Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017
FREE • TAKE ONE VOLUME 2 • 2017
- Page 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS CLASS A 99 Grand
- Page 8: 8 2017 Prepzone Pigskin Preview www
- Page 12: CLASS ABRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTION
- Page 16: CLASS D1BRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTIO
- Page 20: ADAMS CENTRALPATRIOTS AINSWORTHBULL
- Page 24: ANSELMO-MERNACOYOTES By: Derek Kopp
- Page 28: AQUINAS CATHOLICMONARCHS By: Joe Mu
- Page 32: AURORAHUSKIES By: Spencer Schubert
- Page 36: BEATRICEORANGEMEN By: TJ Eck “The
- Page 40: BLUE HILLBOBCATS By: Justin Biegel
- Page 44: BROKEN BOWINDIANS By: Chelsea Croft
- Page 48: BURWELLLONGHORNS CAMBRIDGETROJANS B
FREE • TAKE ONE<br />
VOLUME 2 • <strong>2017</strong>
TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />
CLASS A<br />
99 Grand Island Senior High School<br />
114 Kearney Senior High School<br />
124 Lincoln East High School<br />
126 Lincoln High School<br />
130 Lincoln Northeast High School<br />
132 Lincoln North Star High School<br />
134 Lincoln Pius X High School<br />
138 Lincoln Southeast High School<br />
140 Lincoln Southwest High School<br />
CLASS B<br />
32 Aurora High School<br />
36 Beatrice High School<br />
62 Crete High School<br />
102 Hastings Senior High School<br />
110 Holdrege High School<br />
120 Lexington High School<br />
145 McCook High School<br />
160 Norris High School<br />
163 Northwest High School<br />
180 Seward High School<br />
211 Waverly High School<br />
218 York High School<br />
CLASS C1<br />
20<br />
28<br />
42<br />
44<br />
-<br />
60<br />
66<br />
80<br />
96<br />
Adams Central High School<br />
Aquinas Catholic High School<br />
Boone Central-Newman Grove High Schools<br />
Broken Bow High School<br />
Chase County High School*<br />
Cozad High School<br />
David City High School<br />
Fairbury High School<br />
Gothenburg High School<br />
98 Grand Island Central Catholic High School<br />
113 Kearney Catholic High School<br />
122 Lincoln Christian High School<br />
152 Milford-Dorchester High Schools<br />
154 Minden High School<br />
164 O’Neill High School<br />
166 Ord High School<br />
176 Raymond Central High School<br />
190 Southern High School<br />
CLASS C2<br />
31 Arcadia-Loup City High Schools<br />
50 Centennial High School<br />
52 Central City High School<br />
56 Centura High School<br />
64 Cross County High School<br />
70 Doniphan-Trumpbull High School<br />
82 Fillmore Central High School<br />
86 Freeman High School<br />
92 Gibbon High School<br />
104 Hastings St. Cecilia High School<br />
112 Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer High School<br />
128 Lincoln Lutheran High School<br />
144 Malcolm High School<br />
178 Sandy Creek High School<br />
182 Shelby-Rising City High School<br />
192 Southern Valley High School<br />
196 St. Paul High School<br />
202 Sutton High School<br />
209 Twin River High School<br />
214 Wilber-Clatonia High School<br />
216 Wood River High School<br />
CLASS D1<br />
21 Ainsworth High School<br />
22<br />
23<br />
38<br />
43<br />
48<br />
49<br />
-<br />
58<br />
68<br />
72<br />
74<br />
76<br />
84<br />
106<br />
108<br />
116<br />
146<br />
148<br />
156<br />
157<br />
158<br />
168<br />
-<br />
174<br />
188<br />
193<br />
200<br />
204<br />
206<br />
212<br />
Alma High School<br />
Amherst High School<br />
Bertrand High School<br />
Boyd County High School<br />
Burwell High School<br />
Cambridge High School<br />
Chambers-Wheeler Central-Ewing High Schools*<br />
Clearwater-Orchard High School<br />
Diller-Odel Secondary School<br />
East Butler High School<br />
Elgin-Pope John High School<br />
Elm Creek High School<br />
Franklin High School<br />
Heartland Community High School<br />
High Plains Community High School<br />
Kenesaw High School<br />
McCool Junction High School<br />
Medicine Valley High School<br />
Nebraska Christian High School<br />
Nebraska Lutheran High School<br />
Neligh-Oakdale High School<br />
Overton High School<br />
Perkins County High School*<br />
Ravenna High School<br />
South Loup High School<br />
Southwest High School<br />
Superior High School<br />
Thayer Central High School<br />
Tri County High School<br />
West Holt High School<br />
CLASS D2<br />
24 Anselmo-Merna High School<br />
26 Ansley-Litchfield High Schools<br />
30 Arapahoe High School<br />
34<br />
40<br />
46<br />
54<br />
-<br />
78<br />
79<br />
88<br />
90<br />
94<br />
109<br />
118<br />
142<br />
150<br />
162<br />
167<br />
169<br />
-<br />
170<br />
172<br />
184<br />
186<br />
194<br />
198<br />
-<br />
208<br />
210<br />
Axtell High School<br />
Blue Hill High School<br />
Bruning-Davenport-Shickley High Schools<br />
Central Valley High School<br />
Elba High School*<br />
Eustis-Farnam High School<br />
Exeter-Milligan High School<br />
Friend High School<br />
Fullerton High School<br />
Giltner High School<br />
Hitchcock County High School<br />
Lawrence-Nelson High School<br />
Loomis High School<br />
Meridian High School<br />
North Central High School<br />
Osceola High School<br />
Palmer High School<br />
Parkview Christian High School*<br />
Pawnee City High School<br />
Pleasanton High School<br />
Shelton High School<br />
Silver Lake High School<br />
St. Mary’s High School<br />
Stuart High School<br />
Sumner-Eddyville-Miller High School*<br />
Twin Loup High School<br />
Waunita-Palisade High School<br />
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6 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 7
8 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 9
<strong>2017</strong> COVER ATHLETES<br />
BRYSON<br />
WILLIAMS<br />
Lincoln Southeast High School<br />
• Defensive Tackle<br />
• 2016 Honors: All-State, Super-State,<br />
Academic All-State<br />
• College Plans: Committed to<br />
Wisconsin<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: Super-State,<br />
15 sacks<br />
ZACH<br />
SCHLAGER<br />
McCook Senior High School<br />
• Inside Linebacker, Quarterback<br />
• 2016 Honors: Super-State, Class B Defensive<br />
Captain<br />
• College Plans: Committed to Colorado<br />
State<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: Win a state<br />
championship<br />
A note from our Sports Director.<br />
“It was the most popular magazine in the weight room” and “we read about opponents before each<br />
game” were among the comments we received after debuting the 1011 PrepZone <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong><br />
last year. With the positive response and support from our readers, we are excited to present the<br />
second edition of the magazine, which highlights the teams, athletes, and communities across high<br />
school football in Nebraska.<br />
The 1011 PrepZone <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> features more than 100 teams residing within the Lincoln-Grand<br />
JACOB<br />
JOHNSON<br />
Fairbury High School<br />
• Running Back, Linebacker<br />
• 2016 Honors: All-District, All-Sunland<br />
Team, All-State HM<br />
• College Plans: Undecided<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: Undefeated<br />
regular season<br />
MATT<br />
MASKER<br />
Kearney Catholic High School<br />
• Quarterback<br />
• 2016 Honors: 1st Team All-State, Hub<br />
Territory Player of the Year<br />
• College Plans: SDSU, NDSU, UNL,<br />
USD, Drake, UNI<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: Win a state<br />
championship<br />
Island-Kearney television market. School administrators and coaches have been graciously working<br />
with us as we compile as much information as possible to provide a comprehensive preview of the<br />
upcoming prep football season. This project is a joint effort between 1011 and NBC Nebraska, whose<br />
partnership allows wide-spanning coverage of high school athletics.<br />
Throughout this magazine, we hope to spotlight the hard-working student-athletes who make each<br />
Friday night in the fall special. We thank the parents, coaches, and fans for their enthusiasm and<br />
devotion toward high school athletics.<br />
MASRY<br />
MAPIEU<br />
York High School<br />
• Defensive Tackle<br />
• 2016 Honors: All-State, Super-State,<br />
All-Area, All-District<br />
• College Plans: Committed to Nebraska<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: Get at least two<br />
sacks each game<br />
CAMERON<br />
JURGENS<br />
Beatrice High School<br />
• Tight End, Middle Linebacker<br />
• 2016 Honors: Omaha Athlete of the Year,<br />
Journal Star Co-Athlete of the Year, All-<br />
Class Gold in Shot Put & Discus<br />
• College Plans: Committed to Nebraska<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: Get to the state<br />
championship<br />
On behalf of 1011 and NBC Nebraska, we offer special thanks to our advertisers, whose support<br />
makes this publication possible.<br />
We hope you find this magazine informative, fun, and useful as the high school football season<br />
nears. We encourage viewers to tune into “Sports Overtime” for highlights and interviews each<br />
Friday on 1011, while NBC Nebraska offers the “5th Quarter.”<br />
It is with great excitement that we present the 1011 PrepZone <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> - Volume 2.<br />
ALEX<br />
THRAMER<br />
O’Neill High School<br />
• Quarterback<br />
• 2016 Honors: Class C1 All-State<br />
• College Plans: Play college football<br />
and major in business<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: Repeat a state<br />
championship<br />
BRYCE<br />
STAI<br />
Norris High School<br />
• Tight End, Defensive End<br />
• 2016 Honors: All-State Honorable<br />
Mention<br />
• College Plans: Undecided<br />
• Goals for <strong>2017</strong> season: District and<br />
State Champions<br />
Kevin Sjuts - Sports Director, KOLN/KGIN-TV<br />
PUBLISHER - 1011 News<br />
DESIGN - Bronson Gierhan<br />
CONTENT - Shelby Hamilton<br />
EDITORIAL - 1011 & NBC Nebraska Sports Teams<br />
To advertise in the 2018 edition of the 1011 <strong>Prepzone</strong> Weekly <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong>, contact sales@1011now.com<br />
All Rights Reserved <strong>2017</strong>. For comments call or write 1011 Television - 840 N. 40th - Lincoln, NE 68503 - Phone: 402-467-4321 - www.1011now.com/prepzoneweeklypigskinpreview<br />
10 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 11
CLASS ABRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE PLAYOFFS CLASS BBRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE PLAYOFFS<br />
#1<br />
#1<br />
#16<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#16<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#9<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#9<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#8<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#8<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
#5<br />
#5<br />
#12<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#12<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#13<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#13<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#4<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#4<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#3<br />
Tuesday, Nov 21st 7:15 PM<br />
@ UNL - Memorial Stadium<br />
CLASS A CHAMPION<br />
#3<br />
Monday, Nov 20th 7:15 PM<br />
@ UNL - Memorial Stadium<br />
CLASS B CHAMPION<br />
#14<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#14<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#11<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#11<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#6<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#6<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#7<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
#7<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
#10<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#10<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#15<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#15<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#2<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#2<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
GIVE YOUR PLAYERS THE<br />
RECOGNITION<br />
THEY DESERVE!<br />
LARGEST SELECTION OF AWARDS, APPAREL, & PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS IN THE MIDWEST • VISIT RIXSTINE.COM<br />
12 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 13
CLASS C1BRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE PLAYOFFS CLASS C2BRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE PLAYOFFS<br />
#1<br />
#1<br />
#16<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#16<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#9<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#9<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#8<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#8<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
#5<br />
#5<br />
#12<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#12<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#13<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#13<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#4<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#4<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#3<br />
Tuesday, Nov 21st 10:15 AM<br />
@ UNL - Memorial Stadium<br />
CLASS C1 CHAMPION<br />
#3<br />
Tuesday, Nov 21st 2:45 PM<br />
@ UNL - Memorial Stadium<br />
CLASS C2 CHAMPION<br />
#14<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#14<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#11<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#11<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#6<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#6<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#7<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
#7<br />
Friday, Nov 10th<br />
#10<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#10<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#15<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#15<br />
Friday, Nov 3rd<br />
#2<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
#2<br />
Friday, Oct 27th<br />
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14 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 15
CLASS D1BRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE PLAYOFFS CLASS D1BRACKET<br />
#1<br />
#1<br />
Monday, Nov 20th 10:15 AM<br />
@ UNL - Memorial Stadium<br />
CLASS D1 CHAMPION<br />
#16<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#16<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#9<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#9<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#8<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#8<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
#5<br />
#5<br />
#12<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#12<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#13<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#13<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#4<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#4<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
Monday, Nov 13th<br />
Monday, Nov 13th<br />
#3<br />
#3<br />
#14<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#14<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#11<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#11<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#6<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#6<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#7<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
#7<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
#10<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#10<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#15<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#15<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#2<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#2<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
GIVE YOUR PLAYERS THE<br />
RECOGNITION<br />
THEY DESERVE!<br />
LARGEST SELECTION OF AWARDS, APPAREL, & PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS IN THE MIDWEST • VISIT RIXSTINE.COM<br />
16 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 17
CLASS D2BRACKET MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS NOW OR FOLLOW ALONG DURING THE STATE PLAYOFFS CLASS D2BRACKET<br />
#1<br />
#1<br />
Monday, Nov 20th 2:45 PM<br />
@ UNL - Memorial Stadium<br />
CLASS D2 CHAMPION<br />
#16<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#16<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#9<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#9<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#8<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#8<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
#5<br />
#5<br />
#12<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#12<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#13<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#13<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#4<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#4<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
Monday, Nov 13th<br />
Monday, Nov 13th<br />
#3<br />
#3<br />
#14<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#14<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#11<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#11<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#6<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#6<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#7<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
#7<br />
Tuesday, Nov 7th<br />
#10<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#10<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#15<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#15<br />
Wednesday, Nov 1st<br />
#2<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
#2<br />
Thursday, Oct 26th<br />
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18 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 19
ADAMS CENTRALPATRIOTS<br />
AINSWORTHBULLDOGS<br />
By: Austin Miller<br />
The Adams Central 2016 season<br />
could be described as a “what<br />
could have been” campaign.<br />
Despite a loss to open the year,<br />
the Patriots won their next<br />
two games and saw a path to a<br />
successful season; but instead<br />
they were hit hard by injuries.<br />
Running back Dylan Glaser<br />
was averaging over 100 yards<br />
per game to start the year,<br />
but suffered a season-ending<br />
injury just three games in. Evan<br />
Johnson came in as the starting<br />
quarterback as a freshman and<br />
threw for more than 1,500 yards<br />
his first seven games, before<br />
breaking his collarbone in week<br />
eight.<br />
The Patriots would end the<br />
2016 season at 3-6, and while<br />
the team returns six starters on<br />
offense and seven on defense,<br />
this year’s group will be<br />
extremely young. Head coach<br />
Shawn Mulligan expects to play<br />
a number of sophomores.<br />
“20 of our 62 players missed<br />
a game (reserve or varsity)<br />
because of injury. The injury<br />
bug allowed a number of<br />
younger players valuable<br />
playing experience,” Mulligan<br />
said.<br />
In addition to Johnson under<br />
center, the Patriots will rely<br />
on a two-headed attack out of<br />
the back field in Glaser and<br />
Gabe Conant. Conant is only a<br />
sophomore, but is a promising<br />
running back. Last year,<br />
Conant rushed for 103 yards<br />
on 11 carries in a game against<br />
Lakeview. If those two can stay<br />
healthy, they could prove to<br />
be solid chain movers for the<br />
Patriot offense.<br />
Defensively, the Patriots will<br />
rely on Max Winkler to anchor<br />
the front seven. Winkler was<br />
yet another player that saw his<br />
season cut short due to injury,<br />
suffering a concussion in week<br />
three. Winkler has started<br />
the past three seasons for the<br />
Patriots. As a sophomore,<br />
Winkler led the team with 34<br />
solo tackles and 55 assisted<br />
tackles.<br />
Adams Central is now four<br />
years removed from a playoff<br />
appearance, and despite the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Kearney Catholic<br />
9/1 Milford-Dorchester<br />
9/8 @ Cozad<br />
9/15 Minden<br />
9/22 Ord<br />
9/29 @ Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
10/6 @ Boone Central/Newman Grove<br />
10/13 Columbus Lakeview<br />
10/20 @ Columbus Scotus<br />
youth there is talent on the<br />
squad. However, the Patriots<br />
will have a tough schedule to<br />
navigate though. They’ll have<br />
to face five teams that finished<br />
above .500 last season, including<br />
a road opener against a Kearney<br />
Catholic squad that finished 10-<br />
2. Regardless, if they can avoid<br />
the injury bug, the Patriots have<br />
a chance to return to postseason<br />
play.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Evan Johnson (6’0” 170 lbs)<br />
Soph. QB<br />
Dylan Glaser (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB<br />
Max Winkler (5’10” 190 lbs) Sr.<br />
LB<br />
By: Justin Biegel<br />
After a thrilling 46-24 victory<br />
over Ravenna in the 2016 season<br />
opener, Ainsworth went on to<br />
lose seven of its remaining eight<br />
games. The Bulldogs finished<br />
the year 2-6 in its first season<br />
in class D1 and under first year<br />
head coach Jake Nelson.<br />
Nelson now hopes to write a<br />
different narrative in <strong>2017</strong>, as his<br />
Bulldogs look to bounce back in<br />
the win column. And it will start<br />
with his returning players.<br />
“We are returning a lot of<br />
experience from last year’s<br />
team,” Nelson said. “The team<br />
improved a lot throughout the<br />
year, but had a brutal schedule.<br />
The main area of improvement<br />
will be concentrating on this<br />
year’s tackling in the open<br />
field.”<br />
The Ainsworth defense<br />
struggled mightily to get stops<br />
a year ago, surrendering an<br />
average of 45 points per game.<br />
The Bulldogs return six starters<br />
on both sides of the ball,<br />
headlined by quarterback and<br />
defensive back Payton Allen.<br />
The senior will start under<br />
center for the fourth consecutive<br />
season. He holds the school<br />
passing record (2111 yards) and<br />
began to better utilize his legs<br />
as a junior. Allen was also the<br />
leading tackler from both the<br />
safety and linebacker positions.<br />
This year’s team will also<br />
feature some familiar faces<br />
in different positions. One of<br />
Allen’s favorite targets at wide<br />
receiver – fellow senior Caeleb<br />
Irwin – will transition to a<br />
running back role this fall. At<br />
6-foot, 180-pounds, Irwin will<br />
likely get the majority of snaps<br />
at tailback.<br />
Another playmaker to keep<br />
an eye on this year will be<br />
tight end and linebacker Blake<br />
Schipporeit, who received alldistrict<br />
honors at the end of<br />
his junior season. With his big<br />
frame (6’2” 215 lbs), Nelson<br />
knows he’ll have a difference<br />
maker. Schipporeit has the<br />
ability to both seal the edge and<br />
block on run plays and take<br />
off downfield. Although, he<br />
doesn’t do that too often in the<br />
Bulldogs I-formation offense.<br />
His main contributions will be<br />
on the defense, where he tallied<br />
45 tackles as a junior, nearly 5.5<br />
per game.<br />
Like many other schools across<br />
the state, Ainsworth will play<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Ravenna<br />
9/1 South Loup<br />
9/8 Hemingford<br />
9/22 @ Clearwater-Orchard<br />
9/29 CWCE<br />
10/6 @ Boyd County<br />
10/13 Burwell<br />
10/19 @ West Holt<br />
the same opponents in the<br />
same order as it did in 2016<br />
with home and away games<br />
switched. That means the<br />
Bulldogs will once again open<br />
the year against Ravenna, who<br />
they defeated last year. That<br />
game will be held at the home<br />
of the Jays on Aug. 25. The only<br />
other win for the Bulldogs last<br />
year came against Boyd County,<br />
who they’ll travel to on Oct. 6.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Payton Allen (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/DB<br />
Caeleb Irwin (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Blake Schipporeit (6’2” 215 lbs)<br />
Sr. TE/LB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Head Team Coach: Name: Patriots Shawn Mulligan<br />
Career Class: C1 Record: 7-11<br />
Assistant 2016 Record: Coaches: 3-6<br />
Class: Playoff C-1 Appearances: 20<br />
Team Head Coach: Name: Patriots Shawn Mulligan<br />
Career Record: 10-17<br />
Assistant Coach: Josh Lewis<br />
COVERING CENTRAL NEBRASKA BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE<br />
WEEKNIGHTS AT 6 & 10 PM<br />
BRANDON RECTOR • SPENCER SCHUBERT • CATHERINE SILVER • JUSTIN BIEGEL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Jake Nelson<br />
Career Record: 3-31<br />
CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEADER<br />
20 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong><br />
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ALMACARDINALS<br />
AMHERSTBRONCOS<br />
By: Austin Miller<br />
After a solid 2016 season, in<br />
which they finished 7-3, the<br />
Alma Cardinals could have<br />
another great team, but the<br />
big question around town is<br />
whether their star player will<br />
suit up.<br />
Jackson McKenzie is one of the<br />
top players in Class D1. The<br />
junior is a jack-of-all-trades<br />
player and has been used as a<br />
tight end, quarterback, running<br />
back, and linebacker. However,<br />
after suffering his second<br />
concussion in a playoff loss to<br />
Palmer last season, his status<br />
for this season is still up in the<br />
air with no timetable on when,<br />
or if, he can return.<br />
“Jackson is a difference maker<br />
on the football field,” Alma<br />
Head Coach Isaac Frecks said.<br />
“He has a nose for the ball on<br />
defense and is a playmaker on<br />
offense”.<br />
Even without their star player,<br />
this year’s team features plenty<br />
of upperclassmen, including<br />
four returning starters on<br />
offense and five on defense.<br />
Frecks will have an important<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 7-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Isaac Frecks<br />
Career Record: 48-50<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jesus Felix<br />
and Chris Mahalek<br />
piece in the trenches in senior<br />
offensive lineman David<br />
Ehrke. At 6-foot-3, 240-pounds,<br />
Ehrke has the look of a great<br />
lineman, but it’s his work ethic<br />
and awareness on the field<br />
that’s made him a problem for<br />
opposing defenses.<br />
“David really improved into<br />
one of the better lineman we<br />
have had at Alma last year,”<br />
Frecks said. “He is a great kid<br />
on and off the field. (He) does a<br />
great job finishing blocks and is<br />
a smart player”.<br />
Coach Frecks does have<br />
one concern, and that’s his<br />
backfield. With two of their<br />
three backs gone from last<br />
year, plus McKenzie’s status in<br />
question, the Cardinals could<br />
have to replace their entire<br />
backfield. Juniors Jarod Asche<br />
and Joseph Felix will need<br />
to step up in order to fill that<br />
void.<br />
If Alma’s schedule looks<br />
familiar this season, that’s<br />
because it’s the exact same<br />
opponents as last year in the<br />
same order. The only change is<br />
the home teams have flipped.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Dundy County-Stratton<br />
9/1 Northern Valley KS (Almena KS)<br />
9/8 @ Franklin<br />
9/22 Medicine Valley<br />
9/29 @ Cambridge<br />
10/6 Bertrand<br />
10/13 Elm Creek<br />
10/19 @ Southwest<br />
“I see us being very<br />
competitive with everyone on<br />
our schedule,” Frecks said.<br />
One game this team will<br />
certainly have circled on their<br />
schedules is their rematch with<br />
Medicine Valley. Last year, the<br />
Cardinals lost by one on the<br />
road. This year, they’ll have<br />
their chance for payback at<br />
home.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jackson McKenzie (6’1” 170 lbs)<br />
Jr. QB/RB/LB<br />
David Ehrke (6’3” 240 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Cooper Wright (6’3” 170 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/DE<br />
LOW PRICES EVERYDAY!<br />
703 MAIN STREET • ALMA, NE • 308.928.2606<br />
8/25 @ Bertrand<br />
9/1 Perkins County<br />
9/15 @ Burwell<br />
9/22 @ Overton<br />
9/29 Elm Creek<br />
10/6 South Loup<br />
10/13 @ Ravenna<br />
10/19 Cambridge<br />
22 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 23<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
Talk about an about-face for<br />
the Amherst football team in<br />
2016.<br />
Just the year before, the<br />
Broncos were the talk of Class<br />
D football. They ran the table<br />
en route to an undefeated<br />
regular season, including a late<br />
season win over rival Burwell.<br />
They entered the playoffs as a<br />
top-seed, but bowed out early.<br />
Last season, the team went<br />
2-7, eventually losing in the<br />
first round of the playoffs as a<br />
16-seed, falling to top-ranked<br />
Palmer 56-15.<br />
It’s a season head coach Ron<br />
Evans saw coming. After all,<br />
staying on top of Class D<br />
might be the toughest chore<br />
in high school football, given<br />
the amount of turnover in the<br />
eight-man game.<br />
Now, with the calendar<br />
reading <strong>2017</strong>, the Broncos<br />
are looking at a fresh start.<br />
Unlike in 2016, when there<br />
were a bunch of new faces in<br />
fall camp, Amherst will be<br />
returning 22 letter winners this<br />
year. They also have exactly<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 23<br />
Head Coach: Ron Evans<br />
Career Record: 142-93<br />
Assistant Coaches: Joe Radke,<br />
Eric Rippen, Colin Pfeiffer<br />
half of their starters back on<br />
both sides of the ball, giving<br />
the Broncos some muchneeded<br />
guidance.<br />
Amherst enters the year<br />
looking to simply get better<br />
after a rough 2016. Will the<br />
Broncos make it back to the<br />
state championship game<br />
for the first time since 2000?<br />
Experts would go against<br />
the notion, but Evans says<br />
confidence can still be born<br />
from a losing season.<br />
After all, his team returns<br />
players at a lot of key<br />
positions. It starts under<br />
center, as quarterback Trace<br />
Baasch is back for his senior<br />
campaign after getting the<br />
reins of the team last year.<br />
He’ll be joined by three other<br />
senior returning starters,<br />
and they’re all ends - Holden<br />
Eckhout, Riley Thomsen and<br />
Evan Palmer.<br />
The spread offense of Amherst<br />
will look to establish more of a<br />
run game in <strong>2017</strong>. The Broncos<br />
netted 251 yards per game<br />
through the air last season,<br />
but it didn’t open up much of<br />
a running attack. The Broncos<br />
only rushed for 64 yards per<br />
game.<br />
That’s where the head ball<br />
coach hopes to go to work over<br />
the summer, as Evans said his<br />
team’s success will start and<br />
end with how good his guys<br />
are up front.<br />
“Staying healthy and<br />
developing offensive and<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
defensive line depth (will<br />
be important),” Evans said.<br />
“We should be explosive on<br />
offense.”<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> schedule doesn’t<br />
do the Broncos many<br />
favors, however. Upcoming<br />
opponents combined for a 37-<br />
27 record in 2016, but it’s a<br />
bit of a camoflauged statistic,<br />
considering half of their<br />
schedule is against four teams<br />
who combined to go 29-3.<br />
That includes defending state<br />
champion Burwell.<br />
It’s tough to tell if the<br />
upcoming season will be the<br />
bounceback campaign coach<br />
Evans is hoping for, but he’ll<br />
be the first to tell you if the<br />
Broncos want any chance<br />
this year it will begin with<br />
developing overall depth<br />
and keeping his quarterback<br />
upright early and often.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Trace Baasch (5’8” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/LB<br />
Holden Eckhout (6’ 200 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DE<br />
Riley Thomsen (5’11” 145 lbs)<br />
Sr. WR/DB
ANSELMO-MERNACOYOTES<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
Coming off a .500 season, the<br />
Anselmo-Merna Coyotes and<br />
head coach Matt McGinn are<br />
looking to capitalize on 14<br />
returning starters to push to<br />
the playoffs in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
The Coyotes missed out on the<br />
playoffs in 2016 after a strong<br />
2015 campaign that saw the<br />
team go to the quarterfinals<br />
before getting knocked out<br />
by eventual state runner-up<br />
CWC.<br />
“Last year we were a young<br />
team with not a lot of game<br />
experience,” McGinn said. “So,<br />
for this season we are going to<br />
find out which of those kids<br />
want to step up and show the<br />
way for the other.”<br />
Offensively, the Coyotes run a<br />
fast-paced, electric zone-read<br />
spread offense. In 2016 the<br />
team was heavy on the ground<br />
averaging 296 yards per game<br />
compared to just 47 yards<br />
through the air. But ultimately,<br />
the offense put up an average<br />
of 41 points a game. However,<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Head Team Coach: Name: Coyotes Shawn Mulligan<br />
Career Class: D2 Record: 7-11<br />
Assistant 2016 Record: Coaches: 4-4<br />
Class: Playoff C-1 Appearances: 21<br />
Team Head Coach: Name: Patriots Matt McGinn<br />
Career Record: 46-13<br />
Assistant Coaches: Chad Duryea,<br />
Jason Reed, Stephen Rush<br />
last year it was the lack of<br />
consistency on that side of the<br />
ball that ended up hurting<br />
the Coyotes. In games against<br />
Twin Loup, Mullen and<br />
Sandhills/Thedford, the team<br />
combined for 18 points, but<br />
against Stapleton, Brady and<br />
Maxwell the Coyotes pumped<br />
out 222 points.<br />
The offense will need to<br />
replace three key players<br />
in quarterback Keenan<br />
Stupka, center Lane West,<br />
and offensive lineman Joel<br />
Mundorf. Under center<br />
expect to see a healthy dose<br />
of Jace Leibhart, as well as<br />
three-year letterwinner and<br />
senior running back Cameron<br />
Downey. The offensive line<br />
will be led by Reece Huhman.<br />
Last season Downey ran the<br />
ball 114 times for 1,017 yards<br />
and had a higher yard per<br />
run average than the team’s<br />
leading rusher. For Leibhart,<br />
the experience of Downey<br />
will be invaluable as the<br />
sophomore quarterback has<br />
only attempted seven passes in<br />
2016 and only had five carries,<br />
one going for a touchdown.<br />
On defense, the Coyotes<br />
will put forth a little bit<br />
of everything, with a<br />
combination scheme of a 3-4<br />
and a 4-4. The Coyotes defense<br />
will loom large in defeating<br />
what is considered their<br />
toughest competition of the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Ansley-Litchfield<br />
9/1 Twin Loup<br />
9/8 @ Mullen<br />
9/15 @ Central Valley<br />
9/22 Stapleton<br />
9/29 @ Brady<br />
10/6 Sandhills/Thedford<br />
10/19 @ Maxwell<br />
season, state runner-up Twin<br />
Loup.<br />
“Twin Loup will be a tough<br />
opponent, they are state<br />
runner-up and have many<br />
starters returning,” McGinn<br />
said.<br />
The road to the state playoffs<br />
is never an easy one. But<br />
McGinn said he “likes our<br />
kids’ commitment to summer<br />
training and conditioning.”<br />
Time will tell if the<br />
commitment and conditioning<br />
will pay off and send the<br />
Coyotes to the playoffs once<br />
more.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jace Leibhart (6’3’’ 160 lbs)<br />
Soph. QB/CB<br />
Cameron Downey (5’8’’ 140<br />
lbs) Sr. RB/CB<br />
Reece Huhman (6’0’’ 185 lbs)<br />
Jr. OL/DL<br />
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ANSLEY-LITCHFIELDSPARTANS<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
Even though months have passed<br />
since the conclusion of the 2016<br />
regular season, the Ansley-<br />
Litchfield football team is hoping<br />
that the momentum obtained last<br />
year can carry over into the <strong>2017</strong><br />
campaign.<br />
The Spartans went 6-5 in 2016<br />
under first year head coach Kurt<br />
Kulhanek, and after making their<br />
way into the playoffs, the youthful<br />
squad hit its stride.<br />
Ansley-Litchfield defeated<br />
Arapahoe 58-26 in the first round<br />
of the playoffs, and torched<br />
Loomis 65-20 in the second round.<br />
The Spartan’s season ended<br />
with a 61-25 loss to Sandhills-<br />
Thedford in the following round.<br />
But nonetheless, the season was<br />
successful for the Spartans, and in<br />
<strong>2017</strong> a core group of athletes will<br />
be back on the gridiron.<br />
Ansley-Litchfield returns six<br />
starters on both the offensive and<br />
defensive sides of the ball, and<br />
brings back 15 letterwinners in<br />
total.<br />
Among those returners is<br />
sophomore Jaden Jones, who will<br />
be back under center after starting<br />
at the quarterback position during<br />
his freshman year.<br />
Protecting Jones will be an<br />
experienced center, as Mikey<br />
Harrop returns with two years<br />
of starting experience on the<br />
offensive line.<br />
The Spartans will have to fill the<br />
running back position in their<br />
I-formation offense, after losing<br />
Brady Rohde to graduation.<br />
However, Kulhanek expects<br />
sophomore Blake Racicky and<br />
senior Seth Racicky to help carry<br />
the load in the backfield.<br />
On the defensive side of the ball,<br />
Ansley-Litchfield will be anchored<br />
by Keaton Moore on the line, Seth<br />
Racicky at the linebacker position,<br />
and John Zimmer and Chris Paitz<br />
in the secondary.<br />
It is on defense that Kulhanek<br />
hopes to see improvement, as he<br />
said, “shoring up our defense”<br />
is the biggest key to a successful<br />
season.<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> campaign is quickly<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/26 8/25 Axtell @ Anselmo-Merna<br />
9/9 9/1 Blue Stapleton Hill<br />
9/16 9/8 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
@ Loomis<br />
9/23 9/15 Wauneta-Palisade<br />
Sandhills/Thedford<br />
9/30 9/29 Loomis @ Central Valley<br />
10/7 10/6 Wallace Twin Loup<br />
10/14 10/13 Hitchcock Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
County<br />
10/21 10/19 Eustis-Farnam<br />
@ Pleasanton<br />
approaching, and the Spartans<br />
will get the season underway<br />
when they travel to Anselmo-<br />
Merna in week one.<br />
And as the group prepares,<br />
Kulhanek has high hopes for the<br />
season to come, saying what he<br />
likes best about his squad is that<br />
they “play with a lot of heart.”<br />
“If we improve our defense I<br />
believe we are going to have a<br />
very successful year,” he added. “I<br />
expect to be a top ten team.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jaden Jones (6’ 165 lbs) Soph. QB<br />
Chris Paitz (6’ 160 lbs) Jr. WR/DB<br />
Keaton Moore (5’7” 180 lbs) Soph.<br />
OL/DL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 6-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Kurt Kulhanek<br />
615 Main Street<br />
Ansley, NE<br />
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Karissa Marshall • Kathy Scott • Kiley Miller<br />
www.insheartland.com<br />
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800.935.1537<br />
Fax 308.935.1524<br />
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AQUINAS CATHOLICMONARCHS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
Aquinas Catholic will look<br />
to build off of a solid 2016<br />
campaign when they take the<br />
field this season. We know<br />
what to expect by now from<br />
the Monarchs, as head coach<br />
Ron Mimick enters his 28th<br />
season at the helm.<br />
“Our initial strength will<br />
be our run quickness. We<br />
hope to have a good running<br />
attack with an athletic, quick<br />
backfield running with an<br />
ability to throw,” Mimick said.<br />
“If we can develop a great<br />
attitude and work habits we<br />
could play into November.”<br />
While other schools adjust<br />
to a pass-first offensive<br />
attack, the Monarchs will rely<br />
on their signature wing-T<br />
approach.<br />
Last season, Aquinas went<br />
8-2, losing in the second<br />
round of the Class C1 playoffs<br />
to eventual champion O’Neil.<br />
Their only regular season loss<br />
came to runner up Bishop<br />
Neumann.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Head Team Coach: Name: Shawn Monarchs Mulligan<br />
Career Class: C1 Record: 7-11<br />
Assistant 2016 Record: Coaches: 8-2<br />
Class: Playoff C-1 Appearances: 25<br />
Team Head Name: Coach: Patriots Ron Mimick<br />
Career Record: 282-109<br />
Assistant Coach: Tony Smith<br />
However, in <strong>2017</strong>, the learning<br />
curve shouldn’t be all that<br />
steep. The Monarchs return<br />
nine starters on both the<br />
offensive and defensive sides<br />
of the ball. Two-way starter<br />
Kyle Ruth will anchor both<br />
the defensive and offensive<br />
lines. Last season, Ruth was<br />
named to the all-conference,<br />
all-district, and all-state<br />
teams.<br />
Quarterback and free safety<br />
Gavin Reach will lead the<br />
Aquinas option offense. Reach<br />
was voted all-conference and<br />
all-district in 2016.<br />
Last year, senior stand out<br />
Lane Napier took the lion’s<br />
share of the carries for the<br />
Monarchs. With Napier out<br />
of the picture, Coach Mimick<br />
will rely on up-and-coming<br />
talent to pick up the slack.<br />
“We can be a good team again<br />
if we avoid injuries, like all<br />
teams, and develop the skill<br />
kids,” Mimick said.<br />
On the defensive side of the<br />
ball, the Monarchs will look<br />
to their skilled edge rushers in<br />
a base 3-5 package. Ruth and<br />
Nate Uhrmacher will serve as<br />
the bookends on the defensive<br />
line. Last season, the stingy<br />
Aquinas defense only<br />
allowed 10 points per game<br />
and recorded three shutout<br />
performances. Opposing<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 Raymond Central<br />
9/1 @ Pierce<br />
9/8 Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
9/15 @ Columbus Scotus<br />
9/22 @ Bishop Neumann<br />
9/29 David City<br />
10/6 North Bend Central<br />
10/13 @ Wahoo<br />
offenses only eclipsed the<br />
20-point mark twice the entire<br />
year.<br />
Having won four state<br />
championships in the past<br />
six seasons, the Monarchs<br />
will look to return to their<br />
dominant form in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Aquinas was bumped to Class<br />
C1 last year after claiming<br />
its fourth title in Class C2. In<br />
turn, last season was the first<br />
time since 2010 that Coach<br />
Mimick’s team did not reach<br />
the championship game.<br />
Mimick and the Monarchs<br />
open the season on the road<br />
versus Raymond Central.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kyle Ruth (6’2” 225lbs) Sr. C/<br />
DE<br />
Nate Uhrmacher (6’1” 220lbs)<br />
Sr. OG/DE<br />
Gavin Reach (5’11” 150) Sr.<br />
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28 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong><br />
www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 29
ARAPAHOEWARRIORS<br />
ARCADIA-LOUP CITYREBELS<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
In his first year at the helm, Head Coach<br />
Dustin Kronhofman and the Arapahoe<br />
Warriors finished with a 6-3 record. Now,<br />
with a full year to get familiar with each<br />
other and the system, Kronhofman hopes<br />
to improve upon last year’s success.<br />
“I think we have a chance to be a better<br />
team overall this year in our second year<br />
in this system,” Kronhofman said.<br />
The Warriors run both I-formation and<br />
spread-style offenses while lining up in a<br />
3-4 base defense. Kronhofman is hoping<br />
to add more strength and toughness to the<br />
team on both sides of the ball this year.<br />
Offensively, though, the Warriors don’t<br />
have much that they need to change.<br />
The team averaged better than 45<br />
points per game last season. With six<br />
returning starters on that side of the ball,<br />
Kronhofman feels good about what they<br />
can do with the ball.<br />
“We are bringing back 95 percent of our<br />
offensive production, and we’re very<br />
athletic,” Kronhofman said. “But we<br />
need to get better on the offensive and<br />
defensive lines and have guys step up and<br />
fill those roles.”<br />
However, the Warriors already have some<br />
important roles that are filled by some of<br />
their better players.<br />
Quarterback and safety Gentry Anderson<br />
returns after rushing for 1,560 yards and<br />
23 touchdowns, and throwing for 955<br />
yards and 18 touchdowns in 2016.<br />
“[He’s] a great athlete and team leader,”<br />
Kronhofman said of Anderson. “He has<br />
great football speed and quick decisionmaking<br />
skills, while making very few<br />
mistakes.”<br />
Kronhofman also said Anderson is not<br />
just one of the best athletes on the team<br />
but in Class D2, and adds that Anderson<br />
has the potential to be all-state with a nice<br />
run in the playoffs. He’s just a junior, too.<br />
He’ll have a solid top receiver to throw<br />
to in Yordi Gutierrez, who hauled in 13<br />
touchdowns last season and ran for two<br />
more.<br />
Kronhofman notes that Gutierrez has only<br />
played one year of football, but is hoping<br />
to see big numbers from him again this<br />
