr. 

TE/DE 

Jaden Guinn (6’ 165 lbs) Soph. 

QB 


8/25 @ Bridgeport 

9/1 Hershey 

9/8 @ Minden 

9/15 Bayard 

9/22 @ Gibbon 

9/29 Wood River 




In 2016, Southwest finished with 

a 2-6 record in Class D1 under 

the direction of Nick Brost. 

Besides going 6-3 in 2015, the 

Roughriders have finished 

under .500 every year since 2007. 

However, the team returns a lot 

of starters this year and Brost 

is optimistic 2017 can propel 

the school’s football program 

forward. 

“We go into every year hoping 

for success, hoping to win more 

games than we lose, of course. 

But our schedule is really tough, 

same as last year. All the teams 

that are on our schedule are 

going to be very competitive. We 

have the potential to be really 

competitive in all of our games. 

It will just be a few minutes 

of each game that determine 

whether we win or lose,” Brost 

said. 

Returning seniors, quarterback 

Ryan Van Pelt and backs Logan 

Greenlee and Cody Downey, will 

lead this year’s offense. 

“We like to run the ball and 

in the past we’ve always ran 

the ball a lot. (We are) really 

dependent on our fullback 

and tailback to do a lot of the 

work for us,” Brost said. “We’ll 

probably be primarily a running 

team again but we always like to 

be kind of multidimensional and 

be able to throw the ball and get 

the ball in when the opportunity 

presents itself.” 

After losing every game on the 

road last season, the Roughriders 

defense is an area of focus for 

2017. The team allowed an 

average 47 points per game and 

scored 31.5. 

“Defense is where we need to 

have to improve the most off 

of last season. We have a lot of 

starters returning on offense so 

defensively we’re going to look 

different than we have in the 

past,” Brost said. 

Although, the coaching staff 

believes the team can pride itself 

on the experience from the front 

four on defense. 

A major change for Southwest 

this season is the switching up of 

leadership and coaching on the 


8/25 Sutherland 

9/1 @ Overton 

9/9 Perkins County 

9/22 @ Dundy County-Stratton 

9/29 Medicine Valley 

10/6 @ Cambridge 


10/19 Alma 

team. 

“We’re replacing a new coach, 

so we have a new offensive and 

defensive line coach. And so 

that will be interesting to see 

how that kind of works out,” 

Brost said. “So I think that area is 

going to be our biggest question 

mark going into the season.” 

Key Players: 

Ryan Van Pelt (6’0” 155 lbs) Sr. 

QB/S 

Derek Greenlee (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr. 

TE/LB 

Tanner Brooks (6’2” 215 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 3-6 


Head Coach: Darren Tobey 


Team Name: Roughriders 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-6 


Head Coach: Nick Brost 


Assistant Coaches: Marcus Bish, 

Christian Arterburn 




ST. MARY’S CATHOLICCARDINALS 

After losing only one senior to 

graduation last year, St. Mary’s 

finished the 2016 season 8-2 

with essentially their entire 

team in tact. Losing six starters 

to graduation and one transfer, 

St. Mary’s will only return 

two starters on both offense 

and defense, putting them in a 

much different situation than 

last fall. 

Head coach Tony Allen will be 

looking for fresh faces to fill 

positions at outside linebacker, 

defensive tackle, fullback, 

and nose guard just to name 

a few. Although the Cardinals 

won’t have a lot of experience 

this time around, Allen is still 

confident in his roster. 

“Even though we lost seven 

starters, a lot of the returners 

played meaningful minutes,” 

he said. 

The most experienced name on 

the roster will be senior Taylan 

Reiser (5’8” 205 lbs). Reiser 

is a two-year starter who will 

see action at outside guard, 

defensive tackle and middle 

linebacker. Last season Reiser 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 8-2 


Head Coach: Tony Allen 


Assistant Coach: Darold 

Schneider 

recorded 47 tackles and one 

sack. Reiser will likely settle 

into a leadership role come this 

fall. 

The Cardinals offense that 

rushed for 219.9 yards a game 

will look to running back 

Jared Atkeson (5’9” 170 lbs). 

The senior has never started, 

but still put up some good 

numbers last season rushing 

for 232 yards. Atkeson will also 

see time on defense at outside 

linebacker. The senior recorded 

66 tackles last fall. Senior Tate 

Shoemaker (5’11” 160lbs) and 

junior Zach Crumly (5’8” 165 

lbs) will join Atkeson at outside 

linebacker. 

Grady Semin (6’ 3” 170 lbs) will 

be another name to watch out 

for. Never being in a starting 

role, his chances this year look 

pretty good. In 2016 he had 134 

yards on the ground and 79 

receiving yards. He’ll make an 

impact on defense at safety too, 

where he racked up 18 total 

tackles. Allen said he will likely 

be the team’s new quarterback. 

Cole Rosenkrans (6’1” 220 lbs) 

will be another force on the 

3-1/4-2 defense. At 220 pounds, 

he’ll provide some size for the 

Cardinals at defensive tackle 

and offensive guard. 

With a brand new starting 

lineup will come more learning 

and a new team chemistry and 

identity. 

“We need to stay healthy,” 

Allen said. “We will have 


8/25 Allen 


9/7 Wausa 

9/21 @ Stuart 

9/29 @ Elkhorn Valley 

10/5 Bloomfield 

10/13 North Central 

10/19 @ Osmond 

new players learning new 

positions. We need to develop 

team cohesion with seven new 

starters.” 

The three-time state 

championship program knows 

what it takes to get to the 

playoffs. The Cardinals were 

knocked off by Blue Hill in the 

second round, 42-14. Losing 

just once in the regular season, 

this new Cardinal squad will 

have their work cut out for 

them this time around. 

St. Mary’s may lack in the 

experience category this 

year, but there will still be no 

shortage of drive and talent. 

The Cardinals will open their 

season on Aug. 25 at home 

against Allen. 

Key Players: 

Taylan Reiser (5’8” 205 lbs) Sr. 

OG/MLB/DT 

Jared Atkeson (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. 

RB/OLB 

Grady Semin (6’3” 170 lbs) Jr. 

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ST. PAULWILDCATS 


Although St. Paul’s nice run in 

2016 came to an end in the state 

quarterfinals with a loss to Yutan, 

an eight-win season is nothing to 

be disappointed about. Last year 

was the team’s first as a member of 

Class C2, and the Wildcats showed 

that they can be a force to be 

reckoned with. 

Head Coach Rusty Fuller’s squad 

returns seven starters on each side 

of the ball this year, which looks 

poised to make another run to the 

state playoffs, one they’re hoping 

lasts longer this time around. But 

while the 2017 Wildcats will have 

plenty of experience, Fuller still 

expects some position competition. 