season.<br />
And leading the defense for the Warriors<br />
will be Jacob Pruitt. Pruitt is a force on<br />
defense and an all-district linebacker, as<br />
he totaled 136 tackles last season. Pruitt<br />
will also move from the offensive line to<br />
fullback on the offensive side of the ball<br />
this year.<br />
“[Pruitt is] probably the best pure football<br />
player on the team,” Kronhofman said,<br />
adding that Pruitt has a nose for the<br />
football.<br />
If Kronhofman and the Warriors are<br />
successful in adding the strength and<br />
toughness they’re seeking, and can<br />
replicate last year’s offensive production,<br />
they have the chance to be a dangerous<br />
team.<br />
“We are not real big, but we have several<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/26 8/25 Axtell<br />
9/9 9/8 Blue Hill<br />
9/16 9/15 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
9/23 9/22 Wauneta-Palisade<br />
9/30 9/29 Loomis @ Loomis<br />
10/7 10/6 @ Wallace<br />
10/14 10/13 Hitchcock County<br />
10/21 10/19 @ Eustis-Farnam<br />
playmakers,” Kronhofman said. “We will<br />
need to stay healthy and get tougher to<br />
make a run in the playoffs.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Gentry Anderson (6’0” 185lbs) Jr. QB/S<br />
Yordi Gutierez (5’10”170lbs) Jr. WR/DB<br />
Jacob Pruitt (5’9” 205lbs) Sr. LB/FB<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
At first glance, Arcadia-Loup City had<br />
a rough 2016 campaign, finishing the<br />
season with a 3-6 record. However,<br />
after a closer look, the win-loss columns<br />
could easily have been flipped if the<br />
Rebels were able to claim victory in a<br />
couple tight games.<br />
Four out of the first five games of 2016<br />
featured crushing defeats for Arcadia-<br />
Loup City Head Coach Mike Scott and<br />
his group. The Rebels started the year<br />
1-4, with losses by three, seven, six, and<br />
six. One of the losses came in double<br />
overtime, while another came in triple<br />
overtime.<br />
This year, Scott is hoping to flip the<br />
script, and said he will be pushing the<br />
importance of closing out games to his<br />
squad.<br />
“Winning the close games,” Scott said<br />
of the biggest challenge he foresees<br />
heading into <strong>2017</strong>. “And getting our<br />
inexperienced players up to speed<br />
quickly.”<br />
Luckily for Scott, he won’t have too<br />
many inexperienced players to get up to<br />
speed, at least offensively.<br />
The Rebels have eight returning starters<br />
coming back on that side of the ball,<br />
including six seniors.<br />
One of those seniors will play a vital<br />
role if Arcadia-Loup City hopes to put<br />
points on the board.<br />
Running back Tige Calleroz will be back<br />
running the ball for the Rebels this fall,<br />
after rushing for 1,046 yards and 20<br />
touchdowns during the 2016 campaign.<br />
Calleroz won’t be alone in the backfield,<br />
however. Sophomore Caden Kusek will<br />
also receive a chunk of snaps from the<br />
running back position.<br />
According to Scott, the two-headed<br />
monster in the backfield could provide<br />
difficulties for opposing defenses.<br />
“Both bring a different style of rushing<br />
along with being very hard to bring<br />
down,” he said.<br />
When the Rebels aren’t pounding the<br />
ball on the ground, the offense has the<br />
ability to be effective through the air, as<br />
well.<br />
Senior quarterback Macrae Maschka,<br />
who will be back under center, and<br />
dynamic playmaker Nolan Baker, could<br />
develop into a deadly combination.<br />
“(They) should be a serious pass/catch<br />
threat,” Scott said.<br />
On defense, six starters return, including<br />
five seniors with a combined eight years<br />
of starting experience.<br />
Calleroz and Baker will both play key<br />
roles on the defensive side of the ball<br />
at the cornerback position, while two<br />
senior defensive lineman, Tyson Trotter<br />
and Peyton Lambrecht, will return in<br />
the trenches.<br />
The Rebels have all the pieces to<br />
improve on Scott’s career 44-40 record,<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ North Platte St. Patrick’s<br />
9/1 Valentine<br />
9/8 @ Sandy Creek<br />
9/15 Cross County<br />
9/22 @ St. Paul<br />
9/29 Centura<br />
10/6 @ Twin River<br />
10/13 Central City<br />
10/20 @ Fillmore Central<br />
but the schedule, similar to 2016, won’t<br />
do the group any favors.<br />
“We have three of the largest C2 teams<br />
on the schedule,” Scott said of match<br />
ups against Central City, Valentine,<br />
and St. Paul. “Five of our six losses last<br />
season came to playoff teams. It will be<br />
a tough schedule again.”<br />
The Rebels will open the season on Aug.<br />
27 against North Platte St. Patrick.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Tige Calleroz (5’ 10” 195 lbs) Sr. RB<br />
Caden Kusek (6’0” 190 lbs) Soph. RB<br />
Macrae Maschka (5’ 9” 190 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Head Team Coach: Name: Warriors Shawn Mulligan<br />
Career Class: D2 Record: 7-11<br />
Assistant 2016 Record: Coaches: 6-3<br />
Class: Playoff C-1 Appearances:19<br />
Team Head Coach: Name: Patriots Dustin Kronhofman<br />
Career Record: 6-3<br />
Assistant Coaches: John Strand<br />
and Preston Blackmore<br />
Rehab locations in Arapahoe, 658 Pine Street, 308-962-5402 & Cambridge, 1305 Hwy 6/34, 308-697-4718<br />
Team Name: Rebels<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 0<br />
Head Coach: Kurk Kulhanek<br />
Career Record: 44-40<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jason Phelps,<br />
Brandon Stickley, Jason Obarmaller<br />
Anderson Pharmacy<br />
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1429 M St - Ord, NE<br />
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:30 pm<br />
Saturday 8:30 am-1:30 pm - Sunday Closed<br />
Loup City Rx Shoppe<br />
308-745-2109<br />
133 South 7th St. - Loup City, NE<br />
Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm<br />
Closed Saturday & Sunday<br />
30 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong><br />
www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 31
AURORAHUSKIES<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
The 2016 season for the Aurora<br />
football team might go down<br />
as one of the biggest “what if”<br />
seasons of the year.<br />
The biggest question likely still<br />
rattling around in the head of<br />
coach Kyle Peterson is what if<br />
standout tight end and future<br />
Husker Austin Allen didn’t get<br />
hurt before the season even began?<br />
Fact of the matter is, the Huskies<br />
were without Allen all regular<br />
season and still recorded an<br />
impressive year. Aurora did get<br />
him back for the playoffs and<br />
advanced to the second round,<br />
dominating rival York 24-3 in the<br />
opening round.<br />
However, Elkhorn South thumped<br />
the Huskies 42-13 in the next game<br />
in a rematch of the 2015 Class B<br />
title game, sending Aurora into an<br />
early offseason.<br />
Peterson enters his third year at<br />
the helm after going a combined<br />
20-4 in his first two campaigns,<br />
but <strong>2017</strong> might prove to be his<br />
toughest coaching job yet.<br />
The Huskies return just three<br />
starters on offense and one on<br />
defense, leaving the coaching staff<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 8-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 30<br />
Head Coach: Kyle Peterson<br />
Career Record: 20-4<br />
Assistant Coach: Tim Elge<br />
with a lot of work to do before the<br />
first whistle of the season.<br />
“We will be a young and<br />
inexperienced football team this<br />
fall,” Peterson said. “We have<br />
talent at the skill positions, most<br />
of which is untested in varsity<br />
competition.”<br />
As with any football team,<br />
especially one that lost the likes of<br />
Allen in the trenches, Peterson said<br />
he’s giving a lot of attention to his<br />
offensive and defensive lines.<br />
“Line development will play a big<br />
part in how far this team can go,”<br />
Peterson said. “We will have great<br />
competition for most all positions,<br />
which we hope will provide us<br />
with much needed depth by<br />
midseason.”<br />
The only two-way starter returning<br />
from the 2016 quarterfinal team<br />
is running back Cal Narber, who<br />
is entering his senior season. He<br />
shared the backfield with Presten<br />
Dibbern up until now, so it’s safe<br />
to say he’s eager to see what he<br />
can do with the increase in carries<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>. His head coach echoed<br />
that sentiment.<br />
“Cal has very good balance and<br />
vision as a back,” Peterson said.<br />
“(He) runs with good power and<br />
has breakaway speed. He’s also an<br />
exceptional open-field tackler.”<br />
Narber was third on the team<br />
in tackles, but considering he’s<br />
the lone starter returning on the<br />
defensive end, Peterson will be<br />
hoping the depth he’s worked on<br />
in years past pays off early and<br />
often.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 McCook<br />
9/1 @ Sidney<br />
9/8 Waverly<br />
9/15 @ Scottsbluff<br />
9/22 Gering<br />
9/29 @ Crete<br />
10/6 York<br />
10/13 @ Northwest<br />
10/20 Seward<br />
guys he expects to fill key roles<br />
defensively for the Huskies,<br />
including linebacker Ian<br />
Boerkircher, defensive back Rylan<br />
Willis, and linebacker Grant<br />
Bonifas.<br />
As far as the schedule goes, it’s<br />
the exact same as last season as<br />
teams fulfill the second year of<br />
the alternating schedule, which<br />
means Aurora should have a good<br />
opportunity to grow early. In 2016,<br />
their opponents combined to go<br />
just 36-44.<br />
However, three teams on the slate<br />
combined to go 23-4, and one of<br />
those teams is who Aurora takes<br />
on first - a McCook squad that<br />
went 8-1 last year.<br />
Only time will tell if the <strong>2017</strong><br />
Aurora football season will be<br />
considered a reloaded season or a<br />
rebuilding campaign.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Cal Narber (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. RB<br />
Caden Schuster (6’4” 200 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR<br />
Ian Boerkircher (6’5” 210 lbs) Sr. LB<br />
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© <strong>2017</strong> Nedelco, Inc.<br />
Peterson gave a short list of<br />
32 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 33
AXTELLWILDCATS<br />
COVERING CENTRAL NEBRASKA BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE<br />
By: Justin Biegel<br />
Following a first-round exit in<br />
the 2015 D2 playoffs, the Axtell<br />
Wildcats struggled in their 2016<br />
campaign, going winless on the<br />
season. This year, the Wildcats<br />
will be under the command<br />
of first year head coach Dean<br />
Marsh, who replaces Will<br />
Wagner after three years with the<br />
program.<br />
“We need to learn how to<br />
play as a unified team and not<br />
eight individuals,” Marsh said.<br />
“Mental toughness needs to<br />
improve along with the ability<br />
to trust our reads and our<br />
teammates.”<br />
The Wildcats were outscored last<br />
year 425-200, giving up nearly 60<br />
points per game. Axtell also had<br />
to forfeit a game at the end of<br />
September versus Shelton.<br />
“Our kids have been moved<br />
around a lot and given up a lot<br />
of big plays,” Marsh said. “My<br />
goal is to put them where they<br />
help our team the most and<br />
simplify things so they react<br />
without having to think first.<br />
Better blocking and tackling will<br />
be our focus going into the fall.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Head Coach: Name: Wildcats Shawn Mulligan<br />
Class: Career D2 Record: 7-11<br />
2016 Assistant Record: Coaches: 0-8<br />
Playoff Class: C-1 Appearances: 13<br />
Head Team Coach: Name: Patriots Dean Marsh<br />
Career Record: 0-0<br />
Assistant Coaches: Barney Olson,<br />
Dan Schroer<br />
When asked what he liked most<br />
about this year’s team, Marsh<br />
said, “I like that fact that our<br />
kids seem to get along great off<br />
the field. We have kids with size<br />
and with speed. The athletes<br />
are definitely there and it is up<br />
to us coaches to put the pieces<br />
together to make a competitive<br />
team.”<br />
A lot of that size and speed can<br />
be seen in the senior class. The<br />
Wildcats return 12 letterwinners,<br />
six starters on offense and seven<br />
on defense.<br />
One of those key returning<br />
starters is two-way player Jake<br />
Marsh. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound<br />
senior is expected to start under<br />
center for the Wildcats and<br />
in the secondary. As a junior,<br />
Marsh averaged 13 yards per<br />
completion at quarterback,<br />
slinging for over 450 yards and<br />
five touchdowns. He’s also not<br />
afraid to use his legs, rushing<br />
63 times for one score. On the<br />
flip side, Marsh averaged over<br />
five tackles a game on defense,<br />
finishing the year with 38.<br />
Marsh will have a lot of help<br />
up front with fellow senior<br />
A.J. Skaggs. Listed at 6-foot-<br />
3, 285-pounds, Skaggs was<br />
the Class D2 runner-up this<br />
year at the state wrestling<br />
championships in Omaha. His<br />
big frame will be a force to<br />
reckon with on the offensive and<br />
defensive lines.<br />
The Wildcats also expect major<br />
contributions from tailback<br />
Braden Gomez. With a slightly<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Arapahoe<br />
9/1 @ Loomis<br />
9/8 Pleasanton<br />
9/15 BDS<br />
9/22 @ Blue Hill<br />
9/29 Shelton<br />
10/13 @ Lawrence-Nelson<br />
10/20 Giltner<br />
smaller frame (5’8” 165 lbs),<br />
Gomez is a shifty back who<br />
can weave his way through<br />
traffic. The senior came into the<br />
spotlight his sophomore year,<br />
averaging nine yards on just 11<br />
carries. His numbers jumped the<br />
following season, rushing for six<br />
yards a carry and 307 yards with<br />
four scores. He had one 100-yard<br />
rushing performance. Gomez is<br />
also projected to join Jake Marsh<br />
in the secondary.<br />
Axtell opens the season Aug. 25<br />
at Arapahoe, where the Wildcats<br />
lost by just six points a year ago.<br />
“We don’t have any team on our<br />
schedule that we can overlook,”<br />
Marsh said. “I’ll stress to our<br />
kids not to pick the wins and<br />
losses before the season starts.<br />
When November gets here, we<br />
will know who the toughest<br />
teams are. My goal is to be one of<br />
them.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jake Marsh (6’1” 165 lbs) Sr. QB/<br />
DB<br />
A.J. Skaggs (6’3” 285 lbs) Sr. C/DL<br />
Braiden Gomez (5’8” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
FB/DB<br />
WEEKNIGHTS AT 6 & 10 PM<br />
BRANDON RECTOR • SPENCER SCHUBERT • CATHERINE SILVER • JUSTIN BIEGEL<br />
34 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 35
BEATRICEORANGEMEN<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
“The most powerful and<br />
talented football player I have<br />
coached” are the words Beatrice<br />
head coach Kevin Meyer, a 36-<br />
year coaching veteran, used<br />
to describe senior Cameron<br />
Jurgens. And Meyer’s opinion<br />
of Jurgens is not unique. The<br />
Nebraska commit is rated as a<br />
four-star recruit and the No. 4<br />
athlete nationally in the 2018<br />
class by Rivals.com. Jurgens<br />
is entering his senior season<br />
for the Orangemen where he<br />
brings three years of starting<br />
experience at linebacker and<br />
two as a tight end.<br />
Before he joins the Huskers,<br />
Jurgens will look to lead<br />
Beatrice back to the playoffs<br />
for the eighth straight year. The<br />
Orangemen are coming off a<br />
2016 season in which the team<br />
went 8-3 and lost to Gretna in<br />
the Class B quarterfinals. 25<br />
players who earned a letter<br />
return along with four starters<br />
on offense and five on defense.<br />
Senior Trevor Schmale (6’1”<br />
175 lbs) will take over at<br />
quarterback, and he’ll have<br />
an experienced group of skill<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Head Team Name: Coach: Orangemen Shawn Mulligan<br />
Class: B<br />
Career Record: 7-11<br />
2016 Record: 8-3<br />
Assistant Playoff Appearances: Coaches: 18<br />
Class: Head Coach: C-1 Kevin Meyer<br />
Team Assistant Name: Coaches: Patriots Travis Schuster,<br />
Chuck Hamilton, Corey Wells, Jeff<br />
Keezor, Jordan Johnson, Eric Martin,<br />
Ethan Wright, Justin Coleman<br />
players surrounding him. Senior<br />
Dillon Buss (13 rec, 315 yds,<br />
3 TD in 2016) brings big-play<br />
capability to the passing attack,<br />
while Jurgens (23 rec, 286 yds,<br />
3 TD) provides an athletic passcatching<br />
option from the tight<br />
end position. In addition, Meyer<br />
said sophomore wide receiver<br />
Andrew Mahoney “will be a<br />
factor.” After playing as a wide<br />
receiver in 2016, senior Colton<br />
Gronewold (5 rec, 54 yds) will<br />
also see time as a running back<br />
in <strong>2017</strong> after Beatrice’s top three<br />
rushers from 2016 graduated.<br />
Seniors David Duncan (6’2” 245<br />
lbs) and Jerad Humble (5’11”<br />
230 lbs) anchor the offensive<br />
line.<br />
On defense, Jurgens leads the<br />
way for the Orangemen from<br />
the linebacker position. He was<br />
tops on the team with 123 total<br />
tackles in 2016. Playing in front<br />
of Jurgens will be Duncan (42<br />
total tackles) and Humble (31<br />
total tackles). In the secondary,<br />
Buss (23 total tackles, 2 INTs)<br />
and Gronewold (22 total tackles,<br />
1 INT) return with starting<br />
experience. The Beatrice defense<br />
was a strength in 2016 as the<br />
Orangemen surrendered just<br />
19.9 points per game, but <strong>2017</strong><br />
is a new year and Meyer said<br />
the group “needs to build<br />
depth and replace two outside<br />
linebackers.”<br />
Junior Adam Riekenberg is<br />
expected to handle the kicking<br />
duties this season while Jurgens<br />
serves as the punter. Schmale<br />
is the long snapper and Zach<br />
White is the holder.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Ralston<br />
9/1 @ Nebraska City<br />
9/8 Elkhorn<br />
9/15 @ Gross Catholic<br />
9/22 Omaha Roncalli Catholic<br />
9/29 @ South Sioux City<br />
10/6 @ Waverly<br />
10/13 Crete<br />
10/20 @ Norris<br />
Despite playing in a tough<br />
district that includes Norris,<br />
Crete, and Waverly, Beatrice has<br />
a strong chance of reaching the<br />
state playoffs again in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“We should be pretty<br />
competitive this season but<br />
need to build depth all across<br />
the board of offense, defense<br />
and special teams,” Meyer<br />
said, who’s entering his second<br />
season as Beatrice head coach.<br />
Even if the Orangemen struggle,<br />
watching Jurgens compete in his<br />
final season before joining the<br />
Huskers will be worth the price<br />
of admission.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Cameron Jurgens (6’4” 247 lbs)<br />
Sr. TE/LB<br />
Dillon Buss (6’2” 190 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
David Duncan (6’2” 245 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DE<br />
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KENO<br />
WIDE<br />
ASSORTMENT OF<br />
MENU ITEMS<br />
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OUR TEAM COVERING<br />
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FRIDAYS AT 10 PM
BERTRANDVIKINGS<br />
Team Phelps<br />
www.PhelpsMemorial.com<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
The 2016 football season was<br />
one of change for the Bertrand<br />
Vikings. Not only did they<br />
change their opponents, like<br />
every team on the two-year<br />
schedule rotation, but Bertrand<br />
also changed classes.<br />
The Vikings jumped from Class<br />
D2 to Class D1, and unfortunately<br />
for the fellas in blue, it showed in<br />
the win-loss column.<br />
Bertrand went 5-3 in 2015 in<br />
Class D2, but last season they<br />
only tallied two wins on the year<br />
compared to six losses.<br />
The schedule also didn’t<br />
do Bertrand many favors,<br />
considering three of their<br />
opponents were 7-1 or better by<br />
the end of the season.<br />
With <strong>2017</strong> comes the chance for<br />
the Vikings to turn the page,<br />
however. Now, they’re not<br />
necessarily the “newbies” in<br />
Class D1, and their schedule will<br />
feel familiar. Not to mention,<br />
they have a head coach in Steve<br />
Colfack who knows how to win,<br />
sporting a 125-99 career coaching<br />
record.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Vikings<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 23<br />
Head Coach: Steve Colfack<br />
Career Record: 125-99<br />
Assistant Coaches: Mark Dethlef,<br />
Bill Ford, Craig Newcomb<br />
Bertrand has a unique set-up<br />
this year, too. They have five<br />
returning starters on both sides<br />
of the ball, but only one player on<br />
the entire team is a senior - star<br />
running back/linebacker Wyatt<br />
Wilken. Colfack said the rare<br />
make-up of the team will test his<br />
guys early and often.<br />
“With only one senior on the<br />
team, the juniors will have to take<br />
on a huge role,” Colfack said.<br />
“We will have an inexperienced<br />
line, but hopefully can build it<br />
into a strength.”<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> schedule will mirror<br />
the 2016 edition, which means<br />
Bertrand will have a tall task at<br />
hand. Six of the eight teams on<br />
the ledger made the playoffs last<br />
season, with three of those teams<br />
winning their opening round<br />
game. Colfack said with his team<br />
getting another crack at many of<br />
the same guys, he feels that can<br />
only be a positive.<br />
“We had too many mistakes last<br />
year, but if we can improve in<br />
this area, we will be fine in a very<br />
tough district,” Colfack said.<br />
The Vikings are sure to be led<br />
by Wilken in the backfield<br />
offensively, who has been timed<br />
by coaches over the summer with<br />
a 4.7 second 40-yard dash, which<br />
on an 80-yard field can certainly<br />
do some damage.<br />
“He is a big and powerful<br />
player,” Colfack said of Wilken.<br />
“Look for him to have a good<br />
year. He (also) had 74 tackles last<br />
year.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Amherst<br />
9/1 Elm Creek<br />
9/8 @ South Loup<br />
9/22 Cambridge<br />
9/29 @ Overton<br />
10/6 @ Alma<br />
10/13 Southwest<br />
10/19 @ Medicine Valley<br />
Colfack also is hoping to see good<br />
production from a few of his<br />
top juniors, including fullback/<br />
linebacker Jordan Holan, who<br />
was hampered by a foot injury<br />
for much of 2016.<br />
Junior Tyler Callahan is expected<br />
to be back under center for<br />
Bertrand as well, after running<br />
for nearly 300 yards and passing<br />
for more than 500 yards in 2016.<br />
Colfack said it’s the combination<br />
of Callahan’s feet and arm that he<br />
hopes to exploit in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
The Vikings kick off the year with<br />
two-straight home games after<br />
being road warriors out of the<br />
gate in 2016. They’ll host Amherst<br />
on Aug. 25th. Then, they’ll<br />
welcome in a tough Elm Creek<br />
squad the following week.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Wyatt Wilken (6’0” 205 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Jordan Holan (5’9” 175 lbs) Jr.<br />
FB/LB<br />
Tyler Callahan (5’9” 170 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/DB<br />
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38 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 39
BLUE HILLBOBCATS<br />
By: Justin Biegel<br />
Winning is a tradition at Blue<br />
Hill, as the Bobcats haven’t<br />
missed the playoffs since 2004.<br />
Last season, Blue Hill came<br />
within two points of booking<br />
a ticket to the Class D2 state<br />
semifinal. After a 7-1 finish to<br />
the regular season, the Bobcats<br />
cruised through the first two<br />
rounds of the playoffs, before<br />
a crushing 29-27 loss to Twin<br />
Loup. It marked the furthest<br />
the team had advanced in the<br />
state playoffs since 2008, when<br />
the squad won the Class C2<br />
championship.<br />
Now, Blue Hill is back and<br />
hungrier than ever to return to<br />
the postseason and finish what<br />
it started. For third year head<br />
coach Jon Coffey, he’ll have all<br />
but two players returning from<br />
last year’s team. That includes<br />
a group of 11 seniors, and seven<br />
offensive and defensive starters.<br />
“This team is loaded,” Coffey<br />
said. “We will be quick and very<br />
physical. Our key will be to stay<br />
focused on every week and not<br />
overlook anyone.”<br />
defense will be the strength of<br />
this year’s team, led by senior<br />
linebacker Lane Deisley. Listed<br />
at 6-foot-2, 220-pounds, Deisley<br />
is a force to be reckoned with.<br />
He tallied 83 tackles in 2016,<br />
along with a forced fumble and<br />
a blocked punt. Deisley will<br />
also be the heart of the Bobcat<br />
offense. As a junior, he rushed<br />
121 times for 722 yards and 15<br />
touchdowns.<br />
“[Deisley] is very strong, athletic,<br />
really runs the ball aggressive,”<br />
Coffey said, who added he<br />
thinks Deisley will be a top five<br />
player in D2 this year.<br />
Coffey also speaks highly about<br />
senior Trent Kort, who will play<br />
alongside Deisley at linebacker<br />
and fullback on offense.<br />
“He likes to open the holes for<br />
our running backs,” Coffey said.<br />
“He’s a very hard hitter for us.”<br />
Kort recorded 54 tackles his<br />
junior season and scored two<br />
touchdowns on 30 carries at<br />
fullback.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Meridian<br />
9/1 Franklin<br />
9/8 @ Arapahoe<br />
9/15 @ Pleasanton<br />
9/22 Axtell<br />
9/29 Lawrence-Nelson<br />
10/6 @ Giltner<br />
10/19 @ Shelton<br />
opponents as it did in 2016,<br />
with locations being switched.<br />
The Bobcats host Meridian on<br />
opening night on Aug. 25, whom<br />
they defeated 54-6 a year ago.<br />
That was the first of five games<br />
in which the Bobcats scored 50 or<br />
more points. As a team, Blue Hill<br />
averaged 36 points per contest.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Lane Deisley (6’2” 215 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Trent Kort (5’8” 195 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
LB<br />
John Rouse (5’8” 160 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
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Blue Hill faces the same<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bobcats<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 9-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 19<br />
Head Coach: Jon Coffey<br />
Career Record: 16-5<br />
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40 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 41
BOONE CENTRAL-NEWMAN GROVECARDINALS<br />
BOYD COUNTYSPARTANS<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
Coming off a 5-4 season in 2016,<br />
the Cardinals of Boone Central/<br />
Newman Grove will have no<br />
shortage of experience to draw from<br />
headed into the <strong>2017</strong> campaign.<br />
Eight starters are set to return on<br />
both sides of the ball under third<br />
year head coach Mark Hudson, as<br />
the Cardinals will look to navigate<br />
through Class C1 on their way to<br />
the postseason.<br />
That journey will be made slightly<br />
easier by the fact that most of the<br />
players on the roster won’t be new<br />
to playing on Friday nights.<br />
“We had a small senior class last<br />
year so we had to play some<br />
younger players,” Hudson said.<br />
Senior Dylan Gentrup will be one<br />
of the many players that will benefit<br />
from playing as an underclassman.<br />
Gentrup, who stands 6-foot-1,<br />
185-pounds, returns under center,<br />
and will enter the season as one of<br />
the top players in the class.<br />
“Dylan is a good dual threat QB,”<br />
Hudson said. “(He) ran and threw<br />
for 1,000 yards each (last season).<br />
He’s a real good player for us.”<br />
However, protecting Gentrup<br />
will be an important ingredient<br />
for success in <strong>2017</strong>. Hudson<br />
acknowledged the interior play<br />
must be refined, adding he hopes<br />
“line play will be improved as it<br />
was a weakness versus playoff<br />
teams.”<br />
Senior Jessie Sullivan could make<br />
that hope a reality. Sullivan missed<br />
his entire junior season with an<br />
injury, but returns in <strong>2017</strong> looking to<br />
make a difference on the offensive<br />
and defensive lines.<br />
“He is an athletic big man that<br />
plays four sports,” Hudson said of<br />
Sullivan. “We are excited to see his<br />
impact after missing last year.”<br />
Cody Nelson, who is returning after<br />
an all-district 2016 campaign, will<br />
also be an impact player from the<br />
wide receiver position.<br />
Nelson, who also stands out on<br />
defense, will be a crucial cog in the<br />
Cardinal machine.<br />
“Cody is our best wide receiver and<br />
a leader in the defensive backfield,”<br />
Hudson said. “He is good deep<br />
threat but is sure handed and can<br />
make catches in traffic.”<br />
The Cardinals will roll out a spread<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Pierce<br />
9/1 @ Wayne<br />
9/8 @ O’Neill<br />
9/15 Norfolk Catholic<br />
9/22 Columbus Lakeview<br />
9/29 @ Ord<br />
10/6 Adams Central<br />
10/13 @ Columbus Scotus<br />
10/20 @ Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
offense and a 4-3 base defense<br />
once the season gets underway,<br />
and although a number of difficult<br />
schools fill the Class C1 division,<br />
the experienced squad hopes to<br />
improve on last year and push to<br />
the playoffs.<br />
“We hope to be more balanced<br />
offensively and do a better job of<br />
stopping the run,” Hudson said.<br />
“If we stay healthy, we should be<br />
competitive in our district and hope<br />
to be in playoff contention.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Dylan Gentrup (6’1” 185 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
Jessie Sullivan (6’4” 240 lbs) Sr. DT<br />
Levi Krueger (5’9” 200 lbs) Sr. FB<br />
Cody Nelson (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr. WR<br />
Optimism oozes from Scott<br />
Ross’ voice when he talks about<br />
Boyd County football. The<br />
first-year head coach is taking<br />
over the program with great<br />
optimism, despite the team’s 2-6<br />
finish last season.<br />
“I’m not going to say we’ll go<br />
8-0,” Ross said. “But we’re going<br />
to compete. We should be very<br />
athletic. We won’t be big, but<br />
athletic and quick.”<br />
Ross took over the Spartans’<br />
program after spending the last<br />
few seasons at Grand Island<br />
Central Catholic. The Creighton<br />
High School graduate served<br />
in several roles at GICC, but<br />
primarily focused on wide<br />
receivers and special teams. He<br />
says Charlie Shoemaker (former<br />
GICC coach who’s now the<br />
head coach at Hastings) played<br />
a big influence in his coaching<br />
philosophy.<br />
“We want to get the ball in our<br />
athletes’ hands,” Ross said. “We<br />
may try to get to the outside a<br />
bit more and let our players run<br />
free.”<br />
Ross says he doesn’t plan to<br />
make drastic changes to the<br />
Boyd County offense. The<br />
Spartans averaged 18 points<br />
in 2016, which included wins<br />
over Niobrara/Verdigre and<br />
Clearwater/Orchard.<br />
“We’ll be aggressive,” Ross said.<br />
“We want to keep things simple<br />
so they can run, play ball, and<br />
have fun on the football field.”<br />
Ross inherits a team with strong<br />
leadership. Five seniors return<br />
who all played significant roles<br />
last year. Justin Drueke is<br />
among the upper classmen with<br />
valuable experience. Drueke<br />
can play both running back and<br />
wide receiver. Ross says Drueke<br />
and his classmates have done a<br />
great job of encouraging others<br />
in the weight room over the<br />
summer.<br />
“I told the kids from day<br />
one that I want them to tell<br />
themselves, ‘I got better’,” Ross<br />
said.<br />
Boyd County’s season begins<br />
on Aug. 25th at North Central.<br />
Perhaps the most challenging<br />
stretch for the Spartans is at<br />
the end of the regular season<br />
schedule; Boyd County faces<br />
CWCE and Burwell both on the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ North Central<br />
9/1 Niobrara/Verdigre<br />
9/8 Creighton<br />
9/22 @ West Holt<br />
9/29 Clearwater-Orchard<br />
10/6 Ainsworth<br />
10/13 @ CWCE<br />
10/19 @ Burwell<br />
road in consecutive weeks.<br />
Key Player:<br />
Justin Drueke (5’10” 160 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/WR<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 5-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 4<br />
Head Coach: Mark Hudson<br />
Career Record: 85-46<br />
Assistant Coach: Dan Zoucha<br />
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Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Steve Colfack<br />
42 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 43
BROKEN BOWINDIANS<br />
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
The past decade had been a<br />
series of good, average, and<br />
not so good seasons for the<br />
Broken Bow Indians, and<br />
head coach Mike Garner has<br />
endured it all.<br />
After losing a number of<br />
players to graduation, as well<br />
as most of their guys up front,<br />
the Indians only have eight<br />
returning starters.<br />
“We have some good skill<br />
players. Our two returners<br />
on the line will be solid kids<br />
to build around. We will be<br />
very young; over half of our<br />
team will be either freshman<br />
or sophomores. We need to get<br />
a starting O-Line established<br />
early and develop depth,<br />
because with our schedule,<br />
there’s bound to be an injury<br />
at some point,” Garner said.<br />
With all of Broken Bow’s<br />
returning starters playing<br />
multiple positions, depth is<br />
a main point of focus if they<br />
want to earn the school’s first<br />
state football championship.<br />
The list of positions that need<br />
to be filled is long, ranging<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
from running and fullback to<br />
linebacker and defensive end.<br />
However, Garner is optimistic<br />
he can fill the holes.<br />
“There are some really good<br />
athletes. Kevin Linn and<br />
Tanner Linn (no relation),<br />
Mason McMeen, and Josh<br />
Harvey all played extensively<br />
on the varsity basketball<br />
team,” Garner said. “Brooks,<br />
Drake, Cole Ulmer, and<br />
Spencer Gaffney all qualified<br />
for state in wrestling. Tycen<br />
Marten and Grayson Garey<br />
have a legitimate shot at<br />
qualifying for state track.”<br />
But it’s a rebuilding year for<br />
the Indians as they form their<br />
new offensive and defensive<br />
cores.<br />
An area they need to address<br />
from last season is allowing<br />
more rushing yards than<br />
they put up per game. In<br />
2016, Broken Bow gave up an<br />
average of 217 rushing yards<br />
a game and only gained an<br />
average of 148 yards on the<br />
ground. That may present a<br />
challenge for the young team<br />
Garner is forming for <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Ord<br />
9/1 @ Chase County<br />
9/8 Chadron<br />
9/15 @ Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
9/22 @ Minden<br />
9/29 Gothenburg<br />
10/6 Ogallala<br />
10/13 @ Cozad<br />
10/20 Kearney Catholic<br />
again against Ord this year,<br />
the Indians are hoping to come<br />
out on top this time around.<br />
In fact, they have the same<br />
schedule as they did last year,<br />
in the exact same order of<br />
opponents. If Broken Bow can<br />
structure this new team, they<br />
can turn last year’s 2-6 record<br />
into a winning season.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kevin Linn (6’3” 195 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/LB<br />
Mason McMeen (5’11” 185 lbs)<br />
Sr. RB/LB<br />
Treyvon Brooks (6’ 220 lbs) Jr.<br />
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Team Name: Indians<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Mike Garner<br />
Career Record: 118-70<br />
Assistant Coaches: Luke Cosfal,<br />
Brandon Myer, Ryan Wetovick,<br />
Mark Shaw<br />
“We will be young and don’t<br />
have a lot of size. We are going<br />
to have to find ways to bring<br />
guys along quickly and make<br />
the best use of what we have.<br />
We need our seniors to be<br />
great leaders, on and off the<br />
field,” Garner said.<br />
Opening their season, once<br />
44 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 45
BRUNING-DAVENPORT-SHICKLEYEAGLES<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
Bruning-Davenport Shickley will<br />
return as one of the top teams in<br />
Class D. After finishing 11-1, the<br />
Eagles are an experienced group<br />
who know how to win.<br />
BDS has enjoyed 16 straight<br />
playoff appearances. The Eagles<br />
clinched a state title in 2015 and<br />
got close to making it back-toback<br />
last season, but instead<br />
walked away after a devastating<br />
loss. BDS advanced to the<br />
semifinals and faced district<br />
powerhouse Falls City Sacred<br />
Heart. They lost 16-12. FCSH<br />
would go on to win the state<br />
title.<br />
It was a tough blow for a team<br />
who hadn’t experienced a loss<br />
up to that point. Just one step<br />
away from Memorial Stadium,<br />
head coaches Mark Rotter and<br />
Chris Ardissono hope that<br />
postseason loss will be fuel for<br />
the <strong>2017</strong> squad.<br />
“The semifinal loss at FCSH<br />
was devastating,” they said.<br />
“Hopefully it motivates us to<br />
work hard in the offseason.”<br />
BDS will return six starters on<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 10-1<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Christopher Ardissono<br />
Career Record:<br />
Assistant Coaches: Scott Shipley<br />
and Kole Ficken<br />
offense and five on defense. With<br />
most of the roster consisting of<br />
upperclassmen, the experience<br />
level this fall will be greater than<br />
last.<br />
“We have a very experienced<br />
team,” they said. “Our seniors<br />
have been in 14 playoff games.”<br />
John Christensen (6’1” 210 lbs)<br />
will transition into a much<br />
different role come this fall. The<br />
junior recorded two touchdowns<br />
last season as the team’s running<br />
back, but he’ll return this fall<br />
as the Eagles’ quarterback.<br />
Christensen will also see time on<br />
the defensive side of the ball at<br />
linebacker, where he made 103<br />
tackles in 2016.<br />
Veteran Thomas Mick (5’9” 140<br />
lbs) will return as BDS’ engine.<br />
The senior rushed for 401 yards<br />
and 12 touchdowns his junior<br />
year. Senior Caden Norder (5’11”<br />
190 lbs) will be another veteran<br />
who will make a big impact<br />
this season. The senior had 12<br />
touchdowns his junior year and<br />
played a key role at defensive<br />
back, where he made 82 tackles.<br />
Joining this list will be seniors<br />
Holden Stengel (6’2” 210 lbs)<br />
and Garrett Schardt (6’2” 185<br />
lbs), who combined for 11<br />
touchdowns and 182 tackles.<br />
Seniors Karson Dickson (6’3” 190<br />
lbs) and Kellen Reinsch (6’2” 215<br />
lbs) will return to the starting<br />
lineup at nose guard and center.<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> season looks to be<br />
promising based on the caliber<br />
of athletes coming back this fall.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Osceola<br />
9/8 Tri County<br />
9/15 @ Axtell<br />
9/22 @ Pawnee City<br />
9/29 Sterling<br />
10/6 @ Falls City Sacred Heart<br />
10/13 Meridian<br />
10/20 Lawrence-Nelson<br />
There’s no question that the<br />
expectations will be high for the<br />
program that has made it to the<br />
post season for over a decade.<br />
The Eagles begin their journey<br />
back to the playoffs on Aug. 25<br />
on the road against Osceola.<br />
However, the most anticipated<br />
game of the year will be another<br />
road game on Oct. 6 against,<br />
who else but Falls City Sacred<br />
Heart.<br />
Key Players:<br />
John Christensen (6’1” 210 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/LB<br />
Thomas Mick (5’9” 140 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB<br />
Caden Norder (5’11” 190 lbs) Sr.<br />
B/DB<br />
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46 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 47
BURWELLLONGHORNS<br />
CAMBRIDGETROJANS<br />
By: Austin Miller<br />
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
What a season 2016 turned out<br />
to be for Burwell. The Longhorns<br />
barely got into the playoffs last<br />
season, but once they got in they<br />
would not be beat on their way<br />
to a state championship. In the<br />
playoffs, the Longhorns faced<br />
four teams with undefeated<br />
records and beat them all,<br />
including a Palmer team they lost<br />
to earlier in the season by four<br />
points.<br />
Gone are a number of key<br />
contributors from that team,<br />
including tight end Tyler Gideon,<br />
who had almost 1,000 yards<br />
receiving and 17 touchdowns in<br />
2016.<br />
However, if there is one strength<br />
that remains a constant for head<br />
coach Luke Gideon, it’s depth.<br />
Last season, Burwell had 33<br />
players on their roster, certainly<br />
one of the biggest rosters in Class<br />
D1. Gideon returns five starters<br />
on offense, four on defense, and<br />
12 letterwinners.<br />
“We have to replace some good<br />
players again, but we have some<br />
younger guys ready to play,”<br />
Gideon said.<br />
A state title defense is certainly<br />
in the cards for the Longhorns<br />
this season, especially with<br />
quarterback Cayden Owens<br />
coming back. Last year, the<br />
senior threw for more than 20<br />
touchdowns, while running for<br />
10, as well. While the senior<br />
only threw for 1,000 yards, his<br />
legs are a huge weapon for the<br />
Longhorns. In two games last<br />
season, Owens rushed from more<br />
than 100 yards. The senior will<br />
also roam around on defense at<br />
safety.<br />
Fellow senior Thomas Hughes<br />
will be tasked with keeping<br />
Owens protected along the<br />
offensive line, while also clearing<br />
out rushing lanes. Hughes<br />
is a three-year starter for the<br />
Longhorns and will also play<br />
along the defensive line.<br />
Another key cog for Burwell<br />
will be fullback/linebacker Ryan<br />
Dawe. Dawe has started since his<br />
freshman year, and last season<br />
he tallied 95 tackles and a fumble<br />
recovery on defense, while also<br />
rushing for six touchdowns.<br />
If Burwell is going to repeat<br />
as state champions, they’ll<br />
have another tough path to get<br />
through.<br />
The Longhorns have two difficult<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Elgin Public/Pope John<br />
9/8 @ Palmer<br />
9/15 Amherst<br />
9/22 @ CWCE<br />
9/29 West Holt<br />
10/6 @ Clearwater-Orchard<br />
10/13 @ Ainsworth<br />
10/19 Boyd County<br />
road games on the schedule, with<br />
one against a Chambers/Wheeler<br />
Central/Ewing team that went<br />
10-1 last year, and the other will<br />
be a playoff rematch against<br />
Palmer.<br />
The Longhorns, though, have<br />
made it to the state title game for<br />
the past two years, so it would be<br />
foolish to count out a team with<br />
the championship pedigree they<br />
have.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Cayden Owens (5’10” 160 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/S<br />
Thomas Hughes (6’0” 230 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Ryan Dawe (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr. FB/<br />
LB<br />
The Cambridge Trojans are<br />
getting into the swing of eightman<br />
football, finishing with a 4-5<br />
record in 2016. <strong>2017</strong> will be head<br />
coach Scott Porter’s third year<br />
steering the team and he said<br />
progress is something they strive<br />
for every season.<br />
“We went 4-4 in the regular season<br />
and we grew each week. This<br />
season we’ll be more accustomed<br />
to eight-man football,” Porter said.<br />
“With having a year experience<br />
under our belts, we should be<br />
more competitive.”<br />
The Trojans have three returning<br />
players with all-district honors,<br />
each of them being seniors this<br />
year while bringing a lot of size<br />
and experience to the team. “I<br />
look forward to them being team<br />
leaders and possible role models<br />
for all the younger guys from their<br />
leadership this season and guiding<br />
the team in the right direction,”<br />
Porter said. “Most of these guys<br />
have been starting or playing quite<br />
a bit since their freshman year.”<br />
One of those seniors is running<br />
back Taten Benson, who rushed<br />
for 1,695 yards last season and is<br />
expected to do great things this<br />
fall.<br />
However, one of the positions that<br />
needs to be filled this season is the<br />
starting quarterback. There are<br />
two players who have game day<br />
familiarity and who took snaps<br />
throughout last season. Preston<br />
Carbaugh is a junior who has two<br />
years of experience and Paxton<br />
Ross is a sophomore who is still<br />
fairly new to the program.<br />
“I wish we could combine them to<br />
make one because they both have<br />
different strengths. But whoever<br />