One of the spots likely up for 

grabs is quarterback. Senior Jarred 

Hulinsky has played under center 

in the past, but is expected to move 

to the backfield this year. That 

leaves freshman Jackson Seward 

and Junior Michael Allen, who 

started three games at quarterback 

last season, to compete for the job. 

The good news for whoever 

wins the job is he’ll have plenty 

of help from his supporting cast. 

Four offensive lineman return for 

the Wildcats, including two first 

team all-district players in Hunter 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Wildcats 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 8-3 


Head Coach: Rusty Fuller 


Assistant Coaches: Chris Smith, 

Derek Reinsch and Alex Egger 

Kocian and Col Fousek. Add in 

running back Miles Griffith, who 

earned all-state honorable mention, 

and the Wildcats have the makings 

of a dangerous offense, especially 

running the ball. 

“We have a lot of experience (and) 

depth,” Fuller said. “Those are 

good characteristics to develop a 

solid foundation.” 

It’s more than a solid start for a 

team that loves to run the ball. 

Opponents of the Wildcats will 

see a lot of the flexbone formation 

while the team lines up in a base 

4-4 defense. If the St. Paul defense 

plays like they did last year, the 

offense won’t need to score a 

bunch of points to win games. In 

2016, the Wildcats allowed no more 

than 26 points in any game before 

giving up 39 in their season-ending 

loss to Yutan. They also had three 

shutouts. 

Kocian anchors the defensive line, 

Fousek the linebacking core, and 

Griffith the secondary of an even 

more experienced Wildcat defense. 

So what does a seemingly solid 

team need to work on to have a 

successful season? 

“We need to establish a 

quarterback and solid option run 

game,” Fuller said. “If we can get 

our ground game going and have 

success early in the season, then 

our confidence will grow and we 

could be scary.” 

Yes, St. Paul is poised to strike fear 

into several teams. But who scares 

St. Paul? Well, we don’t know that, 

but Valentine and Arcadia-Loup 

City will certainly pose threats 




9/8 @ Valentine 

9/15 Gibbon 



10/6 @ Centura 



to the Wildcats. The team will 

also likely be looking for revenge 

against Centennial after a narrow 

loss at home last season. But Fuller 

doesn’t want those teams to be 

the focus, and instead wants the 

team to just focus on playing good 

football. 

“The biggest challenges we face are 

ourselves,” Fuller said. “Too many 

times we had mental lapses last 

year that led to turnovers. We have 

good physical kids with a great 

work ethic.” 

If the Wildcats can limit those 

costly mistakes and catch up with 

the mental part of the game, Fuller 

has good reason to believe the team 

will do just fine. 

We’ll see Fuller and his Wildcats 

kick the season off on the road 

against Wood River on Aug. 25. 

Key Players: 

Tanner Wroblewski (5’9” 160 lbs) 

Sr. QB/CB 

Hunter Kocian (5’9” 215 lbs) Sr. 

DT/G 

Parker Klinginsmith (5’11” 165 lbs) 

Sr. FB/OLB 

608 Howard Ave, St Paul, NE 68873 

308-754-4611 



STUARTBRONCOS 


The Stuart Broncos enter the 2017 

season with high expectations 

following a 3-5 2016 campaign in 

Coach Colin Schurmans first year 

at the helm. The Broncos made the 

playoffs in 2015, and after missing 

out on the postseason last fall, the 

goal this year is simple — get back. 

Last season, Schurman and the 

Broncos started the campaign 2-0 

with big double-digit wins over 

Wausa and Central Valley, but after 

that the team ran into some trouble. 

In their four-game losing streak, the 

Broncos were outscored 173 to 32. 

All four of the games were against 

playoff teams in Twin Loup, St. 

Marys, Osmond and North Central. 

This season the Broncos return 

eight total starters with four 

coming back on each side of the 

ball. Maybe none as important as 

quarterback Ethan Sattler, running 

back Chance Engel, and tight end 

Isaac Steinhauser. 

“I like the group of guys we have 

coming back,” Schurman said. 

“Our quarterback, running back, 

and tight end are all coming back 

this year. Those three were a big 

part of our offense last season and 

will be again this year with a year 

of experience under their belts.” 

Last year the Broncos offense was 

incredibly balanced, averaging 

136.9 yards rushing per game, 139.4 

yards passing per game and 33.3 

points. Between Sattler, Engel and 

Steinhauser, the team will return 25 

touchdowns. 

“I like how much experience we 

have coming back,” Schurman 

said. “Our junior class got a lot of 

playing time last season and were 

our playmakers on both offense 

and defense. I like how we have 

those playmakers coming back.” 

Defensively the team’s 4-4 style 

gave up on average 36.9 points 

per game. This season Schurman 

knows what he needs out of his 

inexperienced group — leadership. 

“We will have to have guys step 

up and fill the linebackers and 

defensive backs positions. We have 

some good talent coming up so it’s 

definitely something that we can 

do.” 

If Schurman is looking for 

defensive leadership again, he 

knows where to look — Engel, who 

had 120 tackles last season, led the 

team. 

The team shouldn’t expect a cake 

walk if they want to return to 

the postseason with yet another 

gauntlet in 2017. The schedule will 

feature Twin Loup in week three 


8/25 @ Wausa 


9/8 @ Twin Loup 

9/21 St. Mary’s 

9/29 @ Osmond 


10/13 Elkhorn Valley 

10/19 Bloomfield 

followed by St. Mary’s, Osmond 

and North Central. 

Even with the tough schedule 

staring them down, Coach 

Schurman knows his guys are 

prepared for the task ahead of 

them. He said, “We will have some 

young players on the field this year 

that didn’t play much last season. 

They have the potential to be big 

time players for us.” 

Key Players: 

Ethan Sattler (5’10’’ 160 lbs) Jr. QB 

Chance Engel (5’11’’ 185 lbs) Jr. RB/ 

LB 

Isaac Steinhauser (6’3’’ 190 lbs) Jr. 

TE/DE 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 3-5 


Head Coach: Colin Schurman 


Assistant Coaches: Doug Erb, Jon 

Schmaderer 

KELLY & BETH MURPHY 

402.924.3330 • U.S. HWY 20 STUART, NE 


SUPERIORWILDCATS 

By: Joe Musso 

The Superior Wildcats are 

coming off of a 5-3 record in 

2016, but head coach Brandon 

Seigel and company aren’t 

satisfied with the way the 

season ended. The Wildcats 

strung together a four-game 

winning streak in the middle of 

the season but stumbled to a 1-2 

finish. Nonetheless, 2016 was a 

huge improvement from their 

1-8 showing a year prior. 