wins the battle will be great and<br />
the back-up will still be a reliable<br />
quarterback. It will be a very<br />
interesting battle all the way up to<br />
the first game,” Porter said.<br />
Porter added, “I feel we need to<br />
do a better job of the little things<br />
that hurt us in some games last<br />
year. If we can fix that and our<br />
team chemistry is on the same<br />
page, we can have a successful<br />
season.”<br />
Most of those “little things” deal<br />
with penalties. “Another year of<br />
maturity and growth will lead to a<br />
successful year,” Porter said.<br />
With 12 upperclassmen coming<br />
back out for the squad this year,<br />
that also adds a bit of depth to the<br />
team.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Perkins County<br />
9/1 Decatur Community KS<br />
9/15 Dundy County-Stratton<br />
9/22 @ Bertrand<br />
9/29 Alma<br />
10/6 Southwest<br />
10/13 @ Medicine Valley<br />
10/19 @ Amherst<br />
Porter said, “Some positions have<br />
a lot more depth but I’m confident<br />
with younger guys, they got some<br />
playing experience last year so<br />
hopefully when they go in to play<br />
and switch out, they won’t miss a<br />
beat on both sides of the ball.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Caden Houghtelling (6’5” 225 lbs)<br />
Sr. TE/DE<br />
Taten Benson (6’4” 205 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
DE<br />
Wyatt Fiene (6’0” 215 lbs) Sr. OG/<br />
DT<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Longhorns<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 11-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Luke Gideon<br />
Career Record: 102-51<br />
Assistant Coaches: Mike Max<br />
and Will Gideon<br />
CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEADER<br />
Team Name: Trojans<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 4-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 29<br />
Head Coach: Scott Porter<br />
Career Record: 110-84<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jason Benson,<br />
Lance Shifflet, Bronson Soucie,<br />
Waid Bontz<br />
Rehab locations in Arapahoe, 658 Pine Street, 308-962-5402 & Cambridge, 1305 Hwy 6/34, 308-697-4718<br />
48 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 49
CENTENNIALBRONCOS<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
After a three-year playoff drought,<br />
the Broncos were back in the<br />
postseason in 2016, and return this<br />
fall as one of the top teams in Class<br />
C2.<br />
Centennial went undefeated in the<br />
regular season, winning tight games<br />
against Yutan, St. Paul and Shelby<br />
Rising-City. The Broncos proceeded<br />
to dominate the remainder of the<br />
schedule.<br />
Although, one team from the regular<br />
season would come back to haunt<br />
them in the playoffs. After beating<br />
Yutan 14-12 early in the season, the<br />
Chieftains knocked Centennial out<br />
of the first round of the playoffs 34-6.<br />
It was a successful season, but not<br />
enough to satisfy this year’s squad.<br />
Head Coach Evan Klanecky enters his<br />
eighth season with the team with an<br />
overall record of 39-27.<br />
“Last season wasn’t the way we<br />
thought it would end. It left a bad<br />
taste in our mouth,” he said. “You<br />
could call this season unfinished<br />
business.”<br />
Klanecky said time has healed that<br />
postseason wound, but the Broncos<br />
won’t completely drown out that<br />
Yutan loss.<br />
“We will use it as motivation,” he<br />
said.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Centennial will return 16 startersnine<br />
on offense and seven on defense.<br />
The power spread offense that<br />
averaged 34 points a game will be run<br />
by junior Wyatt Ehlers (5’11” 165 lbs).<br />
Ehlers started as both a freshman and<br />
a sophomore, and for the first time<br />
will likely be starting on both sides<br />
of the ball at free safety. Klanecky<br />
praised the quarterback for his work<br />
ethic and leadership.<br />
“Wyatt controls the offense and really<br />
just runs the show,” he said. “He<br />
prepares hard. He works hard and he<br />
leads by example.”<br />
The Broncos averaged 156 rushing<br />
yards in 2016 with the help of<br />
running back Jake Prochaska (6’1”<br />
185 lbs). Klanecky described the<br />
senior as the team’s “emotional spark<br />
with a ton of energy.” The three-year<br />
starter scored five touchdowns last<br />
season and like Ehlers will see time<br />
on defense at linebacker, where he<br />
recorded 67 total tackles.<br />
The 4-2-5 defense that allowed only<br />
12 points a game will look to the<br />
leadership of Jackson Hirschfeld<br />
(5’11” 155 lbs).<br />
“He’s always calm,” Klanecky said of<br />
Hirschfeld. “He doesn’t get rattled in<br />
tough situations and, like Wyatt, he<br />
leads by example.”<br />
Hirschfeld will be a big target for<br />
Ehlers on offense at wide receiver,<br />
where last year he recorded seven<br />
touchdowns.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Central City<br />
9/1 Yutan<br />
9/8 @ Palmyra<br />
9/15 Malcolm<br />
9/22 @ Fillmore Central<br />
9/29 St. Paul<br />
10/6 Shelby-Rising City<br />
10/13 @ Cross County<br />
10/20 Sutton<br />
Although developing depth will take<br />
some work, Klanecky knows the <strong>2017</strong><br />
squad has what it takes to make it to<br />
the postseason again.<br />
“For those guys to go 9-0 last season<br />
was quite the feat,” he said. “This<br />
season our goal is to win our district<br />
and get to the playoffs again.”<br />
Centennial will face five playoff<br />
teams and will open their season on<br />
the road against Central City.<br />
With a successful season behind<br />
them, the team knows they will have<br />
a big target on their back come this<br />
fall.<br />
“It really is a double-edged sword,”<br />
Klanecky said. “Last season, teams<br />
threw the book at us and did things<br />
against us they hadn’t done all<br />
year. We know we are going to get<br />
everyone’s best, so we have to be<br />
ready.”<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 9-1<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Evan Klanecky<br />
Career Record: 39-27<br />
Assistant Coaches: Craig<br />
Barjenbrach, Barry Eitzmann,<br />
Josh Warren<br />
The majority of starters are juniors,<br />
but the roster will feature three senior<br />
veterans in Tyler Perry, Gavin Avery<br />
and Heath Haberman. Although<br />
experience shouldn’t be a problem<br />
for the Broncos, depth will pose<br />
a challenge. Klanecky said, like<br />
every team, staying healthy will be<br />
huge as the Broncos’ freshmen and<br />
sophomore classes just don’t have the<br />
numbers.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Wyatt Ehlers (5’11” 165 lbs) Jr. QB/FS<br />
Jake Prochaska (6’1” 185 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
LB<br />
Jackson Hirschfeld (5’11” 155 lbs) Jr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
50 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 51
CENTRAL CITYBISON<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
The Central City Bison enter<br />
<strong>2017</strong> coming off of a 6-4 season,<br />
whereas the 10-seed in the Class<br />
C2 playoffs were beat 51-7 by<br />
Crofton.<br />
However, the Bison actually<br />
enjoyed a pretty solid 2016<br />
campaign. The team averaged<br />
33 points per game and won<br />
five straight before losing the<br />
regular season finale. This year,<br />
Central City returns five starters<br />
on offense, seven on defense<br />
and plenty of upperclassmen,<br />
meaning experience will likely be<br />
a strength.<br />
“We return a good amount of<br />
experience on both sides of the<br />
ball, many of which got more<br />
playing time as the year went<br />
on,” head coach Troy Huebert<br />
said. “Replacing a talented class<br />
that included three linemen<br />
with multiple games of starting<br />
experience will be a challenge,<br />
but it’s exciting to see the young<br />
guys step up as they compete for<br />
those spots.”<br />
One of the guys Huebert hopes to<br />
see step up is Dale Jones, a senior<br />
who has started his whole career<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
at defensive back, but will add<br />
quarterback to his duties in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Coach Huebert is confident that<br />
Jones will get the job done.<br />
“Dale is our leader and a flat-out<br />
football player,” Huebert said.<br />
“He will be an outstanding dual<br />
threat quarterback.”<br />
Heubert also said that Jones<br />
will be the team’s first two-time<br />
captain.<br />
Luckily, Jones won’t be pressured<br />
to carry the entire load on offense.<br />
Surrounding him will be an<br />
experienced and talented group<br />
of guys who can help make the<br />
Bison offense dangerous. Seniors<br />
Tucker Schneiderheinz and Cam<br />
Sciuga, who led the team with<br />
545 rushing yards last season,<br />
will head up the ground attack.<br />
When he drops back, three-year<br />
starter Mike Murray and the<br />
team’s 2016 reception leader,<br />
Ethan DeBoer, give Jones solid<br />
targets to throw to. Add four<br />
senior offensive linemen, two<br />
who started last year, and two<br />
juniors who will likely battle<br />
for the fifth spot on the line,<br />
and Jones has the tools to lead a<br />
potentially potent offense for the<br />
Bison.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Centennial<br />
9/1 Logan View<br />
9/8 @ Battle Creek<br />
9/15 @ Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
9/22 Centura<br />
9/29 @ Twin River<br />
10/6 Sutton<br />
10/13 @ Arcadia-Loup City<br />
10/20 St. Paul<br />
line this year,” Huebert said. “A<br />
returning two-way starter, Noah<br />
is an explosive player with a nose<br />
for the ball on defense.”<br />
And leadership, like what<br />
Carlson offers, is what Huebert<br />
says can be one of the biggest<br />
reasons for any success the team<br />
has in <strong>2017</strong>. “Our senior class is<br />
a motivated bunch who get after<br />
it and love the weight room,”<br />
Huebert said. “Leadership is a<br />
strength of this group and their<br />
ability to push the younger kids<br />
this offseason will be a big factor<br />
in our development.”<br />
If some of those younger players<br />
are able to step up and contribute<br />
alongside the upperclassmen, the<br />
Bison could be a team to watch<br />
during the upcoming season.<br />
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Team Name: Bison<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 6-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Troy Huebert<br />
Career Record: 23-16<br />
Assistant Coach: Reub Burbach<br />
On the defensive side of the ball,<br />
Central City will be led by many<br />
of the same players, including<br />
Jones at defensive back, Murray<br />
and Sciuga at linebacker, and<br />
Noah Carlson and Brule Kearney<br />
in the trenches.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Dale Jones (5’9” 190lbs) Sr. RB/LB<br />
Mikey Murray (6’0” 185lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/LB<br />
Ethan DeBoer (6’2” 170lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
“Noah will be our leader on the<br />
52 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 53
CENTRAL VALLEYCOUGARS<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
Under the direction of second<br />
year head coach and University of<br />
Nebraska at Kearney graduate Jess<br />
Rother, the Central Valley Cougars<br />
will look to improve upon last<br />
season’s 0-8 record and look for a<br />
playoff berth in class D2 this fall.<br />
Luck has not been on the Cougars<br />
side in recent seasons, as the<br />
team has won just two games<br />
since 2014. The Cougars of 2016<br />
were outscored 365-130, and with<br />
the exception of a season finale<br />
two-point loss against Sumner-<br />
Eddyville-Miller, each of the losses<br />
came by double digits.<br />
“I would love to see us improve<br />
greatly,” Rother said. “I am very<br />
optimistic and I think we can<br />
make great strides and turn this<br />
thing around and be a competitive<br />
team this year.”<br />
The Cougars will return ten total<br />
starters with the offense and<br />
defense bringing back five a piece.<br />
letterwinners in senior Jeremy<br />
Ondracek and sophomore Enrique<br />
Martinez.<br />
Up front the Cougars will have<br />
the experience and leadership of a<br />
pair of offensive lineman that will<br />
set the tone for each game. Senior<br />
Nathan Poss and junior Donnie<br />
Nolze combine for multiple<br />
seasons of experience, and will<br />
help pave the way for Ondracek,<br />
Martinez and returning senior<br />
quarterback Josh Ibach. With all<br />
the returning experience, Rother<br />
believes that the leadership all<br />
around the team is a reason to be<br />
optimistic.<br />
Defensively, look for a 3-4<br />
defense with some speed from<br />
the Cougars in the fall. Much like<br />
the offense, the team will return<br />
several starters from 2016. Senior<br />
linebacker Colton Gydesen will<br />
take on a bulk of the leadership<br />
responsibilities, as well as the big<br />
guys up front in Poss and Nolze.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 Fullerton<br />
8/31 @ Stuart<br />
9/15 Anselmo-Merna<br />
9/22 @ Pleasanton<br />
9/29 Ansley-Litchfield<br />
10/6 @ Nebraska Lutheran<br />
10/13 Twin Loup<br />
10/20 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
A fast start will be crucial if the<br />
Cougars want to flip the script and<br />
make the playoffs for the first time<br />
under Rother. Only one of their<br />
first three games will be against<br />
2016 playoff teams, but the second<br />
half of the season gets difficult<br />
with state runner-up Twin Loup<br />
coming to town on Oct. 13.<br />
“Barring injuries, and if we can get<br />
off to a great start, I really think<br />
we can get to the playoffs and see<br />
where it goes from there,” Rother<br />
said.<br />
YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG<br />
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
The team runs the popular<br />
Power-I offense and with that<br />
comes a dependency on both the<br />
offensive line and the guys that<br />
will get the ball. At running back,<br />
Rother will lean on two previous<br />
For the Cougars, like many teams,<br />
their season relies on staying<br />
healthy. “With only having 21 out<br />
there this year we really need to<br />
stay as injury-freefree as possible,”<br />
Rother said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jeremy Ondracek (6’ 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB<br />
Josh Ibach (5’8’’ 130 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
Nathan Poss (6’ 205 lbs) Sr. OL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cougars<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 0-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 0<br />
Head Coach: Jess Rother<br />
Career Record: 11-16<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jason<br />
McIntyre, Steve Kreiwald<br />
608 Howard Ave, St Paul, NE 68873<br />
308-754-4611<br />
54 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 55
CENTURACENTURIONS<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
It has been awhile since Centura<br />
football has made the waves<br />
their home fan base has been<br />
wanting them to make. The last<br />
time the team made the playoffs<br />
was 2013, and the last time they<br />
won a playoff game the movies<br />
Christmas Vacation and Field of<br />
Dreams just hit theaters in 1989.<br />
What Larry Baker is building in<br />
Cairo as he enters his fourth year<br />
should get fans to come, even if<br />
one of them is cousin Eddie.<br />
the offseason, there could be no<br />
ceiling for the junior.<br />
“Austin is incredibly strong,”<br />
Baker said. “He hang cleans over<br />
275 pounds, he has a 30” vertical<br />
jump - these are great numbers<br />
as he finishes his sophomore year<br />
and heads into his junior year.”<br />
Baker went on to say if the team<br />
makes the playoff push in <strong>2017</strong>,<br />
it will be through their defensive<br />
play.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 @ Kimball<br />
9/1 Wood River<br />
9/8 @ Bayard<br />
9/15 Hershey<br />
9/22 @ Central City<br />
9/29 @ Arcadia-Loup City<br />
10/6 St. Paul<br />
10/13 @ Shelby-Rising City<br />
10/20 Twin River<br />
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CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S<br />
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS<br />
LEADER<br />
The Centurions went 5-4 in<br />
2016 and had a very promising<br />
3-0 start to boot. It has the <strong>2017</strong><br />
bunch thinking this could be the<br />
year they return to postseason<br />
play, as a lot of the starters<br />
returning are in key spots.<br />
Quarterback Noah Wooden<br />
returns for his junior season after<br />
starting on both sides of the ball<br />
for coach Baker last year. Wooden<br />
earned an honorable-mention<br />
All-District nod for his solid play.<br />
But the player coach Baker might<br />
be most excited to have back is<br />
junior lineman Austin Simmons.<br />
Simmons was a First Team All-<br />
District player in 2016, and with<br />
the work Baker is seeing through<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
“This year’s team will be defined<br />
by its defense,” Baker said.<br />
“We will have a very big and<br />
physical defensive line, and the<br />
linebackers and defensive backs<br />
are extremely athletic.”<br />
While Centura returns seven<br />
starters on offense and eight<br />
on defense, Baker says where<br />
his team might lack the most is<br />
leadership, as of those returning<br />
starters only four are seniors this<br />
fall.<br />
“The leadership component will<br />
be crucial as we’ve graduated<br />
most of the leadership from last<br />
year’s team,” Baker said. “Austin<br />
Simmons and Barrett Selden will<br />
have to fill this leadership role<br />
as they have done all through<br />
conditioning.”<br />
next five, with only one of those<br />
setbacks being relatively close -<br />
an 18-14 loss to Hershey.<br />
Centura will see the Panthers<br />
again, who finished 7-2 last year.<br />
The fellas from Cairo are also set<br />
for a road trip to Central City<br />
and a home contest against St.<br />
Paul. Those two teams combined<br />
to go 13-5 last year, proving that<br />
Centura certainly won’t have<br />
anything handed to them.<br />
Centura kicks off the season on<br />
the road at Kimball, which will<br />
give coach Baker his first chance<br />
to see how the team leadership<br />
roles take shape.<br />
“Weaknesses will be depth in<br />
general, but if everyone does<br />
their job, it shouldn’t affect us<br />
negatively,” Baker said.<br />
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Team Name: Centurions<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record:<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Larry Baker<br />
Like every team this year,<br />
Centura will be seeing the same<br />
schedule they did in 2016, and<br />
it’s one coach Baker feels his<br />
guys can improve on. In 2016, the<br />
Centurions shot out to a 3-0 start<br />
with wins over Kimball, Wood<br />
River, and Bayard.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Noah Wooden (5’10” 150 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB<br />
Austin Simmons (5’11” 220 lbs)<br />
Jr. OL/DL<br />
Barrett Selden (6’3” 275 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
SEASON PREMIERE<br />
SEPT 25<br />
MON & TUES<br />
8/7c<br />
However, they lost four of their<br />
56 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 57
CLEARWATER-ORCHARDCYCLONES<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
Last season, the Cyclones were<br />
caught in a tailspin. Aside<br />
from back-to-back wins in<br />
weeks three and four there<br />
were few bright spots for<br />
Clearwater.<br />
The Cyclones allowed 36<br />
points per game while only<br />
scoring 25.7. Both defensive<br />
and offensive production<br />
must improve for the Class<br />
D1 squad − a task head coach<br />
Jeff Shabram is confident his<br />
players are ready to tackle.<br />
“We return a lot of players<br />
who played a great deal as<br />
youngsters in 2016,” Shabram<br />
said. “If these kids continue to<br />
work and improve they should<br />
be fun to watch this season.”<br />
The Cyclones will return nine<br />
starters on both sides of the<br />
ball.<br />
One of the youngsters<br />
Shabram is talking about is<br />
junior linebacker Jacob Long.<br />
During his sophomore season,<br />
Long racked up 79 tackles and<br />
4.5 sacks to go along with two<br />
forced fumbles.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cyclones<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Shabram<br />
Career Record: 65-72<br />
Assistant Coach: Dan Roeber<br />
Shabram calls Long, “a tough<br />
linebacker who has a nose for<br />
the ball carrier.”<br />
But if you’re looking for<br />
big time experience on<br />
the Cyclones roster, look<br />
no further than Creston<br />
Bertschinger. Bertschinger is<br />
entering his senior season with<br />
Clearwater and has lettered on<br />
varsity each of the previous<br />
three.<br />
“Creston is the leader of our<br />
team both statistically and<br />
emotionally,” Shabram said<br />
of his workhorse. “He’s a big<br />
play waiting to happen on<br />
offense, defense, or special<br />
teams.”<br />
The two-way talent is a<br />
productive ball carrier as<br />
well as a force on defense.<br />
Bertschinger ranked second on<br />
the roster last season with 84<br />
tackles and led his team with<br />
1,185 all-purpose yards and 10<br />
touchdowns.<br />
Despite their 2-7 finish, the<br />
Cyclones made their eighth<br />
playoff appearance in the last<br />
nine years. But their season<br />
came to an abrupt end in the<br />
first round of the playoffs at<br />
the hands of Class D1 runnerup<br />
Guardian Angels Central<br />
Catholic.<br />
Heading into his 16th season<br />
as head coach of the Cyclones,<br />
Shabram is aware of the past<br />
but refuses to let the team’s<br />
recent shortcomings temper<br />
his excitement.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/31 St. Mary’s<br />
9/8 @ Neligh-Oakdale<br />
9/15 @ Elgin Public/Pope John<br />
9/22 Ainsworth<br />
9/29 @ Boyd County<br />
10/6 Burwell<br />
10/13 West Holt<br />
10/19 @ CWCE<br />
“They are a hungry group of<br />
players,” Shabram said. “We<br />
have some hard working kids<br />
on this team. Hopefully they<br />
can experience a little success<br />
this season.”<br />
The Cyclones kick off the <strong>2017</strong><br />
season at home against St.<br />
Mary’s (O’Neill).<br />
Key Players:<br />
Creston Bertschinger (5’10”<br />
160 lbs) Sr. RB/DB<br />
Jacob Long (6’1” 180 lbs) Jr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Andrew Steskal (5’10” 250 lbs)<br />
Sr. OL<br />
58 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 59
COZADHAYMAKERS<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
After back-to-back losing<br />
seasons, the Cozad football<br />
squad will be looking to get<br />
back on a winning track in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
The Haymakers followed up a<br />
1-10 season in 2015 with a 3-6<br />
showing last year. The two rough<br />
campaigns came on the heels of<br />
a 10-2 performance in 2014, and<br />
Cozad will look to get back to<br />
their winning ways this fall.<br />
the field.<br />
Cozad will also have some<br />
experience coming back in the<br />
trenches, as senior center Fabian<br />
Chacon, who started all nine<br />
games last year, and senior<br />
Nathan Smock both return on<br />
the line.<br />
Smock was an all-district<br />
honorable mention last season.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Chase County<br />
9/1 @ Chadron<br />
9/8 Adams Central<br />
9/15 Ogallala<br />
9/22 @ Kearney Catholic<br />
9/29 Minden<br />
10/6 @ Gothenburg<br />
10/13 Broken Bow<br />
10/20 @ Gordon-Rushville<br />
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The group will be led by fifth<br />
year head coach Brian Cargill,<br />
who carries a 39-38 career<br />
record into the upcoming<br />
campaign.<br />
The Haymakers will return five<br />
starters on the offensive side of<br />
the ball and six on the defensive<br />
as they prepare to once again<br />
battle in Class C1.<br />
On offense, junior Adam Cole<br />
will be back under center<br />
after starting four games at<br />
quarterback last season.<br />
Cole will have an athletic target<br />
to throw to, as senior Jordan<br />
Menagh, the group’s leading<br />
receiver in 2016, will be back on<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Haymakers<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Brian Cargill<br />
Career Record: 39-38<br />
Assistant Coach: Scott Adkisson<br />
On the defensive side of the<br />
ball, Ian Branham, who Cargill<br />
calls a “solid player,” will return<br />
to start at middle linebacker in<br />
his senior season.<br />
The Haymaker secondary<br />
will get a boost this fall from<br />
Trestian Siemering, who got<br />
injured in the fourth game of the<br />
2016 season. Siemering will play<br />
defensive back.<br />
Another athlete to keep an<br />
eye on is Luke Schroeder, who<br />
played the last five games at<br />
linebacker last season, and left<br />
quite the impression on his head<br />
coach.<br />
“Luke played the last five<br />
games for us last season after<br />
recovering from shoulder<br />
surgery. He plays with a high<br />
motor and good toughness,”<br />
Cargill said. “(He) has been<br />
good as both an outside<br />
linebacker and an inside<br />
linebacker, depending on the<br />
offensive scheme we’re facing.<br />
As his reads improve he will<br />
be a player that can influence<br />
a game. (He) ended the 2016<br />
season with 39 tackles, three<br />
sacks and five tackles for loss.”<br />
As the beginning of the season<br />
approaches, Cargill and his<br />
group are preparing for the<br />
opener against Chase County on<br />
Aug. 25.<br />
The Haymakers will start the<br />
campaign at home, and if the<br />
right adjustments are made, the<br />
head coach has high hopes for<br />
<strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“We have some returning skill<br />
players with experience so I like<br />
our depth at those positions.<br />
If we can continue to develop<br />
our lines on both sides of the<br />
ball we will be able to compete<br />
at a high level,” Cargill said.<br />
“The key for us is to improve<br />
over the summer months and<br />
every week during the season.<br />
If we stay injury free we’ll have<br />
the opportunity to have a nice<br />
season.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Luke Schroeder (6’ 3”) Sr. LB/<br />
OL<br />
Adam Cole (6’ 2”) Jr. QB/LB<br />
Ian Branham (6’ 2”) Sr. TE/LB<br />
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60 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 61
CRETECARDINALS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
The Crete Cardinals are coming<br />
off of their second straight 3-6<br />
season, a rare departure from a<br />
dominant 20-year stretch. If the<br />
Cardinals plan on getting back to<br />
their winning ways this year they<br />
will have to lean on their depth of<br />
experience.<br />
“I am very excited to see how our<br />
young men compete this upcoming<br />
season,” said second year head<br />
coach Reed Manstedt. “We will<br />
return five starters on each side of<br />
the ball.”<br />
While the experience is there,<br />
Manstedt will be tasked with<br />
the ever-important job of filling<br />
a quarterback vacancy. Last<br />
year’s field general Rhett Harms<br />
accounted for nearly half of the<br />
Cardinals total yards in 2016.<br />
“Anytime you are breaking in<br />
a new quarterback it has its<br />
challenges,” Manstedt said. “But<br />
with the return of most of our wide<br />
receivers, I am hoping that helps<br />
with the early development and<br />
confidence of our QB.”<br />
Sophomore Zach Fye will<br />
most likely fill the vacancy at<br />
quarterback. Fye saw his first<br />
action under center last season<br />
as a freshman in week nine when<br />
Harms was kept out with an ankle<br />
injury.<br />
The Cardinal offense will often<br />
defer to the talents of two-way<br />
standout Jonah Weyand. Last<br />
season Weyand racked up 715 allpurpose<br />
yards on the offensive side<br />
of the ball, while tallying a teamleading<br />
80 tackles and six sacks at<br />
linebacker. The two-time First Team<br />
All-District selection will look to<br />
carry the load in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“Jonah is just a great football<br />
player, he has a great nose for the<br />
ball and doesn’t miss tackles,”<br />
Manstedt said. “I really believe<br />
that Jonah has a chance to be one<br />
of the better all-around players<br />
this year in Class B, particularly at<br />
linebacker.”<br />
Last season the Cardinal offense<br />
stayed close to a 50-50 run pass<br />
breakdown, but with inexperience<br />
at the quarterback position Crete<br />
could look to control the tempo<br />
with a bolstered running attack.<br />
According to coach Manstedt, their<br />
success will be determined in the<br />
trenches.<br />
“The strength of this year’s team<br />
will be in our athleticism. We will<br />
be very young at certain positions,<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Seward<br />
9/1 Gretna<br />
9/8 @ Omaha Skutt Catholic<br />
9/15 @ Plattsmouth<br />
9/22 Elkhorn<br />
9/29 Aurora<br />
10/6 @ Norris<br />
10/13 @ Beatrice<br />
10/20 Waverly<br />
but if we can get our offensive<br />
and defensive lines to develop we<br />
should be competitive.”<br />
Manstedt and the Cardinals will<br />
look to return to playoff form after<br />
missing the postseason last year<br />
for just the third time in the last 18<br />
seasons.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jonah Weyand (5’11” 190 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Zach Muff (5’11” 155 lbs) Sr. WR/<br />
DB<br />
Klay Uher (6’4” 210 lbs) Sr. WR/LB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 22<br />
Head Coach: Reed Manstedt<br />
Career Record: 6-12<br />
Assistant Coach: Terry Van Horn<br />
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62 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 63
CROSS COUNTYCOUGARS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
Every single team across the<br />
country has to deal with roster<br />
turnover, it’s one of the realities of<br />
coaching high school sports. But<br />
not every team has to deal with<br />
a full coaching staff change. This<br />
season, Cross County football will<br />
be dealing with both.<br />
The Cougars welcome Hayden<br />
DeLano as their new head coach.<br />
This will be a new venture for<br />
DeLano, as this is his first head<br />
coaching job at the high school<br />
level.<br />
“First of all, with the staff<br />
transition this offseason, it is<br />
essential that we get a proper<br />
install and everybody on the same<br />
page,” Delano said. “After that it<br />
takes some buy in and hard work<br />
in the weight room, camps and<br />
early fall practices.”<br />
As for roster turnover, the newly<br />
appointed Cougars coaching staff<br />
will be tasked with navigating a<br />
major roster overhaul.<br />
“We lost a lot of starters to<br />
graduation,” DeLano said.<br />
“Anytime you lose kids in bulk,<br />
you’re going to go through some<br />
major changes getting ready for<br />
next season. But the kids coming<br />
up to the program have taken<br />
this challenge head on and are<br />
preparing to fill new roles this<br />
season.”<br />
Cross County is coming off of<br />
a successful 2016 season. The<br />
Cougars went 6-4 and earned a<br />
birth to their third consecutive<br />
Class C2 state playoffs.<br />
While DeLano is happy with<br />
his team’s ability to adjust, there<br />
might be some growing pains<br />
along the way. The Cougars will<br />
run a pistol spread offense and<br />
a 4-2 defense, schemes that may<br />
take some time to implement.<br />
And in times of transition, the<br />
majority of the responsibility<br />
usually falls on the quarterback.<br />
But Grant Hollinger is no stranger<br />
to the pressure. The 6-foot-1 junior<br />
has been starting for the Cougars<br />
since his freshman year. Last<br />
season, Hollinger threw for 654<br />
yards and five touchdowns.<br />
“The kids have been really<br />
focused and determined to learn<br />
their new roles for the upcoming<br />
season,” DeLano said. “I’ve seen a<br />
competitive nature in everything<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Lutheran High Northeast<br />
9/1 @ St. Paul<br />
9/8 Stanton<br />
9/15 @ Arcadia-Loup City<br />
9/22 Twin River<br />
9/29 Sutton<br />
10/6 @ Fillmore Central<br />
10/13 Centennial<br />
10/20 @ Shelby-Rising City<br />
that they do. It doesn’t matter if it<br />
is lifting weights, film study, chalk<br />
talk or seven-on-seven, these<br />
guys have a lot of grit. Whatever<br />
they lack in age and experience<br />
they make up for with being<br />
high-character guys with a lot of<br />
competitive spirit.”<br />
The Cougars will put that spirit<br />
to the test when they open the<br />
season on Aug. 25th against<br />
Lutheran-Northeast.<br />
Key players:<br />
Grant Hollinger (6’1” 160 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/DB<br />
Colton Beebe (5’10” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Kalin Gabriel (5’11” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cougars<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record:6-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Hayden DeLano<br />
Career Record: 0-0<br />
Assistant Coaches: Mitch Boshart,<br />
Matt Carroll, Dan Conway<br />
605.366.3332 • 402.362.9083<br />
64 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 65
By: TJ Eck<br />
DAVID CITYSCOUTS<br />
David City is hoping a return to<br />
its past will help the team have<br />
success in the present and future.<br />
Cortney Couch takes over the<br />
program in <strong>2017</strong> in his second<br />
stint as the Scouts’ head coach.<br />
Couch led David City to a 34-31<br />
record during seven seasons at<br />
the helm from 2005-2011. Couch<br />
says he is “extremely excited” to<br />
be back in the role of head coach.<br />
However, Couch and the Scouts<br />
have their work cut out for them<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>. David City is coming<br />
off a 1-8 season in 2016, and<br />
the program has won only five<br />
games total since the start of the<br />
2014 season.<br />
“Playing winning football will<br />
be the key for us,” Couch said.<br />
“We must develop some winning<br />
habits.”<br />
The Scouts should have the<br />
benefit of an experienced group<br />
returning this fall. David City<br />
brings back 19 letterwinners and<br />
eight starters on both sides of the<br />
ball.<br />
Junior Will Danielson (476 pass<br />
yards, 3 total TD in 2016) is<br />
back to quarterback the Scouts<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Scouts<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 1-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Cortney Couch<br />
Career Record: 34-31<br />
Assistant Coaches: Cole Carraher,<br />
Travis Worm, Tyler Brester<br />
after starting as a freshman and<br />
sophomore. Couch expects to<br />
use Danielson in a pro-style,<br />
drop-back passing role in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Senior fullback Colin<br />
Vandenberg (5’11” 180 lbs)<br />
and sophomore running back<br />
Clayton Denker (5’8” 160 lbs)<br />
could see significant time in the<br />
backfield. The top two passcatchers<br />
from 2016 have moved<br />
on, which creates opportunities<br />
for new players to step up in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>. Junior tight ends Nick Ruth<br />
(6’0” 170 lbs) and Luis Salazar<br />
(5’11” 165 lbs) return with<br />
starting experience.<br />
The offensive line could be an<br />
area of strength for the Scouts in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>. Four players with starting<br />
experience are back in senior<br />
tackle Matt Eilers (6’2” 220 lbs),<br />
senior guard Riley Kirby (5’11”<br />
170 lbs), junior center Trent<br />
Theewen (5’11” 210 lbs), and<br />
junior guard Colby Hopkins<br />
(5’11” 220 lbs).<br />
Defense was an area of concern<br />
for the Scouts in 2016, as the<br />
squad surrendered over 44<br />
points per game last fall. David<br />
City is hoping another year of<br />
experience will help the unit<br />
improve this season. Vandenberg<br />
is back at linebacker after<br />
registering 64 total tackles, four<br />
tackles for loss, and two sacks in<br />
2016.<br />
Eilers (45 total tackles, 1 sack),<br />
Kirby (43 total tackles, 1 sack),<br />
and Theewen are expected to<br />
anchor the defensive line. Three<br />
starters return in the secondary<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Fairbury<br />
9/1 Douglas County West<br />
9/8 @ Milford-Dorchester<br />
9/15 Wayne<br />
9/22 @ Wahoo<br />
9/29 @ Aquinas Catholic<br />
10/5 Bishop Neumann<br />
10/13 @ Conestoga<br />
10/20 North Bend Central<br />
with Salazar (10 total tackles, 1<br />
INT) and Justin White (30 total<br />
tackles, 1 INT) at the cornerback<br />
position. Danielson (17 total<br />
tackles) is back to play safety.<br />
Couch is looking to turn around<br />
a program that has fallen on<br />
hard times in recent years, but<br />
he’s had success in the past<br />
which can provide optimism for<br />
the future.<br />
“We’ve got a lot to learn,” Couch<br />
said. “We will have to be very<br />
engaged and attentive when<br />
installing offense and defense.”<br />
David City’s only state title came<br />
in 1971 and it will be tough for<br />
the Scouts to add another this<br />
season. But with an experienced<br />
group of players back in the fold,<br />
Couch has what he needs to<br />
begin a program rebuild.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Matt Eilers (6’2” 220 lbs) Sr. OL/<br />
DL<br />
Will Danielson (5’11” 165 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/S<br />
Colin Vandenberg (5’11” 180 lbs)<br />
Sr. FB/LB<br />
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402.367.3695 - VALPARAISO - DAVID CITY, NE
DILLER-ODELLGRIFFINS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
Last season, quarterback Ryan<br />
Arnold took over Diller-Odell’s<br />
offense as a sophomore, and<br />
proceeded to lead the Griffins<br />
to the Class D1 playoffs. Arnold<br />
completed 117 passes and threw<br />
for eight touchdowns during<br />
his first season as a starter.<br />
Diller-Odell will lean on Arnold<br />
again this fall, with the hopes of<br />
reaching the postseason for the<br />
fourth straight year.<br />
Arnold is one of four returning<br />
starters on offense for the<br />
Griffins. Diller-Odell averaged<br />
nearly 30 points in 2016, but<br />
it must find a new full-time<br />
running back this fall. The<br />
front runner for the position<br />
is Peyton Mohr. The versatile<br />
senior (5’11” 175 lbs) can play<br />
multiple positions and may<br />
be the Griffins’ top offensive<br />
weapon. Mohr must replace<br />
the production of Christian<br />
McCown and Dylan Wolbert,<br />
who combined for 772 yards on<br />
the ground last year.<br />
Diller-Odell’s running backs,<br />
like several other positions,<br />
battled injuries during the 2016<br />
campaign. Head coach Chris<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Griffins<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 3-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Chris Schluter<br />
Schluter said the misfortune<br />
allowed his underclassmen to<br />
get valuable playing time. Many<br />
of those players will now take<br />
on leadership roles with the<br />
Griffins.<br />
“This group of seniors has had to<br />
play a lot over the past years due<br />
to injuries,” Schluter said. “It is<br />
now their opportunity to take<br />
over this team and put it on their<br />
backs.”<br />
The mounting injuries in 2016<br />
resulted in a late-season slide<br />
for Diller-Odell. The Griffins lost<br />
their final four games, including<br />
a 68-6 defeat at Creighton in the<br />
first round of the playoffs.<br />
Defensively, the Griffins had<br />
several breakdowns late in the<br />
year with multiple key players<br />
sidelined. Diller-Odell allowed<br />
184 points combined in its losses<br />
to Lourdes Central Catholic, Tri<br />
County, and Creighton. While<br />
the memories of those games<br />
sting, they serve as motivation<br />
for the current squad.<br />
“I believe this tight-knit group<br />
is ready to leave their mark on<br />
DOHS football,” Schluter said.<br />
“The amount of playing time<br />
they have had the past few<br />
seasons should allow them to be<br />
ready to play under the bright<br />
lights on Friday.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 McCool Junction<br />
9/8 Superior<br />
9/15 @ Thayer Central<br />
9/22 Johnson-Brock<br />
9/29 @ Omaha Christian Academy<br />
10/6 @ Friend<br />
10/13 Lourdes Central Catholic<br />
10/19 @ Tri County<br />
Tyson Landenberger (5’10” 170<br />
lbs), in particular, has benefitted<br />
from extra playing time early<br />
in his career. Landenberger had<br />
a team-leading 91 tackles as a<br />
junior. He’s an athletic, hardhitting<br />
linebacker that will lead<br />
the Griffins’ eight-man scheme.<br />
Another defensive leader will<br />
be senior Shane Sutton (6’3”<br />
180 lbs). He had 62 tackles last<br />
season, which ranked second on<br />
the team.<br />
Diller-Odell’s schedule begins<br />
with back-to-back home games;<br />
the Griffins host McCool<br />
Junction on Aug. 25th for their<br />
season opener.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Peyton Mohr (5’11” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/LB<br />
Ryan Arnold (5’10” 160 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/DB<br />
Tyson Landenberger (5’10” 170<br />
lbs) Sr. LB<br />
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By: Justin Biegel<br />
DONIPHAN-TRUMBULLCARDINALS<br />
Four years ago, Doniphan-<br />
Trumbull completed the<br />
perfect season, going 13-0 and<br />
winning its first ever football<br />
championship. The Cardinals<br />
head coach then was Brent<br />
Breckner, the principal of the<br />
school.<br />
Following that championship,<br />
Breckner took an assistant<br />
coaching job and handed the<br />
reigns over to Clint Head, who<br />
in three seasons went 20-8<br />
with two state tournament<br />
appearances.<br />
After a 7-2 finish and firstround<br />
loss in the 2016 playoffs,<br />
Head took the offensive<br />
coordinator job at nearby<br />
Hastings College and Breckner<br />
once again steps in to lead<br />
the Cardinals, where he’ll<br />
have a plethora of talent from<br />
last season’s C2 District 7<br />
championship team. Breckner<br />
admits, however, that there<br />
will be some retooling<br />
required.<br />
“We will look to rebuild the<br />
entire offensive line and have a<br />
new starting quarterback,” he<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 7-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Brent Breckner<br />
Career Record: 36-24<br />
Assistant Coach: Jordan Conner<br />
said.<br />
That quarterback will be<br />
senior Bret Johnson, who will<br />
transition from wide receiver,<br />
where he hauled in nearly 40<br />
receptions and eight scores as<br />
a junior. A difficult transition<br />
for some, Breckner believes<br />
Johnson has what it takes.<br />
“[He] is an all-state caliber<br />
QB,” he said. “[He’s got a] very<br />
strong arm with outstanding<br />
instincts. His athleticism will<br />
bring an added dimension to<br />
the offense and he will be a<br />
team leader.”<br />
Johnson will also contribute as<br />
a linebacker.<br />
While there may be a new<br />
quarterback under center, there<br />
will be a familiar face leading<br />
the receiving core. Logan<br />
Schuldt will likely take over<br />
the starting receiving role. The<br />
senior caught just 10 passes for<br />
a single score last season.<br />
“[He’s an] outstanding blocker<br />
and possession receiver with<br />
excellent ball skills,” Breckner<br />
said.<br />
The learning curve won’t be as<br />
difficult for Schuldt on defense,<br />
where he’s expected to start at<br />
defensive back. As a junior, he<br />
averaged nearly three tackles<br />
per game and finished the<br />
year with 34. He is one of five<br />
returners on defense. As a<br />
unit, the Cardinals return their<br />
entire secondary with most of<br />
the linebacking core still intact.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/26 Sutton<br />
9/2 @ North Platte St. Patrick’s<br />
9/9 Hershey<br />
9/16 @ Tekamah-Herman<br />
9/23 @ Sandy Creek<br />
9/30 Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
10/7 @ Southern Valley<br />
10/14 Gibbon<br />
10/21 @ Wood River<br />
Another name Breckner says<br />
to keep an eye on is senior<br />
tailback and safety Triston<br />
Stephens. He’ll expect more<br />
production on offense after<br />
only getting 23 carries last<br />
season.<br />
Doniphan-Trumbull opens<br />
the season at Sutton, whom<br />
the Cardinals lost to last year<br />
at home. Breckner admits the<br />
schedule this fall will be much<br />
more difficult than in years<br />
past.<br />
“We have a tough non-district<br />
schedule,” he said. “But if<br />
everything comes together, we<br />
will be able to compete for a<br />
district championship and a<br />