Seigel hopes to build more 

momentum for the program in 


This will be Seigel’s fourth 

season as head coach of the 

Wildcats, and the Superior staff 

will have their work cut out for 

them. The Wildcats graduated 

16 of 22 starters. 

Seigel knows the task won’t be 

easy. 

“After graduating eight seniors 

from last season’s team, we are 

looking to rebuild our varsity 

roster,” he said. “We have 

quality returning skill players, 

our challenge will be rebuilding 

our offensive and defensive 

lines, as well as finding a 

quarterback to lead the offensive 

side of the ball.” 

Those quality position players 

are highlighted by senior 

running back Trey Fierstein. 

Fierstein racked up 383 yards 

on just 55 carries in 2016. 

The talented tailback also 

accounted for six touchdowns. 

After playing second fiddle in 

his junior season, Fierstein is 

looking forward to the lion’s 

share of the touches in 2017. 

“Trey is an explosive running 

back with the ability to carry 

a team with his talent,” Seigel 

said. “He will be a crucial part 

of our offense this season.” 

The Wildcats will lean on 

the two-headed monster of 

Fierstein and Chase Morris. 

Morris provides the thunder to 

Fierstein’s lightning. Morris had 

three touchdowns of his own in 

2016 and will take on a bigger 

workload this season. 

“Chase is a tough running kid 

who’s physicality is something 

we will try to build off of on 

both sides of the ball,” Seigel 

said. 

Morris had 41 tackles at the 


8/25 Tri County 

9/1 Ravenna 

9/8 @ Diller-Odell 




10/13 Kenesaw 


linebacker position last season. 

Coach Seigel and the Wildcats 

came close last season, but the 

quest to return to the playoffs 

continues. Superior has not been 

to the NSAA playoffs since 2010, 

and their last playoff win came 

in 2007. The program is still 

without a state title. 

The Wildcats kick off the season 

at home versus Tri County. 

Key Players: 

Trey Fierstein (5’9” 150 lbs) Sr. 

RB/S 

Chase Morris (6’0” 150 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

John Sullivan (6’2” 180 lbs) Sr. 

TE/DE 

Kenny’s Lumber & Farm Supply 

Providing Superior Lumber 

www.kennylumber.doitbest.com 

155 N. Central Ave. 

Superior, NE 68978 

PHONE: 

FAX: 

402-879-3296 

402-879-3297 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Wildcats 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 5-3 


Head Coach: Brandon Siegel 


Assistant Coach: Syd Shepler 

348 N Central Ave - Superior, NE - 402-879-4234 


SUTTONMUSTANGS 

PROPANE - GAS - DIESEL - FERTILIZER - GRAIN - FLATBED HAULING 

By: TJ Eck 

Sutton head coach Steve Ramer 

is no stranger to success. In 

his seven years leading the 

Mustangs, he has posted a 53- 

20 record while leading the 

program to the playoffs in each 

season. Ramer’s 2017 squad 

should again contend for a 

postseason berth in Class C2, 

as Sutton brings back a large 

number of starters on both sides 

of the ball from a team that went 

6-4 last season. 

The Mustangs return two 

players with experience at the 

quarterback position in junior 

Jordan Davis (6’1” 185 lbs) and 

senior Chandler Stone (5’11” 

170 lbs). Last season’s leading 

rusher, Garrett Leach, has moved 

on, but talent still remains in the 

backfield. Junior Brett Simonsen 

dealt with injury in 2016 but still 

managed to rush for 339 yards 

on just 42 carries (8.1 avg) and 

score two touchdowns. Fellow 

junior James Griess (34 Att, 307 

yards, 5 TD) and senior fullback 

Spencer Sanko (19 Att, 113 yards) 

give the Mustangs options 

for running the ball. Sutton 

features a rush-heavy attack, 

but senior wide receiver Nathan 

Hohensee is a player to watch. 

Hohensee hauled in 15 catches 

for 362 yards (24.1 avg) and two 

touchdowns last fall. Seniors 

Treygan Rafert (6’3” 220 lbs) and 

Sam Nuss (6’2” 190 lbs) anchor 

the offensive line. 

Defensively, Sutton’s strength 

comes at the linebacker 

position. Five players with 

starting experience are back 

for the Mustangs, led by Griess 

(88 total tackles), and fellow 

juniors Cameron Kleinschmidt 

(84 total tackles) and Jacob 

Rogers (62 total tackles). Rafert 

(42 total tackles) provides 

experience along the defensive 

line. Hohensee is a two-way 

player who can do it all for the 

Mustangs. He registered 59 

tackles and picked off five passes 

from the defensive back position 

in 2016. 

Sutton has the luxury of being 

an experienced, but still a young 

team in 2017. The Mustangs 

have six starters back on offense 

and seven on defense but just 

five seniors are expected to see 

significant time. However, the 

junior class is a talented bunch 



9/1 @ Malcolm 








with players like Simonsen, 

Rogers, and Griess in the mix. 

Sutton should again contend 

for a playoff spot this fall and 

the Mustangs could even win a 

game or two in the postseason. 

But this season could be more 

about laying the groundwork for 

a potential state championship 

run in 2018. 

Key Players: 

Nathan Hohensee (6’3” 185 lbs) 

Sr. WR/DB 

Treygan Rafert (6’3” 220 lbs) Sr. 

OL/DL 

James Griess (5’10” 170 lbs) Jr. 

RB/LB 

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TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 6-4 


Head Coach: Steve Ramer 


Assistant Coaches: Craig Rafert, 

Chad Wiseman 


THAYER CENTRALTITANS 

By: TJ Eck 

Thayer Central head coach 

Jereme Jones is hoping his 

second season with the Titans 

gets off to a better start than the 

first. TC lost its first five games 

before winning two of three to 

end the 2016 campaign. Despite 

the loss of seven seniors, the 

Titans have a number of talented 

players returning who could help 

improve on last year’s win total. 

“I like the way they bought into 

our culture last season...and really 

improved,” Jones said. 

Senior quarterback Max Madsen 

is back to lead the offense. He 

threw for 1,076 yards and 13 

touchdowns as a junior. Thayer 

Central will have a new-look 

back field as the top two rushers 

from last season have graduated. 

Madsen should have a talented 

and experienced group of passcatchers 

to throw the ball to. 

Juniors Zach Koss (14 rec, 203 

yards, 3 TDs) and Jarod Hergott 

(5 rec, 80 yards, 1 TD) are back, 

along with senior tight end Seth 

Mumford (8 rec,109 yards, 1 TD). 

Junior center Shevin Solomon 

(5’9” 210 lbs) is the only returning 

starter up front but his classmates 

Keith Hergott (6’1” 180 lbs), 

Logan Luehring (5’10” 205 lbs), 

Taylor Koss (5’11” 160 lbs), and 

sophomore Carter Miller (5’8” 

215 lbs) are expected to contribute 


TC saw vast improvement on 

defense at the end of the 2016 

season, allowing just 15.3 points 

per game over the final three 

contests after surrendering 54.6 

in the first five games. Four 

starters return led by Mumford 

(77 total tackles, team-leader) at 

the linebacker position. Joining 

Mumford on the second level 

is fellow senior Tim Schulte (69 

total tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4 sacks). 

Senior Brendan Fangmeier (49 

total tackles, 1 sack) anchors the 

defensive line while sophomore 

defensive back Jackson Feulner 

(70 total tackles, 2.5 TFL) 

is coming off a sensational 

freshman season. 

Thayer Central has not been 

to the playoffs since 2013 and 

the Titans’ last two postseason 

appearances both ended in first 

round, shutout losses. The 2017 

version of Thayer Central football 

should see an improvement 


8/25 @ Johnson-Brock 



9/22 Kenesaw 


10/6 Franklin 


10/20 Superior 

on last year’s 2-6 record and 

the squad could challenge for 

a playoff berth. But the Titans 

will need contributions from 

underclassmen who experienced 

success last season as TC’s JV 

team went undefeated in 2016. 

“I am excited to see them step up 

to new challenges this season and 

watch them grow,” said Jones. 

Thayer Central opens play Aug. 

25 at Johnson-Brock. 

Key Players: 

Max Madsen (6’0” 160 lbs) Sr. QB 

Seth Mumford (6’1” 170 lbs) Sr. 

TE/LB 

Tim Schulte (6’1” 185 lbs) Sr. LB 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 2-6 


Head Coach: Jereme Jones 


Assistant Coaches: Josh Lanik, 

Clint Havel, Justin Bornar 

We are your local community connection for high 

quality foods, friendly service and great prices. 

240 N LINCOLN AVE. HEBRON, NE • 402.768.6216 


TRI COUNTYTROJANS 

By: TJ Eck 

Playing in the postseason is 

becoming a common occurrence 

for Tri County. After earning 

a spot in the Class D1 playoffs 

in 2016, the Trojans have now 

played past the regular season 

seven times since 2008. The 2017 

version of Tri County football 

has the pieces in place to make a 

return to the postseason in 2017. 

“I think we have some tough 

kids that enjoy playing physical 

football,” said head coach Brett 

Scheiding. “I love that culture, 

even when we spread teams 

out.” 

The Trojans have weapons on 

offense that should help Tri 

County score consistently this 

season. Junior quarterback 

Creighton Niemeyer (473 

passing yards, 133 rushing yds, 

6 TD in 2016) is back to lead the 

attack. Playing behind him in the 

backfield is senior running back 

Cooper Smith (618 rushing yds, 

133 receiving yds, 16 TD) who 

Scheiding describes as an “allstate 

caliber” player. Senior tight 

end Trevin Williams (15 rec, 213 

yds, 2 TD) gives the Trojans an 

experienced pass-catcher. Senior 

guard Chase Barnts (6’4” 210 lbs) 

anchors the offensive line. 

Smith is a force for the Trojans on 

defense. The middle linebacker 

registered 106 total tackles 

and 15.5 tackles for loss last 

fall. Teams might have trouble 

throwing the ball against 

Tri County this season with 

Williams (65 total tkls, 4 TFL, 

2 INT) and Niemeyer (46 total 

tkls) patrolling the secondary. 

Tri County has holes to fill along 

the defensive front, but seniors 

Dylan Seibolt (6’0” 240 lbs) and 

Peter Spilker (5’8” 150 lbs) along 

with junior Benton Gustafson 

(6’2” 280 lbs) have all played 

along the defensive line. 

Williams is a jack-of-all-trades 

and is expected to serve as both 

the punter and kicker for the 


While Tri County doesn’t return 

a large number of starters, the 

Trojans have a core group who 

are impact players on both 

sides of the ball led by Smith. 

If Tri County can get solid 

contributions from newcomers, 

they could again be a playoff 




9/8 @ BDS 


9/22 @ Lourdes Central Catholic 

9/29 @ Cedar Bluffs 



team in 2017 and potentially 

make a postseason run. 

“We have some great, young and 

athletic numbers coming and 

they are excited to compete,” 

said Scheiding. “I think guys 

will really be looking to find 

ways to step into roles we have 

available.” 

Key Players: 

Cooper Smith (6’1” 195 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Creighton Niemeyer (6’2” 165 

lbs) Jr. QB/DB 

Trevin Williams (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr. 

TE/DB 

We’re here for you! 

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402-683-2002 

306 East Fillmore - DeWitt 




TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Trojans 

Class: D1 

2016 Record: 6-4 


Head Coach: Brett Scheiding 


Assistant Coaches: Delva Smith, 

Ray Brown, Anthony Drewes 



TWIN LOUPWOLVES 

TWIN RIVERTITANS 



The Twin Loup Wolves were able 

to turn the program around in 

2016 after several losing seasons. 

Head coach Mike Kozeal has lead 

the program to 143 wins and 60 

losses during his time in Sargent. 

Reaching an impressive 12-1 

record last season, the Wolves 

outscored their opponents by an 

average of 34 points per game. In 

addition, limiting other teams to 

an average of 14.4 points per game 

speaks a lot about the strength of 

their defense. 

“Our defense was very good last 

year and we will need to replace 

four three-year-starters,” Kozeal 

said. 

That one loss in 2016 was to Falls 

City Sacred Heart in the state 

championship. This year they feel 

they can bring home the school’s 

second state football title. 

“We need to take the next step 

and continue to improve. We are 

good enough to go a long way in 

the playoffs, how far is yet to be 

determined,” Kozeal added. 

Twin Loup only lost four players 

this season and have most of their 

starters coming back with a lot of 

experience. 

“Depth and experience, we have 

numerous players that could 

step in and help,” Kozeal said. 

“We have a returning all-state RB 

(Horky) and two-year starter at 

QB (Oxford) and an all-state kicker 

(Kraus). We also have six or seven 

kids capable of playing in the 

line.” 

Alex Horky is a key player 

for the team, playing multiple 

positions including special teams 

as a kickoff/punt returner. He 

has 198 career tackles and four 

interceptions as a safety. He also 

racked up 1,950 career rushing 

yards along with 43 touchdowns 

at running back. That helps the 

team’s average of completing 261 

rushing yards a game, which is 

the strong point of Twin Loup’s 

offense. 