shot at the playoffs.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Bret Johnson (6’3” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/LB<br />
Logan Schudlt (6’3” 155 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Triston Stephens (6’0” 165 lbs)<br />
Sr. RB/LB<br />
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By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
EAST BUTLERTIGERS<br />
East Butler’s <strong>2017</strong> roster will<br />
look nearly identical to the<br />
one last season. The Tigers<br />
return all eight starters on<br />
both sides of the ball, and will<br />
be the most experienced team<br />
in Class D1. With a veteran<br />
group, East Butler is poised for<br />
a big season that could result<br />
in a deep playoff run.<br />
“This is a proven group,” head<br />
coach Shawn Biltoft said. “Our<br />
team has excellent leadership<br />
and has a drive to get better<br />
every day.” East Butler hopes<br />
to improve from a 5-5 season<br />
that saw the Tigers advance to<br />
the second round of the Class<br />
D1 playoffs last year.<br />
“The combination of size and<br />
speed this team possesses will<br />
be needed throughout the<br />
season,” Biltoft said. “(We)<br />
will continue to focus on team<br />
goals and playing physical<br />
football.”<br />
For Biltoft, the list of his<br />
team’s attributes is long. The<br />
group is athletic, gritty, and<br />
smart, and are also cohesive,<br />
which is a result of many years<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 5-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 19<br />
Head Coach: Shawn Biltoft<br />
Career Record: 86-52<br />
Assistant Coaches: Doug Glasshoff,<br />
Marty Hotory and Gary McGrath<br />
of playing football together.<br />
East Butler’s senior class will<br />
have a large impact on the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> season. Ten members,<br />
including Trevor Havlovic,<br />
have extensive varsity<br />
experience. Havolvic is a<br />
6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker<br />
who’s on pace to break the<br />
school record for career<br />
tackles.<br />
“He has a relentless attitude,”<br />
Biltoft said of Havlovic.<br />
“Trevor is a talented player<br />
that will be looking to take<br />
his game to a new level this<br />
season.” Havlovic recorded<br />
128 tackles as a junior while<br />
earning All-State honors. He<br />
also recovered three fumbles,<br />
one of which was returned<br />
75 yards for a touchdown.<br />
Havlovic also stars on offense<br />
as a tight end.<br />
Quarterback Dalton Bohac<br />
triggers an East Butler offense<br />
that averaged more than 31<br />
points a game last season.<br />
Bohac threw 18 touchdowns<br />
while completing 59 percent<br />
of his passes. The senior signal<br />
caller also contributes to the<br />
Tigers running game. He had<br />
834 yards on the ground with<br />
10 rushing scores in 2016.<br />
“He makes good decisions<br />
and plays with poise under<br />
pressure,” Biltoft said. “Dalton<br />
will look to build from the<br />
positives from last season to<br />
make his senior year special.”<br />
Other playmakers include<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Howells-Dodge<br />
9/8 Lourdes Central Catholic<br />
9/15 Johnson-Brock<br />
9/22 @ Clarkson/Leigh<br />
9/29 Nebraska Lutheran<br />
10/6 Palmer<br />
10/13 @ High Plains Community<br />
10/19 @ Nebraska Christian<br />
Carter Stara, Wilson Wright,<br />
and Camden Robley, who<br />
are all seniors. Robley is a<br />
frequent red zone target for<br />
the Tigers. He had a team-high<br />
eight touchdown receptions<br />
last season.<br />
With so many returning<br />
weapons, East Butler’s offense<br />
could produce some eyeopening<br />
numbers in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
However, the Tigers must take<br />
better care of the football after<br />
committing 18 turnovers last<br />
season.<br />
East Butler will be tested<br />
early in its schedule. The<br />
Tigers open the season against<br />
perennial power Howells-<br />
Dodge, and eight of East<br />
Butler’s nine opponents<br />
reached the playoffs last year.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Trevor Havlovic (6’2” 210 lbs)<br />
Sr. TE/LB<br />
Dalton Bohac (5’9” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB<br />
Brandon Rezac (5’9” 210) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
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ELGIN-POPE JOHNWOLFPACK<br />
By: Austin Miller<br />
The 2016 season was a tough<br />
one for Head Coach Randy<br />
Eisenhauer and his team. The<br />
Wolfpack finished the season<br />
without a win, scoring only<br />
nine touchdowns in eight<br />
games.<br />
The schedule didn’t do them<br />
any favors either, as five of the<br />
eight teams they faced were in<br />
the playoffs last year, including<br />
the eventual state champion<br />
Burwell and a Neligh-Oakdale<br />
team that was undefeated.<br />
While depth could be a<br />
problem for this year’s team,<br />
they do have plenty of players<br />
returning.<br />
Junior Hunter Reestman will<br />
look to take over the reins<br />
in the backfield. Reestman is<br />
the top returning offensive<br />
weapon for the Wolfpack. Last<br />
year, Reestman ran for two<br />
touchdowns and also threw for<br />
one.<br />
Sophomore Conor Ramold<br />
will be back under center this<br />
season. Ramold struggled his<br />
freshman season throwing<br />
one touchdown versus eight<br />
interceptions. Now, with a<br />
season under his belt, Ramold<br />
is hoping that experience will<br />
lead to better results.<br />
As for the offensive line,<br />
senior Liam Heithoff will be<br />
anchoring the line. The threeyear<br />
starter is also the starting<br />
defensive end. Last year,<br />
Heithoff recorded more than<br />
100 tackles, one sack and a<br />
fumble recovery.<br />
Elgin-Pope John will be young<br />
once again this season and<br />
will face yet another tough<br />
schedule, but if the Wolfpack<br />
can stay healthy, they could be<br />
more competitive this season.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Burwell<br />
9/1 High Plains Community<br />
9/8 @ CWCE<br />
9/15 Clearwater-Orchard<br />
9/22 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family<br />
9/29 @ Howells-Dodge<br />
10/6 @ Clarkson/Leigh<br />
10/13 Neligh-Oakdale<br />
Key Players:<br />
Conor Ramold (5’7” 135 lbs)<br />
Soph. QB<br />
Hunter Reestman (6’0” 165 lbs)<br />
Jr. RB<br />
Liam Heithoff (6’0” 205 lb) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolfpack<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 0-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Randy Eisenhauer<br />
Career Record: 16-20<br />
Assistant Coaches: Michael<br />
Becker and Scott Becker<br />
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74 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 75
ELM CREEKBUFFALOES<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
The Elm Creek Buffaloes are<br />
looking to replicate last season’s<br />
success, but rewrite the ending.<br />
After going undefeated in the<br />
regular season, the 2016 campaign<br />
came to an end against Burwell in<br />
the state quarterfinals.<br />
Head Coach Jayce Dueland knows<br />
it will be challenging, but likes the<br />
players on his squad.<br />
“We will have to fill holes on the<br />
defensive line. With 10 seniors out,<br />
we will have to use all of them<br />
for depth,” Dueland said. “There<br />
should be some underclassmen<br />
that step up and help us do well.”<br />
One reason for optimism is the<br />
success the offense had last<br />
season, averaging better than 44<br />
points per game. Generating that<br />
level of production makes them<br />
hard to beat.<br />
“Our offense will come back with<br />
some weapons in the Walker<br />
boys. With two solid lineman up<br />
front, the O-line will have a good<br />
backbone to start the season,”<br />
Dueland said.<br />
Devon and Preston Walker are<br />
weapons any coach would like<br />
to have on his team. Needing a<br />
quarterback, Dueland may turn to<br />
Devon to fill the role. If the 1,000-<br />
yard rusher can pass like he runs,<br />
the Buffaloes will once again be<br />
tough to stop.<br />
The two also are great defenders.<br />
As linebackers, Devon finished the<br />
season as an all-state honorable<br />
mention, while Preston collected<br />
first team all-district and all-region<br />
honors.<br />
However, the amount of seniors<br />
lost from last year’s team will<br />
bring challenges, as plenty<br />
of production will need to be<br />
replaced. In fact, that may be the<br />
biggest challenge for the <strong>2017</strong><br />
Buffaloes. In addition, Dueland<br />
notes that Kenesaw and South<br />
Loup didn’t lose many players,<br />
part of the reason he expects those<br />
teams particularly to be tough<br />
opponents this year.<br />
Asked what some of the biggest<br />
challenges will be, Dueland<br />
started with scheduling. “Opening<br />
up with Kenesaw,” he said. “We’ll<br />
have holes to fill on defense with<br />
players that haven’t had a lot of<br />
experience on that side of the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Kenesaw<br />
9/1 @ Bertrand<br />
9/8 Nebraska Christian<br />
9/22 @ Ravenna<br />
9/29 @ Amherst<br />
10/6 Overton<br />
10/13 @ Alma<br />
10/20 South Loup<br />
ball.”<br />
The Buffaloes run-heavy offense<br />
is operated out of the I-formation,<br />
while the base defense is a 3-3<br />
formation.<br />
Last season the team outscored<br />
opponents by an average of 25<br />
points per game. We’ll get to see if<br />
they’ll be as dominant this season<br />
when they open the season on<br />
Aug. 25.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Devon Walker (5’8” 170lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/LB<br />
Preston Walker (5’11” 185lbs) Jr.<br />
LB<br />
Nate Fields (6’2” 215lbs) Sr. C<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Buffaloes<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 10-1<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Jayce Dueland<br />
Career Record: 42-12<br />
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EUSTIS-FARNAMKNIGHTS<br />
EXETER-MILLIGANTIMBERWOLVES<br />
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
In 2016, Eustis-Farnam had a<br />
winning season in Class D2,<br />
finishing with a 5-4 record.<br />
And once again this season,<br />
the Knights are led by Bryan<br />
Fangmeyer, who is coming into<br />
his third year as the head coach.<br />
He said this year should<br />
be a solid season if the<br />
underclassmen step up and<br />
perform with the returning<br />
starters.<br />
“You know we only return six<br />
upperclassmen, but they’ve all<br />
played a lot of football. You<br />
know our incoming sophomore<br />
class, even though they were<br />
freshmen last year, also played<br />
quite a bit of varsity football<br />
for us and we look forward<br />
to having a very successful<br />
season,” Fangmeyer said.<br />
With only three seniors and<br />
three juniors returning to the<br />
team, Eustis-Farnman has<br />
more sophomores suiting up<br />
than upperclassmen combined,<br />
and that’s not to mention the<br />
incoming freshman.<br />
“We’re going to have to<br />
develop a little bit of depth.<br />
We won’t have a lot of<br />
numbers out so all of the kids<br />
that are out are going to have<br />
to be ready to step in on any<br />
Friday night and play some<br />
varsity football,” Fangmeyer<br />
said.<br />
In addition to working on<br />
their lack of depth, Fangmeyer<br />
said they have a couple other<br />
conditioning and strength<br />
building areas to focus on.<br />
“Right now, our biggest<br />
concern is our overall team<br />
speed. We need to develop a<br />
little bit more quickness — we<br />
have good size. Right now it’s<br />
more just going to come down<br />
to executing what we need to<br />
do and control the game and<br />
work on our team speed,”<br />
Fangmeyer said.<br />
In weight, the Knights<br />
are averaging over 213<br />
pounds for the six returning<br />
upperclassmen and the<br />
average height is about 6 feet.<br />
One of the biggest returners on<br />
the team is senior quarterback<br />
Kaleb Gibbens.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
9/1 @ Brady<br />
9/15 @ Maxwell<br />
9/22 Loomis<br />
9/29 @ Hitchcock County<br />
10/6 Wauneta-Palisade<br />
10/13 @ Wallace<br />
10/19 Arapahoe<br />
Fangmeyer added, “We kind<br />
of follow his lead and when<br />
he keeps his head about him<br />
and does what we need him<br />
to do on offense and defense,<br />
our team really responds to<br />
him. And he’s just one of those<br />
natural leaders. He doesn’t<br />
force it upon himself and the<br />
kids really respond to what he<br />
does on the field.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kaleb Gibbens (6’3” 250 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB<br />
Christian Timm (5’9” 190 lbs)<br />
Jr. TB<br />
Ayden Boller (6’3” 250 lbs) Sr.<br />
G<br />
Playing in the postseason has<br />
been an annual affair for Exeter-<br />
Milligan. The Timberwolves enter<br />
the <strong>2017</strong> season having made the<br />
playoffs fourteen straight years.<br />
E-M’s recent success includes a<br />
pair of state titles (D1-2013, D2-<br />
2014) and a state runner-up finish<br />
(D1-2012). But the T-Wolves are<br />
looking to rebound after bowing<br />
out in the first round of the 2016<br />
playoffs following a 62-8 defeat to<br />
Bloomfield.<br />
E-M returns four starters on<br />
both sides of the ball, including<br />
junior Colton Bossaller and<br />
senior Joey Bartu, who are both<br />
two-way players. Despite a<br />
number of starters returning,<br />
the Timberwolves will have a<br />
relatively young team in <strong>2017</strong> with<br />
just two seniors expected to see<br />
significant time. “We will need our<br />
younger players to step up early,”<br />
head coach Dean Filipi said. “We<br />
will have good senior leadership<br />
and that should help the younger<br />
players.”<br />
Junior quarterback Spencer Pribyl<br />
(6’3” 167 lbs) is back to lead the<br />
E-M offensive attack. Filipi says<br />
the T’Wolves “will lean on (Pribyl)<br />
this year.”<br />
Bartu (5’10” 181 lbs) brings<br />
starting experience to the running<br />
back position and junior Mitchell<br />
Manning (5’10” 149 lbs) adds<br />
depth in the backfield. Bossaller<br />
(5’11 170 lbs) is back after starting<br />
last season at the end position.<br />
Senior Seth Maxson (5’11” 153 lbs)<br />
and juniors Trever Zelenka (5’9”<br />
115 lbs) and Blake Steuben (5’11”<br />
120 lbs) fill out the depth chart<br />
behind Bossaller. The offensive<br />
line is expected to feature a young<br />
group of players led by junior<br />
Johnny Babula (6’0” 216 lbs), who<br />
is the only returning starter up<br />
front.<br />
Defensively, E-M’s strength<br />
comes at the linebacker position.<br />
Three starters return in Bossaller,<br />
Manning, and Bartu. The trio will<br />
look to lead an improved defense<br />
after the T-Wolves surrendered<br />
44 points or more in a game four<br />
different times in 2016. The only<br />
other returning starter on defense<br />
is Maxson, who plays the safety<br />
position.<br />
Despite a playoff berth, 2016<br />
didn’t live up to the lofty<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Giltner<br />
9/1 Lawrence-Nelson<br />
9/8 Pawnee City<br />
9/15 @ Meridian<br />
9/22 Friend<br />
9/29 @ Weeping Water<br />
10/6 Parkview Christian<br />
10/20 @ Mead<br />
standards the Exeter-Milligan<br />
football program has set in<br />
recent years. With a young, but<br />
experienced core of players back,<br />
the T-Wolves have a chance to<br />
make some noise in <strong>2017</strong>. E-M<br />
will be put to the test early this fall<br />
with two of the top teams in Class<br />
D2 on the schedule in the first two<br />
weeks. The T-Wolves open play<br />
Aug. 25 at Giltner before taking on<br />
Lawrence-Nelson the following<br />
week in the home opener.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Colton Bossaller (5’11” 170 lbs) Jr.<br />
E/LB<br />
Joey Bartu (5’10” 181 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
LB<br />
Spencer Pribyl (6’3” 167 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/DL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 5-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Bryan Fangmeyer<br />
Career Record: 58-32<br />
Assistant Coach: Nick Hodge<br />
“Kaleb’s been a four-year<br />
starter now at quarterback<br />
and he’s a very big boy for a<br />
quarterback in an eight-man<br />
school, and you know he’s<br />
really the glue to our team,”<br />
Fangmeyer said.<br />
Not only is he one of the<br />
standout players for the<br />
Knights, he’s also a leader for<br />
a young group.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Timberwolves<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 5-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Dean Filipi<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jackson<br />
Krejci, Kory Kalandt<br />
EXETER LUMBER, LLC.<br />
YOUR HOMETOWN HOME CENTER<br />
402.266.3421<br />
EXETER, NE<br />
GOOD LUCK TIMBERWOLVES!<br />
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FAIRBURYJEFFS<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
Head coach Kameron Lenhart<br />
returns for his second season<br />
with the Fairbury Jeffs after<br />
leading his team to the playoffs<br />
for the first time since 2010.<br />
The C1 2016 squad enjoyed an<br />
experienced roster last season,<br />
and the same will be true come<br />
this fall. An arsenal of offensive<br />
and defensive talent returns in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>.<br />
A total of 14 letterwinners will<br />
be back, featuring six starters on<br />
offense and six returning starters<br />
on defense. But even with the<br />
returning talent, Lenhart said<br />
a lot of the responsibility this<br />
season falls on the coaching staff.<br />
“We have great talent coming<br />
back, but it’s up to the coaching<br />
staff to direct that talent in a<br />
positive way towards the team’s<br />
overall goal,” he said.<br />
The Jeffs’ spread offense will be<br />
led by senior quarterback Adam<br />
Wasserman. Last season, the<br />
offense averaged 32 points and<br />
217.4 rushing yards per game.<br />
Wasserman will also see time on<br />
the defensive side of the ball as a<br />
free safety.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Jeffs<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 8-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Kameron Lenhart<br />
Career Record: 8-2<br />
Assistant Coaches: Matt Edson, Derek<br />
Garfield, Mike Fisher, Cory Schweitzer,<br />
Jay Gerths, Logan Kats<br />
Senior running back Jacob<br />
Johnson will return as the<br />
offensive “engine”.<br />
“He’s got great vision in the<br />
backfield with a great stiff arm,”<br />
Lenhart said.<br />
Johnson will also play linebacker<br />
in the 3-5-3 defense that allowed<br />
only an average of 17 points a<br />
game in 2016. It’s a role he’s very<br />
comfortable in, as he has been<br />
playing there since his freshman<br />
year.<br />
In addition, the Jeffs will welcome<br />
back an experienced offensive line,<br />
led by seniors Trent Grizzle, Zach<br />
Reikofski, and Zach Holes, who<br />
will also see time at linebacker.<br />
Lack of experience will be no issue<br />
for Fairbury, as 13 seniors will see<br />
significant playing time come this<br />
fall.<br />
“I love that we bring back both<br />
our QB and RB with a handful of<br />
other experienced players. I think<br />
this group of seniors truly know<br />
how to work together and know<br />
that it is more than just one guy.<br />
These guys also just simply love<br />
the game of football. We have<br />
quite a few that want to play after<br />
high school which means their<br />
effort right now is phenomenal.<br />
I think this will be a great group<br />
of guys that will help mentor the<br />
younger players and teach them<br />
the Fairbury Football Culture,”<br />
Lenhart said.<br />
Even with the stacked returners,<br />
Lenhart will be relying on<br />
younger players to fulfill several<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ David City<br />
9/1 @ Syracuse<br />
9/8 Falls City<br />
9/15 Auburn<br />
9/22 @ Lincoln Christian<br />
9/29 Ashland-Greenwood<br />
10/6 Southern<br />
10/13 @ Raymond Central<br />
10/19 Milford-Dorchester<br />
roles of last year’s graduating<br />
class. Those positions that will<br />
need to be filled include: center,<br />
tackle, receiver, tight end, nose<br />
guard, defensive end, and outside<br />
linebacker.<br />
In 2016, Fairbury posted an 8-2<br />
record falling to only Falls City<br />
in the regular season and Boys<br />
Town in the first round of the<br />
playoffs. However, simply getting<br />
back to the playoffs is not enough<br />
for Coach Lenhart and his team<br />
this time around. The Jeffs have<br />
appeared in six playoff games, but<br />
have never come back with a “W”.<br />
“We don’t want to just reach the<br />
playoffs, we want to win when<br />
we’re there,” he said.<br />
The Jeffs will begin their season<br />
with two games on the road<br />
against David City and Syracuse.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Adam Wasserman (6’0” 180 lbs)<br />
Sr. QB/FS<br />
Jacob Johnson (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Zach Holes (5’11” 180 lbs) Sr. OL/<br />
LB<br />
GOOD LUCK JEFFS!<br />
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FILLMORE CENTRALPANTHERS<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
A promising start to the 2016<br />
season ended in disappointing<br />
fashion for the Fillmore Central<br />
Panthers. After winning their<br />
first three games of the year,<br />
the Panthers dropped their last<br />
six games, ending the season<br />
with a 3-6 record. It wasn’t the<br />
ending they had hoped for, but<br />
the Panthers expect <strong>2017</strong> will be<br />
different.<br />
Head Coach Mitchell Lockhart<br />
enters his second season with<br />
the team and hopes to build on<br />
last year’s progress with a solid<br />
group of returners.<br />
“Our lack of depth hurt us last<br />
year,” he said. “Our team is<br />
actively recruiting our student<br />
body. We established a positive<br />
atmosphere last year and we look<br />
to improve this year.”<br />
Six starters on offense and six<br />
on defense will be back this fall.<br />
Heading the wing-spread offense<br />
is senior Kole Karcher (5’8” 135<br />
lbs). The quarterback is a twoyear<br />
starter, who averaged 35.4<br />
yards a game, throwing for five<br />
touchdowns. Karcher will also<br />
make an impact on defense.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Panthers<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Mitchell Lockhart<br />
Career Record: 3-6<br />
Assistant Coaches: Alex Moses,<br />
Adam Verhage, Matt Tobias<br />
He led the team last season in<br />
interceptions and solo tackles<br />
at 33. The versatile senior will<br />
also play on special teams as<br />
the Panthers’ punter, where he<br />
averages 30 yards a punt.<br />
Another consistent veteran<br />
is three-year starter Parker<br />
Trowbridge (5’5” 160 lbs). Like<br />
Karcher, he’ll see time on both<br />
sides of the ball at running back<br />
and linebacker.<br />
Trowbridge rushed for 324 yards<br />
and five touchdowns. The senior<br />
was also a big part of the team’s<br />
3-5 defense. He led the 2016<br />
squad with 75 total tackles his<br />
junior year.<br />
According to Lockhart, the<br />
strongest athlete can be found<br />
on the line. Junior Riley Moses<br />
(6’3” 260 lbs) will anchor a line<br />
that will enjoy some experience.<br />
Senior Jordan Adams (6’0” 275<br />
lbs) will join Moses on both sides<br />
of the ball.<br />
It’s not just the upperclassmen<br />
Lockhart will be looking to. The<br />
new roster brings fresh talent to<br />
fill the gaps of recent graduates.<br />
The biggest holes to fill are wide<br />
receivers and ball carriers. A<br />
newcomer expected to make an<br />
immediate impact is freshman<br />
Jake Stoner (5’9” 150 lbs).<br />
Although Stoner hasn’t played<br />
a down of football in a Panther<br />
jersey, Lockhart said he’s “the<br />
best overall athlete” on the team.<br />
Stoner will see time at running<br />
back and defensive back.<br />
“He’s very fast,” Lockhart said.<br />
“We will look to him to play a big<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Johnson County Central<br />
9/1 Sandy Creek<br />
9/8 @ Wood River<br />
9/15 @ Freeman<br />
9/22 Centennial<br />
9/29 @ Shelby-Rising City<br />
10/6 Cross County<br />
10/13 @ Sutton<br />
10/20 Arcadia-Loup City<br />
role on both sides of the ball.”<br />
Fillmore Central has enjoyed<br />
eight playoff appearances, most<br />
recently in 2014. After a season<br />
with a new head coach and a new<br />
system, the Panthers are hopeful<br />
that <strong>2017</strong> will showcase a more<br />
confident and experienced team.<br />
The Panthers have the talent and<br />
the tools to produce a winning<br />
record, but as Lockhart knows,<br />
the road to the playoffs won’t be<br />
easy.<br />
“We need to continue to get<br />
our athletes to buy into our<br />
system,” he said. “They need to<br />
understand how much sacrifice it<br />
takes to be competitive at the C2<br />
level.”<br />
The Panthers open their season<br />
on the road against Johnson<br />
County Central.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kole Karcher (5’8” 135 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/DB<br />
Parker Trowbridge (5’5” 160 lbs)<br />
Sr. RB/LB<br />
Riley Moses (6’3” 260 lbs) Jr. G/<br />
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82 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 83
FRANKLINFLYERS<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
After combining to go just 3-13<br />
the past two seasons, Franklin<br />
High School is seeing a changing<br />
of the guard when it comes to<br />
their head football coach.<br />
Enter Michael Miller.<br />
The first-year coach of the<br />
Flyers comes in with a career<br />
win-loss record of 23-35, and<br />
knows turning around this<br />
Franklin program won’t happen<br />
overnight.<br />
In fact, of the 16 players from<br />
last year’s squad, Miller has<br />
only six returning. However,<br />
the offseason has proven<br />
somewhat fruitful as a spring<br />
meeting brought interest from 16<br />
prospective players.<br />
“Even though we don’t have a<br />
lot of returning players, we have<br />
some key roles covered,” Miller<br />
said.<br />
In that regard, Miller should feel<br />
somewhat comfortable despite<br />
the concern regarding overall<br />
turnout. Senior Toby Shueneman<br />
is back in the backfield<br />
offensively as running back<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Flyers<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 1-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Michael Miller<br />
Career Record: 23-35<br />
Assistant Coaches: Brian Meyer,<br />
Nicholas Stuart<br />
and at linebacker defensively.<br />
He’s a three-year starter at both<br />
positions.<br />
Miller will also have sophomore<br />
Ryan Weiss at quarterback<br />
in <strong>2017</strong> after his freshman<br />
campaign was riddled with<br />
injury problems.<br />
“He’s a returning starter, but as a<br />
freshman had an injury,” Miller<br />
said. “He’s projected to do big<br />
things.”<br />
Miller also has junior Chase<br />
Hasseurman at his disposal. The<br />
two-time letterwinner is back in<br />
Franklin red and likely to lead<br />
the offensive line from the center<br />
position.<br />
“Like I’ve always said, you have<br />
to get the ball snapped first,”<br />
Miller said.<br />
What won’t show up in the<br />
gameday lineup is what Miller<br />
is able to benefit from when it<br />
comes to his coaching staff in his<br />
first year at the helm. They will<br />
all be teaching at Franklin High<br />
School.<br />
“In my experience, this is a big<br />
advantage to the community<br />
members coaching, even if it is<br />
just for team communication,”<br />
Miller said. “Brian Meyer<br />
previously coached at Franklin,<br />
so he should be a great asset to<br />
the team.”<br />
Franklin’s <strong>2017</strong> schedule doesn’t<br />
do them any favors as their<br />
opponents combined to go 35-<br />
29 a year ago, with five of their<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Overton<br />
9/1 @ Blue Hill<br />
9/8 Alma<br />
9/22 Superior<br />
9/29 @ Kenesaw<br />
10/6 @ Thayer Central<br />
10/13 Heartland<br />
10/19 @ McCool Junction<br />
eight opponents posting winning<br />
records. They’ll be starting the<br />
year with a pair of opponents<br />
who clobbered the Flyers in 2016<br />
by a combined score of 103-12.<br />
The season-opener is against an<br />
Overton team that beat Franklin<br />
51-0 in 2016. They follow that up<br />
with a showdown against a Blue<br />
Hill team that went 7-1 last year<br />
and beat Franklin 52-12.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Toby Shueneman (5’ 10” 145 lbs)<br />
Sr. RB/LB<br />
Chase Hassuerman (5’7” 175 lbs)<br />
Jr. OL/DL<br />
Ryan Weiss (5’8” 135 lbs) Soph.<br />
QB/DB<br />
84 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 85
FREEMANFALCONS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
A four-game winning streak<br />
highlighted Freeman’s 2016<br />
football season, and the Falcons<br />
are hoping for sustained success<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Freeman is eyeing a potential<br />
playoff berth after missing out<br />
on the postseason for the second<br />
straight year. Head coach Travis<br />
Andreasen said staying healthy<br />
and limiting turnovers will be<br />
key this fall.<br />
“The team should build off a<br />
solid 5-4 season and look to<br />
compete for the district title,”<br />
Andreasen said. “Freeman<br />
should be solid in all phases.”<br />
The Falcons have a wealth<br />
of experience with starters<br />
returning at 16 positions.<br />
Freeman’s offensive line, in<br />
particular, will be experienced.<br />
Colton Beebe (6’3” 250 lbs) leads<br />
the unit, which helped Freeman<br />
average 164 rushing yards last<br />
year. Beebe will be a three-year<br />
starter who also qualified for the<br />
state wrestling tournament.<br />
“He has good strength and size,”<br />
Andreasen said.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
A main priority for Beebe and<br />
his linemates is protecting<br />
quarterback Jacob Gramann (6’<br />
175 lbs). The senior QB threw<br />
for 1,185 yards last season<br />
and had 18 total touchdowns.<br />
Freeman is hoping for continued<br />
improvement from Gramann,<br />
who will have several reliable<br />
receiving options.<br />
“We have to limit turnovers,”<br />
Andreasen said. “We can control<br />
the ball. When we were beat last<br />
year, we struggled to win up<br />
front. Our skill guys should be<br />
good enough, but we need our<br />
offensive line to create a better<br />
push.”<br />
Blake Kastanek (6’3” 165 lbs)<br />
led Freeman in receptions last<br />
year with 28 catches and seven<br />
touchdowns. Another target will<br />
be junior tight end Tyler Adams<br />
(6’3” 215 lbs). Freeman also<br />
welcomes back Lane Cacek this<br />
season, who’s 2016 campaign<br />
was cut short due to injury. The<br />
senior running back suffered a<br />
broken shoulder in week five.<br />
“He is very physical and<br />
athletic,” Andreasen said of<br />
Cacek. “(He) will look to carry<br />
the load again this season.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
9/1 @ Elmwood-Murdock<br />
9/8 @ Southern<br />
9/15 Fillmore Central<br />
9/22 @ Johnson County Central<br />
9/29 @ Lincoln Lutheran<br />
10/6 Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer<br />
10/13 Palmyra<br />
10/20 @ Wilber-Clatonia<br />
per game. The Falcons were<br />
solid in some facets, but allowed<br />
opponents to reach the end zone<br />
too often.<br />
“We have to limit big plays,”<br />
Andreasen said. “Teams didn’t<br />
drive on us often, but we had<br />
some errors go for big gains.”<br />
Freeman allowed at least three<br />
touchdowns in each of their<br />
losses in 2016.<br />
The Falcons are optimistic<br />
about their progress on defense.<br />
Gramann, Cacek, and Kastanek<br />
are all two-way players. Plus,<br />
senior Jacob Dorn (5’11” 175 lbs)<br />
is back after recording 54 tackles<br />
last season, which ranked second<br />
on the team.<br />
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Team Name: Falcons<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 5-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Travis Andreasen<br />
Career Record: 15-14<br />
Assistant Coaches: Tony Jensen,<br />
Joe Gramann and Marshall Payer<br />
Cacek’s injury coincided with<br />
Freeman’s late-season slide<br />
last fall. With the Falcons’ top<br />
running back sidelined, Freeman<br />
had a 1-3 record. The Falcons<br />
were 4-1 with Cacek in the<br />
lineup.<br />
Defensively, Freeman hopes to<br />
improve after allowing 25-points<br />
Key Players:<br />
Lane Cacek (6’0” 170lbs) Sr. RB/SS<br />
Jacob Gramann (6’0” 175lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/FS<br />
Blake Kastanek (6’3” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/SS<br />
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86 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 87
FRIENDBULLDOGS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
Last season, the Friend Bulldogs<br />
earned a spot in the Class D2<br />
state playoffs following a solid<br />
7-1 regular season. But first<br />
round opponent and eventual<br />
champion Falls City Sacred<br />
Heart served the Dogs a 75-0<br />
first round drubbing. A loss that<br />
has lingered with the program<br />
all off-season.<br />
Head coach Jim Pfeiffer believes<br />
that this year’s team can be<br />
something special.<br />
“Our seniors have played a<br />
lot of football the past two<br />
seasons,” Pfeiffer said. “They<br />
had decent success last year<br />
and are already talking about<br />
next year and what they hope to<br />
accomplish. As a group they’ve<br />
demonstrated great leadership.”<br />
That leadership comes in<br />
the form of eleven returning<br />
letterwinners and five returning<br />
starters on both sides of the<br />
ball. The Bulldog offense will<br />
be led by second year starting<br />
quarterback Kyle Dickinson.<br />
The senior QB hopes to have a<br />
breakout season with one year<br />
of experience already under his<br />
belt.<br />
The Bulldogs also return the<br />
rest of their backfield. The twoheaded<br />
monster of senior Kolby<br />
Houlden and junior Edwen<br />
Baptista will carry the load for<br />
the Friend rushing attack. The<br />
tailback tandem has five years<br />
of starting experience between<br />
them.<br />
Friend runs a traditional twoback<br />
I-formation offense. Last<br />
year the Bulldogs rushed for<br />
207 yards per game and passed<br />
for 74. The run-first approach<br />
helped Friend control game<br />
tempo with an offense that<br />
averaged 38 points per game.<br />
The Bulldogs run a hybrid 3-4<br />
defensive concept, a point of<br />
emphasis coming into 2016.<br />
Friend found themselves in a<br />
number of shootouts last year,<br />
allowing opposing offenses 32<br />
points per game.<br />
“The key to a successful season<br />
will be the development of<br />
depth at all positions and the<br />
growth of our lineman,” Pfeiffer<br />
said. “We expect to have 15 or<br />
16 kids out so our young kids<br />
will need to develop quickly in<br />
order for us to have success.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Pawnee City<br />
9/8 Sterling<br />
9/15 @ Lawrence-Nelson<br />
9/22 @ Exeter-Milligan<br />
9/29 Mead<br />
10/6 Diller-Odell<br />
10/13 @ Weeping Water<br />
10/19 Parkview Christian<br />
factors in the Bulldogs’ success<br />
this season.<br />
The Bulldogs have reached the<br />
postseason five of the last seven<br />
seasons but have only been able<br />
to notch five wins in the five<br />
trips. Friend has never won a<br />
state title.<br />
The Bulldogs kick off their<br />
season on the road versus<br />
Pawnee City.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kyle Dickinson (6’2” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB<br />
Edwen Baptista (5’10” 180 lbs)<br />
Jr. RB/LB<br />
Jared Lawver (5’11” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
LB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 7-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Jim Pfeiffer<br />
Career Record: 0-0<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jake Clouse,<br />
Clayton Moore and Adam Smith<br />
Coach Pfeiffer tabbed a number<br />
of guys to keep an eye on.<br />
Senior Ray Sharkey was a<br />
quality back-up for the Bulldog<br />
line last season but will adopt a<br />
starting role this year. Sharkey<br />
is an impressive 6-foot-2,<br />
235-pounds. Slater Wells is also<br />
expected to fill a vacancy on<br />
both the offensive and defensive<br />
lines. Pfeiffer believes both of<br />
the up-and-comers will be key<br />
88 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 89
By: Jay Omar<br />
FULLERTONWARRIORS<br />
Under head coach Ryan<br />
Haughton, success is something<br />
the Fullerton High School<br />
football team has become<br />
accustomed too.<br />
Haughton sports a 60-40<br />
record while at the helm of the<br />
Warriors, and the 2016 campaign<br />
was another solid one as the<br />
group finished 6-3 and advanced<br />
to the Class D2 playoffs.<br />
Fullerton came out of the gates<br />
on fire last year, winning their<br />
first five games, all by double<br />
digits.<br />
However, the group tapered off<br />
toward the end of the season,<br />
dropping two of their last three<br />
regular season games before<br />
losing to Wynot 44-16 in the<br />
playoffs.<br />
As <strong>2017</strong> approaches, the outlook<br />
is bright once again for the<br />
Warriors, as the offense and<br />
defense both return seven<br />
starters.<br />
Among those returners are<br />
seniors Hunter Friend and Kole<br />
Prosoki, both of whom will play<br />
vital roles for Fullerton this<br />
season.<br />
Friend is a running back on<br />
offense and a linebacker on<br />
defense, and is coming off an allstate<br />
honorable mention season<br />
in 2016.<br />
“(Hunter is) a returning captain<br />
and an all-state honorable<br />
mention winner,” Haughton<br />
said. “He was a 1,000-yard<br />
rusher last year on offense. (He<br />
is) a tough runner that scored 35<br />
touchdowns last year.”<br />
While Friend will be trying to hit<br />
holes in the defense, Prosoki will<br />
be creating them. With a 6-foot,<br />
285-pound frame, the senior will<br />
be a force on both the offensive<br />
and defensive lines this fall.<br />
“(Kole is a) great kid with a<br />
great football mind,” Haughton<br />
said. “He will be a four-year<br />
starter and an all-state honorable<br />
mention and all district player.<br />
He is a returning captain and has<br />
always showed great character<br />
and leadership. He has anchored<br />
the middle of our line for three<br />
straight years.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 @ Central Valley<br />
9/1 Winside<br />
9/8 Shelton<br />
9/15 @ Wausa<br />
9/22 Scribner-Snyder<br />
9/29 @ Osceola<br />
10/5 Cedar Bluffs<br />
10/20 @ Humphrey St. Francis<br />
While there will be difficult<br />
opponents on the schedule for<br />
Fullerton this season, Haughton<br />
will be expecting to improve on<br />
his impressive career record.<br />
“We have lofty expectations as<br />
we return seven starters on both<br />
sides of the ball,” Haughton said.<br />
“(We were) a very young team<br />
last year and should be more<br />
experienced. A good freshman<br />
class is coming in which will also<br />
help add depth to the roster.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kole Prososki (6’ 0” 285 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Hunter Friend (5’10” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 6-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Ryan Haughton<br />
Career Record: 25-39<br />
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90 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 91
GIBBONBUFFALOES<br />
By: Justin Biegel<br />
Gibbon football coach Mark<br />
McLaughlin begins his ninth<br />
season at the helm of the<br />
Buffalo this fall. He’ll look to<br />
bounce back after a 2-7 finish<br />
to the 2016 season. Gibbon lost<br />
five in a row to open the year,<br />
scoring only 12 points and<br />
getting shutout twice. But the<br />
team then went on to win backto-back<br />
games versus Sandy<br />
Creek and Wood River at home<br />
before losing their final two.<br />
In order to get back to the<br />
promised land, McLaughlin<br />
said his boys will have to avoid<br />
the injury bug.<br />
“We have to stay relatively<br />
healthy early in the year,” he<br />
said. “Last season we lost four<br />
players for four games or more<br />
within the first three games of<br />
the season. Injuries happen, but<br />
we need to avoid major injuries<br />
all-together, especially early.”<br />
The Buffalo will return 20<br />
letterwinners, including five<br />
starters on offense and six on<br />
defense. One of those key guys<br />
will be senior running back and<br />
linebacker Jacob Tracy. Listed<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Buffaloes<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 2-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Mark McLoughlin<br />
Career Record: 40-33<br />
Assitant Coaches: Jeff Montgomery,<br />
Steve Bristol, Jaxson Kenton, Geoff<br />
Carnahan<br />
as only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds,<br />
Tracy turned a number of heads<br />
as a junior, rushing for 1,312<br />
yards and 11 touchdowns.<br />
He’s also projected to start at<br />
linebacker.<br />
Alongside Tracy will be<br />
senior Wyatt Kee, an all-state<br />
selection who has 366 career<br />
tackles. McLaughlin also has<br />
high praise for Adam Hyde,<br />
a standout wide receiver and<br />
defensive back. Hyde led the<br />
Gibbon defense with three<br />
interceptions in 2016, and<br />
hauled in 25 receptions for 446<br />
yards and three scores.<br />
Overall, the Buffalo will have<br />
a ton of depth, something<br />
McLaughlin’s team has lacked<br />
in recent years. “We fought low<br />
numbers last season,” he said.<br />
“We need to get our roster size<br />
into the high 30s or 40s.”<br />
At one point, Gibbon dressed<br />
only 21 kids for a game last<br />
year.<br />
The season kicks off Aug. 25<br />
at Hershey, one of four teams<br />
on the schedule that made<br />
the C2 playoffs a year ago.<br />
McLaughlin knows the road to<br />
the postseason will not be easy<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“St. Paul, St. Pats, and St.<br />
Cecilia will be the best three<br />
teams we play,” he said. “I<br />
expect all three to be playoff<br />
teams. I also expect Crofton,<br />
Battle Creek, Central City,<br />
Wilber-Clatonia, Centennial,<br />
Sutton, Valentine, Oakland-<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Hershey<br />
9/1 Minden<br />
9/8 North Platte St. Patrick’s<br />
9/15 @ St. Paul<br />
9/22 Southern Valley<br />
9/29 @ Sandy Creek<br />
10/6 @ Wood River<br />
10/13 Doniphan-Trumbull<br />
10/20 @ Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
Craig, and Yutan to be good.”<br />
But McLaughlin understands<br />
he can only control his team<br />
and thinks they have the talent<br />
to get the job done. “[If] the<br />
boys are willing to put the<br />
time and work in to get better,<br />
we have some very talented<br />
players on our roster.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jacob Tracy (5’9”, 170 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Adam Hyde (6’1”, 160 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Wyatt Kee (6’0”, 205 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
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92 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 93
GILTNERHORNETS<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
For the first time in a decade, the<br />
Giltner football team is entering fall<br />
camp with a brand-new head coach.<br />
However, unlike in 2007 when coach<br />
Jeff Ashby arrived in town, new<br />
coach Chip Bartos will be taking<br />
over a perennial state power.<br />
When Ashby took over ten years<br />
ago, he assumed the reins of a team<br />
that had won only four games in<br />
three seasons. The same can’t be<br />
said for Bartos, who takes over a<br />
team that has been to the playoffs<br />
for ten straight years, including<br />
a Class D2 championship year in<br />
2012.<br />
With Ashby embracing a new<br />
challenge as head coach of Wood<br />
River, Bartos says he can’t wait to<br />
get started.<br />
“As a new head coach (the biggest<br />
challenge) will be just learning a<br />
new offense and a different style of<br />
a past offense,” Bartos said.<br />
The new head ball coach comes<br />
from Wausa, and fortunately, is<br />
coming into an ideal situation when<br />
it comes to eight-man football.<br />
20 letterwinners are returning from<br />
the playoff squad of a year ago,<br />
including six starters on both sides<br />
of the ball. The team, however, went<br />
just 4-4 in 2016 — a far cry from the<br />
years where one loss was one too<br />
many for a championship-hungry<br />
town.<br />
Bartos said with so many returning<br />
starters to work with, he knows the<br />
expectations will be high as usual.<br />
“Leadership by this senior group<br />
and staying healthy will be the key<br />
to a successful season,” Bartos said.<br />
Another welcome sight for the firstyear<br />
head coach will be the start<br />
and end of the upcoming schedule.<br />
The first and final two opponents on<br />
the ledger went a combined 9-23 in<br />
2016, giving Giltner an opportunity<br />
to get their feet wet early this time<br />
around.<br />
Unfortunately for Bartos and<br />
company, the heart of the schedule<br />
is the exact opposite, as the four<br />
opponents combined to go 28-4<br />
in the regular season in 2016.<br />
Justifiably so, those were Giltner’s<br />
four in-season losses last year.<br />
The Hornets did make it to the<br />
playoffs a year ago, but fell woefully<br />
short in their opener against<br />
Sandhills-Thedford, losing 49-14. A<br />
nice note to make, though, is that<br />
Sandhills-Thedford made a run to<br />
the semifinal round before bowing<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Exeter-Milligan<br />
9/1 @ Pleasanton<br />
9/8 @ Heartland<br />
9/15 Osceola<br />
9/22 @ Lawrence-Nelson<br />
10/6 Blue Hill<br />
10/13 Shelton<br />
10/20 @ Axtell<br />
out to Twin Loup.<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> Hornets will be led by a<br />
solid collection of seniors on the<br />
offensive end, and a good majority<br />
of them are in skill positions.<br />
Quarterback Alex Goracke is<br />
back under center for his senior<br />
campaign, and he’s got three senior<br />
wideouts to keep an eye on.<br />
Seniors Josh Hinrichs, Brodi Hansen<br />
and Rees Lyon are expected to lead<br />
the aerial attack Giltner hopes to<br />
showcase this fall.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Alex Goracke (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr. QB/<br />
LB<br />
Josh Hinrichs (6’3” 170 lbs) Sr. WR/<br />
DB<br />
Brodi Hansen (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr. WR/<br />
DB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Hornets<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 4-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Chip Bartos<br />
Assistant Coach: Scott Dangler<br />
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94 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 95
GOTHENBURGSWEDES<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
After a hiatus from the postseason,<br />
the Gothenburg Swedes finished<br />
with a 6-4 record in 2016 and<br />
made a return to the state playoffs.<br />
Last year’s team was led by a<br />
host of seniors that now leave the<br />
team searching for a new identity<br />
this fall. One part of the team that<br />
has not changed in over 20 years,<br />
however, is the head coach, with<br />
Craig Haake returning with a<br />
career record of 131-99.<br />
The Swedes had an up-and-down<br />
season for most of 2016. The<br />
group went through the first four<br />
weeks at 2-2 before winning four<br />
of their last five games ahead of a<br />
round one playoff loss to Wahoo.<br />
Through the course of the season<br />
the team went 1-2 against the<br />
three other Class C1 playoff teams.<br />
If the Swedes are going to return<br />
to the postseason, one of the key<br />
contributors from last season’s<br />
team, Dawson Graham, will have<br />
to be replaced under center (and<br />
from a leadership standpoint). The<br />
Swedes do, however, have one of<br />
the most dynamic playmakers in<br />
Class C1 on the outside returning<br />
in three-year letterwinner Bennett<br />
Folkers, to help give sophomore<br />
quarterback Maguire Bartlett,<br />
or any of the Swedes options at<br />
quarterback, a reliable receiver<br />
and a strong locker room<br />
presence.<br />
“Best hands I’ve seen,” Haake<br />
said. “We look to get him the ball<br />
however we can.”<br />
Folkers stands at 6-foot-3,<br />
180-pounds and returns nearly<br />
900 yards on 46 catches and 14<br />
touchdowns to the Swedes’ pistol<br />
style offense. Along with Folkers,<br />
the Swedes will have the two-year<br />
letterwinner AJ Whiting to utilize<br />
on the outside and in the red zone.<br />
On defense, the Swedes will<br />
return a bulk of their players with<br />
five of them coming back on that<br />
side of the ball. Linebacker is<br />
always a key position in a base 4-3<br />
defense, as it needs vocal leaders<br />
to command the field. Junior Evan<br />
Peterson fits that bill. He, along<br />
with one of the only other twoyear<br />
returners on the defense,<br />
Vincent Nichols, will be leaned on<br />
to improve on a group that gave<br />
up 22.4 points per game.<br />
This fall the Swedes will take on<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Holdrege<br />
9/1 @ Ogallala<br />
9/8 Chase County<br />
9/15 Ord<br />
9/22 @ Chadron<br />
9/29 @ Broken Bow<br />
10/6 Cozad<br />
10/13 @ Kearney Catholic<br />
10/19 Minden<br />
2016 playoff team Ogallala in a<br />
yearly rivalry, with the Indians<br />
taking the advantage 42-35 in<br />
2016, and will close the season<br />
against one of the state’s best in<br />
Kearney Catholic.<br />
“We are still young,” Haake said.<br />
“Some of these younger players<br />
have a lot of playing time. We<br />
have a young set of skilled players<br />
who are talented, we are looking<br />
forward to this season.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Bennett Folkers (6’3’’ 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/CB<br />
Evan Peterson (6’0’’ 160 lbs) Jr. LB<br />
AJ Whiting (6’6” 210 lbs) Sr. WR<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Swedes<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 6-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Craig Haake<br />
Career Record: 131-99<br />
Assistant Coaches: Tom Scott,<br />
Justin Dowdy, Jerry Wiggins<br />
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96 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 97
GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL CATHOLICCRUSADERS<br />
GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGHISLANDERS<br />
By: Justin Biegel<br />
It’s the beginning of a new era at<br />
Grand Island Central Catholic.<br />
2008 graduate Tim Dvorak returns<br />
to his alma mater to become the<br />
fourth coach in four years for the<br />
Crusaders. “I feel privileged for the<br />
opportunity to return to Central<br />
Catholic as both a teacher and the<br />
head football coach,” he said upon<br />
his hiring in April.<br />
Dvorak will look to turn around a<br />
program that won just one game last<br />
season, and only four games over<br />
the last two seasons. Prior to that,<br />
GICC had a 10-year playoff streak<br />
dating back to Dvorak’s sophomore<br />
season in 2005. He believes it all<br />
starts with a great mindset.<br />
“Our kids have great attitudes that<br />
start with our senior leadership,” he<br />
said. “They are hungry to compete<br />
and move the program forward.”<br />
Those seniors include Jonah Bales<br />
and Tommy McFarland, along with<br />
eight other returning starters (eight<br />
on offense, eight on defense) and<br />
15 letterwinners. Bales was a Class<br />
C1 all-state honorable mention in<br />
2016, leading the Crusader rushing<br />
attack while averaging five yards<br />
per carry. He’s also expected to<br />
lead the defense as the starting<br />
middle linebacker, where he tallied<br />
one interception and three forced<br />
fumbles as a junior.<br />
McFarland was an all-district and<br />
all-conference selection last season<br />
for his play on both the offensive<br />
and defensive line.<br />
Dvorak knows his team will face a<br />
lot of adversity this season. “We will<br />
be the underdog in the majority of<br />
our games and will need to go out<br />
and compete for everything that<br />
we want with the idea that there is<br />
nothing to lose,” he said.<br />
He added, “I believe that we<br />
have one of, if not the toughest<br />
schedule in C1, which will provide a<br />
challenge that we will need to face.”<br />
GICC opens with reigning state<br />
champion O’Neill and will also<br />
see the likes of state semifinalist<br />
Kearney Catholic and state<br />
quarterfinalist Aquinas Catholic.<br />
“Our biggest challenge will be<br />
establishing a consistency in<br />
the program and maintaining<br />
that consistency through a very<br />
challenging schedule,” Dvorak said.<br />
“Many of our players will have to<br />
step up into new roles and compete<br />
to become better players and a<br />
better team.”<br />
Another challenge will be grooming<br />
the next starting quarterback. With<br />
the departure of Aiden Anspauch,<br />
Dvorak says he’s looking at junior<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 O’Neill<br />
9/1 @ Kearney Catholic<br />
9/8 @ Aquinas Catholic<br />
9/15 Broken Bow<br />
9/21 @ Columbus Scotus<br />
9/29 Adams Central<br />
10/6 @ Columbus Lakeview<br />
10/13 @ Ord<br />
10/20 Boone Central/Newman Grove<br />
Jack Goering, who started two<br />
games last year. Goering is listed a<br />
5-foot-10, 155-pounds.<br />
The Crusader coaching staff hopes<br />
he molds well with the spread<br />
offense. Dvorak, a former defensive<br />
coordinator for Lincoln Northeast,<br />
will be implementing a 3-4 defense<br />
this fall.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jonah Bales (5’9” 195 lbs) Sr. RB/LB<br />
Tommy McFarland (5’10” 215 lbs)<br />
Sr. OL/DL<br />
Jacob Herbek (6’5” 200 lbs) Jr. TE/<br />
DL<br />
By: Justin Biegel<br />
Head coach Jeff Tomlin will begin<br />
his 15th season with the Grand<br />
Island Senior High football team<br />
this fall. The Islanders will look to<br />
build off a 2016 campaign in which<br />
the team went 6-4 with a first round<br />
exit in the Class A playoffs to Tri-<br />
City foe Kearney.<br />
“We expect to have a very solid<br />
squad,” Tomlin said. “We don’t have<br />
much in the form of measurable, but<br />
I think we have tough kids who will<br />
play extremely hard.”<br />
What the Islanders do have are nine<br />
returning starters, four on offense<br />
and five on defense. Tomlin said it’s<br />
the defense that will lead his team<br />
come this fall.<br />
“Our strengths will be returning<br />
experience in the secondary and<br />
linebacking core,” he said.<br />
The success of the group will hinder<br />
on senior tight end and defensive<br />
end Laylaway Thoe, who Tomlin<br />
called, “our most explosive and<br />
versatile player.”<br />
As a junior, Thoe recorded nearly<br />
three tackles a game, finishing the<br />
year with 41 total. He also tallied<br />
three quarterback hurries, four sacks<br />
and a pass deflection.<br />
Tomlin expects Thoe to be a major<br />
contributor in stopping the run<br />
and getting even more pressure on<br />
opposing quarterbacks.<br />
Standing just behind Thoe will be<br />
middle linebacker Kohlten Keezer,<br />
who was one of the top tacklers in<br />
all of Class A last season, tallying<br />
132 tackles to go along with 2.5<br />
sacks and three tackles for loss.<br />
One player who could fly under the<br />
radar this fall is senior Tyler Sextro.<br />
Sextro is one of the smaller players<br />
on the field, but his presence will<br />
be felt in the secondary. He led the<br />
team in pass breakups in 2016 and<br />
uses his size and speed to maneuver<br />
around blockers and make big<br />
playes. Sextro will also see time as a<br />
slot receiver.<br />
But while the veteran leadership<br />
will be strong, Tomlin admits the<br />
youth of this year’s team could<br />
leave the Islanders exposed.<br />
“My biggest concern early on is the<br />
youth and inexperience, particularly<br />
on the offensive and defensive<br />
lines,” he said.<br />
Grand Island opens the season<br />
against the same team that<br />
eliminated them back in November,<br />
Kearney. Prior to the 2016 season,<br />
the Islanders had a three-year<br />
winning streak over their archrival<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Kearney<br />
9/1 North Platte<br />
9/8 @ Omaha Northwest<br />
9/15 @ Lincoln East<br />
9/22 Omaha North<br />
9/29 @ Millard South<br />
10/6 Lincoln Pius X<br />
10/13 Bellevue East<br />
10/19 @ Lincoln Southeast<br />
Bearcats.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Laylaway Thoe (6’1” 220 lbs) Sr. TE/<br />
DE<br />
Kohlten Keezer (6’2” 200 lbs) Sr. MLB<br />
Tyler Sextro (5’9” 145 lbs) Sr. WR/DB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Crusaders<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 1-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 19<br />
Head Coach: Tim Dvorak<br />
Career Record: 0-0<br />
Assistant Coaches: Keith Kester, Tom<br />
Moore, Zach Schroder, James Danhaer,<br />
James Martinez, Scott Brokaw, John<br />
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Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 6-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 31<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Tomlin<br />
Career Record: 153-86<br />
Assistant Coach: Russ Harvey<br />
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100 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 101
By: Justin Biegel<br />
HASTINGSTIGERS<br />
In his second season at the<br />
helm of the Hastings football<br />
team, Charlie Shoemaker came<br />
incredibly close to getting the<br />
Tigers back into the playoff<br />
picture for the first time since<br />
2010.<br />
Led by a shifty, gun-slinging<br />
quarterback in Vinny Schmidt,<br />
the Tigers offense averaged<br />
nearly 30 points a game and<br />
finished 2016 with a 6-3 record.<br />
But the man who accounted for<br />
20 scores a season ago is now<br />
gone, and it will be up to a new<br />
crop of young talent to fill the<br />
void.<br />
“We had a lot of kids play last<br />
season and we are looking<br />
to them to really improve,”<br />
Shoemaker said. “If we continue<br />
to have a great buy-in with<br />
the kids in the summer and<br />
put in our work, we will have<br />
an excellent chance to be very<br />
competitive this season.”<br />
Hastings returns 10 starters this<br />
fall, five on offense and five<br />
on defense. That includes twoway<br />
players Michael Shaw and<br />
Connor Laux.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 6-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Charlie Shoemaker<br />
Career Record: 80-60<br />
Assistant Coach: Briant Itzen<br />
Shaw is coming off ACL surgery,<br />
but the 5-foot-10, 220-pound<br />
offensive lineman and linebacker<br />
has nothing but high praise from<br />
his head coach. “Michael has<br />
been a tremendous player for us<br />
the last two years,” Shoemaker<br />
said. “[He] looks to be 100<br />
percent healthy and ready for his<br />
senior season.”<br />
Laux is a name Tiger fans have<br />
heard about for years. When<br />
he’s not on the football field,<br />
he’s winning state wrestling<br />
championships (in two different<br />
weight classes) and sprinting<br />
around the bases for the Tiger<br />
baseball team.<br />
“Connor is a tremendous<br />
competitor and athlete,”<br />
Shoemaker said. “He is the<br />
definition of an excellent football<br />
player and a total team guy. He<br />
will do whatever it takes to help<br />
the team win.”<br />
That blazing 4.7-caliber speed<br />
will come in handy in the<br />
Hastings’ receiving core and<br />
secondary. As a junior, Laux<br />
hauled in 25 receptions for 412<br />
yards and three scores. He also<br />
tallied 10 carries and a score. At<br />
5-foot-9 and only 155 pounds,<br />
Laux will rely on his shiftiness to<br />
avoid would-be tacklers.<br />
But a name Shoemaker wants<br />
people to keep on their radar<br />
this fall is Damen Pape. Only<br />
a sophomore, Pape saw<br />
significant snaps as a freshman<br />
at both running back and<br />
linebacker, finishing second<br />
on the teal in total tackles. He,<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Scottsbluff<br />
9/1 @ Schuyler<br />
9/8 @ Gering<br />
9/15 Sidney<br />
9/22 Seward<br />
9/29 @ Alliance<br />
10/6 @ McCook<br />
10/13 Lexington<br />
10/20 @ Holdrege<br />
like Laux, is also a very good<br />
wrestler, finishing second in the<br />
170-pound class this February.<br />
“We are excited about the future<br />
for him,” Shoemaker said. “He is<br />
going to be an excellent player.”<br />
Hastings opens the season Aug.<br />
25 at home against Scottsbluff, a<br />
team the Tigers lost to last season<br />
by a score of 21-13.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Connor Laux (5’9” 145 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Michael Shaw (5’10” 220 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/LB<br />
Damen Pape (5’10” 185 lbs)<br />
Soph. LB/RB<br />
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102 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 103
HASTINGS ST. CECILIABLUEHAWKS<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
After finishing 5-4, 2016 did<br />
not meet the Bluhawk’s high<br />
expectations. The three-time state<br />
championship program is no<br />
stranger to the postseason. Hastings<br />
St. Cecilia has made an impressive<br />
27 playoff appearances. Last year’s<br />
postseason absence was the first in<br />
17 years. This fact alone is enough<br />
motivation for the <strong>2017</strong> to get back<br />
to the playoffs.<br />
Head Coach Carl Tesmer returns<br />
with a 232-51 record at the school.<br />
With another tough schedule ahead,<br />
Tesmer will have the help of 20<br />
returning letterwinners, including<br />
nine starters on offense and eight on<br />
defense. The line will be among the<br />
most experienced group on the field<br />
this fall.<br />
“We have a lot of experience in the<br />
line back,” he said. “These linemen<br />
have to step up and continue to<br />
improve throughout the season. Our<br />
defense needs to be as solid as we<br />
appear on paper.”<br />
Defensive end Josh Bohlke (6’0”<br />
225 lbs) will provide the Bluehawks<br />
with some size. The senior is a twoyear<br />
starter, who recorded a total of<br />
31 tackles and tacked on four sacks.<br />
The 4-4 defense will also welcome<br />
back two-year starter Sam Clark<br />
(5’10” 175 lbs), who was also able to<br />
pick up some impressive numbers<br />
last season. The senior was the<br />
team’s third-leading tackler with a<br />
total of 54 tackles. Seniors Nate Starr<br />
(5’10” 175 lbs) and Grant Farmer<br />
(6’0” 175 lbs) will also be big assets<br />
on the defensive side of the ball. The<br />
two combined for 62 tackles and six<br />
safeties.<br />
Although the Bluehawks have a<br />
good group coming back, there<br />
is still a major hole to fill at the<br />
quarterback position previously<br />
held by Grant Schmidt. Schmidt<br />
lead the team in scoring and total<br />
tackles. Junior Thomas Redinger<br />
(6’2” 170 lbs) will likely fill that spot.<br />
Tesmer is confident he has the right<br />
guy to lead the team.<br />
“We need to develop a complete<br />
well-organized offense that can<br />
perform error-free,” he said.<br />
Redinger will inherit the I-spread<br />
offense that averaged 200 rushing<br />
yards and 80 passing yards a game.<br />
Clark, Farmer, Bohlke, and Starr will<br />
all see time on the offensive side of<br />
the ball as well. Senior Chris Weidt<br />
(5’10” 170 lbs) and junior Jarred<br />
Prevette (6’1” 250 lbs) will both play<br />
key roles on offense and defense.<br />
Getting back to the postseason will<br />
not be an easy feat. Hastings St.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Freeman<br />
9/1 Wilber-Clatonia<br />
9/8 @ Sutton<br />
9/15 Central City<br />
9/22 @ Wood River<br />
9/29 Doniphan-Trumbull<br />
10/6 Sandy Creek<br />
10/13 @ Southern Valley<br />
10/20 Gibbon<br />
Cecilia will face defending state<br />
champion Wilber-Clatonia in week<br />
two. Tesmer expects Central City<br />
and Sutton to also be tough games<br />
in Class C.<br />
The Bluehawks open their <strong>2017</strong><br />
season and their journey back to<br />
the playoffs on the road against<br />
Freeman.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Josh Bohlke (6’0” 225 lbs) Sr. RG/DE<br />
Sam Clark (5’10” 175 lbs) Sr. FB/ILB<br />
Grant Farmer (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
CB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bluehawks<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 5-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 27<br />
Head Coach: Carl Tesmer<br />
Career Record: 339-89-2<br />
Assistant Coaches: Randy Ahrens,<br />
Cody Jackson, Lance Schmidt, Wade<br />
Dykeman, Gene Konen, Jim Jackson<br />
104 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 105
HEARTLANDHUSKIES<br />
By: Austin Miller<br />
It was certainly a memorable<br />
2016 season for the Hearltand<br />
Huskies. The team started the<br />
campaign with a loss to High<br />
Plains, but then rattled off nine<br />
straight wins.<br />
A big reason for the success<br />
was running back Austin Stuhr.<br />
Stuhr, who won state in pole<br />
vaulting, rushed for more than<br />
3,000 yards and found the end<br />
zone 44 times last year. Stuhr<br />
eventually set the state rushing<br />
record before moving on to play<br />
football at Northwest Missouri<br />
State.<br />
Replacing Stuhr will be a<br />
huge challenge for head coach<br />
Matt Maltsberger, but he’s<br />
not the only star player gone.<br />
The Huskies will also have a<br />
new quarterback this year to<br />
replace the production of Lane<br />
Huebert. Huebert threw for 15<br />
touchdowns last season, while<br />
also adding 10 scores on the<br />
ground.<br />
receiver. Last season, he ran for<br />
two touchdowns while catching<br />
eight more through the air.<br />
Expect to see a lot of young<br />
faces this season, but with a<br />
schedule that features just two<br />
games against opponents with<br />
a winning record last season,<br />
a return to the playoffs is<br />
attainable.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Hayes Oswald (6’0” 156 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/CB<br />
Connor Boehr (6’3” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/DE<br />
Jackson Stebbings (5’10” 150 lbs)<br />
Soph. RB/DB<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ High Plains Community<br />
9/8 Giltner<br />
9/15 @ Nebraska Christian<br />
9/22 @ McCool Junction<br />
9/29 Thayer Central<br />
10/6 Superior<br />
10/13 @ Franklin<br />
10/20 Kenesaw<br />
SEASON PREMIERE<br />
SEPT 25<br />
MON & TUES<br />
8/7c<br />
With most of the offense gone,<br />
Hayes Oswald will have to take<br />
a big step this season. Oswald<br />
is the top returning rusher and<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 9-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Matt Maltsberger<br />
Career Record: 14-7<br />
Assistant Coaches: Greg Veerhusen,<br />
Ben Linday, Clark Ribble<br />
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106 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 107
HIGH PLAINSSTORM<br />
HITCHCOCK COUNTYFALCONS<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
The 2016 season could not have<br />
got off to a better start for High<br />
Plains Community. They handed<br />
Heartland what proved to be their<br />
only loss of the regular season<br />
on the opening weekend of the<br />
season.<br />
They then reeled off two more<br />
wins to improve to 3-0 on the<br />
young campaign, beating their<br />
last two opponents by a combined<br />
score of 116-14.<br />
However, they weren’t able to<br />
secure another win the rest of the<br />
year.<br />
In their final five games of the<br />
regular season, along with<br />
their first-round playoff game,<br />
opponents outscored the Storm<br />
266-96.<br />
Head coach Greg Wood enters<br />
his 10th year at the helm of High<br />
Plains, and will be looking to right<br />
the ship with a good collection of<br />
returning starters - four on both<br />
sides of the ball.<br />
Wood knows he’ll have to lean on<br />
them to get his team going in the<br />
right direction.<br />
“We have a small freshman<br />
class coming in,” Wood said.<br />
“Developing depth will be a<br />
huge priority. We have the key<br />
pieces, we just need to put them<br />
together.”<br />
Some of those key pieces still have<br />
some youth to them, however.<br />
Take sophomore Keaton Van<br />
Housen for example. Last year, he<br />
led High Plains in rushing - toting<br />
the rock for 755 yards and eight<br />
touchdowns. He didn’t do too bad<br />
on the receiving end either, pulling<br />
in three touchdowns on just 15<br />
catches.<br />
That makes him the team’s leading<br />
receiver after the graduation of<br />
Kyle and Payton Stevens, who did<br />
the heavy lifting at wideout last<br />
season.<br />
The Storm won’t be left for dead<br />
when it comes to their line play<br />
either. After all, they have two<br />
returning starters up front with<br />
seniors Bo Dittmer and Timothy<br />
Markvicka coming back for their<br />
final seasons.<br />
At quarterback, expect to see<br />
a heavy dose of Dylan Soule<br />
under center after the sophomore<br />
attempted 55 passes a year ago.<br />
Also, don’t be shocked if you see<br />
Van Housen throw the rock some.<br />
In 2016, he completed 18 of 40<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Heartland<br />
9/1 @ Elgin Public/Pope John<br />
9/15 @ Tri County<br />
9/22 Palmer<br />
9/29 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family<br />
10/6 @ Nebraska Christian<br />
10/13 East Butler<br />
10/20 @ Nebraska Lutheran<br />
passes for three touchdowns.<br />
As for areas to improve upon,<br />
Wood and his team will be looking<br />
to fix their ball control issues<br />
from 2016, when they lost 12 of<br />
13 fumbles in just nine games.<br />
Defensively, they also allowed<br />
nearly 300 yards per game.<br />
Wood knows there is plenty to<br />
work on as <strong>2017</strong> approaches.<br />
Plus, it wouldn’t hurt if the team<br />
wanted to go out and start 3-0<br />
once again.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Alex Goracke (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/LB<br />
Josh Hinrichs (6’3” 170 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Brodi Hansen (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
The 2016 season was one to<br />
forget for Hitchcock County, as<br />
the young squad finished the<br />
campaign with an 0-8 record.<br />
However, with a new season<br />
comes a clean slate and another<br />
opportunity for the Falcons<br />
to show improvement on the<br />
gridiron.<br />
Under the direction of head<br />
coach Dusty Gaston, Hitchcock<br />
County will be a youthful<br />
squad once again in <strong>2017</strong>. But<br />
with six starters returning on<br />
both sides of the ball, and ten<br />
letterwinners back on the roster,<br />
Gaston expects steps in the right<br />
direction this season.<br />
“We are young and coachable,”<br />
he said. “We are building for a<br />
bright future.”<br />
But if the Falcons want to notch<br />
a few tallies in the win column,<br />
the offense will have to improve.<br />
Last season, Hitchcock County<br />
averaged 116 yards per game and<br />
only eight points a contest.<br />
The group will run a split back<br />
offense once again this year, with<br />
running back Noah Standiford<br />
and quarterback/running back<br />
hybrid Chase Matson anchoring<br />
the backfield.<br />
The offensive line could be a<br />
strength this year for the Falcons,<br />
as it will feature a few returning<br />
starters in sophomore Kaiden<br />
Smotherman, junior Corey<br />
Wickizer and senior Wes Merrill.<br />
Defensively, returning<br />
linebackers Logan Shafert<br />
and Zach Janousek will have<br />
a major impact, while Merrill<br />
and Wickizer will battle in the<br />
trenches on the defensive line.<br />
With youth likely playing a<br />
major role this season, Gaston<br />
highlighted the keys to success<br />
for <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“Get the young starters to play<br />
physical and stay healthy,” he<br />
said. “Of course, it all starts with<br />
a good attitude and hard work<br />
during the summer.”<br />
However, the head coach did<br />
acknowledge the difficulties that<br />
accompany coaching a young<br />
team, especially following a<br />
down year.<br />
“To get my team to grow and<br />
overcome adversity as a very<br />
young team once again coming<br />
off our 0-8 season,” Gaston said<br />
of the biggest challenges of the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 @ Stapleton<br />
9/1 Atwood-Rawlins County KS<br />
9/8 Maxwell<br />
9/22 @ Wallace<br />
9/29 Eustis-Farnam<br />
10/6 Loomis<br />
10/13 @ Arapahoe<br />
10/19 Wauneta-Palisade<br />
upcoming season.<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> campaign will get<br />
underway for the Falcons on<br />
Aug. 25 when they travel to<br />
Stapleton.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kaiden Smotherman (6’ 0” 185<br />
lbs) Soph. OL<br />
Chase Matson (5’ 10” 135 lbs)<br />
Soph. QB/RB<br />
Noah Standiford (5’ 8” 140 lbs)<br />
Soph. RB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Storm<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 3-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 11<br />
Head Coach: Greg Wood<br />
Career Record: 45-41<br />
Assistant Coach: John Kucera<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Falcons<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 0-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Dusty Gaston<br />
Career Record: 0-8<br />
108 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 109
By: Austin Miller<br />
HOLDREGEDUSTERS<br />
In game of inches, razor-thin<br />
margins were the difference<br />
between a winning and losing<br />
record for the Holdrege Dusters<br />
in 2016.<br />
Last season, the Dusters finished<br />
with a 2-7 record, but three<br />
of those losses came by five<br />
or fewer points, including a<br />
one-point loss to Grand Island<br />
Northwest.<br />
Going into his 19th season as<br />
head coach, Jason Hale is hoping<br />
another year of experience for<br />
his returning starters and the<br />
number of incoming players on<br />
the roster can push the Dusters<br />
over the top.<br />
“We feel like we can be a factor<br />
in the district race after getting<br />
some much needed experience<br />
for some of our athletes early in<br />
the year,” Hale said.<br />
This season the Dusters return<br />
six starters on offense and five on<br />
defense, including two-way star<br />
Bronson Titus. Titus is coming<br />
off an all-state performance last<br />
season and will anchor both the<br />
offensive and defensive lines.<br />
While his size might not seem<br />
imposing, Titus is one of the<br />
team’s hardest workers, which<br />
has transformed him into a great<br />
run blocker and a hard-to-block<br />
defender.<br />
While Titus will be opening up<br />
the running lanes, it’ll be up to<br />
senior running backs Alex Wells<br />
and Prestin Melroy to make the<br />
most of them. Wells is coming<br />
off a 1,000 yard rushing season,<br />
while also finding the end zone<br />
13 times. Wells just missed out<br />
on an all-state selection, instead<br />
being named as an honorable<br />
mention.<br />
As for Melroy, he’ll certainly see<br />
his rushing attempts increase<br />
this season. However, it’s his<br />
play-making at the linebacker<br />
position that the Dusters will<br />
rely heavily on. Last season,<br />
Melroy was all over the field,<br />
picking off two passes, recording<br />
91 total tackles and tallying nine<br />
tackles for a loss.<br />
The trio of Titus, Wells and<br />
Melroy, to go along with eight<br />
other seniors, gives the Dusters<br />
plenty of experience this season,<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Gothenburg<br />
9/1 @ Scottsbluff<br />
9/8 Alliance<br />
9/15 @ York<br />
9/22 @ Sidney<br />
9/29 Northwest<br />
10/6 @ Lexington<br />
10/13 @ McCook<br />
10/20 Hastings<br />
but their schedule will be tough.<br />
Hale will have his hands full<br />
week-to-week as Holdrege<br />
will play seven teams that had<br />
winning records last season.<br />
With a schedule that tough, the<br />
Dusters will have to make every<br />
possession count if they’re going<br />
to compete at the top of the<br />
district and finish above .500.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Bronson Titus (5’11” 255 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Alex Wells (5’10” 165 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
DB<br />
Prestin Melroy (6’0” 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Dusters<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 2-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Jason Hale<br />
Career Record: 109-110<br />
OUR TEAM COVERING YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG<br />
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FRIDAYS AT 10 PM<br />
110 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 111
HUMBOLDT-TABLE ROCK-STEINAUERTITANS<br />
KEARNEY CATHOLICSTARS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
Humboldt-Table Rock-<br />
Steinauer is looking to rebound<br />
from a one-win season. The<br />
Titans struggled through their<br />
2016 campaign, which saw<br />
HTRS play through a difficult<br />
schedule that included Class<br />
C2 champion Wilber-Clatonia.<br />
The Titans will again face the<br />
Wolverines this fall, along<br />
with playoff hopefuls Lincoln<br />
Lutheran, Yutan, and Freeman.<br />
HTRS has starters back at<br />
eight different positions,<br />
but its underclassmen will<br />
be key in <strong>2017</strong>. “We will be<br />
asking some of the freshmen<br />
and sophomores to step up<br />
this year,” HTRS head coach<br />
Quentin Coatney said. “Some<br />
may not be as ready as they<br />
should be, but we will put the<br />
best 11 players on the field and<br />
see what we can do.” Coatney<br />
believes he has a hard-working<br />
squad that could see an<br />
increase in the win column this<br />
season. The Titans’ 1-8 record<br />
last year came following a 5-4<br />
finish in 2015. “They are willing<br />
to put in the work that brings<br />
success.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 1-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Quentin Coatney<br />
Career Record: 7-35<br />
Assistant Coach: Jason Cover<br />
Conner Bredemeier will be<br />
among the leaders for HTRS<br />
this season. The 6-foot,<br />
175-pound junior is a two-way<br />
starter that averaged 14 yardsper-carry<br />
last year. Bredemeier<br />
also had 63 tackles, which<br />
ranked second on the team.<br />
Linemen Carter Drake, Alex<br />
Flynn, and Kaje Faulks will<br />
also be important pieces to the<br />
HTRS puzzle in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
With experience up front,<br />
the Titans are hoping for an<br />
offensive resurgence. HTRS was<br />
shut out four times last season<br />
while averaging fewer than five<br />
points per game. Coatney lists<br />
juniors Hunter Hain and Kade<br />
Shiley as possible playmakers<br />
for HTRS. Both figure to be<br />
in the Titans’ running back<br />
rotation after combining for 175<br />
rushing yards last year. “We are<br />
going to have to stay healthy<br />
this season if we are going to<br />
be able to compete with anyone<br />
this fall,” Coatney said. “We are<br />
going to be asking a lot from<br />
our young guys.” Freshman<br />
Jayden McNealy is a player<br />
Coatney is keeping his eye<br />
on. He feels McNealy has an<br />
opportunity to see significant<br />
action during his first season of<br />
high school football.<br />
Defensively, HTRS uses a<br />
5-3 scheme which promotes<br />
strong line play. The Titans<br />
have three returning starters<br />
up front, including Faulks.<br />
However, HTRS must improve<br />
its takeaway total after forcing<br />
only 10 turnovers last season.<br />
Losing the turnover battle was<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Lincoln Lutheran<br />
9/1 @ Omaha Brownell Talbot<br />
9/8 Malcolm<br />
9/15 @ Yutan<br />
9/22 @ Wilber-Clatonia<br />
9/29 Johnson County Central<br />
10/6 @ Freeman<br />
10/13 @ Elmwood-Murdock<br />
10/19 Palmyra<br />
a main contributor to HTRS’<br />
struggles last season.<br />
The Titans’ <strong>2017</strong> campaign<br />
begins on Aug. 25th against<br />
Lincoln Lutheran. The most<br />
difficult part of the HTRS<br />
schedule comes in mid-<br />
September when the Titans<br />
travel to Yutan and Wilber-<br />
Clatonia in back-to-back weeks.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Conner Bredemeier (6’ 175 lbs)<br />
Jr. WR/LB<br />
Carter Drake (6’6” 220 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Hunter Hain (6’ 150 lbs) Jr. RB/<br />
DB<br />
In Rashawn Harvey’s first season<br />
as Kearney Catholic football<br />
coach in 2016, things couldn’t<br />
have gone much better. Sure,<br />
his squad suffered a loss in the<br />
regular season, but it was to a<br />
team from Kansas.<br />
The Stars ran the table otherwise,<br />
making it all the way to the<br />
state semifinals before being<br />
bounced emphatically by Bishop<br />
Neumann.<br />
Even after the 8-1 campaign,<br />
the Stars might be entering this<br />
season looking to prove doubters<br />
wrong. It’s a phrase not normally<br />
heard when a team performs as<br />
well as Kearney Catholic did last<br />
year, but let’s take a closer look.<br />
Of the eight regular season wins<br />
Kearney Catholic recorded, a<br />
whopping six of them were<br />
against teams with three wins or<br />
less, and only two of them with<br />
winning records.<br />
Fortunately for the fellas in gold<br />
and yellow, they get the same<br />
schedule in <strong>2017</strong>, and they’re<br />
hoping for more of the same.<br />
KCHS returns star quarterback<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Stars<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 10-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Rashawn Harvey<br />
Career Record: 10-2<br />
Assistant Coaches: Paul Brungardt,<br />
Rick Moses, Mike Pacheco, Matt<br />
Johnson, Matt Coop, Lance Sorensen,<br />
Dave Coling<br />
Matt Masker for his senior<br />
season, and he might be taking<br />
an eraser to the Kearney Catholic<br />
record books this fall.<br />
In 2016 alone, he threw for 36<br />
touchdowns and more than 2,700<br />
yards. Coach Harvey couldn’t be<br />
more excited to have him back<br />
under center.<br />
“Matt has a great combination<br />
of size, accuracy, footwork and<br />
arm strength as a quarterback,”<br />
Harvey said. “He throws well on<br />
the run, makes great decisions,<br />
and plays with poise. He’s a<br />
young man (who) goes the extra<br />
mile to be successful, plus he’s<br />
a great leader and excellent<br />
teammate.”<br />
Harvey went on to say Masker<br />
could be one of his team’s best<br />
college football prospects by the<br />
end of the season, but only time<br />
will tell.<br />
Masker won’t have to do it alone<br />
as the Stars look to make another<br />
deep run in the Class C1 playoffs.<br />
Wide receiver Brett Kaiser found<br />
himself on the receiving end of<br />
plenty of Masker touchdown<br />
passes in 2016 and figures to be a<br />
force again in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“Brett’s size and speed will be<br />
difficult to match up for any<br />
defensive back,” Harvey said.<br />
“He has great footwork, runs<br />
excellent routes, plus catches<br />
anything thrown near him.”<br />
Usually lost on the mix of a<br />
team’s football roster is the placekicker,<br />
but that’s not the case for<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Adams Central<br />
9/1 Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
9/8 @ Ogallala<br />
9/16 Garden Plain KS<br />
9/22 Cozad<br />
9/29 @ Mitchell<br />
10/6 @ Minden<br />
10/13 Gothenburg<br />
10/20 @ Broken Bow<br />
the Stars. All-State kicker Caleb<br />
Hoyt is also back for his senior<br />
season after going a perfect<br />
10-for-10 on field goals last<br />
year. What’s worse for KCHS<br />
opponents is that Harvey said<br />
Hoyt extended his kicking range<br />
over the offseason.<br />
If you haven’t noticed, however,<br />
we’re not talking a lot about the<br />
KCHS defense. Mainly because<br />
there’s simply not a lot returning<br />
- two starters to be exact. Kaiser<br />
will be back at linebacker, as will<br />
senior Jake Gappa who doubles<br />
as a running back for the team.<br />
“We will need to develop players<br />
in multiple areas after the loss of<br />
nine defensive starters,” Harvey<br />
said. “Many new faces will<br />
challenge each other for playing<br />
time at linebacker and defensive<br />
back.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Matt Masker (6’2” 220 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
Brett Kaiser (6’3” 200 lbs) Sr. WR/<br />
LB<br />
Caleb Hoyt (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr. K/<br />
LB<br />
112 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 113
KEARNEY SENIOR HIGHBEARCATS<br />
COVERING CENTRAL NEBRASKA BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE<br />
By: Justin Biegel<br />
Since Brandon Cool took over<br />
the Kearney High football<br />
program in 2001, the Bearcats<br />
have missed the Class A playoffs<br />
only twice. Now, in his 17th<br />
season, Cool will look to lead<br />
Kearney back to the state<br />
championship game for the first<br />
time since 2006.<br />
It won’t be an easy task for the<br />
Bearcats, who return just two<br />
starters on offense and one<br />
starter on defense from last<br />
year’s 8-3 team that advanced<br />
to the second round of the state<br />
playoffs.<br />
However, one of those players<br />
on offense will be senior<br />
quarterback Kanon Koster, who<br />
threw for nearly 1,500 yards and<br />
17 touchdowns his junior season.<br />
When he wasn’t slinging the ball<br />
downfield, he used his legs to<br />
pick up another 500 yards and a<br />
score.<br />
“Kanon is one of the best athletes<br />
in Class A,” Cool said. “There’s<br />
nothing better than watching<br />
him compete on a Friday night.”<br />
Bearcat fans are also familiar<br />
with his heroics on the basketball<br />
court, averaging 16 points a<br />
game and helping lead Kearney<br />
to the state semifinals in March.<br />
Koster will have a big target<br />
at wide receiver in senior Bret<br />
Obermiller, who Cool expects<br />
to get a majority of the targets<br />
this fall. Last season, Obermiller<br />
appeared in seven games and<br />
hauled in just 10 catches, but<br />
averaged over 25 yards per<br />
reception. He finished his junior<br />
season with three touchdowns.<br />
Tyler Atchinson, a senior and<br />
two-way player at defensive end<br />
and tight end, will be another<br />
big target in the Bearcat passing<br />
attack.<br />
A player who could fly under<br />
the radar, but make considerable<br />
contributions, is senior offensive<br />
and defensive lineman Lee<br />
Herrington. The reigning Class<br />
A heavyweight wrestling<br />
champion saw significant snaps<br />
in 2016, tallying 25 total tackles.<br />
His supporting cast, however,<br />
will be filled by a number<br />
of players with little to no<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Grand Island<br />
9/1 @ Lincoln East<br />
9/8 North Platte<br />
9/15 Lincoln Northeast<br />
9/22 @ Fremont<br />
9/28 @ Millard North<br />
10/6 Papillion-LaVista<br />
10/13 Creighton Preparatory School<br />
10/20 @ Omaha Benson<br />
experience. It’s the biggest<br />
question mark and area of<br />
concern for Cool.<br />
Kearney opens the season for<br />
the second consecutive year<br />
versus Tri-City rival Grand<br />
Island. The Bearcats defeated<br />
the Islanders twice last season,<br />
first on opening night, then in<br />
the opening round of the Class A<br />
playoffs.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kanon Koster (6’2” 210 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB<br />
Bret Obermiller (6’2” 200 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR<br />
Hunter Novacek (6’0” 195 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bearcats<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 8-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 22<br />
Head Coach: Brandon Cool<br />
Assistant Coach: Brad Archer<br />
308.455.1335<br />
2112 CENTRAL AVE KEARNEY, NE<br />
CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEADER<br />
114 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 115
By: Austin Miller<br />
KENESAWBLUE DEVILS<br />
It was an up-and-down 2016<br />
season for the Kenesaw Blue<br />
Devils. The team opened the<br />
season with back-to-back<br />
losses to Elm Creek and<br />
Palmer, before rattling off five<br />
straight wins.<br />
However, the Blue Devils’<br />
season ended just like it<br />
started, with back-to-back<br />
losses to Heartland and<br />
Medicine Valley.<br />
In <strong>2017</strong>, Kenesaw is returning<br />
nearly every starter from last<br />
season. The bad news for<br />
head coach Craig Schnitzler<br />
is that last year’s starting<br />
quarterback, Alex Heier, won’t<br />
be able to take the field due to<br />
an injury. In his place will be<br />
Taylor Pulver, who is moving<br />
from tight end to quarterback<br />
this season.<br />
If there’s one strength, besides<br />
experience, that the Blue<br />
Devils will rely on, it’s their<br />
running game. Kenesaw’s<br />
starting line features three<br />
seniors and a junior to go<br />
along with two-headed<br />
rushing attack.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Blue Devils<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 5-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 23<br />
Head Coach: Craig Schnitzler<br />
Career Record: 105-54<br />
Assistant Coaches: Chuck Roe<br />
and Casey Olson<br />
Last season, running back<br />
Tyson Burr was a weapon for<br />
the Blue Devils. Burr eclipsed<br />
1,000 yards rushing, caught<br />