They only averaged 77 passing 

yards per game in 2016, and that’s 

an area that can improve upon. 

Quarterback Rowdy Oxford is 

coming into 2017 with 954 passing 

yards, 15 touchdowns and only 

two interceptions in his career. 

Twin Loup is expecting tough 

competition from all of its 

opponents this season, but are 

looking for the biggest battle to be 

with Sandhills-Thedford. 


8/24 Sandhills/Thedford 

9/1 @ Anselmo-Merna 

9/8 Stuart 


9/22 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 


10/6 @ Ansley-Litchfield 


In 2016, the Knights challenged 

the Wolves the most out of the 

other seven regular season teams. 

In the regular season, they put 

up the most points against Twin 

Loup than any other competition 

and limited the Wolves, scoring 

more than any other school. 

That matchup against Sandhills- 

Thedford this season will be the 

season opener at home on Aug. 24. 

Key Players: 

Alex Horky (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. RB/S 

Rowdy Oxford (6’3” 185 lbs) Sr. 

QB 

Hunter Kraus (6’2” 175 lbs) Sr. 

OLB/K/P/E 

Twin River is looking to snap a 10- 

game losing streak as it enters the 

upcoming season. The Titans had 

a 0-9 record in 2016, yet optimism 

surrounds Todd Connelly’s 

program. 

“We return a lot of young men 

that played a lot for us,” Connelly 

said. “For most of them, they saw 

their first varsity experience last 

year. Hopefully the experience 

will provide us a jump start to this 

season.” 

Most of that experience is in 

Twin River’s junior class. Jaxson 

Hinkle, Curtis Miller and Dylan 

Loewe will all become two-year 

starters this year. Hinkle returns 

as the Titans’ quarterback after 

completing 31 of 70 passes last 

season. 

Hinkle hopes to lead an offensive 

resurgence at Twin River. The 

Titans were shut out five times 

in 2016, including the final four 

games of the season. Offensively, 

Twin River averaged just 111 yards 

per game while competing in the 

mighty C2-6 district. 

“We need to find some 

playmakers,” Connelly said. “The 

young players we have need to 

make a big step up this year.” 

Connelly added developing his 

offensive line will be key to Twin 

River’s success. 

Up front, the Titans have four 

returning starters, as David Kunes, 

Dylan Loewe, Jacob Czarnick and 

Tucker Alexander will anchor 

the line. Alexander, along with 

classmate Grant Swantick, saw 

varsity action as freshmen last 

year. 

Overall, Twin River has starters 

returning at 13 different positions. 

Jayden Schoder is perhaps the 

most talented player on the Titans’ 

roster. Schroder will likely be 

the focal point of Twin River’s 

offense. He rushed for 103 yards 

on 27 attempts last year. Corbin 

Miller will also be an option out 

of the backfield. The Schroder- 

Miller combo looks to replace the 

production of Justyce Stankoski 

and Beau Wattier, who made up 

more than half of Twin River’s 

rushing yardage last year. 

The Titans’ schedule opens with 

a home game against Shelby- 

Rising City. The schools will 

meet on opening night for the 

fourth straight year. Twin River’s 

toughest stretch comes during the 

middle of the season. The Titans 

face returning playoff qualifiers 



9/1 @ Lutheran High Northeast 

9/8 @ Hartington Cedar Catholic 

9/15 Crofton 




10/13 @ St. Paul 

10/20 @ Centura 

in four straight weeks, starting 

with a Sept. 9 match-up against 

Hartington Cedar Catholic. The 

following week, the Titans host 

Crofton, who reached the Class C2 

championship game last fall. 

Key Players: 

Jayden Schroder (5’10” 155 lbs) Sr. 

RB/LB 

Curtis Miller (5’8” 145 lbs) Jr. RB/ 

DB 

Dylan Loewe (5’11” 175 lbs) Jr. 

OL/DE 

TEAM FACTS 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Wolves 

Class: D2 

2016 Record: 12-1 

Head Coach: Mike Kozeal 


Assistant Coaches: Rusty 

Ruppert, Zane Young, Cory Beran 

307 S Highway 183 • Sargent, NE• 308-527-3440 

GOOD LUCK TO THE TWIN LOUP WOLVES! 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 0-9 


Head Coach: Todd Connelly 


Assistant Coaches: Josh Majerus 

and Dan Parry 

Best of luck this season! 

402.993.2231 • 502 Willard Ave, Genoa, NE • www.genoacb.com 


WAUNETA-PALISADEBRONCOS 

WAVERLYVIKINGS 


By: TJ Eck 

Following a jump to eight-man 

football in 2016, the Wauneta- 

Palisade Broncos made it to the 

playoffs in their first year and 

finished with a winning record of 

5-4. 

The team is led by co-head 

coaches in University of Nebraska 

at Kearney graduate Randy Geier 

and Hastings College graduate 

Joseph Frecks. The tandem enter 

the season with a combined record 

of 70-52 and 15 years of coaching 

experience between them. 

Last season the Broncos came out 

of the gate on fire, winning four 

of their first five games, but went 

0-3 against playoff teams. The 

team enters 2017 with a bevy of 

returners from that group. 

“We will still be a very young 

football team, and expect to start 

several sophomores and juniors. 

However, we do have some solid 

experience returning,” Geier and 

Frecks said. 

The Broncos’ power offense last 

season was exactly that, powerful. 

The team averaged less than 50 

yards passing a game but put up 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D2 

2016 Record: 5-4 


Head Coach: Randy Geier/Joseph 

Frecks 

Career Record: Geier (169-105)/ 

Frecks (25-20) 

Assistant Coach: Mark Frecks 

over 220 yards per game on the 

ground. That rushing game was 

led by then freshman and now 

sophomore Ty Duvel, who had 

106 attempts and 617 yards to go 

along with eight touchdowns. 

While the team is expected to keep 

the ball on the ground, they do 

have their leading receiver back in 

Cash Yearous. The senior caught 

everything in his direction last 

season, hauling in more receptions 

(21) and touchdowns (4) than 

the rest of the wide receivers 

combined. 

Much like his dominating 

performances on offense, he 

brings it on the other side of 

the ball as well. Yearous led the 

Broncos with 49 solo tackles and 

62 total tackles, 11 of them for a 

loss, three interceptions, and two 

fumble recoveries. 

“(Cash) is a very aggressive player 

on offense and defense who plays 

much bigger than his size. Great 

leader, outstanding work ethic 

and heart. Just an overall great kid 

who is ready for an outstanding 

senior season,” Geier and Frecks 

said. 


9/1 Leyton 

9/8 @ Creek Valley 

9/15 Stapleton 


9/28 Wallace 

10/6 @ Eustis-Farnam 

10/13 Loomis 


Yearous will have some help 

on defense with sophomore 

Austen Rozelle behind him at the 

linebacker position. Rozelle tied 

Yearous last season for the team 

lead in tackles with 62. 

This season, the Broncos will 

not play a playoff team until 

Arapahoe in week four, and after 

that will have a tough two-game 

stretch, facing Eustis-Farnam and 

Loomis in back-to-back weeks. 

Key Players: 

Cash Yearous (5’11’’ 155 lbs) Sr. 

DE/DB 

Austen Rozelle (5’11’’ 175 lbs) 

Soph. B/LB 

Ty Duvel (6’1’’ 170 lbs) Soph. RB 

Waverly is hoping what head 

coach Tim Williams called 

“growing pains” in 2016 will 

result in growth for the 2017 

season. The Vikings bring back 

16 starters, many who played 

significant roles as sophomores 

last fall. 

“I feel really good about the 

experience the younger kids got 

(in 2016),” Williams said. 

The Vikings are hoping last 

season’s experience can lead to 

more wins this year as Waverly 

looks to bounce back from a 2-7 

record. 

In an effort to improve during 

the off-season, members of the 

team traveled to Colorado for a 

team camp in June. 55 Waverly 

players were in attendance 

and after a bit of a slow start, 

Williams said the Vikings were 

one of the top teams in terms of 

fundamentals by the end of the 

camp. 

Waverly has two solid options 

at the quarterback position. 

Juniors Rhett Jordon (381 

passing yds, 5 total TD in 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: B 

2016 Record: 2-7 


Head Coach: Tim Williams 


Assistant Coaches: Brian Benson, Mark 

Robles, Allen Osborn, Matt Brewer, 

Brian Jackson, Kyle Branum, Joe Dalton, 

Aaron Jones 

2016) and Ben Carter provide 

the Vikings with two athletic 

options who can run the offense. 

Regardless of who wins the QB 

battle, both players are expected 

to see the field this fall. 

Junior wide receiver Jay 

Adams (25 rec, 369 yds, 3 

TD) is back after leading the 

Vikings in receiving yards as a 

sophomore. The offensive line 

could be a strength in 2017 as 

the unit is anchored by three 

returning starters in seniors 

Alex Schmailzl (5’10” 265 lbs), 

Damien Wylder (5’10” 240 lbs), 

and junior Logan Schuelke (6’0” 

220 lbs). 

Nine starters return on defense 

for a unit that struggled at 

times in 2016, allowing 26.2 

points per game. While last 

year’s returning tackler Brenden 

Corning has moved on, talent 

remains on the defensive side of 

the ball. Senior Hunter Lee (80 

total tkls, 6.5 TFL) and juniors 

Thatcher Kozal (69 total tkls, 

4 TFL) and Schuelke (56 total 

tkls, 4 TFL) are back to man 

the linebacker position. Senior 

Jack Sharp (47 total tkls, 3 TFL) 

started at outside linebacker 

in 2016. Wylder (30 total tkls), 

Schmailzl, junior Kaleb Canoyer 

(5’7” 160 lbs), and senior 

Dalton Neeman (27 total tkl, 5 

TFL) provide depth along the 

defensive line. Jordon (39 total 

tkls, 2 INT) brings leadership 

and starting experience to the 

secondary. 

The present and future is bright 

for Waverly. The Vikings have 


8/25 Columbus 

9/1 Seward 

9/8 @ Aurora 

9/15 @ Bennington 

9/22 Nebraska City 

9/29 @ Elkhorn 

10/6 Beatrice 

10/13 Norris 

10/20 @ Crete 

a number of players with 

varsity experience who are only 

entering their junior season. 

After a disappointing 2016 

campaign, the Vikings could 

be poised to make a run at a 

playoff spot this fall. However, 

Waverly will have to navigate 

a tough schedule that includes 

road games at Aurora (9/8) and 

Elkhorn (9/29), and challenging 

home contests against Beatrice 

(10/6) and Norris (10/13). 

Although, Williams and the 

coaching staff are already seeing 

a payoff from last year’s bumpy 

ride. 

“I am really excited...there’s 

been a huge shift in attitude this 

summer,” Williams said. 

Key Players: 

Logan Schuelke (6’0” 220 lbs) Jr. 

OL/LB 

Jay Adams (5’9” 185 lbs) Jr. WR 

Alex Schmailzl (5’10” 265 lbs) 

Sr. OL/DL 


WEST HOLTHUSKIES 


The West Holt Huskies seem 

primed for another strong 

season. 

In 2016, Steve Neptune’s squad 

went 5-3 in the regular season, 

picking up a first-round win 

in the playoffs over Dundy 

County-Stratton before losing in 

the second round to Chambers/ 

Wheeler Central/Ewing. 

This season, the Huskies should 

be a little more prepared, as 

they’ve now experienced a 

season in Class D1 after making 

the move from Class C2 the 

previous year. The team returns 

senior starters at quarterback 

(Bryce Kerkman), wide receiver 

(Shayden Neptune) and running 

back (Mason Hale), with 

Kerkman and Hale also leading 

the charge on the defensive side 

of the ball. 

Coach Neptune said the 

returning skill players and 

bigger lineman have the team in 

a good position for a successful 

season. However, he noted the 

team will need a little luck and 

limited injuries, like most, to stay 

on track throughout the year. 

Offensively, the Huskies use 

multiple formations, but rely 

heavily on their running game. 

The team averaged more 

than 200 yards per game on 

the ground last season, while 

passing for just shy of 100 per 

game. 

Defensively, the team uses a 2-3 

formation, and gave up almost 

identical numbers, on average, 

as their offense put up. 

Still, with a year of experience 

in the class, the number of 

returning starters, and the 

improvement the team has 

shown, Neptune has reason 

to feel good about West Holt’s 


As far as challenges, Neptune 

wants to see his team get better 

at adjusting to what is thrown at 

them each week. 

“Playing better defense and 

adjusting quicker to the different 

types of offense we see week in 

and week out,” Neptune said. 

The Huskies will open the 

season at home on Aug. 25 


8/25 Plainview 

9/8 @ Niobrara/Verdigre 

9/15 @ Creighton 



10/6 CWCE 



against Plainview. 

Key Players: 

Bryce Kerkman (5’9” 165 lbs) Sr. 