30 passes, and totaled 19<br />
touchdowns. The senior will<br />
look to continue his all-around<br />
play and build on a solid<br />
defensive season, in which<br />
he totaled 45 tackles and two<br />
interceptions.<br />
“He will be one of our leaders.<br />
He has a very good work ethic<br />
and will work hard to get<br />
ready for the <strong>2017</strong> season,”<br />
Schnitzler said.<br />
Along with Burr in the<br />
backfield, Daniel Duffy will<br />
be relied on to clear out some<br />
running lanes and do the<br />
dirty work from the fullback<br />
position. Last season, Duffy<br />
rushed for more than 500<br />
yards, while also finding the<br />
end zone 10 times. The senior<br />
is also a key cog in the defense.<br />
Last year, he totaled 99 tackles<br />
and an interception from the<br />
linebacker position.<br />
“What Daniel lacks in size he<br />
makes up for with strength<br />
and desire. He’s very tough<br />
to tackle on offense and has<br />
a good nose for the ball,”<br />
Schnitzler said.<br />
Another key player, who<br />
could be a menace to opposing<br />
offenses with his speed, is<br />
junior defensive end John<br />
Schuster. Last season, Schuster<br />
tore his ACL in the fourth<br />
game of the season. He has<br />
since recovered from the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Elm Creek<br />
9/1 Palmer<br />
9/8 Ravenna<br />
9/22 @ Thayer Central<br />
9/29 Franklin<br />
10/6 McCool Junction<br />
10/13 @ Superior<br />
10/20 @ Heartland<br />
injury. In fact, this past spring,<br />
Schuster ran the 100-meter<br />
dash for the track team in 11.3<br />
seconds.<br />
Kenesaw looks to be one of the<br />
top teams in their district on<br />
paper, but with a schedule that<br />
features games against Elm<br />
Creek, Palmer and Heartland,<br />
the road to the playoffs won’t<br />
be easy.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Tyson Burr (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/CB<br />
Daniel Duffy (5’9” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
FB/LB<br />
John Schuster (5’10” 170 lbs)<br />
Jr. DE<br />
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KENESAW • HASTINGS • ROSELAND • MINDEN<br />
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Kenesaw • 402.752.3700<br />
116 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 117
By: Austin Miller<br />
LAWRENCE-NELSONRAIDERS<br />
Lawrence-Nelson got off to a<br />
fast start in 2016. The Raiders<br />
won their first seven games of<br />
the season, before suffering two<br />
tough losses in a three-game<br />
stretch to end the year.<br />
The Raiders lost in the final game<br />
of the campaign to undefeated<br />
Bruning-Davenport/Shickley.<br />
That loss put them in a difficult<br />
playoff bracket, and after beating<br />
Mead 50-14 in the first round,<br />
Lawrence-Nelson squared off<br />
against a Bloomfield team that<br />
was 8-1 coming into the game.<br />
The Raiders would end up losing<br />
that game 50-20.<br />
While a tough bracket ended last<br />
season too soon, this year’s team<br />
could be another great one under<br />
head coach Brian Blevins. Blevins<br />
has six returning starters coming<br />
back this season, including some<br />
big-time athletes. It all starts with<br />
a running game that’s one of the<br />
best in all of Class D2.<br />
Among those returning is star<br />
running back/linebacker Kevin<br />
Schroer. Blevins calls Schroer one<br />
of the best players in Class D2.<br />
Last season, Schroer battled an<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
ankle injury, but was still named<br />
all-state, totaling more than<br />
1,100 all-purpose yards. Schroer<br />
has also recorded back-to-back<br />
seasons of 100 tackles or more.<br />
Schroer should be able to find<br />
plenty of running lanes behind<br />
what could be one of the top<br />
offensive lines in the class. It’s a<br />
mixture of youth and experience<br />
in the trenches for the Raiders.<br />
Two underclassmen that Coach<br />
Blevins is excited about are<br />
guards Jake Sharp and Kyle<br />
Golay.<br />
Sharp is only a junior, but<br />
already has two years of starting<br />
experience as a guard and<br />
defensive end. Blevins calls<br />
the junior a “freak athlete” and<br />
expects him to break out in a big<br />
way this season.<br />
Golay is only a sophomore and<br />
stands at 6-foot-1, 230-pounds.<br />
Golay is also the team’s nose<br />
guard.<br />
Then there’s the senior anchoring<br />
the line, Anders Jenson. Jenson<br />
has started the last two seasons<br />
and is the strongest player on the<br />
team, benching 290 pounds and<br />
squatting 430 pounds.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Sterling<br />
9/1 @ Exeter-Milligan<br />
9/15 Friend<br />
9/22 Giltner<br />
9/29 @ Blue Hill<br />
10/6 @ Shelton<br />
10/13 Axtell<br />
10/20 @ BDS<br />
a deeper run in the playoffs.<br />
However, they’ll have to get<br />
through a tough schedule that<br />
features road games at BDS and<br />
rival Blue Hill, who was 9-2 last<br />
season.<br />
“I am once again really excited<br />
to start another season of Raider<br />
Football. Our potential is high,<br />
but with a brutal schedule it<br />
should again play out to be<br />
a great and exciting season,”<br />
Belvins said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Kevin Schroer (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Jake Sharp (6’1” 230 lbs) Jr. G/DE<br />
Kyle Golay (6’1” 230 lbs) Soph.<br />
G/NG<br />
402.225.3581<br />
472 SOUTH MAIN - NELSON, NE<br />
GOOD LUCK RAIDERS!<br />
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Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 8-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Brian Blevins<br />
Career Record: 51-31<br />
Assistant Coach: Jerad<br />
Niederklein<br />
Blevins will have to bring along<br />
a new quarterback this season<br />
in sophomore Luke Heikkinen.<br />
Heikkinen has some varsity<br />
experience and can use his legs as<br />
a weapon.<br />
This season the Raiders are<br />
hoping the players that are<br />
returning are enough to make<br />
118 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 119
LEXINGTONMINUTEMEN<br />
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
For the past two years, the<br />
Lexington Minutemen have<br />
ended their football seasons at<br />
1-8 in class B7, losing all of their<br />
away games. The school’s last<br />
winning season was back in 2008<br />
when the team went 6-4.<br />
But this year, the Minutemen<br />
have five returning offensive<br />
starters and six starters returning<br />
on defense. With <strong>2017</strong> being<br />
Jeff Rowan’s fifth year as the<br />
head coach for Lexington, he<br />
said, “Program numbers are<br />
improving, so we will have<br />
competition at almost every<br />
position.”<br />
In 2016, Lexington put up an<br />
average 11.7 points per game<br />
and allowed almost 41 points to<br />
be scored on them.<br />
Those numbers reflect the lack<br />
of experience on the roster, but<br />
Rowan said, “They played a<br />
lot of young kids last year and<br />
that experience will show this<br />
season.”<br />
The fact that the Minutemen<br />
scored 11 rushing touchdowns<br />
last year and only two passing<br />
touchdowns proves Lexington<br />
has more strength in their<br />
running game. The team<br />
accumulating 1,056 rushing<br />
yards in 2016 compared to the<br />
team’s 836 passing yards also<br />
speaks to the talent Lexington<br />
has in its backfield.<br />
Running a spread offense, junior<br />
quarterback Jake Leger will be<br />
returning with some experience<br />
under his belt. He has 387 career<br />
passing yards, one passing<br />
touchdown, and averages 48.4<br />
yards per game.<br />
However, Leger ran in six<br />
touchdowns during his<br />
sophomore year and had one<br />
game with over 100 yards<br />
rushing.<br />
The orange and black did break<br />
school records in 2016 for kickoff<br />
return yardage and punt return<br />
yardage in a single season,<br />
meaning the special teams is on<br />
the right track.<br />
Coach Rowan said there’s great<br />
senior leadership this year with<br />
five seniors coming out to be role<br />
models for the younger players.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Sidney<br />
9/1 @ York<br />
9/8 Scottsbluff<br />
9/15 @ Northwest<br />
9/22 Alliance<br />
9/29 @ Gering<br />
10/6 Holdrege<br />
10/13 @ Hastings<br />
10/20 McCook<br />
One of those seniors is three-year<br />
starter Oracio Corona, who is an<br />
offensive and defensive lineman.<br />
Rowan specifically praises<br />
Corona as a great team leader,<br />
but he’s also a top performer on<br />
the field. Corona has 17 career<br />
solo tackles and 57 total tackles<br />
averaging 3.6 tackles per game.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Oracio Corona (6’1” 240 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Ethan Woehrle (6’2” 230 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Javier Rivas (5”11” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Minutemen<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 1-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Rowan<br />
Career Record: 9-27<br />
Assistant Coach: Mark Burson<br />
MAC’S<br />
SHORT<br />
STOP<br />
308-324-7220<br />
1110 N Adams St, Lexington, NE<br />
Good Luck to the<br />
Lexington Minutemen!<br />
120 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 121
LINCOLN CHRISTIANCRUSADERS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
A 72-point outburst in Lincoln<br />
Christian’s final game of 2016<br />
sends the Crusaders surging into<br />
the <strong>2017</strong> season. The Crusaders<br />
ended last year with a bang,<br />
defeating Southern by 40 points<br />
and breaking multiple Class C1<br />
records. Most notably, quarterback<br />
Treyson Bigler passed for 439<br />
yards and seven touchdowns,<br />
both Class C1 single-game highs.<br />
The mid-October win punctuated<br />
a late-season turnaround for<br />
Lincoln Christian, which ended<br />
the year on a three-game winning<br />
streak. Now, the Crusaders have<br />
their eyes set on playing beyond<br />
October in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“If we can stay healthy and<br />
develop some linemen, I think we<br />
can turn the corner this year and<br />
be a playoff team,” head coach<br />
Kurt Earl said.<br />
Earl is entering his second year<br />
as Lincoln Christian’s head<br />
coach. His inaugural season had<br />
some highs and lows, but the<br />
energetic leader never wavered<br />
in his optimism. Earl believes he<br />
has a talented roster that can end<br />
the school’s three-year playoff<br />
drought.<br />
The Crusaders’ personnel features<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Crusaders<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 4-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Kurt Earl<br />
Career Record: 4-5<br />
Assistant Coach: Wade Houchin<br />
many proven playmakers, which<br />
could provide many high-scoring,<br />
highlight-filled games this fall.<br />
Bigler, who stands 6-foot-3, will<br />
be in his second-year as the<br />
Crusaders’ starting quarterback.<br />
“Treyson got off to a rough start<br />
last year,” Earl said. “But he came<br />
back strong. He appears to be<br />
poised to have a breakout senior<br />
year.”<br />
Bigler’s productivity is aided by<br />
a pair of talented wide receivers.<br />
Reid Houchin is a FCS and NCAA<br />
Division II prospect, as well as<br />
Alex Schreiner. The wideout<br />
duo combined for 17 receiving<br />
touchdowns last fall. “Alex is<br />
probably the quickest, most<br />
explosive player I’ve coached<br />
in my 12 years of coaching high<br />
school football,” Earl said. The<br />
LCHS head coach describes<br />
Houchin as a “football junkie.”<br />
Lincoln Christian has starters back<br />
at 17 different positions. Junior<br />
Hunter Hohlen (6’ 165 lbs) adds<br />
depth to the receiving corps, along<br />
with classmate Trent Lockard (6’1”<br />
150 lbs). Joe Dworak will likely be<br />
the Crusaders’ featured running<br />
back for the second straight<br />
season. Dworak finished with six<br />
rushing touchdowns, which all<br />
occurred over the final four games<br />
of his sophomore campaign.<br />
Line play remains the biggest<br />
question mark for Lincoln<br />
Christian in <strong>2017</strong>. Logan<br />
Schluckebier (6’1” 210 lbs) is the<br />
Crusaders’ most experienced<br />
player up front. Isaiah Young<br />
(5’11” 210 lbs), Max McEwen (6’<br />
200 lbs), and Abram Stewart (5’11”<br />
210 lbs) will also be leaders along<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Omaha Concordia<br />
9/1 Wahoo<br />
9/8 @ Lincoln Lutheran<br />
9/15 @ Falls City<br />
9/22 Fairbury<br />
9/29 Raymond Central<br />
10/6 @ Ashland-Greenwood<br />
10/13 @ Milford-Dorchester<br />
10/20 Southern<br />
the line.<br />
Defensively, Lincoln Christian<br />
allowed 29 points per game last<br />
season. With a high number of<br />
returning players, Earl is hoping<br />
his team can be more disciplined<br />
and limit opponents’ big plays.<br />
Lincoln Christian plans on playing<br />
all its home games at the school’s<br />
campus in southeast Lincoln this<br />
year. The Crusaders twice played<br />
at LCHS in 2016, after previously<br />
playing its home games at Abel<br />
Stadium or Beechner Field.<br />
Playing on the school grounds<br />
created a noticeable buzz<br />
across the Lincoln Christian<br />
community. The school had to<br />
bring in additional bleachers<br />
and a scoreboard for its home<br />
games. Now knowing the logistics<br />
of hosting a game at Lincoln<br />
Christian, the school plans to play<br />
there five times this fall.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Treyson Bigler (6’3” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/LB<br />
Alex Schreiner (5’11” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Joe Dworak (5’7” 175 lbs) Jr. RB/<br />
LB<br />
122 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 123
LINCOLN EASTSPARTANS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
After reaching the Class A<br />
semifinals in 2016, there will be<br />
tempered expectations at Lincoln<br />
East this fall. The Spartans lost a<br />
number of key players from last<br />
year’s 7-5 team, including All-<br />
City quarterback Carson Walters<br />
and Nebraska football signee<br />
Chris Walker. Those departures<br />
leave big holes at Lincoln East,<br />
but John Gingery doesn’t feel<br />
like there will be a big dropoff<br />
for the Spartans. Gingery<br />
says the <strong>2017</strong> roster has good<br />
chemistry and his players have a<br />
good work ethic.<br />
Running back Alex Hrnicek<br />
played an important role during<br />
the Spartans’ playoff run last fall.<br />
The 5-foot-8, 165-pound senior<br />
carried the ball 110 times, which<br />
ranked second on the team.<br />
Hrnicek scored four touchdowns<br />
and figures to be a key part of<br />
East’s offense this fall. He’ll<br />
share time in the backfield with<br />
classmate Peyton Aipperspach.<br />
He showed flashes of his bigplay<br />
potential as a junior,<br />
averaging more than six yards<br />
per carry.<br />
quarterback. Walters was<br />
the catalyst for a group that<br />
averaged 26 points per game and<br />
was explosive both through the<br />
air and on the ground. Walters<br />
finished his senior season<br />
with 28 total touchdowns. His<br />
replacement will likely come<br />
from Lincoln East’s junior<br />
varsity team. No player on the<br />
current roster has taken a snap at<br />
quarterback at the varsity level.<br />
Defensively, Lincoln East will<br />
lean on several first-time starters.<br />
The Spartans’ top seven tackle<br />
leaders all graduated leaving<br />
Gingery searching for new<br />
defensive playmakers. The<br />
long-time head coach feels the<br />
Spartans’ linebackers could be a<br />
strength. Braden Sellon (6’1” 210<br />
lbs) and Barrett Sellon (6’2” 210<br />
lbs) could step into leadership<br />
roles, as well as senior defensive<br />
end Jaden Roe. The secondary<br />
will be the Spartans’ most<br />
experienced unit on defense.<br />
Jerrod Searcey (5’8” 150 lbs) and<br />
Hrnicek are returning starters at<br />
cornerback. The duo combined<br />
for 57 tackles last season.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Norfolk<br />
9/1 Kearney<br />
9/8 @ Lincoln Southeast<br />
9/15 Grand Island<br />
9/21 Lincoln Northeast<br />
9/29 @ Omaha North<br />
10/6 Millard South<br />
10/13 Lincoln Pius X<br />
10/20 @ Bellevue East<br />
8th showdown against rival<br />
Lincoln Southeast. The Spartans<br />
and Knights split their two<br />
meetings last season. Lincoln<br />
East defeated Lincoln Southeast<br />
24-21 behind a big second-half<br />
comeback in the first round of<br />
the Class A playoffs.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Alex Hrnicek (5’8” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/CB<br />
Zane Busekist (6’ 195 lbs) Sr. OL/<br />
DL<br />
Jerrod Searcey (5’8” 150 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/CB<br />
Perhaps the most important<br />
task for the Lincoln East offense<br />
is finding a new starting<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Spartans<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 7-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: John Gingery<br />
Assistant Coaches: Bill Kechely,<br />
Mike Janesh, David Seizys, Ryan<br />
Fitzgerald, Jim Ebke<br />
Two added luxuries for Lincoln<br />
East this fall will be a talented<br />
kicker and returning punter.<br />
Johnny Hansen made three of<br />
four field goal attempts as a<br />
junior (22/23 PATs) and Chase<br />
Uher had 33 punts for 981 yards.<br />
Both Hansen and Uher are<br />
entering their senior seasons.<br />
Lincoln East’s season begins<br />
on Aug. 25th at Norfolk. The<br />
Spartans’ home opener will<br />
be the following week against<br />
Kearney. Many Lincoln East<br />
players look forward to the Sept.<br />
OUR TEAM COVERING YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG<br />
KEVIN SJUTS • SPORTS DIRECTOR<br />
FRIDAYS AT 10 PM<br />
124 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 125
LINCOLN HIGHLINKS<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
For the first time since 2004, Lincoln<br />
High is looking to make back-to-back<br />
appearances in the state playoffs. The<br />
Links advanced to the postseason in<br />
2016 after an 11-year drought, and a<br />
number of starters are back for a squad<br />
that could be a Class A sleeper in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“I really like our competitive nature,”<br />
head coach Mark Macke said. “I like<br />
how our kids show up and work.”<br />
The Links didn’t have trouble scoring<br />
last season, as Lincoln High averaged<br />
34.7 points per game in 2016. With eight<br />
starters back on offense, the scoreboard<br />
operator could again be busy this year.<br />
Junior quarterback Cedric Case is<br />
expected to lead the charge, after<br />
throwing for 1,980 yards and 21<br />
touchdowns last season. Junior Frazie<br />
Wynn (54 rushes, 294 yards, 3 TD) and<br />
senior Dauntavis Lawrence (21 rushes,<br />
314 yards, 3 TD) are expected to share<br />
time at the running back position. Case<br />
has two experienced pass-catchers at<br />
the wide receiver position in senior<br />
Zion Perry (32 rec, 498 yards, 7 TD) and<br />
junior CJ Jones (30 rec, 480 yards, 4 TD).<br />
Junior Morgan Perry (19 rec, 181 yards,<br />
1 TD), who battled through injuries as<br />
a sophomore, could see significant time<br />
at wide receiver, as well. Junior John<br />
Goodwin (8 rec, 69 yards, 2 TD) returns<br />
after starting last season at tight end.<br />
The Links should have an experienced<br />
group up front with four returning<br />
starters on the offensive line. Seniors<br />
Malachi Norval (5’10” 235 lbs) and<br />
Mason Sullivan (5’10” 265 lbs) are<br />
joined by juniors Draven Long (6’0”<br />
245 lbs) and ZZ Zollicoffer (5’10” 325).<br />
Junior Garrett Hoagland (5’10 250 lbs),<br />
who was a starter for the Links in 2016<br />
until suffering an injury in week two, is<br />
expected to be back in the fold.<br />
Lincoln High will need to replace<br />
three-year starting linebacker Anthony<br />
Magor, who earned all-state honors<br />
last season. But the Links also have<br />
experienced players coming back at<br />
the position. Senior Jack Buchanan led<br />
the team in tackles with 73 and added<br />
nine tackles for loss and three sacks last<br />
year. He will team up with fellow senior<br />
Rashad Rucks (26 total tackles, 4 TFL)<br />
and junior Ethan Bruha (70 tackles, 5<br />
TFL) to form a strong unit.<br />
Opposing offenses might have a hard<br />
time throwing on Lincoln High in <strong>2017</strong>,<br />
as the Links have three starters back in<br />
the secondary. Juniors Darius Luff (34<br />
total tackles, 2 INTs) and Isaiah Alford<br />
(46 total tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT) will be<br />
joined by senior Isaac Thomas (13 total<br />
tackles, 1 INT).<br />
There are holes to fill up front, however,<br />
where Norval (18 total tackles, 6 TFL,<br />
2 sacks) is the only returning starter.<br />
Hoagland is expected to start on the<br />
defensive line in <strong>2017</strong> as he returns from<br />
injury.<br />
After an 0-3 start in 2016, the Links<br />
surprised some people by rattling<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Omaha Northwest<br />
9/1 Lincoln Pius X<br />
9/8 @ Papillion-LaVista South<br />
9/15 Omaha Bryan<br />
9/22 @ North Platte<br />
9/29 Omaha Central<br />
10/6 @ Fremont<br />
10/13 @ Lincoln Southwest<br />
10/20 Millard West<br />
off five straight wins on their way to<br />
a Class A playoff berth. A return to<br />
the postseason in <strong>2017</strong> isn’t out of the<br />
question, but Macke says health and<br />
depth will be two major factors for the<br />
Links.<br />
“Our kids work hard and are very<br />
competitive,” Macke said. “Hopefully<br />
that will carry over to a successful<br />
season.”<br />
However, with an offense that can score<br />
points in bunches and a defense that<br />
brings back seven starters, Lincoln High<br />
could be a team to watch this fall.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Cedric Case (6’1” 180 lbs) Jr. QB<br />
Zion Perry (5’8” 170 lbs) Sr. WR<br />
Jack Buchanan (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr. LB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Links<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 5-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Mark Macke<br />
Career Record: 17-38<br />
402.975.2048 • 906 L STREET • LINCOLN, NE<br />
126 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 127
LINCOLN LUTHERANWARRIORS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
Lincoln Lutheran is coming off<br />
a breakthrough season where<br />
the Warriors turned a winless<br />
record into a 7-2 finish. Greg<br />
Nelson’s team is hoping for an<br />
even bigger breakthrough in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>. The Warriors are aiming<br />
for the school’s first playoff<br />
berth since 2012. Lincoln<br />
Lutheran narrowly missed out<br />
on the postseason last fall which<br />
has served as motivation over<br />
the off-season.<br />
“This group of juniors and<br />
seniors has worked so hard to<br />
get to the place they are in,”<br />
Nelson said. “Their dedication<br />
in the weight room has made<br />
them successful.”<br />
Nelson, who’s entering his<br />
fourth year at Lincoln Lutheran,<br />
may have his deepest and most<br />
talented team this fall. Lincoln<br />
Lutheran returns starters at<br />
18 positions, including junior<br />
quarterback Zach Clausen. The<br />
strong-armed QB has nearly<br />
3,000 career passing yards.<br />
Clausen has triggered Lincoln<br />
Lutheran’s offensive resurgence,<br />
which scored 30 or more points<br />
five times last season.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 7-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Greg Nelson<br />
Career Record: 8-19<br />
Assistant Coaches: Brett Shamblin,<br />
Chris Schaedel, Drew Guiney,<br />
Shannon White and Ryan Stantz<br />
“We must become more<br />
diversified on offense,” Nelson<br />
said. “Our passing game should<br />
be able to give defenses trouble.<br />
We hope that will open the way<br />
for our veteran offensive line to<br />
create some holes in the running<br />
game.” Clausen led the Warriors<br />
with 667 rushing yards in 2016.<br />
Sam Rathe (6’1” 175 lbs) was<br />
the Warriors’ most often-used<br />
running back with 111 carries.<br />
Rathe is now in his senior year,<br />
along with Lincoln Lutheran’s<br />
top three wide receivers.<br />
Logan Kreizel, Joe Admiraal,<br />
and Cole Schaedel are all<br />
reliable targets in the Warriors’<br />
passing game. The trio<br />
combined for 104 receptions<br />
with Schaedel (6’ 160 lbs) being<br />
the most often-used wideout.<br />
Kreizel, who will be a four-year<br />
starter, creates several matchup<br />
problems with his 6-foot-3,<br />
195-pound frame.<br />
Another strength for Lincoln<br />
Lutheran is its offensive line.<br />
All five starters return up front,<br />
including Jacob Wendland (6’2”<br />
210 lbs). The unit has shown<br />
tremendous growth over the<br />
past few seasons, according<br />
to Nelson. He says the team’s<br />
dedication to weight training<br />
has been key in its development.<br />
Defensively, Lincoln Lutheran<br />
is experienced but has holes in<br />
the middle of the unit. Nelson<br />
must replace starters at both<br />
defensive tackle and middle<br />
linebacker. “If we can find<br />
strong players to stop the run<br />
up front, we can be successful,”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer<br />
9/1 @ Johnson County Central<br />
9/8 Lincoln Christian<br />
9/15 @ Lutheran High Northeast<br />
9/22 @ Malcolm<br />
9/29 Freeman<br />
10/6 Elmwood-Murdock<br />
10/13 @ Omaha Brownell Talbot<br />
10/20 Yutan<br />
Nelson said. The Warriors held<br />
opponents to 14 points per<br />
game last season, but had major<br />
hiccups in their two losses.<br />
Lincoln Lutheran allowed<br />
34 points in a shutout loss to<br />
Lutheran High Northeast and<br />
41 in a season-ending defeat to<br />
Yutan.<br />
Overall, the outlook is bright<br />
for Lincoln Lutheran in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
With the Warriors’ skill and<br />
momentum from last season,<br />
the Warriors are poised to take<br />
another step forward this fall.<br />
“With high expectations, we<br />
must remain humble and work<br />
to get better each practice, day,<br />
and game,” Nelson said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Zach Clausen (6’6” 190 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/LB<br />
Logan Kreizel (6’3” 195 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
James Lavicky (6’1” 210 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DE<br />
128 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 129
LINCOLN NORTHEASTROCKETS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
A scouting report of Lincoln<br />
Northeast centered around Talon<br />
Little, Tivon Phillips, and Caden<br />
Highsmith in 2016. Now, opposing<br />
coaches will have new names to<br />
fill in while evaluating the Rockets.<br />
Lincoln Northeast is seeking<br />
replacements for its three most<br />
productive offensive players, who<br />
all graduated following last season.<br />
“A lot of guys are going to be<br />
pressed into varsity service as<br />
sophomores,” head coach Bump<br />
Christensen said. “(They) will<br />
have to grow up fast and gel as a<br />
team. We are extremely young.”<br />
Phillips was a 1,000-yard rusher<br />
during his senior season, while<br />
Little completed 58 percent of his<br />
passes. Highsmith, a three-year<br />
starter, holds the school record for<br />
receptions in a season. Those three<br />
departures, along with several<br />
other starters, could change the<br />
outlook for the Rockets this season.<br />
Lincoln Northeast is coming off a<br />
2-7 campaign that included wins<br />
over Fremont and Omaha Benson.<br />
Both the Tigers and Bunnies remain<br />
on the LNE schedule as district<br />
opponents. The Rockets hope to<br />
end a two-year winless streak<br />
against city competition. LNE faces<br />
Lincoln Southeast, Lincoln North<br />
Star and Lincoln East this fall.<br />
Christensen expects the Knights<br />
and Spartans to be among the best<br />
teams in the capitol city this year.<br />
Regardless of the schedule, Lincoln<br />
Northeast hopes to improve<br />
defensively after allowing 42 points<br />
per game in 2016. The Rockets<br />
return three starters on that side<br />
of the ball, including Ayden Koss-<br />
Marshall. The 6-foot, 195-pound<br />
middle linebacker’s 62 stops last<br />
season ranked second on the<br />
team. Lincoln Northeast’s other<br />
defensive playmakers figure to be<br />
Korbin Amen (5’11” 160 lbs) and<br />
Tobin Vocasek (6’2” 170 lbs). LNE’s<br />
defensive scheme could have some<br />
new wrinkles after coordinator<br />
Tim Dvorak left to become the<br />
head coach at Grand Island Central<br />
Catholic during the off-season.<br />
The offensive playcalling remains<br />
the same, and moving the football<br />
has rarely been an issue under<br />
Christensen. In 2016, Lincoln<br />
Northeast’s balanced attack<br />
averaged 343 yards. The fifthyear<br />
head coach must decide on a<br />
new starting quarterback during<br />
preseason practice. Sophomore<br />
Shadon Shannon is battling<br />
junior Hahler Groth for the No. 1<br />
quarterback job.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Lincoln Southeast<br />
9/1 @ Lincoln North Star<br />
9/7 Omaha Benson<br />
9/15 @ Kearney<br />
9/21 @ Lincoln East<br />
9/28 Fremont<br />
10/6 Millard North<br />
10/13 @ Papillion-LaVista<br />
10/20 @ Creighton Preparatory School<br />
Emanuel will likely anchor the<br />
offensive line from the center<br />
position. Despite the unit’s youth,<br />
the Rockets should have good size<br />
up front.<br />
In Lincoln Northeast’s spread<br />
offense, there is a need for skilled,<br />
athletic playmakers. Christensen<br />
is especially looking at wideouts<br />
Kaleb Merrill (5’9” 160 lbs), Grant<br />
LeMay (6’ 180 lbs), and Jakobi<br />
Rose (6’1” 175 lbs) to contribute.<br />
As for the running back position,<br />
Christensen describes sophomore<br />
Nick Halleen a “fast, hard-nosed<br />
runner.”<br />
With Lincoln Northeast’s new<br />
wave of talent, there is an increased<br />
level of curiosity and excitement<br />
for the upcoming season.<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Rockets<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 2-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Bump Christensen<br />
Career Record: 10-25<br />
Assistant Coaches: Dion Gaston,<br />
Javonta Boyd, Donald Defrand and<br />
Buch Rausch<br />
Not only will the Rockets have a<br />
first-year starting quarterback, but<br />
the offensive line will be mostly<br />
inexperienced, too. Senior Brett<br />
Sewart (6’ 225 lbs) is the only<br />
returning starter at the position.<br />
Youngsters expected to contribute<br />
include Anthony Gomez (5’10”<br />
250 lbs), Nate Karr (6’2” 275<br />
lbs), Mason West (6’2” 270 lbs),<br />
and Orion Emanuel (6’ 270 lbs).<br />
“There is a high amount of<br />
enthusiasm on the team,”<br />
Christensen said. “The kids have<br />
put in a lot of work and they are<br />
ready to put it out on the field.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Korbin Amen (5’11” 160 lbs) Sr. DB<br />
Kole Connick (6’1” 190 lbs) Sr. TE<br />
Ayden Koss-Marshall (6’ 195 lbs)<br />
Sr. MLB<br />
130 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 131
LINCOLN NORTH STARNAVIGATORS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
The Navigators are coming off a less than<br />
stellar 2016 season. North Star went 3-6<br />
last year against an extremely difficult<br />
Class A schedule.<br />
A silver lining to the sub .500 season, the<br />
Navigator roster was made up of plenty<br />
of underclassmen. Coach Mark Waller<br />
will return nine starters and a number<br />
of key contributors for the <strong>2017</strong> season.<br />
Coach Waller is entering his 15th season<br />
as the ‘Gators head coach.<br />
“We should be much better on both the<br />
offensive and defensive lines,” Waller<br />
said. “Our experience at the quarterback<br />
position with Gavin (Leitschuck) is key. It<br />
really all starts with our quarterback play.<br />
We took our lumps there last year but<br />
he’s grown immensely. We’ll also look to<br />
establish depth.”<br />
Last season, Leitschuck took the reigns at<br />
QB for the Navigators as a sophomore.<br />
Waller describes the now junior as a<br />
natural leader with a big arm and the<br />
toughness to stand in the pocket.<br />
With the offense relying heavily on<br />
their spread passing attack, North Star<br />
has no shortage in targets for the junior<br />
QB. 6-foot-4 senior wide receiver Matt<br />
Alexander provides a rare combination of<br />
size, speed, and ball skills.<br />
Navigators’ offense. Housh is comfortable<br />
both in a three-point stance or in the slot<br />
and provides in-game experience as a<br />
two-year starter.<br />
The Navigators will look for increased<br />
production on both sides of the football. In<br />
2016 the ‘Gator defense surrendered 25.4<br />
points per game while the offense only<br />
averaged 21.5 points per game.<br />
In addition, Waller hopes to take better<br />
advantage of their home turf this season.<br />
The ‘Gators only won once on their home<br />
field in 2016.<br />
“They completely understand that last<br />
fall was the worst win-loss record we<br />
had in a decade,” Waller said. “But<br />
our expectations haven’t changed. We<br />
expect to win a district title and get to the<br />
playoffs. In order for that to happen we<br />
need to get after it this summer, the kids<br />
realize that.”<br />
History has not been friendly to the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Lincoln Pius X<br />
9/1 Lincoln Northeast<br />
9/8 @ Bellevue West<br />
9/15 Norfolk<br />
9/22 Omaha South<br />
9/28 @ Omaha Northwest<br />
10/6 Omaha Westside<br />
10/13 @ Omaha Burke<br />
10/20 Lincoln Southwest<br />
Navigators. North Star has only been<br />
to the state playoffs six times in school<br />
history, most recently in 2015. Their lone<br />
playoff victory came in 2008.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Gavyn Leitschuck (5’11” 180 lbs) Jr. QB<br />
Matt Alexander (6’4” 180 lbs) Sr. WR<br />
Tyric Scott (6’4” 210 lbs) Jr. DE/TE<br />
“Matt has Division 1 talent and skill set,”<br />
Waller said. “He has all the tools. He just<br />
needs to put it all together and make some<br />
strides mentally this summer.”<br />
6-foot-3 senior tight end Jonah Housh<br />
will provide another big body for the<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Gators<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Mark Waller<br />
Assistant Coach: Brian Lauck<br />
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LINCOLN PIUS XTHUNDERBOLTS<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
Ryan Kearney’s first year as<br />
head coach for Lincoln Pius X<br />
couldn’t have started better as<br />
the Thunderbolts opened the<br />
season with five straight wins in<br />
2016. However, the second half<br />
of the season produced opposite<br />
results, as Pius lost its final four<br />
regular season games before<br />
falling in the first round of the<br />
playoffs.<br />
Kearney is now preparing for<br />
year two on the sidelines at<br />
Pius, and he now has last year’s<br />
experiences to lean on as the<br />
Thunderbolts look to bounce<br />
back in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“It’s been a little bit smoother<br />
(preparing for year two),”<br />
Kearney said. “But the nerves<br />
and losing a bit of sleep is<br />
starting to come back.”<br />
Kearney said one of the strengths<br />
for the <strong>2017</strong> squad comes at<br />
quarterback position. Three<br />
players, who all saw time last<br />
season, are expected to compete<br />
for the starting job this fall.<br />
Seniors Thomas Robertson (650<br />
passing yds, 7 total TD) and Joe<br />
Raun (391 passing yds, 6 total<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Thunderbolts<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 5-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 28<br />
Head Coach: Ryan Kearney<br />
Career Record: 5-5<br />
Assistant Coaches: Mike Aldrich, Steve Andersen,<br />
Jeff Aylward, Mike Aylward, Alex Adams,<br />
Troy Charf, PJ Book, Jim Hansen, Alex Hain,<br />
Nate Heimes, Derek Hartman, Steve Engstrom,<br />
Tom Schneider, Cody Wallinger<br />
TD), along with junior Austin<br />
Jablonski (198 passing yds, 3<br />
total TD), give the Thunderbolts<br />
multiple options at QB. Whoever<br />
wins the quarterback battle<br />
is expected to have a talented<br />
group of wide receivers to throw<br />
the ball to. Senior Zach Kerkman<br />
(6’2” 220 lbs) is an impact player<br />
on the offensive line.<br />
Pius is hoping for more<br />
consistent play on offense this<br />
fall. The Thunderbolts averaged<br />
28 points per game in their five<br />
wins last season, but just 13.2 in<br />
the five losses.<br />
Defensively, Pius leans on senior<br />
linebacker Chris Cassidy. He<br />
led the Thunderbolts with 47<br />
total tackles and six tackles for<br />
loss last fall. Joining him on the<br />
second level of the defense are<br />
fellow seniors Josh Andreasen<br />
(41 total tackles, 5 TFL) and Joey<br />
Pynes (27 total tackles). Only<br />
four defensive starters return for<br />
Pius, opening the door for new<br />
players to step up and fill roles<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Lincoln Pius X faces the<br />
challenge of competing in Class<br />
A with one of the smallest<br />
enrollments in the class.<br />
However, the Thunderbolts<br />
proved last season that they can<br />
play with some of the biggest<br />
schools in the state. Kearney<br />
and company again face a tough<br />
schedule this fall that includes<br />
city matchups against Lincoln<br />
North Star (8/25), Lincoln High<br />
(9/1), Lincoln Southeast (9/29),<br />
and Lincoln East (10/13). The<br />
Thunderbolts also travel to<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Lincoln North Star<br />
9/1 @ Lincoln High<br />
9/8 Millard South<br />
9/15 Papillion-LaVista<br />
9/22 @ Bellevue East<br />
9/29 Lincoln Southeast<br />
10/6 @ Grand Island<br />
10/13 @ Lincoln East<br />
10/20 Omaha North<br />
Grand Island (10/6) and play<br />
host to Omaha North (10/20) in<br />
the regular season finale.<br />
“Every team we play will<br />
be tough to beat,” Kearney<br />
said. “We will need to meet a<br />
daily goal of improvement in<br />
execution of fundamentals and<br />
improved consistency.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Chris Cassidy (6’1” 220 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Zach Kerkman (6’2” 220 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL<br />
Josh Andreasen (5’10” 185 lbs)<br />
Sr. LB<br />
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Volunteer opportunities are available October 5, 6, and 7th.<br />
GREAT FOR FAMILIES, STUDENTS, GROUPS, OR INDIVIDUALS!<br />
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By: TJ Eck<br />
LINCOLN SOUTHEASTKNIGHTS<br />
When the final seconds ticked off<br />
the clock in Lincoln Southeast’s<br />
season-ending loss to Lincoln<br />
East in the first round of the<br />
2016 Class A playoffs, players,<br />
coaches, and fans were left<br />
thinking: “What could have<br />
been?” LSE is looking to bounce<br />
back in <strong>2017</strong> after the Knights<br />
went 8-1 in the regular season<br />
last fall before surrendering a<br />
21-0 halftime lead to the rival<br />
Spartans in a 24-21 playoff loss.<br />
The good news: LSE brings back<br />
big-time players on both sides of<br />
the ball. Senior quarterback Jack<br />
Strong, who missed time last<br />
season with an injury, will look<br />
to lead the Knights’ offensive<br />
attack. Meanwhile, senior<br />
defensive tackle Bryson Williams<br />
is a Division 1 recruit. While the<br />
Knights return quality players,<br />
quantity may be an issue. Only<br />
six starters are back, including<br />
just two on defense. Open spots<br />
will provide younger players<br />
with a chance to fill a void,<br />
especially in the secondary and<br />
at wide receiver.<br />
“Younger players in our program<br />
must be ready to step into<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 8-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 29<br />
Head Coach: Ryan Gottula<br />
Career Record: 39-23<br />
Assistant Coaches: Fred Thorne, Scott<br />
Vampola, Andy Ryan, Justin Freitag, Jesse<br />
Foster, Josh Severin, Troy Bergt, Dan<br />
Dougherty, Montana Jones, Colin Clare<br />
starting roles or provide depth<br />
at those positions,” head coach<br />
Ryan Gottula said.<br />
Strong, who returned to play in<br />
LSE’s playoff loss after missing<br />
the final three games of the 2016<br />
regular season, is a talented<br />
passer at the QB position. He<br />
threw for 991 yards and 10<br />
touchdowns last season while<br />
also adding 202 yards and<br />
five TDs on the ground. When<br />
Strong was injured, junior Jampe<br />
Gergen stepped in and played<br />
well, throwing for 655 yards<br />
and 7 TDs. Gottula says both<br />
Strong and Gergen will have a<br />
role in the offense in <strong>2017</strong>. While<br />
the Knights have to replace a<br />
number of skill position players,<br />
LSE should have a strong<br />
offensive line. Three starters are<br />
back including Williams (6’3”<br />
290 lbs) at the guard position,<br />
senior center Riley Spicer (5’10”<br />
245 lbs), and junior tackle Luis<br />
Trujillo (6’2” 250 lbs).<br />
The Lincoln Southeast defense<br />
will have a new look in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Williams and senior linebacker<br />
Calvin Kyker (40 total tackles<br />
in 2016) are the only returning<br />
starters. Replicating last year’s<br />
performance when the Knights<br />
allowed just 17.8 points per<br />
game may be tough, but a<br />
number of rising seniors are<br />
ready to step into starting roles.<br />
Lincoln Southeast has one of<br />
the strongest traditions of any<br />
high school football program<br />
in Nebraska. The Knights have<br />
won nine state titles, with the<br />
most recent coming in 2011. But<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Lincoln Northeast<br />
9/1 Lincoln Southwest<br />
9/8 Lincoln East<br />
9/15 @ Omaha North<br />
9/22 Millard South<br />
9/29 @ Lincoln Pius X<br />
10/6 @ Bellevue East<br />
10/12 Omaha South<br />
10/19 Grand Island<br />
LSE hasn’t won a playoff game<br />
since 2012. The Knights have<br />
the pieces in place to make a<br />
postseason run in <strong>2017</strong> but a<br />
number of players must step<br />
into new roles and contribute<br />
immediately.<br />
“Our senior class is a group<br />
that has experienced a great<br />
deal of success the past few<br />
years,” Gottula said. “They are<br />
motivated to have a great year in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Bryson Williams (6’3” 290 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Jack Strong (6’3” 200 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
Calvin Kyker (6’0” 195 lbs) Sr. LB<br />
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LINCOLN SOUTHWESTSILVERHAWKS<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
Andrew Sherman’s first year as head<br />
coach produced a playoff appearance<br />
for the Silver Hawks in 2016. In turn,<br />
Sherman and company are hoping<br />
<strong>2017</strong> yields even better results, as<br />
Lincoln Southwest brings back an<br />
experienced team. 28 players who<br />
earned a letter are back in the fold<br />
including 16 returning starters.<br />
“We will have the most depth in<br />
school history,” Sherman said.<br />
“Platooning is a possibility.”<br />
Offensively, the Silver Hawks are<br />
looking for improved production in<br />
<strong>2017</strong> after averaging just 19.8 points<br />
per game last fall. Senior Jakob<br />
Ahlschwede (6’4” 180 lbs) is expected<br />
to take over the quarterback position<br />
after starting the final two games of<br />
the 2016 campaign.<br />
LSW could use a committee approach<br />
in the backfield. Among those vying<br />
for time at running back are seniors<br />
Noah Kruger (5’11” 155 lbs), Jacob<br />
Buckner (6’0” 160 lbs), and Anthony<br />
Banderas (6’1” 205 lbs), along with<br />
juniors Caden McCormack (6’2” 210<br />
lbs) and Brett Lenners (6’3” 200 lbs).<br />
Sherman said depth at the running<br />
back position is “a good problem to<br />
have.”<br />
LSW returns a pair of starters at the<br />
wide receiver position in seniors<br />
Justin Holm (6’6” 180) and Cooper<br />
Samway (6’1” 180 lbs). Senior<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Silverhawks<br />
Class: A<br />
2016 Record: 4-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Andrew Sherman<br />
Career Record: 4-6<br />
Assistant Coaches: Brett Schuster, Grant Traynowicz,<br />
Scott Bender, Adam Aschenbrenner, Doug<br />
Ayars, Brad Devall, Terry Berks, Jeff Jochum, Troy<br />
Kantor, Michael Roscoe, Christian Summers,<br />
Kevin Schrad, Ashley Wimes, Aaron Finley<br />
Cameron Pieper (6’4” 220) brings<br />
size and experience to the tight end<br />
position after starting in 2016.<br />
The strength of the Silver Hawks<br />
offensive attack may come from up<br />
front. Four starters are back along the<br />
offensive line in seniors Collin Shefke<br />