QB/CB 

Shayden Neptune (6’1” 170 lbs) 

Sr. WR/FS 

Mason Hale (5’10” 175 lbs) Sr. RB 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: D1 

2016 Record: 6-4 


Head Coach: Steve Neptune 


Assistant Coaches: Chris Nemetz, 

Andy Osborn and Cassidy Kramer 


By: Joe Musso 

WILBER-CLATONIAWOLVERINES 

Heavy lies the head that wears the 

crown. But the Wilber-Clatonia 

Wolverines will happily bare that 

burden. Head coach Lynn Jurgens 

and the Wolverines are coming 

off the most successful season in 

program history. The team earned 

a perfect 13-0 record en route to 

their first ever state championship. 

The Wolverines were dominant 

in every sense of the word. 

Offensively, Wilber-Clatonia 

averaged nearly 40 points per 

game behind a robust rushing 

attack. The Wolverines averaged 

255 yards a game on the ground. 

And their offensive prowess was 

only outdone by their suffocating 

defense. Wilber surrendered a 

mere 55 points all season, an 

astounding 4.2 points per game. 

The Wolverine defense also tallied 

8 shutouts including a 20-0 effort 

in the Class C2 state title game. 

But last season is merely a fond 

memory. A repeat effort for the 

Wolverines won’t be easy. Coach 

Juegens’ squad only returns two 

offensive starters and four on the 

defensive side of the ball. The 

most notable void was left on the 

offensive and defensive lines, the 

group largely responsible for the 

dominant run game and stingy 

defense. Head Coach Lynn Jurgens 

will be tasked with replacing his 

entire offensive line from tackle to 

tackle. 

“We have to develop a line very 

quickly,” Jurgens said. “We need 

consistent quarterback play 

because we are very small, but 

hopefully team speed will be a 

strength.” 

While there will be fresh faces 

across the offensive line, the man 

running the ball will look to add 

to his already impressive resume. 

The Wolverine offense will lean 

on junior tailback Coltin Rezabek. 

Rezabek led the Wolverines 

in rushing last season as a 

sophomore amassing 908 yards on 

the ground. 

The only other returning starter 

for the Wolverines will lead the 

way for Rezabek - senior fullback 

Bryan Odvody-Martinez. 

“We have kids who work very 

hard and now they understand 

what it takes to win,” Jurgens 

said. “Our skill kids should be the 

strength of our team. Trying to get 

kids to mesh with one another and 

trying to make sure we have our 

best eleven players on the field 






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will be a challenge.” 

Due to their utter domination 

in 2016 and multiple blowout 

performances, many of the players 

moving into starting roles already 

have considerable in-game 

experience. 

Wilber-Clatonia will begin their 

title defense on Aug. 25th at home 

against Sandy Creek. 

Key Players: 

Colton Rezabek (6’0” 175 lbs) Jr. 

RB/OLB 

Bryan Odvody-Martinez (5’5” 160 

lbs) Sr. FB/OLB 

Cooper Bates (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr. CB 

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TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Wolverines 

Class: C2 

2016 Record: 13-0 


Head Coach: Lynn Jurgens 


Assistant Coaches: Eamonn Feeney, 

Randy Homolka and 

Lance Kuhlmann 

319W 3RD • WILBER, NE 



WOOD RIVEREAGLES 


Jeff Ashby turned Giltner into 

one of the top eight-man football 

programs in Nebraska. Now, 

he’s hoping to resurrect the 

Wood River Eagles. Ashby left 

Giltner after ten years during the 

off-season and accepted the head 

coaching position at Wood River. 

“It was time for a new 

challenge,” Ashby said. “The 

timing felt right. I want to see 

if I can turn another program 

around.” 

At Giltner, Ashby led the 

Hornets to ten consecutive 

playoff appearances, including 

championship game appearances 

in 2009 and 2012. Giltner won 

the Class D2 title in 2012. Ashby 

implemented a pass-oriented, 

fast-paced offense at Giltner that 

broke multiple individual and 

team records during his tenure. 

He plans on keeping the same 

playbook at Wood River, despite 

the Eagles being in Class C2 

which is 11-man football. 

“It takes awhile to get used to,” 

Ashby said. “(Players) seem 

TEAM FACTS 


Class: C2 

2016 Record: 0-9 


Head Coach: Jeff Ashby 

Assistant Coaches: Clark Benne 

and Philip Smith 

excited. There’s a lot more to it 

than they know. It’ll be quite a 

bit of a change to what they’re 

used to.” 

Wood River is looking for a 

spark after struggling offensively 

in 2016. The Eagles averaged 

eight points last season and 

failed to score more than two 

touchdowns in a game. Overall, 

Wood River went 0-9 in 2016 and 

carries a 12-game losing streak 

into the upcoming season. 

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” 

Ashby said. “Changing the 

culture is the big thing.” 

Ashby hopes to grow the 

popularity of Wood River 

football with more studentathletes 

joining the team. He 

said turnout right now is decent 

with plenty of room to grow, 

and growth can go beyond 

numbers. Weight training has 

always been important with 

Ashby, no matter which school 

he is coaching. Ashby attributes 

7-on-7 tournaments and summer 

camps to his success building 

Giltner’s program. 

“It’s important to get extra time 

in the summer,” Ashby said. 

Wood River will have a firstyear 

starting quarterback this 

fall. Junior Tanner Herman and 

sophomore Ty Swanson are 

battling for the top quarterback 

job. Herman hasn’t played 

football since middle school, yet 


8/25 St. Paul 

9/1 @ Centura 





10/6 Gibbon 



Ashby expects him to make a 

strong push at quarterback. 

Another player that has caught 

the eye of Wood River’s firstyear 

head coach is Grant 

Gannon. 

“He looks pretty good in drill 

work,” Ashby said. Gannon 

is a two-way player entering 

his junior season. Classmate 

Camden Thompson was Wood 

River’s tackling leader last 

season. 

The Eagles will be tested early 

in their 2016 schedule. Four 

of Wood River’s first five 

opponents finished the regular 

season with a winning record 

last year. Ashby’s coaching debut 

will be Aug. 25 against St. Paul. 

Key Players: 

Jose Trejo (5’7” 140 lbs) Jr. DE/K 

Diego Guerrero (5’9” 165 lbs) Sr. 

RB 

Camden Thompson (5’6” 135 

lbs) Jr. RB/LB 

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YORKDUKES 


Depth may pose some challenges 

for the Dukes this fall, but there 

is no shortage of talent on York’s 

2017 roster. Six starters on offense 

and seven on defense will return, 

and the caliber of athletes is more 

than enough to make up for the 

lack of depth. 

Head coach Glen Snodgrass enters 

his seventh season with the team, 

posting a 42-22 overall record 

with the Dukes. Snodgrass’ Dukes 

finished with a 7-3 record last 

season, falling to Aurora 24-7 in 

the first round of the playoffs. 