(6’4” 260 lbs), Hayden Davis (5’11”<br />
240 lbs), Jarrett Myers (5’10” 210 lbs),<br />
and junior Taylor Boutmahavong (6’0”<br />
200 lbs).<br />
But if Lincoln Southwest makes it<br />
back to the postseason in <strong>2017</strong>, it<br />
might be the Silver Hawk defense<br />
that leads the way. Nine starters<br />
are back from a group that allowed<br />
seven points or less three times last<br />
year while surrendering 23.4 points<br />
per game in the regular season. The<br />
defensive line is led by a pair of<br />
seniors, as two-year starters Shefke<br />
and Will Uebele (5’10” 220 lbs) both<br />
return. Juniors Nick Leader (6’1”<br />
185 lbs) and Lenners also bring back<br />
starting experience up front. Banderas<br />
and McCormack are expected to man<br />
the linebacker spots in LSW’s 4-2-5<br />
scheme.<br />
Opposing offenses will be tasked<br />
with throwing against an experienced<br />
secondary as the Silver Hawks have<br />
three returning starters on the back<br />
end. Senior defensive backs Michael<br />
Ayars (5’7” 160 lbs) and Jayce Conklin<br />
(6’0” 170 lbs) have four years of<br />
starting experience between them,<br />
and fellow senior Cade Moeller (5’11”<br />
160 lbs) also started at defensive back<br />
in 2016.<br />
Playing in the postseason is a regular<br />
occurrence for Lincoln Southwest, as<br />
the program has missed the playoffs<br />
just once since 2003. However, LSW’s<br />
last playoff win came in 2011. The<br />
<strong>2017</strong> Silver Hawks have the pieces<br />
in place to end a five-game playoff<br />
losing streak, but they will need to<br />
show improvement on offense and<br />
more consistency on defense. The<br />
season opens on Aug. 16 against<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 Papillion-LaVista<br />
9/1 @ Lincoln Southeast<br />
9/8 Millard West<br />
9/15 @ Papillion-LaVista South<br />
9/22 @ Omaha Bryan<br />
9/29 North Platte<br />
10/6 @ Omaha Central<br />
10/13 Lincoln High<br />
10/20 @ Lincoln North Star<br />
Papillion-La Vista.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Anthony Banderas (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Collin Shefke (6’4” 260 lbs) Sr. OL/DL<br />
Caden McCormack (6’2” 210 lbs) Jr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
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LOOMISWOLVES<br />
Team Phelps<br />
www.PhelpsMemorial.com<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
The Loomis football team’s<br />
2016 regular season can be<br />
summed up in one word —<br />
dominant. Under long-tenured<br />
head coach Denis Reese, the<br />
Wolves went a flawless 8-0,<br />
with only one of those wins<br />
coming by single digits.<br />
The impressive season was<br />
unfortunately cut short,<br />
however, when Loomis was<br />
defeated by Ansley-Litchfield<br />
in the second round of the<br />
playoffs 65-20.<br />
This season, the Wolves will<br />
be hoping to make a similar<br />
run, perhaps with a different<br />
ending.<br />
Six starters return on both sides<br />
of the ball for Loomis, with 12<br />
letterwinners coming back in<br />
total.<br />
However, one challenge that<br />
Reese will be faced with will be<br />
replacing a backfield that led a<br />
high-powered offense in 2016.<br />
Last season, Loomis averaged<br />
an outstanding 46 points per<br />
game, while averaging nearly<br />
300 yards a game on the<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolves<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 9-1<br />
Playoff Appearances: 19<br />
Head Coach: Denis Reese<br />
Career Record: 178-163<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jason Maaske<br />
and Drew Billeter<br />
ground.<br />
But the offense will take on<br />
a new look this season, as<br />
quarterback Levi Arp, running<br />
back Cale Abramson, and<br />
offensive lineman Trevor<br />
Maaske all graduated.<br />
Reese knows it will be difficult<br />
to plug the holes, as he said<br />
“replacing graduated seniors<br />
and being consistent in our<br />
play” will be the biggest<br />
challenges his group faces this<br />
season.<br />
But there is still a lot of talent<br />
returning for the Wolves on<br />
offense, particularly on the<br />
offensive line.<br />
Hunter Banzhaff, Isaac Dunn,<br />
and Allen Shultz will all return<br />
in the trenches for Loomis, in<br />
addition to tight ends Drew<br />
Lauby and Joshua Marcy.<br />
Defensively, the group will roll<br />
out a 3-4 base defense after<br />
allowing 25.4 points per game<br />
last season and pitching two<br />
shutouts.<br />
Banzhaff, Marcy, and Shultz<br />
will also return to power the<br />
defensive line, while Isaac<br />
Wahls and Drew Lauby will<br />
anchor the secondary.<br />
On the surface, the Wolves<br />
return enough talent to put<br />
forth a similar product as last<br />
season. But according to Reese,<br />
avoiding injuries and finding<br />
players to compliment the<br />
starters will be vital to success.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
9/1 Axtell<br />
9/8 Ansley-Litchfield<br />
9/15 @ Shelton<br />
9/22 @ Eustis-Farnam<br />
9/29 Arapahoe<br />
10/6 @ Hitchcock County<br />
10/13 @ Wauneta-Palisade<br />
10/19 Wallace<br />
“We must develop some depth<br />
on both sides of the ball,” he<br />
said. “We must stay healthy.”<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> season begins on Sept.<br />
1 for the Wolves when they<br />
host Axtell at 7 p.m.<br />
Loomis will battle the same<br />
schools in the same order as<br />
last season, boding well for<br />
a repeat performance of its<br />
undefeated campaign in 2016.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Isaac Wahls (6’ 0” 170 lbs) Jr. RB<br />
Drew Lauby (5’ 11” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
End<br />
Allen Shultz (5’ 10” 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL<br />
Exceptional Qualit. Compassionate Care. Right Here.<br />
SEASON PREMIERE<br />
SEPT 25<br />
MON & TUES<br />
8/7c<br />
142 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 143
MALCOLMCLIPPERS<br />
McCOOKBISON<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
Every season, there seems to be a<br />
member of the Sackett family on the<br />
Malcolm roster. <strong>2017</strong> is no different.<br />
Senior Beau Sackett will be Clippers’<br />
starting quarterback this fall, but he also<br />
marks the end of his family’s lineage<br />
with the Malcolm football program.<br />
Sackett threw for seven touchdowns and<br />
rushed for six scores last season.<br />
“I’ve coached a Sackett for as long as I<br />
can remember,” head coach Scott Amen<br />
said.<br />
Amen, who is entering his 11th season<br />
at the helm, describes Sackett as a smart,<br />
well-rounded athlete. “He runs well<br />
and is hard to bring down,” Amen said.<br />
“He’ll get the hard yards that we need<br />
from him.”<br />
Sackett hopes to lead Malcolm back to<br />
the playoffs after a 4-5 record last season.<br />
He’ll be complimented by junior running<br />
back Adam Stewart, who averaged more<br />
than 10 yards per carry in 2016. “We’re<br />
really going to rely on him a lot,” Amen<br />
said. Stewart played on Malcolm’s<br />
varsity team as both a freshman and a<br />
sophomore.<br />
Beyond Stewart and Sackett, Malcolm<br />
has a youthful roster. The Clippers<br />
return starters at just nine positions.<br />
The offensive line, in particular, will be<br />
inexperienced.<br />
“I don’t need 250 and 280-pounders,”<br />
Amen said. “Give me a 200-pounder and<br />
teach him the right technique and you<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Clippers<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 4-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Scott Amen<br />
Career Record: 55-51<br />
Assistant Coaches: Matt Coufal, Chris<br />
Dishman, Dustin Tobey, Zach Wehner,<br />
Cole Gore, Dane Sackett, Zach Holka<br />
can be successful.”<br />
Amen emphasized the importance of<br />
player development up front and said<br />
his linemen must commit themselves to<br />
the weight room.<br />
“That’s a concern of mine and I’ve told<br />
them that,” Amen said.<br />
Perhaps the strongest of the group is<br />
Dustin Plautz (6’1” 210 lbs), who played<br />
in six games last fall. Plautz, along with<br />
Haydn Deinert (5’9” 180 lbs) and Allen<br />
Morsett (6’1” 175 lbs) figure to anchor<br />
Malcolm’s offensive line.<br />
Defensively, the Clippers’ strength will<br />
be in the linebacking corps. Sackett and<br />
Stewart both bring leadership on that<br />
side of the ball, while Gavin Goracke<br />
(5’10” 200 lbs) is also a returning starter.<br />
In the defensive backfield, Dylan<br />
Zoucha (5’10” 160 lbs) is coming off a<br />
freshman season where he had a pair of<br />
interceptions.<br />
Malcolm’s season begins on Aug. 25 at<br />
Oakland-Craig. The Clippers’ schedule<br />
includes a match-up with Douglas<br />
County West, which was a late addition<br />
to the <strong>2017</strong> slate. Malcolm was originally<br />
scheduled to host Omaha Brownell-<br />
Talbot on Oct. 6, but the Raiders canceled<br />
their football season. Malcolm had the<br />
option of receiving a forfeit win, but<br />
instead reached out to DC West, who<br />
was on a bye in week seven.<br />
“That will be a tough game,” Amen said.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Oakland-Craig<br />
9/1 Sutton<br />
9/8 @ Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer<br />
9/15 @ Centennial<br />
9/22 Lincoln Lutheran<br />
9/29 @ Elmwood-Murdock<br />
10/6 Douglas County West<br />
10/13 @ Yutan<br />
10/20 Johnson County Central<br />
“I’d rather play than just sit around.”<br />
The two teams will meet in Malcolm.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Beau Sackett (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. QB/LB<br />
Adam Stewart (5’7” 165 lbs) Jr. RB/LB<br />
Haydn Deinert (5’9” 180 lbs) Jr. OL/DL<br />
OUR TEAM COVERING<br />
YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG<br />
KEVIN SJUTS • SPORTS DIRECTOR<br />
FRIDAYS AT 10 PM<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
When football season rolls around,<br />
there is usually one certainty in the state<br />
of Nebraska: the McCook Bison will be<br />
gunning for a Class B crown.<br />
The Bison are coming off their fourth<br />
straight trip to the state semifinals,<br />
losing a heart breaker to eventual state<br />
champion, Elkhorn South, in doubleovertime<br />
last season.<br />
For head coach Jeff Gross, who is<br />
entering his 20th season at the helm,<br />
expectations are simple, “we expect to<br />
be very competitive and look to push<br />
deep in the playoffs.”<br />
Describing the Bison’s program as<br />
excellent since 1998 doesn’t do them<br />
justice. The team has a record of 179-<br />
41, two state titles, three state runnerups,<br />
ten semifinal appearances, and<br />
16 district titles, along with numerous<br />
accolades. If the team wants to capture<br />
a third title in <strong>2017</strong>, the road will not<br />
be an easy one. The Bison will have<br />
six playoff teams from 2016 on the<br />
schedule, including an opening game<br />
against Aurora.<br />
Overall, the team will bring back<br />
five starters from the offense and<br />
six starters from the defense. Maybe<br />
none as important as the return of<br />
senior quarterback and linebacker<br />
Zach Schlager, a recent Colorado State<br />
commit who had seven scholarship<br />
offers.<br />
“His play last year spoke loud and<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bison<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 10-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 30<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Gross<br />
Career Record: 179-41<br />
Assistant Coach: Ross Schlager<br />
clear,” Gross said.<br />
Last season Schlager led the way in total<br />
tackles with 119, rushing yards with<br />
1,134, rushing touchdowns with 16, and<br />
as a starting quarterback added over<br />
500 yards and six touchdowns.<br />
Offensively, the team runs the<br />
I-formation as its base and has done<br />
so with success. If you catch a game in<br />
McCook, expect a high flying, athletic<br />
offense that can make you pay with<br />
a ground-and-pound and option<br />
approach as well as the home run<br />
threats. The passing attack is dangerous<br />
with a trio of playmakers at wide<br />
receiver, as Hunter Pothoff, Morgan<br />
Fawver, and James Mockry all return. In<br />
addition, DJ Gross will hold down the<br />
tight end position.<br />
The offensive line will be loaded with<br />
a blend of experience and grit led<br />
by seniors Hunter Hays and Justin<br />
Barenburg.<br />
“The offensive line should be another<br />
strength heading into the season,”<br />
Gross said. “This group is deep and<br />
there are a number of players that may<br />
even push for time.”<br />
The 4-4 defense the Bison use has been<br />
instrumental in the success over the<br />
years and will be a key to becoming<br />
champs once again. The Bison will<br />
bring back three linebackers in<br />
Schlager, Gross, and Gabe Sehnert, who<br />
combined racked up 284 tackles in 2016.<br />
Up front the defensive line brings back<br />
two starters, including senior Kaleb<br />
Taylor, who recorded 63 tackles and<br />
four sacks in the 2016 season.<br />
On special teams, junior kicker Trey<br />
Koetter returns after a sophomore<br />
season that saw him go 38 for 45 in<br />
extra points and five of seven in field<br />
goals. This is in addition to two punters<br />
that can “flat out punt,” Gross said.<br />
“The Bison are excited to bring in a new<br />
year and a new core of group players,”<br />
Gross said. “A core group of 20 seniors<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Aurora<br />
9/1 Gering<br />
9/8 Sidney<br />
9/15 @ Alliance<br />
9/22 York<br />
9/29 @ Scottsbluff<br />
10/6 Hastings<br />
10/13 Holdrege<br />
10/20 @ Lexington<br />
and 20 juniors have been developing<br />
and waiting for their turn to lead this<br />
proud program.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Zach Schlager (6’2’’ 220 lbs) Sr. QB/LB<br />
DJ Gross (6’2’’ 215 lbs) Jr. TE/LB<br />
Kaleb Taylor (6’4’’ 230 lbs) Sr. DE<br />
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144 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 145
McCOOL JUNCTIONMUSTANGS<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
The Mustangs recorded their first<br />
victory since 2013 this past fall.<br />
Unfortunately, it would be their<br />
only win of the season. McCool<br />
Junction recorded that win in<br />
week two against Meridian, who<br />
they beat 60-26.<br />
After a tough 1-7 finish, Head<br />
Coach Jarrod Weiss remains<br />
optimistic about the upcoming<br />
season.<br />
“We have a good group of<br />
underclassmen that have put<br />
in the time in the offseason to<br />
get better,” he said. “They are a<br />
great group to be around and are<br />
excited to get started.”<br />
Developing depth is high on the<br />
to-do list for the coaching staff.<br />
They will be looking for guys<br />
to fill in the gaps of graduated<br />
seniors at positions such as<br />
running back, center, linebacker,<br />
defensive tackle, and safety.<br />
Although they haven’t played<br />
a down of high school ball yet,<br />
Weiss is hopeful freshmen Koden<br />
Kirkpatrick (6’2” 185 lbs) and<br />
Owen McDonald will play key<br />
roles this fall. Kirkpatrick will<br />
see time on the offensive and<br />
defensive line and McDonald will<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
see action at guard and linebacker.<br />
Weiss will be looking for younger<br />
guys to step up, but he also brings<br />
back a good amount of experience<br />
to his <strong>2017</strong> roster. The Mustangs<br />
return five starters on offense and<br />
seven on defense.<br />
Seniors Zane Hess (5’8” 180 lbs)<br />
and Connor Lewis (5’6” 185 lbs)<br />
will anchor the offensive and<br />
defensive lines. The two-year<br />
starters combined for a total of 55<br />
tackles last season.<br />
Junior Isaac Melton (5’7” 169<br />
lbs) will return as the starting<br />
quarterback of a team who<br />
averaged 18.5 points a game.<br />
Melton rushed for 198 yards and<br />
threw for 113. He will also play<br />
linebacker, where he recorded 22<br />
tackles last year.<br />
Daulton Todd (6’0” 185 lbs) will<br />
be another key player for the<br />
Mustangs, especially on defense.<br />
The junior started last season and<br />
is the team’s returning leading<br />
tackler. Todd made 64 tackles last<br />
season and Weiss believes he will<br />
have an even bigger impact this<br />
time around.<br />
“He is a strong, physical kid,” he<br />
said. “He has the capability of<br />
being a difference maker.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Diller-Odell<br />
9/1 @ Meridian<br />
9/8 Parkview Christian<br />
9/22 Heartland<br />
9/29 @ Superior<br />
10/6 @ Kenesaw<br />
10/13 Thayer Central<br />
10/19 Franklin<br />
injuries last season, Weiss says the<br />
biggest key to having a successful<br />
season is staying healthy. Growth<br />
and development is the second.<br />
“Playing with consistency each<br />
game and developing our young<br />
guys early in the season and<br />
getting them acclimated to the<br />
high school style of play will be<br />
big,” he said. “We also need to<br />
find depth at several positions on<br />
the field.”<br />
The Mustangs haven’t been to<br />
the playoffs since 2013. They will<br />
once again face an uphill battle<br />
competing against three playoff<br />
teams this season. However, the<br />
mix of young and old talent has<br />
an opportunity this time around<br />
to get some redemption. The<br />
Mustangs will once again begin<br />
their fresh start against Diller-<br />
Odell on Aug. 25.<br />
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Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 1-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Jarrod Weiss<br />
Career Record: 39-61<br />
Assistant Coaches: Scott Yates,<br />
Dustin Arduser, Bill Hobbs<br />
The Mustangs’ 4-2-2 defense<br />
struggled, allowing an average<br />
of 53 points a game. Weiss will<br />
also look to Jaden Gonnerman<br />
(5’0” 142 lbs) for leadership on<br />
the defensive end. The two-year<br />
starter had 37 tackles at linebacker<br />
last season and will also serve as a<br />
target for Melton on offense.<br />
After being plagued by numerous<br />
Key Players:<br />
Daulton Todd (6’0” 185 lbs) Jr. LB<br />
Isaac Melton (5’7” 169 lbs) Jr. QB/<br />
LB<br />
Zane Hess (5’8” 180 lbs) Sr. OL/<br />
DL<br />
146 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 147
MEDICINE VALLEYRAIDERS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
Medicine Valley is looking to<br />
build off a solid 2016 season,<br />
where the Raiders went 8-2 and<br />
notched their first playoff win<br />
since 2013 before falling to Elm<br />
Creek in the second round.<br />
Head coach Scott Johnsen is<br />
entering his 12th season at the<br />
helm and hopes to keep the ball<br />
rolling in the right direction.<br />
“After a positive 2016 season,<br />
we look to continue the process<br />
of building a successful<br />
program,” Johnsen said.<br />
“Depth at several positions will<br />
be a concern as we begin the<br />
season.”<br />
The Raiders return five starters<br />
on the offensive side of the<br />
ball and four on defense.<br />
While experience may not be a<br />
strength at Medicine Valley this<br />
season, Johnsen expects senior<br />
leadership to carry the Raiders.<br />
“We have a good group of<br />
returning seniors,” Johnsen<br />
said. “But we will need several<br />
underclassmen to make<br />
improvements and fill the spots<br />
vacated by graduation.”<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 8-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Scott Johnsen<br />
Career Record: 112-115<br />
Assistant Coaches: Jason Maier<br />
and Derek Bantam<br />
While it may come at a<br />
premium, the senior talent at<br />
Medicine Valley knows what it<br />
takes to win.<br />
Senior running back Landon<br />
Lenz will carry the load for the<br />
Raiders’ offense. Last season<br />
the 5-foot-10 tailback amassed<br />
an astounding 1,129 yards<br />
on the ground on his way to<br />
18 rushing touchdowns. The<br />
junior broke the 100-yard mark<br />
in seven of the Raiders ten<br />
games last season. His 8.4 yards<br />
per carry was among the best in<br />
the state.<br />
“Anytime you have a returning<br />
1,000-yard rusher, you feel<br />
fortunate,” Johnsen said. “He<br />
has top-level speed and vision<br />
which has helped him to be<br />
successful.”<br />
The Raiders will need an encore<br />
performance out of Lenz, as<br />
their offensive breakdown last<br />
season was 80-20 run to pass.<br />
Lenz will have the luxury of<br />
running behind an offensive<br />
line with some experience. The<br />
anchor in the middle is threeyear<br />
letterwinner Sheldon<br />
Johnsen. Coach Johnsen<br />
describes the stout center as a<br />
second quarterback on the field.<br />
“He will be a three-year<br />
starter at the center position,”<br />
coach Johnsen said. “With our<br />
shotgun formation, he has<br />
done an excellent job of making<br />
great snaps as well as being our<br />
best blocker the last couple of<br />
seasons.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Wallace<br />
9/1 @ Sutherland<br />
9/8 Dundy County-Stratton<br />
9/15 Brady<br />
9/22 @ Alma<br />
9/29 @ Southwest<br />
10/13 Cambridge<br />
10/19 Bertrand<br />
Following a solid 2016 season,<br />
there’s no doubt that the<br />
Medicine Valley program is<br />
headed in the right direction, as<br />
they’ve improved their record<br />
in each of the last three seasons.<br />
However, success in 2016 will<br />
depend on a core group of<br />
seniors hoping to put their<br />
final stamp on four years of<br />
progress.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Landon Lenz (5’7” 150 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/DB<br />
Sheldon Johnsen (5’10” 220 lbs)<br />
Sr. C/LB<br />
Ryan Klintworth (6’1” 170) Sr.<br />
QB<br />
YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG<br />
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
148 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 149
MERIDIANMUSTANGS<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
After a disappointing 1-7 finish<br />
to the 2016 season, the Meridian<br />
football squad is looking forward<br />
to a fresh start and new beginning<br />
this fall.<br />
The Mustangs won just a single<br />
game last season, but faced a<br />
daunting regular season schedule,<br />
competing against five playoff<br />
teams including Sacred Heart<br />
(the 2016 D2 state champion) and<br />
Bruning-Davenport Shickley (the<br />
2015 state champion).<br />
Despite the Mustangs record,<br />
Meridian is no stranger to the<br />
playoffs. The football program<br />
has made eight total playoff<br />
appearances, most recently in<br />
2014. However, getting back to<br />
the playoffs will be another uphill<br />
battle as the <strong>2017</strong> schedule will be<br />
no easier.<br />
Head Coach Clint Jones enters his<br />
12th season at the school with a 29-<br />
65 overall record. Despite having<br />
two rocky seasons, Jones is excited<br />
for the talent that he has returning<br />
this fall.<br />
“The Mustangs will be more<br />
experienced than the previous two<br />
seasons,” he said.<br />
The last few seasons, Meridian<br />
has not had the numbers or the<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 1-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Clint Jones<br />
Career Record: 29-65<br />
experience on the field, but this<br />
new roster will. After starting<br />
freshman and sophomores the<br />
past few years, the Mustangs will<br />
finally have some upperclassmen<br />
in the rotation. This experience is<br />
something Jones thinks will make a<br />
big impact.<br />
“There’s a big difference between a<br />
freshman and a senior physically,”<br />
he said. “This year we will be able<br />
to start some juniors and seniors,<br />
and physically I think we’ll finally<br />
be able to compete with these<br />
teams.”<br />
Jones will welcome back five<br />
returning starters on offense and<br />
six on defense. Senior Carlos Dimas<br />
(5’6” 160 lbs) will see time on both<br />
sides of the ball at fullback and<br />
linebacker.<br />
“Carlos has a nose for the ball and<br />
always seems to be in the right<br />
place at the right time,” Jones said.<br />
“I think he’ll be able to provide<br />
some leadership for our young<br />
guys.”<br />
Garrett Klipp (6’1” 170 lbs) will<br />
be one of two juniors gracing the<br />
roster. Like Dimas, Klipp will<br />
play on both sides of the ball,<br />
but staying healthy will be his<br />
biggest challenge. The two-year<br />
letterwinner was injured last<br />
season, but Jones said Klipp is a<br />
“good kid and hard worker, who<br />
has grown a lot physically and<br />
finally started to develop.”<br />
Jones is excited to welcome a<br />
new addition to the Mustang<br />
squad, who he believes will have<br />
an immediate impact. Tybor<br />
Smith (6’1” 210 lbs) transferred<br />
to Meridian from Diller-Odell.<br />
The senior will serve as both a<br />
defensive end and running back<br />
for Meridian. The transfer helped<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Blue Hill<br />
9/1 McCool Junction<br />
9/8 @ Weeping Water<br />
9/15 Exeter-Milligan<br />
9/22 @ Sterling<br />
9/29 Falls City Sacred Heart<br />
10/13 @ BDS<br />
10/20 Pawnee City<br />
lead the Griffins to the playoffs last<br />
season.<br />
The heart of the offense is still<br />
up in the air for now. Jones will<br />
have the task of replacing recent<br />
graduate Baxter Beals, who was the<br />
majority of the Mustang’s offense<br />
last season. The battle for starting<br />
quarterback will be between<br />
sophomores Kolby Schafer (5’8”<br />
150 lbs) and Peyton VanWesten<br />
(5’6” 155 lbs).<br />
Schafer plays primarily I-back and<br />
linebacker, but will likely spend<br />
time at the quarterback position.<br />
VanWesten did get some QB<br />
experience in his freshman season.<br />
With a blank slate in front of them<br />
and a bigger and stronger team<br />
than they’ve had in past years, the<br />
Mustangs are excited to get back to<br />
work with a new winning mindset,<br />
which will hopefully translate to a<br />
winning record.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Carlos Dimas (5’6” 160 lbs) Sr. FB/<br />
LB<br />
Garrett Klipp (6’1” 170 lbs) Jr. E/<br />
DE<br />
Tybor Smith (6’1” 210 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
DE<br />
402-433-4151<br />
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MILFORD-DORCHESTEREAGLES<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
The 2016 season was one<br />
of growing pains for the<br />
Milford-Dorchester Eagles.<br />
The team’s young roster<br />
produced a 2-7 finish on the<br />
campaign. However, last year’s<br />
inexperience has brought more<br />
depth and returning starters this<br />
year.<br />
With 251 career wins under<br />
his belt as one of Nebraska’s<br />
longest-tenured high school<br />
football coaches, Marty Hingst’s<br />
<strong>2017</strong> squad will be looking to<br />
redeem themselves.<br />
“Last year we had zero returning<br />
starters on the offensive line,”<br />
Hingst said. “This year we have<br />
four, but we need to improve<br />
on the offensive line and on<br />
offense.”<br />
Returning offensive linemen<br />
include seniors Jesse Beel and<br />
Cole Kepler, as well as juniors<br />
Evan Richards and Zach<br />
Schluckebier.<br />
Three-year letterwinner Jacob<br />
Bitterman will return as the<br />
starting quarterback. He rushed<br />
for 534 yards and passed for<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 2-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Marty Hingst<br />
Career Record: 251-159-2<br />
Assistant Coaches: Tony Muller,<br />
Tim Fichtner, Ryan Voelker,<br />
Brent Zoubek<br />
685 yards in 2016. However,<br />
the senior’s targets remain<br />
uncertain. Hingst will be looking<br />
for receivers to replace those that<br />
graduated last season.<br />
Junior Mitch Wingard will be in<br />
line for the starting running back<br />
role. Wingard started on defense<br />
last season and will see time at<br />
linebacker come this fall.<br />
But it’s the defensive side of the<br />
ball that Hingst really wants to<br />
hone in on in 2016. The Eagles<br />
allowed an average of 28.4 points<br />
and 202 rushing yards per game.<br />
The 4-2-5 defense has some gaps,<br />
as the Eagles need to fill starting<br />
positions at defensive tackle,<br />
inside linebacker, safety, and<br />
corner.<br />
“Defensively we have to prevent<br />
big plays, something that<br />
bothered us to no end in 2016,”<br />
he said.<br />
Hingst hopes that the tough<br />
losses and adversity from last<br />
season will only make for a<br />
stronger roster come this fall.<br />
He added that it all starts in the<br />
weight room.<br />
“Our work in the weight room<br />
has improved. We went through<br />
some hard knocks last year<br />
and we’re trying to use the<br />
experiences to get better,” he<br />
said.<br />
The Eagles will have to get past<br />
a difficult start to their schedule,<br />
as Bishop Neumann, Columbus<br />
Lakeview, and Fairbury will be<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Columbus Lakeview<br />
9/1 @ Adams Central<br />
9/8 David City<br />
9/15 Bishop Neumann<br />
9/22 @ Ashland-Greenwood<br />
9/29 @ Southern<br />
10/6 Raymond Central<br />
10/13 Lincoln Christian<br />
10/19 @ Fairbury<br />
among their toughest opponents.<br />
Most of those team’s key players<br />
will return or have enough in<br />
their arsenal to replace those<br />
who graduated.<br />
“The schedule at the start of<br />
the season is still really tough,”<br />
Hingst said. “It will be a close<br />
fight in each game.”<br />
Milford-Dorchester will open<br />
their season at home against<br />
Columbus Lakeview, who<br />
made it to the playoffs last<br />
season and defeated the Eagles<br />
30-14. The following week the<br />
team will host Adams Central<br />
and continue with an identical<br />
opponent lineup as last season.<br />
It’s the same teams and stories,<br />
but the Eagles hope this season<br />
will have a much different<br />
ending.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jacob Bitterman (6’1” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/S<br />
Jesse Beel OF line (6’4” 205 lbs)<br />
Sr. OL/DE<br />
Mitch Wingard (5’9” 165 lbs) Jr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
402-761-2110<br />
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152 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 153
By: Austin Miller<br />
MINDENWHIPPETS<br />
After back-to-back seasons<br />
without a victory, Minden took<br />
a step in the right direction in<br />
2016. The Whippets went 3-6,<br />
but will have yet another uphill<br />
battle in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Jebb Hatch has stepped in as<br />
the new head coach for the<br />
Whippets, replacing former<br />
head coach Shannon Lovin.<br />
Hatch returns only seven<br />
starters from last season,<br />
four on offense and three on<br />
defense. He will also have a<br />
first-year starter under center<br />
and just three seniors in total.<br />
“We will be a very young<br />
team, so we will need to build<br />
confidence throughout the<br />
season,” Hatch said. “We will<br />
also need to develop leadership<br />
in the offseason.”<br />
While there are plenty of<br />
newcomers, three of the<br />
returners are within the<br />
trenches.<br />
Seniors Ethan Hanson and<br />
Gabe Walmsley will each<br />
enter their third season as<br />
starters along the offensive<br />
line. Hanson will also be a<br />
starter along the defensive line,<br />
while Walmsley will play at<br />
linebacker.<br />
Another key returner for<br />
the Whippets is sophomore<br />
running back Eduardo<br />
Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a<br />
starter last season, rushing for<br />
just over 400 yards.<br />
Gonzalez is one of several<br />
playmakers who could kickstart<br />
a Whippet offense that is<br />
transitioning from a power run<br />
to a spread concept.<br />
A change in philosophy could<br />
be the answer for an offense<br />
that has struggled in recent<br />
years. Last season Minden<br />
labored to put points on the<br />
board, eclipsing 20 or more<br />
points just once in 2016, while<br />
averaging roughly 90 yards<br />
on the ground and 70 yards<br />
through the air.<br />
The Whippets hope that a<br />
spread approach creates more<br />
running lanes and one-on-one<br />
situations for Gonzalez and the<br />
other Whippet playmakers.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Ogallala<br />
9/1 @ Gibbon<br />
9/8 Southern Valley<br />
9/15 @ Adams Central<br />
9/22 Broken Bow<br />
9/29 @ Cozad<br />
10/6 Kearney Catholic<br />
10/13 Chase County<br />
10/19 @ Gothenburg<br />
take advantage of a schedule<br />
that features five straight<br />
games against opponents that<br />
finished last season under .500.<br />
However, the Whippet’s week<br />
one match-up is a home game<br />
against an Ogallala team that<br />
finished 8-3 last season.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Ethan Hanson (6’0” 220 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Gabe Walmsley (6’0” 195 lbs)<br />
Sr. OL/LB<br />
Eduardo Gonzalez (5’8” 160<br />
lbs) Soph. RB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Whippets<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Jebb Hatch<br />
Career Record: 0-0<br />
Assistant Coaches: Tony Marino<br />
and Donnie Miller<br />
In order to make that transition<br />
into a new offense, Hatch<br />
has focused this offseason on<br />
strength and conditioning.<br />
“We had a great offseason in<br />
the weight room,” Hatch said.<br />
“The kids have been willing to<br />
show up and work hard.”<br />
If the offense can kick into<br />
gear, the Whippets could<br />
WEEKNIGHTS AT 6 & 10 PM<br />
BRANDON RECTOR • SPENCER SCHUBERT • CATHERINE SILVER • JUSTIN BIEGEL<br />
154 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 155
NEBRASKA CHRISTIANEAGLES<br />
NEBRASKA LUTHERANKNIGHTS<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
For the Nebraska Christian<br />
football squad, the <strong>2017</strong> campaign<br />
will hinder on one thing —<br />
development.<br />
With only four starters returning<br />
on offense and five on defense, the<br />
Eagles will have to develop young<br />
talent quickly to compete in Class D1.<br />
And coming off a 3-5 season, head<br />
coach Carl Ostand is hoping to see<br />
steps in the right direction this year.<br />
In total, Nebraska Christian has<br />
eight returning letterwinners,<br />
and the vast majority of their<br />
experienced talent lies in the<br />
trenches.<br />
Ends Joel Kaczor and Noah Boersen<br />
will return with three years of<br />
combined starting experience,<br />
and will be joined by center Seth<br />
Hower and guard Luke Swanson,<br />
who have four years of combined<br />
service.<br />
Unfortunately, the backfield will<br />
need to be revamped, as running<br />
back Andrew Winsterman and<br />
fullback Benny Stevens both<br />
graduated.<br />
Defensively, Toby Watson and<br />
Kaczor will play big roles, while<br />
Boersen and Jake Twogood will<br />
anchor the secondary.<br />
Swanson will bring a plethora<br />
of experience to the linebacker<br />
position.<br />
There are a number of new faces<br />
who are expected to make major<br />
impacts, as well.<br />
Quarterback Ben Griess will be<br />
taking snaps from under center,<br />
while Sam Twogood could be an<br />
impact player at the tight end<br />
position.<br />
Defensively, Elijah Boersen will<br />
compete for a cornerback position,<br />
and Joel Poppe should make a<br />
difference from the safety spot.<br />
The defense will be relatively<br />
young, but offensively Ostand is<br />
confident in the key pieces he has<br />
returning.<br />
“The offense is experienced,”<br />
Ostand said. “The kids are very<br />
coachable and want to learn.”<br />
However, getting all of the youth on<br />
page with the returning talent will<br />
be vital to the success of the Eagles<br />
this season.<br />
“Having the newer/younger<br />
players develop quickly,” Ostand<br />
said of the biggest challenges facing<br />
his squad.<br />
The season will get under way for<br />
the Eagles on Aug. 25 when they<br />
host Guardian Angels.<br />
The 2016 season was a disappointing Kyle Richert will be the quarterback<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE <strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
one for the Nebraska Lutheran<br />
for the squad in <strong>2017</strong>. With nine<br />
Knights.<br />
touchdown passes and seven rushing<br />
touchdowns last season, Richert has<br />
the potential to be a good dual-threat<br />
player for the team this season.<br />
8/25 Guardian Angels Central Catholic<br />
9/1 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family<br />
9/8 @ Elm Creek<br />
9/15 Heartland<br />
9/22 @ Nebraska Lutheran<br />
9/30 @ Palmer<br />
10/6 High Plains Community<br />
10/19 East Butler<br />
Key Players:<br />
Noah Boersen (5’ 11” 155 lbs) Jr.<br />
End<br />
Joel Kaczor (6’ 2” 190 lbs) Sr. End<br />
Luke Swanson (6’ 225 lbs) Sr. OL<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
After starting the season 0-4, the<br />
Knights were able to win three of<br />
their next four games before falling to<br />
Heartland to end their season.<br />
Head Coach Benjy Wells will hope to<br />
build upon the success the team found<br />
in the second half of the season and<br />
work to improve this year.<br />
Luckily for Wells, the Knights return<br />
eight starters on each side of the ball,<br />
and that experience could help the<br />
group take a step forward this year.<br />
“We are blessed to return everyone<br />
from a senior-less 2016 team and<br />
must continue to work hard to keep<br />
getting better,” Wells said. “It will<br />
be important for us to maintain the<br />
hunger and drive that helped us<br />
improve quite a bit from 2015 to 2016<br />
in order for us to get to where we want<br />
to be in <strong>2017</strong>.”<br />
Wells’ team uses the pistol formation<br />
on offense and a 3-2 formation<br />
on defense as base sets. With the<br />
experience the Knights will have, the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> team has the potential to break<br />
out.<br />
“We have the potential to be a good<br />
team,” Wells said. “How we prepare<br />
will determine whether that potential<br />
is realized or not.”<br />
Ben Riegsecker is another option<br />
offensively, as the senior can bulldoze<br />
his way through the defense.<br />
Riegsecker uses that physicality to be a<br />
good linebacker for the team, too.<br />
“He’ll do anything you ask him to do<br />
and leave it all on the field,” Wells said.<br />
“He’s especially good defensively, but<br />
a physical runner on offense as well,<br />
and perhaps the best leader on the<br />
team.”<br />
Coach Wells also recognized seniors<br />
Marco Machado and Leonardo Lima<br />
as important players for the team this<br />
season.<br />
Machado, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound<br />
lineman adds more physicality to the<br />
team.<br />
“He moves well for his size, is very<br />
physical with a little bit of a nasty<br />
streak on the field, and is very<br />
intelligent,” Wells said. “We believe he<br />
can be one of the very best linemen in<br />
the state in <strong>2017</strong>.”<br />
As for Lima, a great second half of last<br />
season certainly caught the coach’s<br />
attention and Wells hopes he’ll carry<br />
9/1 @ Johnson-Brock<br />
9/8 Osceola<br />
9/15 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family<br />
9/22 Nebraska Christian<br />
9/29 @ East Butler<br />
10/6 Central Valley<br />
10/13 @ Palmer<br />
10/20 High Plains Community<br />
that over into the upcoming campaign.<br />
“In our last four games alone, he<br />
rushed for 688 yards and eight<br />
touchdowns,” Wells said. “He has nice<br />
burst and good vision as a runner,<br />
and he will finish his runs physically.<br />
We believe Leo can be one of the best<br />
running backs in D1 in <strong>2017</strong>.”<br />
The experience and talent for the<br />
Knights is there. Add in the toughness,<br />
and if the Knights can carry last<br />
season’s momentum into this year,<br />
they can be a surprisingly good team.<br />
“We believe that a strong half of 2016<br />
can help us take another step forward<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>,” Wells said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Marco Machado (6’3” 295lbs) Sr. OL/<br />
DL<br />
Ben Riegsecker (5’8” 180lbs) Sr. RB/LB<br />
Leonardo Lima (5’9” 190lbs) Sr. RB/LB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 3-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Carl Ostrand<br />
Career Record: 50-55<br />
Assistant Coaches: Andy Falk,<br />
Dave Gee and Levi Laudrigan<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 3<br />
Head Coach: Benjy Wells<br />
Career Record: 20-39<br />
Assistant Coach: PJ Bunyard<br />
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156 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 157
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
NELIGH-OAKDALEWARRIORS<br />
The 2016 football season was a<br />
good one for Neligh-Oakdale.<br />
They went undefeated and won<br />
all eight of their games by large<br />
margins. Head coach Ron Beacon<br />
formed a team that outscored all<br />
of its opponents by an average of<br />
40 points per game.<br />
However, a lot of those players<br />
have since graduated and the<br />
Warriors are preparing for <strong>2017</strong><br />
with a younger, less experienced<br />
group of athletes.<br />
“We have a couple linemen back<br />
on both sides of the ball and we<br />
have our running back back on<br />
offense and a linebacker back on<br />
defense. Unfortunately, we’re<br />
going to miss out on five starters<br />
on both sides,” Beacon said.<br />
Neligh-Oakdale needs to fill ten<br />
crucial positions this year with<br />
only three starters returning on<br />
both sides of the ball.<br />
Beacon said, “We need to really<br />
figure out who our third lineman<br />
is going to be on both sides of the<br />
ball, and we need a kid to step<br />
up or maybe two kids, one on<br />
each side. I think skill-wise we’ll<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Warriors<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 8-0<br />
Playoff Appearances: 0<br />
Head Coach: Ron Beacon<br />
Career Record: 123-51<br />
Assistant Coaches: George Loofe,<br />
Matt Parr<br />
be pretty good, just having kids<br />
understand that they’re going to<br />
have to step up into a larger role<br />
and be confident in their role.”<br />
Other positions include finding<br />
a starting quarterback, a running<br />
back, the receiving core, as well<br />
as the defensive backs and the<br />
majority of special teams.<br />
“We had a four-year starter at<br />
quarterback last year who fully<br />
understood exactly what we were<br />
doing. So he completed right at<br />
79% of his passes. That’s a big<br />
number regardless of what level<br />
you play at,” Beacon said. “So in<br />
order for us to do that, our skill<br />
kids are really going to have to<br />
gel in a hurry. I mean he was<br />
throwing to the same kids for<br />
three years in a row. So to think<br />
that we’ll go out and score 60<br />
points a game, I don’t foresee that<br />
happening early, but I do think<br />
that we can get there because I<br />
think our skill kids are going to<br />
be pretty good.”<br />
The Warriors expect incoming<br />
sophomore Hunter Charf to fills<br />
the role of quarterback.<br />
“He was our backup last year<br />
as a freshman so he’s been in<br />
our system for a full year. He<br />
understands the terminology,<br />
he understands the concepts<br />
that we teach. He hasn’t had the<br />
opportunity to do it in a game<br />
where the game was on the<br />
line,” Beacon said. “I mean he<br />
obviously has a lot of playing<br />
time in games last year because<br />
of the scoring statistic. But he<br />
hasn’t started in a game and done<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Creighton<br />
8/31 Omaha Nation<br />
9/8 Clearwater-Orchard<br />
9/22 @ Howells-Dodge<br />
9/29 Clarkson/Leigh<br />
10/6 @ Pender<br />
10/13 @ Elgin Public/Pope John<br />
10/20 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family<br />
that kind of thing. Hunter really<br />
wants to be good and he’s gone<br />
to some camps and he’s really<br />
worked on his craft and I really<br />
think he’s going to do a nice job<br />
for us. He’s an intelligent kid. I<br />
don’t know what the time table<br />
will be for him but I think he’ll be<br />
very, very good by the time that<br />
he’s done.”<br />
With a large freshman class<br />
coming in, Beacon said they need<br />
to see a lot more production<br />
and leadership from the<br />
upperclassmen.<br />
“We certainly are going to have<br />
to rely on some new kids, so from<br />
that standpoint I suppose you<br />
could call it a rebuilding year,<br />
but on the other hand I think that<br />
we have very capable people<br />
that we’re hoping to count on.<br />
Therefore I’m not looking at it as<br />
a rebuilding year,” he added.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Andrew Herley (5’9” 145 lbs) Jr.<br />
RB<br />
Nate Buck (5’11” 220 lbs) Sr. C/<br />
DL<br />
Austin Rice (6’1” 170 lbs) Jr. OLB<br />
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GOOD LUCK IN THE UPCOMING SEASON!