Three first-team all-state selections 

will grace the roster, including 

Masry Mapieu (6’4” 305 lbs), who 

has proven to be one of the top 

players in Class B. The senior 

defensive tackle recorded 42 

tackles his junior year, 16 of which 

were solo tackles. The defensive 

machine committed to Nebraska, 

turning down offers from Iowa, 

Iowa State and UCLA. The twoyear 

letterwinner will see time at 

both tackle and defensive tackle. 

Snodgrass said the senior has off 

the charts potential. 

“Masry has incredible size and 

power,” he said. “He has the 

TEAM FACTS 

Team Name: Dukes 

Class: B 

2016 Record: 7-3 


Head Coach: Glen Snodgrass 


Assistant Coach: Matt Kern 

ability to dominate two A-gaps 

and demands a double and triple 

team on every play.” 

Another senior guaranteed to pose 

challenges for opposing teams 

on both sides of the ball is Simon 

Otte (6’2” 185 lbs). With over 1,200 

yards rushing as a junior and 

120 tackles on defense, Otte has 

proved his versatility. 

“Simon will be one of the best 

players in Class B,” Snodgrass 

said. “Simon’s instincts, 

toughness, speed and versatility 

make him a top notch player.” 

Otte was second team all- 

Nebraska and first team allstate 

Class B. He will see time 

at running back, linebacker and 

safety. 

Versatility couldn’t be truer for 

Snodgrass’ son Garrett (6’3” 

215 lbs), who will get reps at 

quarterback, linebacker, tight end 

and wide receiver. The junior who 

recorded over 500 yards receiving 

and over 200 yards rushing is 

getting attention from FCS and 

FBS teams. 

“Garrett is bigger, stronger, and 

much faster than he was a year 

ago,” Snodgrass said. “He will be 

playing all over our offense.” 

Joining Snodgrass on offense will 

be wide receivers Tyler Cast and 

Brady Danielson. Cast led Class 

B in interceptions last season, and 

will see time on the other side 

of the ball at safety. Danielson 

is getting attention from FCS 

schools. In addition to receiver, the 

junior will also play cornerback. 

Snodgrass said Danielson has 


8/25 @ Elkhorn South 

9/1 Lexington 

9/8 @ Schuyler 

9/15 Holdrege 

9/22 @ McCook 

9/29 Sidney 

10/6 @ Aurora 

10/13 @ Seward 

10/20 Northwest 

all-state potential with his great 

hands and his ability to knock 

down his side of the field. 

All-state punter Mayson Conner 

will be back for his senior season. 

The wide receiver/safety broke 

the school record for the longest 

punt and punting average at 42. 

Despite their loaded arsenal, 

the Duke’s schedule won’t be 

easy with a road game against 

defending state champion Elkhorn 

South. 

The Dukes have made a playoff 

appearance each of the last five 

years, and hope their versatility 

and talent will put them in 

contention for York’s first state 

championship in school history. 

Key Players: 

Garrett Snodgrass (6’3” 215 lbs) Jr. 

WR/TE/QB/LB 

Masry Mapieu (6’5” 305 lbs) Sr. T/ 

DT 

Simon Otte (6’2” 185 lbs) Sr. RB/ 

LB/S 


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WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 

MEET THE AUTHORS OF THE PREPZONE PIGSKIN PREVIEW MAGAZINE 

KEVIN SJUTS 

KOLN Sports Director 

JUSTIN BIEGEL 

NBC Nebraska Sports Anchor 

CHELSEA CROFT 

KNOP Sports Reporter/Weekend Anchor 

AUSTIN MILLER 

NBC Nebraska Sports/News Reporter 

JOE MUSSO 

KOLN Sports Anchor/Reporter 

JAY OMAR 

Senior Digital Producer 

Hometown: Royal, IL 

Hometown: Columbia, MD 

Hometown: Annapolis, MD 

Hometown: Louisville, KY 

Hometown: Chicago, IL 

Hometown: Omaha, NE 

Favorite Football Team: Chicago Bears 

Favorite Memory Covering High School Football: 

Jim Ebke leading Lincoln East to a comeback playoff 

win in 2006. Ebke rushed for 240 yards in 2nd half. 

Favorite Football Team: Washington Redskins 


My favorite memory is my first ever 5th Quarter 

show with NBC Nebraska...Friday nights are made 

for high school football! 

Favorite Football Team: Baltimore Ravens 


Just being under those Friday night lights talking 

with players and coaches. 

Favorite Football Team: Kentucky Wildcats 

and Tennessee Titans 


I don’t have a specific favorite, but I love it 

whenever a wide receiver hauls in an impossible 

one-handed catch. 



It was during the first round of the 2016 playoffs 

when Lincoln East had a great second half 

comeback versus Lincoln Southeast. 


and Nebraska Cornhuskers 


While covering football in Oregon, an underdog 

team in my coverage area managed to win a state 

title. The celebration continued for the next few 

days around town, with former graduates coming 

back to celebrate with the current players. It was an 

amazing experience to see the happiness the championship 

brought current players, former athletes, 

and the town in general. 

TJ ECK 

KOLN Sports Anchor/Reporter 

Hometown: Columbia, PA 

Favorite Football Team: Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) 

and Miami (FL) Hurricanes (CFB) 


Covering my first 8-man football game in Western 

NE with cars parked all around the field. 

DEREK KOPP 

KNOP Sports Director 

Hometown: Parker, CO 

Favorite Football Team: LSU Tigers and 

Green Bay Packers 


Thriller in McCook last season in the Class B state 

semifinals. Elkhorn South won 42-41 in 2OT after 

McCook dropped the snap on the PAT. 

MEGAN MCGILL 

KOLN Sports Reporter 

Hometown: Omaha, NE 

Favorite Football Team: Nebraska Cornhuskers 


My favorite memory was witnessing Wilber-Clatonia 

clinch their first state title in school history! 

SPENCER SCHUBERT 

NBC Nebraska Evening News Anchor 

Hometown: Kearney, NE 

Favorite Football Team: Nebraska Cornhuskers 

and Kansas City Chiefs 


It’s not just one memory for me. Instead, it’s getting 

to meet the players, coaches and fans. I’ve never 

met anybody more appreciative to receive television 

coverage of their team or sport, and it’s something 

that makes all of the long Friday night more than 

worth it for me! 

JOSH SKLUZACEK 

Digital Content Producer 

Hometown: Montgomery, MN 

Favorite Football Team: Minnesota Vikings 


Getting to see all the small towns come together on 

Friday nights! 


Three colleges. Thousands of opportunities. 

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The Nebraska State Colleges are equal opportunity institutions and do not discriminate against any student, employee 

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or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. Each 

College has designated an individual to coordinate the College’s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with 

regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil 

Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

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