NORRISTITANS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
The Norris Titans are coming<br />
off of a solid 2016 season.<br />
Coach Jim Jacobsen led the<br />
Titans to the Class B playoffs<br />
for the fourth time in his seven<br />
years with the program.<br />
His expectation for <strong>2017</strong>: more<br />
of the same.<br />
Norris will return four players<br />
on offense and five on defense,<br />
and in terms of their attack you<br />
can expect a run-first offense.<br />
Last season, Norris rushed for<br />
an astronomical 324 yards per<br />
game.<br />
Just as in years past, the success<br />
for the program will rely upon<br />
underclassmen stepping up<br />
into key roles.<br />
“As with every season we will<br />
need to find young men to<br />
step up and fill key spots on<br />
the offensive line,” Jacobsen<br />
said. “We look for this team<br />
to be tough and have great<br />
leadership. Our ability to play<br />
great defense early will be a<br />
key to the season. Expectations<br />
and attitudes are high for a<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 8-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Jim Jacobsen<br />
Career Record: 36-35<br />
Assistant Coaches: Gary DeBoer<br />
and Jack Guggenmos<br />
very good year at Norris.”<br />
That defense Jacobsen speaks<br />
of recorded 16 sacks and seven<br />
interceptions in 2016 while only<br />
allowing 16 points per game.<br />
Senior defensive end Bryce<br />
Stai will lead the way for the<br />
Titan defense. Stai wracked up<br />
51 tackles, six sacks and three<br />
pass deflections as a junior.<br />
Jacobsen touts Stai as a toughas-nails<br />
athlete with a great<br />
understanding of how the game<br />
is played.<br />
But anyone who watched<br />
Norris football last season<br />
knows that the main attraction<br />
wears No. 9 on the offensive<br />
side of the ball.<br />
Senior all-state running back<br />
Austin Schultz has the ability<br />
to turn a three-yard loss into a<br />
highlight-reel touchdown every<br />
time he touches the ball.<br />
Last season, Schultz averaged<br />
just shy of 150 yards per game<br />
on his way to 1,643 yards and<br />
23 touchdowns. Schultz broke<br />
100 yards rushing in every<br />
game but one last season.<br />
“He’s the best we have ever<br />
coached,” Jacobsen said. “He’s<br />
tough to tackle, he always finds<br />
positive yardage, and he’s<br />
elusive. Austin is one of the<br />
very best we have ever seen.”<br />
On top of his game-breaking<br />
ability at running back, Schultz<br />
will return kicks and punts,<br />
play defensive back and punt<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Gretna<br />
9/1 @ Plattsmouth<br />
9/8 @ Seward<br />
9/15 Columbus<br />
9/22 @ Platteview<br />
9/29 @ Nebraska City<br />
10/6 Crete<br />
10/13 @ Waverly<br />
10/20 Beatrice<br />
for the Titans.<br />
Schultz is also the reigning<br />
Gatorade Nebraska High<br />
School Baseball Player of the<br />
Year.<br />
“We have been very impressed<br />
with how many of our players<br />
were involved in winter and<br />
spring sports,” Jacobsen said.<br />
“The <strong>2017</strong> edition of Norris<br />
football will be very athletic at<br />
the skilled positions. And we<br />
will look for this dedication<br />
to continue throughout the<br />
summer of ‘17.”<br />
The Titans will kick off their<br />
season on Aug. 25 at home<br />
versus Gretna.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Austin Schultz (5’10” 190 lbs)<br />
Sr. RB/DB/PR/KOR/P<br />
Bryce Stai (6’3” 230 lbs) Sr. DE/<br />
TE<br />
Gus Woeppel (6’3” 290 lbs) Sr.<br />
C<br />
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NORTH CENTRALKNIGHTS<br />
NORTHWESTVIKINGS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
Despite only winning three games<br />
in 2016, the North Central Knights<br />
made their third trip to playoffs in<br />
the last four seasons.<br />
It was anything but smooth sailing<br />
for head coach Ryan Richey in his<br />
first year at the helm. The season<br />
started out with a win followed by<br />
four consecutive losses, but North<br />
Central managed to win two of<br />
their final three games and sneak<br />
into the playoffs.<br />
Despite the roller coaster ride that<br />
was 2016, Richey is optimistic about<br />
the outlook for <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“We return a good nucleus of<br />
players,” Richey said. “Our young<br />
guys are very experienced and we<br />
expect to be a competitive team.”<br />
That core of experienced leadership<br />
includes 12 returning starters, six<br />
on each side of the ball.<br />
“We have good overall team speed<br />
and a bunch of kids that work hard.<br />
But a lack of size and depth will be<br />
our weaknesses,” Richey said.<br />
The Knights will present a<br />
traditional I-formation attack on<br />
the offensive side of the ball. Last<br />
season North Central hung right<br />
around 50-50 run to pass.<br />
Whether through the air or on<br />
the ground, junior quarterback<br />
Jakob Heerten will be responsible<br />
for a large portion of the Knights<br />
production.<br />
“Jakob is a very accurate passer, he<br />
throws a good deep ball,” Richey<br />
said. “He’s mobile enough to buy<br />
extra time in the pocket as well.”<br />
Heerten was thrown into the fire<br />
last season as a sophomore and<br />
emerged a grizzled veteran. During<br />
his first season as a starter, Herteen<br />
threw for just shy of 1,000 yards.<br />
His touchdown to interception ratio<br />
was above 12-10, an impressive feat<br />
for a 15-year-old. Richey expects<br />
increased production from his now<br />
seasoned junior QB.<br />
One of Herteen’s favorite targets<br />
in 2016 was also a sophomore.<br />
6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver Colton<br />
Munguer poses rare size and<br />
strength at the eight-man level.<br />
Last season, Munger hauled in 20<br />
receptions for 286 yards, averaging<br />
over 14 yards per catch. Expect an<br />
increase in targets for Munger in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>, as the sophomore led the team<br />
with four receiving touchdowns<br />
while only averaging two catches a<br />
game.<br />
The North Central Knights will kick<br />
off the season against Boyd County.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jakob Heerten (6’0” 170 lbs) Jr.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Boyd County<br />
9/8 @ Sandhills/Thedford<br />
9/15 Twin Loup<br />
9/22 Osmond<br />
9/28 @ Bloomfield<br />
10/5 Stuart<br />
10/13 @ St. Mary’s<br />
10/19 @ Elkhorn Valley<br />
QB/S<br />
Colton Munger (6’1” 185 lbs) Jr.<br />
WR/DE<br />
Griffin Smith (6’1” 160 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/S<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
The 2016 season can be summed<br />
up quite simply for the Northwest<br />
football team. They beat the teams<br />
they were expected to beat and lost<br />
to the teams they were expected to<br />
lose to, and they didn’t vary from<br />
that narrative.<br />
The teams Northwest defeated<br />
combined to go 9-35. As for the<br />
teams that beat the Vikings, it was<br />
a different story as they went a<br />
combined 37-8. Head coach Kevin<br />
Stein knows his team has some work<br />
to do, but they might not be far off<br />
of where they need to be.<br />
“We have a great opportunity to<br />
have a nice season,” Stein said. “Our<br />
first four to five games will be very<br />
crucial for us to hit on all cylinders.”<br />
Fortunately for Stein and the<br />
Vikings, he’s got plenty of fresh tape<br />
to look at as the first five games will<br />
be exactly the same as 2016. It’s a<br />
stretch where Northwest went 3-2<br />
and recorded their best win of the<br />
season - a 17-7 win over an Alliance<br />
team that eventually went 5-4 on the<br />
year.<br />
To do so, Northwest will be leaning<br />
on plenty of returning talent.<br />
Quarterback Carter Terry is back for<br />
his junior campaign, and he’ll have<br />
one of his favorite targets to throw<br />
to - senior receiver Brady Gause,<br />
who clocked a 4.8 40-yard-dash this<br />
summer.<br />
The Vikings will also be aided this<br />
fall with a few transfers that might<br />
see playing time immediately.<br />
Offensive and defensive lineman<br />
Ryan Melvin comes to Northwest<br />
from Bennington after starting last<br />
season on both sides of the ball.<br />
Northwest will also be welcoming in<br />
Cal Bosard from Sidney, who Stein<br />
believes would have been a two-way<br />
starter at his old school.<br />
One big change for the Vikings<br />
this fall will be a new man barking<br />
orders for the defense. Kyle Suttles<br />
takes over as defensive coordinator<br />
for the team, and Stein said the<br />
offseason has been spent getting him<br />
acquainted with his new role.<br />
“He will have to get the feel for the<br />
players and vice-versa,” Stein said.<br />
“He is extremely knowledgeable and<br />
the remaining defensive coaches will<br />
stay intact.”<br />
After a 5-4 regular season in 2016,<br />
coach Stein and the boys will be<br />
looking to turn a couple of those<br />
losses to wins with what Stein<br />
believes is a much more experienced<br />
team.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Gering<br />
9/1 Alliance<br />
9/8 @ Columbus<br />
9/15 Lexington<br />
9/22 Scottsbluff<br />
9/29 @ Holdrege<br />
10/6 Seward<br />
10/13 Aurora<br />
10/20 @ York<br />
“Two of the best things about this<br />
year’s team (is we are) returning a<br />
lot of starters and contributors, and<br />
(we have) depth at all positions,”<br />
Stein said. “Class B is so brutal from<br />
week-to-week. Having an immature<br />
team that does not have solid backups<br />
is scary.”<br />
Stein continued to say he feels<br />
confident this team can weather<br />
those storms unlike last year, and<br />
his team will need to do so in order<br />
for them to be in a good place come<br />
district time.<br />
The Vikings kick off the season with<br />
a long road trip to Gering before<br />
coming home in week two to take<br />
on Alliance. It’s a stretch that got<br />
Northwest off to a 2-0 start in 2016<br />
- a start Stein would be more than<br />
pleased with in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Carter Terry (6’0” 185 lbs) Jr. QB<br />
Chance Hall (6’3” 220 lbs) Sr. LB<br />
Brady Gause (6’2” 185 lbs) Sr. WR<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Knights<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 5<br />
Head Coach: Ryan Richey<br />
Career Record: 3-6<br />
Assistant Coach: Alex<br />
McCleary<br />
Team Name: Vikings<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 5-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Kevin Stein<br />
Career Record: 114-85<br />
Assistant Coaches: Bill Bombeck, Kyle<br />
Suttles, Ken Terry, Brandon Harrington,<br />
Jeff Eynetich, Jeff South, Maurice Donely<br />
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O’NeillEAGLES<br />
By: Austin Miller<br />
The 2016 season will be a hard<br />
one to top for the O’Neill Eagles.<br />
Last year, the Eagles completed an<br />
undefeated season, winning their<br />
first-ever state title. Head Coach<br />
Brock Eichelberger has quite the<br />
nucleus returning this season, but<br />
repeating could be a difficult task<br />
for the Eagles.<br />
This year’s team returns four<br />
starters on offense and five<br />
on defense, including star<br />
quarterback Alex Thramer.<br />
Thramer, like the team last<br />
year, was practically flawless.<br />
As a junior, he threw for 2,300<br />
yards, 28 touchdowns and zero<br />
interceptions. Thramer also ran for<br />
more than 350 yards and added<br />
nine rushing touchdowns.<br />
“Alex has a great presence in the<br />
pocket, is very confident, and puts<br />
the ball where it needs to be,”<br />
Eichelberger said.<br />
Thramer will also have a pair of<br />
targets returning this season in<br />
Wyatt Liewer and Justin Appleby.<br />
At 6-foot-4, Liewer is a huge target<br />
on the outside and an imposing<br />
red zone threat for defenses.<br />
Last year, Liewer had 600 yards<br />
receiving while also hauling in<br />
eight touchdowns. Liewer is also<br />
a playmaker in the secondary,<br />
snagging four interceptions and<br />
deflecting six other passes.<br />
“He was our ‘lock down’<br />
defender,” Eichelberger said.<br />
“Wyatt is a big-time playmaker<br />
and will play a huge part in what<br />
we do offensively and defensively<br />
this season.”<br />
Opposite of Liewer is Appleby,<br />
who’s one of the top returning<br />
players in Class C1. Last season,<br />
Appleby caught 46 passes for 768<br />
yards and 11 touchdowns. Like<br />
Liewer, Appleby is also a turnover<br />
machine in the secondary. During<br />
his junior season, Appleby<br />
intercepted five passes, deflected<br />
another two, and also forced a<br />
fumble. Two of those interceptions<br />
came in the state title game.<br />
“Justin is a very intelligent<br />
player,” Eichelberger added. “His<br />
craftiness and attention to detail<br />
when running routes is one of the<br />
biggest reasons for his success.”<br />
Despite the star power coming<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
9/1 Ord<br />
9/8 Boone Central/Newman Grove<br />
9/15 @ Columbus Lakeview<br />
9/22 @ West Point-Beemer<br />
9/29 Norfolk Catholic<br />
10/6 @ Pierce<br />
10/13 Madison<br />
10/19 Wayne<br />
back, Eichelberger, like any coach,<br />
views this season as an uphill<br />
battle. While the target is certainly<br />
on their back, he has seven other<br />
teams ranked ahead of his own.<br />
It could certainly be one of those<br />
motivational tools coaches use<br />
to keep their team hungry, but it<br />
also shows the amount of talent<br />
other teams have coming back.<br />
Regardless, with weapons O’Neill<br />
has back, they will certainly be in<br />
the hunt this fall.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Alex Thamer (6’4” 175 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
Wyatt Liewer (6’4” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Justin Appleby (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 13-0<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Brock Eichelberger<br />
Career Record: 95-52<br />
Assistant Coaches: Brett Kaczor,<br />
Ed Johnson and Seth Kallhoff<br />
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164 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 165
ORDCHANTICLEERS<br />
OSCEOLABULLDOGS<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
The Ord Chanticleers enter the <strong>2017</strong><br />
football season filled with optimism<br />
after finishing the 2016 campaign<br />
6-3, the school’s first winning record<br />
since 2013.<br />
Third-year head coach Nate Wells,<br />
a University of Nebraska-Lincoln<br />
graduate, has compiled a record of<br />
10-8 in his first two seasons as the<br />
head coach of the Chanticleers.<br />
Last season the Chanticleers came<br />
out of the gates on fire, winning four<br />
of their first five games with the lone<br />
loss to the eventual state champions<br />
in Class C1, O’Neil 14-0. The team<br />
knocked off two playoff teams,<br />
beating Gothenburg early on and<br />
Columbus Scotus later in the season.<br />
Both games were won by less than a<br />
touchdown.<br />
This year’s team has returners that<br />
made last season’s run possible,<br />
including quarterback and defensive<br />
back Jesse Ulrich. The 5-foot-11,<br />
185-pound junior is described by Wells<br />
as someone that, “makes our offense<br />
go. He is a great runner and thrower<br />
and is not afraid. He would rather run<br />
over you than around you.”<br />
Ulrich has lettered in each of his<br />
first two seasons at Ord, and will be<br />
expected to carry the load both with<br />
his legs as well as his arm in the<br />
popular spread formation.<br />
When using his arm, Ulrich will<br />
have a pair of talented, returning<br />
wide receivers to help take the<br />
pressure off. Garrett Bundy is the<br />
shorter, slot style of wide receiver.<br />
Described by coach Wells as a “very<br />
explosive player with excellent ball<br />
skills. A threat to score every time he<br />
touches it.” Then on the other side is<br />
the stouter, towering Nate Wells that<br />
comes in at 6-foot-3 and can help<br />
make those plays in the red zone.<br />
The offensive and defensive lines<br />
will be young in terms of experience.<br />
No player has more than one year<br />
as a letterwinner but will be led by<br />
sophomore Ethan Gabriel, who will<br />
be leaned on in his second year of<br />
playing varsity.<br />
In the team’s base 3-4 defense, along<br />
with Ulrich and Bundy at defensive<br />
back, Reggie McKenney will assist<br />
on the back end.<br />
While speed, overall athletic ability<br />
and toughness can be considered<br />
strengths for the Chanticleers, the<br />
team’s lack of size and experience at<br />
other positions could be a concern<br />
with only five starters from each<br />
side of the ball returning.<br />
Their mental toughness will be<br />
tested early on with a week one<br />
game against Broken Bow, and in<br />
week two the squad will head for<br />
a rematch against reigning state<br />
champs O’Neil.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Broken Bow<br />
9/1 @ O’Neill<br />
9/8 Madison<br />
9/15 @ Gothenburg<br />
9/22 @ Adams Central<br />
9/29 Boone Central/Newman Grove<br />
10/6 Columbus Scotus<br />
10/13 Grand Island Central Catholic<br />
10/20 @ Columbus Lakeview<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jesse Ulrich: (5’11’’ 185 lbs) Jr. QB/<br />
CB<br />
Garrett Bundy: (5’9’’ 160 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Nate Wells (6’3’’ 160 lbs) Sr. WR/<br />
OLB<br />
By: Jay Omar<br />
Although the season started and<br />
ended with a loss, the 2016 campaign<br />
featured a lot of winning for the<br />
Osceola football squad.<br />
The Bulldogs finished the year with<br />
an 8-2 record under head coach TJ<br />
Nielsen, winning eight straight games<br />
following a loss to BDS in week one.<br />
The campaign came to a close for<br />
Osceola following a 34-28 second<br />
round playoff loss to Sacred Heart.<br />
Even though the season ended a<br />
bit prematurely for the Bulldogs,<br />
expectations are high as Fall <strong>2017</strong> rolls<br />
around.<br />
Osceola returns ten letterwinners<br />
in total, with five returning starters<br />
coming back on the offense side of the<br />
ball and four on defense.<br />
The senior group is incredibly<br />
talented, but Nielsen said that one of<br />
the biggest challenges his team will<br />
face this season is finding younger<br />
players to compliment the standout<br />
athletes.<br />
“In Class D2 football, the challenge<br />
is always that you need to develop<br />
depth and stay healthy,” Nielsen<br />
said. “We will be focused on finding<br />
a few role players to go along with an<br />
outstanding senior group.”<br />
On the offensive side of the ball, a<br />
handful of top-tier players return for<br />
Osceola.<br />
On the offensive line, senior Tristin<br />
Johnston will be joined by senior<br />
center Derek Voigt in the trenches.<br />
Both players received all-district<br />
honors last year.<br />
Senior Caden Theis will be back under<br />
center at the quarterback position,<br />
as he looks to build off an all-state<br />
campaign in 2016.<br />
Helping Theis carry the load will be<br />
running back Brennan Bryan, another<br />
senior, who also earned all-district<br />
recognition last season.<br />
“We have outstanding leadership.<br />
We have four, four-year starters that<br />
understand what it takes to win,”<br />
Nielsen said. “As a program, we have<br />
developed a culture of hard work<br />
and discipline. I really like just being<br />
around our team and going to practice<br />
each day.”<br />
On defense, many of the same players<br />
will play vital roles, as Voigt and<br />
Johnston will both play defensive line,<br />
while Theis will roam as a linebacker.<br />
In addition, Brody Ienn and Tanner<br />
Kropatsch will join Theis in the<br />
linebacker role, and senior Tad Racek<br />
will battle in the trenches.<br />
The Bulldogs will once again open up<br />
the season against BDS, a group that<br />
handed Osceola a 72-42 loss last year.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 BDS<br />
9/1 Mead<br />
9/8 @ Nebraska Lutheran<br />
9/15 @ Giltner<br />
9/22 @ Cedar Bluffs<br />
9/29 Fullerton<br />
10/6 Humphrey St. Francis<br />
10/13 @ Scribner-Snyder<br />
And with a core group of returning<br />
starters coming off a successful<br />
season, Nielsen said that he is<br />
confident with a few adjustments his<br />
squad can be difficult to beat.<br />
“We will have an opportunity for<br />
a great season if we get strong<br />
leadership in practice,” he said. “If<br />
we can work hard and develop our<br />
depth, we will have a chance to be<br />
pretty tough out in the playoffs.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Caden Theis (5’ 11” 190 lbs) Sr. QB/LB<br />
Derek Voigt (5’ 11” 235 lbs) Sr. C/NG<br />
Tristin Johnston (6’ 4” 240 lbs) Sr. OL/<br />
DL<br />
Brennan Bryan (5’ 10” 200 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
DL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Chanticleers<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 6-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Nate Wells<br />
Career Record: 10-8<br />
Assistant Coach: Nick Gates<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 8-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: TJ Nielsen<br />
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OVERTONEAGLES<br />
PALMERTIGERS<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
The 2016 season for the Overton<br />
Eagles was the continuation of<br />
a recent trend the program is<br />
not used to seeing. Since 2010,<br />
Overton has three district titles<br />
and an overall record of 42-26.<br />
However, 17 of those 26 losses<br />
have come in the last three years.<br />
The Eagles and seventh-year<br />
head coach Paul Heusinkvelt<br />
are looking to return to<br />
previous glory this fall, thanks<br />
in part to the return of ten<br />
starters and the leadership<br />
of nine seniors. “We have the<br />
majority of our team coming<br />
back and a group that has<br />
been starting since they were<br />
sophomores,” Heusinkvelt said.<br />
On offense, the Eagles will have<br />
two returning juniors with a<br />
lot of snaps under their belt.<br />
Braden Kizer is returning to<br />
quarterback the Eagles after<br />
starting the last 12 games<br />
under center. Last season, Kizer<br />
threw for over 600 yards, five<br />
touchdowns and added another<br />
touchdown on the ground.<br />
On the ground, Caleb Moore<br />
is one of the fastest players<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 20<br />
Head Coach: Paul Heusinkvelt<br />
Career Record: 31-25<br />
Assistant Coach: Eric Ryan<br />
not only on the team but<br />
potentially in the district.<br />
“Another fast, hardworking<br />
running back that will blow<br />
by many defenders. This will<br />
be a statement year for him,”<br />
Heusinkvelt said.<br />
Last season Moore ran for<br />
over 300 yards and an average<br />
of 5.4 yards a carry plus two<br />
touchdowns.<br />
The Eagles will also look to<br />
lean on the team’s returning<br />
leader in all-purpose yards and<br />
all-district kick returner Ryan<br />
Lauby. Lauby, as a freshman,<br />
ran for six touchdowns, good<br />
for second on the team.<br />
Defensively, the Eagles have<br />
playmakers at each level. On<br />
the defensive line, the team<br />
returns junior Drake Davenport<br />
and seniors Schuyler Brown<br />
and Chevy Davenport, each<br />
weighing over 200 pounds.<br />
They also return 250-pound<br />
sophomore Kien Martin, who is<br />
looking to make an impact in his<br />
second year on the varsity roster.<br />
On the back end, the team<br />
returns their best defensive<br />
back in senior Brenden Meier,<br />
who was tied for second on the<br />
team in tackles with 54 in 2016.<br />
“As long as we get the job<br />
done in the weight room this<br />
summer, we should be a team<br />
that will make some noise this<br />
season,” Heusinkvelt said.<br />
Last season the Eagles began<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Franklin<br />
9/1 Southwest<br />
9/15 @ Hemingford<br />
9/22 Amherst<br />
9/29 Bertrand<br />
10/6 @ Elm Creek<br />
10/13 @ South Loup<br />
10/20 Ravenna<br />
with a 51-0 win over Franklin<br />
and will look for a similar<br />
result in week one this fall. But<br />
following the Franklin win the<br />
Eagles lost six straight and will<br />
have the exact same stretch of<br />
games this year.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Schuyler Brown (6’0’’ 230 lbs)<br />
Sr. OL/DL<br />
Ryan Lauby (5’11’ 160 lbs)<br />
Soph. RB/LB<br />
Caleb Moore (5’7’’ 155 lbs) Jr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
The Palmer Tigers are hungry.<br />
The type of hunger that only a<br />
semifinal loss can spark.<br />
The 2016 season ended in<br />
dramatic fashion for the Tigers.<br />
With just over a minute remaining<br />
in their semifinal match up against<br />
Burwell, Hunter Reimers plunged<br />
in for a one-yard score to pull<br />
the Tigers within two. Moments<br />
later the Tigers lined up for a<br />
two-point conversion that never<br />
materialized, and the season<br />
ended on a botched snap.<br />
Putting last season behind them<br />
might be the toughest task of <strong>2017</strong><br />
for head coach Nathan Glause and<br />
the Tigers; but if they are able to<br />
do so, success will follow. Palmer<br />
returns nine starters to a team that<br />
was undefeated through the regular<br />
season and into the playoffs.<br />
“We will have a solid team with<br />
plenty of experience,” Glause said.<br />
“We don’t have much depth and<br />
we won’t be very big, but we do<br />
have some quickness.”<br />
That quickness will be key in<br />
matching last year’s offensive<br />
production for the Tigers. In 2016,<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Tigers<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 11-1<br />
Playoff Appearances: 15<br />
Head Coach: Nathan Glause<br />
Career Record: 73-41<br />
Assistant Coaches: Luke<br />
Thompson and Jim Sake<br />
Palmer averaged just shy of 400<br />
yards per game, an even split<br />
between the run and pass. The<br />
Tigers had a habit of lighting up<br />
the scoreboard as well last season,<br />
averaging 48.3 points per game<br />
while only allowing 23.5 per<br />
game. Palmer broke the 50-point<br />
mark six times in 2016.<br />
Glause and the Tigers will need to<br />
find their production elsewhere,<br />
as Palmer lost their leading passer,<br />
rusher, and receiver to graduation.<br />
The up-and-coming talent is led<br />
by senior quarterback Spencer<br />
Wichmann. Wichmann has plenty<br />
of experience but will be adopting<br />
a new role at quarterback. Last<br />
season, Wichmann scored nine<br />
touchdowns as a running back/<br />
receiver combo threat.<br />
On the defensive side of the ball it<br />
will be Dominic Donahey leading<br />
the way. Donahey was the Tigers<br />
third leading tackler in 2016 with<br />
99 total tackles.<br />
Expectations remain high for the<br />
Tigers in <strong>2017</strong>. Palmer has made<br />
it to the state playoffs nine of the<br />
last 12 seasons.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family<br />
9/1 @ Kenesaw<br />
9/8 Burwell<br />
9/15 @ Ravenna<br />
9/22 @ High Plains Community<br />
9/30 Nebraska Christian<br />
10/6 @ East Butler<br />
10/13 Nebraska Lutheran<br />
Key Players:<br />
Spencer Wichmann (5’10” 160<br />
lbs) Sr. QB/LB<br />
Dominic Donahey (6’0” 190 lbs)<br />
Sr. LB/OL<br />
Chad Samuelson (5’10” 200 lbs)<br />
Jr. RB/LB<br />
168 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 169
PAWNEE CITYINDIANS<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
For Head Coach Scott Brumbaugh,<br />
winning is more than the numbers<br />
on a scoreboard, it’s a mindset and<br />
an attitude. It’s an attitude he hopes<br />
his <strong>2017</strong> squad learns to adopt after a<br />
disappointing 2-6 finish last season.<br />
The Indians won just two games in<br />
2016 against Weeping Water and<br />
Meridian. In addition, Pawnee City<br />
both won and lost by large margins<br />
last fall.<br />
“We need to change our attitude and<br />
learn how to win,” Brumbaugh said.<br />
“We played well most of last season,<br />
but we just couldn’t finish games.”<br />
Pawnee City has made eight playoff<br />
appearances, but hasn’t competed<br />
in the playoffs since 2014. With a<br />
new mindset and the return of six<br />
starters on both offense and defense,<br />
Brumbaugh hopes this season will<br />
be a much different story.<br />
Unlike last season, the second-year<br />
head coach will enjoy plenty of<br />
returners and upperclassmen on his<br />
roster.<br />
Senior Andrew Davis (6’3” 200<br />
lbs) will be the heart of the offense<br />
and perhaps the whole team.<br />
Brumbaugh describes him as the<br />
“leader of the team.” Davis averaged<br />
28.3 receiving yards a game and<br />
recorded three touchdowns.<br />
Davis will also play an integral role<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Indians<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Scott Brumbaugh<br />
Career Record: 72-38<br />
Assistant Coach: Tyler Colvin<br />
in the Indians’ 3-2 defense. He’ll<br />
see time at defensive end, a spot he<br />
was very comfortable in last season.<br />
Davis was the second leading tackler<br />
on the team in 2016 with 67 total<br />
tackles.<br />
“Overall, Andrew is a great kid<br />
and works hard at getting better,”<br />
Brumbaugh said of Davis.<br />
Kaisonn Koester (6’0” 190 lbs)<br />
will return for his senior season<br />
at running back. Koester was the<br />
leading rusher for the Indians last<br />
season and will be a big piece of<br />
the squad’s pistol offense. Koester<br />
totaled 560 rushing yards his junior<br />
year and five touchdowns.<br />
Like Davis, Koester will see time<br />
on the other side of the ball on the<br />
defensive line. Last season, Koester<br />
recorded 65 tackles and one sack.<br />
Shamar Willey will be the engine of<br />
the offense. The junior wide receiver<br />
totaled 89 rushing yards and<br />
averaged 12.7 yards a game.<br />
Like most teams, the Indians dealt<br />
with several injuries.<br />
“Like any team, we aren’t very<br />
deep,” Brumbaugh said. “We need<br />
to stay healthy to have a chance.”<br />
Staying healthy will be especially<br />
true for Caleb Ouding (6’0” 205 lbs)<br />
and Marcus Gray (6’2” 285 lbs).<br />
Ouding will return for his senior<br />
season determined to make up for<br />
lost time. The running back missed<br />
his junior year due to a torn ACL.<br />
Gray will enter his junior year at<br />
nose guard.<br />
“Marcus has great potential, if he<br />
can just stay healthy,” Brumbaugh<br />
said.<br />
Sophomore TJ Mawhiney (6’0” 160<br />
lbs) will head the Indian offense.<br />
Mawhiney saw playing time last<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
9/1 Omaha Christian Academy<br />
9/8 @ McCool Junction<br />
9/15 Falls City Sacred Heart<br />
9/22 Weeping Water<br />
9/29 @ Pawnee City<br />
10/6 @ Exeter-Milligan<br />
10/13 Mead<br />
10/19 @ Friend<br />
season as a freshman, but will likely<br />
play a much larger role come this<br />
fall.<br />
Despite the team’s fair share of<br />
returning starters, Brumbaugh is<br />
looking for other guys to aid in the<br />
comeback effort.<br />
“In order to have a successful<br />
season, someone needs to step up<br />
and share the load running the ball<br />
with Kaisonn,” he said. “TJ must<br />
be able to throw the ball to loosen<br />
the box up some. Andrew is a great<br />
receiver, but we need more than just<br />
him to catch the football.”<br />
With winning comes confidence,<br />
and confidence translates to more<br />
victories. Brumbaugh said that<br />
getting off to a good start will be<br />
imperative to the rest of the season.<br />
“We are returning a lot of players,<br />
but we need to win early to build a<br />
winning confidence,” he said. “If we<br />
aren’t successful early, the season<br />
could easily end up like last year.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Andrew Davis (6’3” 200 lbs) Sr. TE<br />
Kaisonn Koester (6’0” 190 lbs) Sr. RB<br />
Shamar Willey (6’0” 150 lbs) Jr. WR<br />
170 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 171
PLEASANTONBULLDOGS<br />
By: Spencer Schubert<br />
Pleasanton has become a name<br />
synonymous with winning<br />
when it comes to high school<br />
football in Nebraska. However,<br />
like any traditional power, if<br />
you don’t keep winning at a<br />
solid clip that reputation starts<br />
to diminish.<br />
Unfortunately for head<br />
coach Ricci Westland and the<br />
Bulldogs, they are on the bubble<br />
of being one of those teams that<br />
look back at the glory days.<br />
From 2007 to 2011, Pleasanton<br />
was one of the most feared<br />
teams in the state. They went<br />
a combined 36-4 in regular<br />
season match-ups during that<br />
span, but never turned any<br />
of those seasons into a state<br />
championship.<br />
In fact, the Bulldogs have never<br />
made it to a state championship<br />
game in school history, with<br />
the closest efforts being in 2007,<br />
when they lost to Chambers,<br />
and 2009 when they lost to<br />
Hayes Center - both in the<br />
semifinals.<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 3-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Ricci Westland<br />
Career Record: 113-80<br />
Assistant Coaches: Rocky Hatch,<br />
Casey Loomis<br />
Now, there isn’t a studentathlete<br />
in Pleasanton High<br />
School who has been a part of<br />
one of those treasured teams.<br />
The last five years could be<br />
considered average, as the team<br />
went 16-24 in the regular season<br />
during that stretch, winning<br />
no more than four games in a<br />
season.<br />
They haven’t won a playoff<br />
game since 2011, which has<br />
Westland more than eager to get<br />
back to the style of football he<br />
knows how to coach, and this<br />
year might be the year he does<br />
it.<br />
Pleasanton has a slew of<br />
returning starters, with six on<br />
defense and four on offense. The<br />
team will likely be led by junior<br />
quarterback Tyler Pawloski who<br />
will be entering his third season<br />
at the helm of the offense.<br />
“He was all-district both his<br />
freshman and sophomore year,”<br />
Westland said. “He’s a very<br />
smart and talented athlete and<br />
is a two-time state champion<br />
wrestler as well.”<br />
Pawloski will be far from alone<br />
in the team’s push to return to<br />
the top of Class D2. Running<br />
back Eric Eply returns for a<br />
sophomore campaign after<br />
starting on both sides of the ball<br />
for Pleasanton as a freshman.<br />
Westland also said to keep<br />
an eye on Travis Tolles this<br />
season, as he might be one of<br />
the toughest, most hard-hitting<br />
players on the team.<br />
The Bulldogs also see a good<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Shelton<br />
9/1 Giltner<br />
9/8 @ Axtell<br />
9/15 Blue Hill<br />
9/22 Central Valley<br />
9/29 @ Twin Loup<br />
10/6 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
10/19 Ansley-Litchfield<br />
number of returners in the<br />
trenches, as senior Bronson<br />
Gibbons and juniors Dillon<br />
Sievert and Caleb Riessland<br />
help bring experience up front<br />
for Pleasanton.<br />
As Westland enters his 22nd<br />
year on the sidelines at<br />
Pleasanton, he’ll be staring<br />
down the same schedule he<br />
had a year ago. Pleasanton will<br />
start the season on the road at<br />
Shelton, a team they beat 40-0 in<br />
2016.<br />
They’ll then face a Giltner<br />
team who will be coming to<br />
Pleasanton with a brand-new<br />
head coach. The Bulldogs were<br />
able to start 3-2 before dropping<br />
their final three contests of the<br />
year in 2016, and Westland is<br />
optimistic that <strong>2017</strong> will mark<br />
the beginning of a turnaround<br />
for his team.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Tyler Pawloski (5’6” 150 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB<br />
Eric Epley (5’10” 150 lbs) Soph.<br />
RB<br />
Bronson Gibbons (6’1” 220 lbs)<br />
Sr. Lineman<br />
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By: Derek Kopp<br />
RAVENNABLUEJAYS<br />
As the Ravenna Blue Jays gear up<br />
for their second season in Class<br />
D1, the team is still looking for<br />
their first win in the class after<br />
going 0-8 in 2016.<br />
Head coach Dan Bolling will be<br />
back for his fifth season with<br />
the team and will bring back a<br />
majority of the team’s starters<br />
with 12 total, six on each side<br />
of the ball. Leadership will<br />
undoubtedly be a key for the Blue<br />
Jays in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
The Blue Jays will be led on<br />
offense by returning sophomore<br />
quarterback Jake Jarzynka.<br />
Jarzynka brings the passing and<br />
running ability to the option<br />
offense that is crucial for success.<br />
Senior running back Trey Nelson<br />
will be in the backfield along with<br />
returner Brayden Mueller. The<br />
combo will help alleviate some<br />
of the pressure, and fellow senior<br />
Josh Bauer will be on the outside<br />
utilizing his big frame at wide<br />
receiver.<br />
On both sides of the ball, expect<br />
a strength of the team to be in<br />
the trenches, with the offensive<br />
and defensive lines. Ravenna<br />
will run the 3-3 base defense and<br />
rely on the big men up front to<br />
get a good push. The Blue Jays<br />
boast five linemen that are 200<br />
pounds or more, as well as five<br />
upperclassmen led by a returner<br />
on both sides of the ball, Alex<br />
Chapa.<br />
At linebacker, the team will<br />
return three starters from 2016<br />
in Jarzynka, Nelson and the<br />
sophomore Mueller. On the<br />
back end, only sophomore<br />
Drew Bolling will return in the<br />
secondary, but expect new faces<br />
to emerge in the fall.<br />
In 2016, the team lost by an<br />
average of 36.6 points a game,<br />
including a pair of forgetful<br />
games against Superior (64-6) and<br />
Elm Creek (68-16). Unfortunately<br />
for the Blue Jays, this season’s<br />
schedule is identical to last<br />
season, with five of the teams<br />
being 2016 playoff teams. The<br />
group’s homecoming game will<br />
be against state quarterfinalist<br />
Palmer.<br />
After opening the season at home<br />
against Ainsworth, the Blue Jays<br />
will have their only back-to-back<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Ainsworth<br />
9/1 @ Superior<br />
9/8 @ Kenesaw<br />
9/15 Palmer<br />
9/22 Elm Creek<br />
9/29 @ South Loup<br />
10/13 Amherst<br />
10/20 @ Overton<br />
away games of the season, facing<br />
Superior and Kenesaw. The two<br />
teams outscored them last season<br />
120-20 in the two games.<br />
But this is not a Blue Jays team<br />
that is going to roll over.<br />
“We are looking to make drastic<br />
improvements with a bunch<br />
of young kids getting a lot of<br />
playing time last year,” Bolling<br />
said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jake Jarzynka (5’10’’ 160 lbs)<br />
Soph. QB/LB<br />
Brayden Mueller (5’9’’ 170 lbs)<br />
Soph. RB/LB<br />
Alex Chapa (5’6’’ 210 lbs) Jr. OL/<br />
DL<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Blue Jays<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 0-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Dan Bolling<br />
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
174 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 175
RAYMOND CENTRALMUSTANGS<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
The Mustangs of Raymond<br />
Central are looking to rebound<br />
after a bit of a rollercoaster year<br />
in 2016. After losing their first<br />
four games, the Mustangs won<br />
three in a row before dropping<br />
the final two games of the<br />
season. This year, they’ll hope to<br />
find some more consistency, but<br />
it won’t be easy.<br />
Head coach Nathan Liess said<br />
he expects Aquinas Catholic and<br />
Boys Town to lead the class once<br />
again, and those teams happen<br />
to be the first two matchups of<br />
the upcoming season for the<br />
Mustangs.<br />
But the schedule won’t be the<br />
only difficultly for Raymond<br />
Central. They’re looking to<br />
replace some key positions left<br />
void due to graduation, and will<br />
need some players to step up<br />
and fill the roles in order to have<br />
a successful campaign.<br />
However, the Mustangs should<br />
have strong play in the trenches,<br />
as they return four starters<br />
along the offensive line and<br />
three on the defensive line.<br />
Now, the Mustangs need to find<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Nathan Liess<br />
Career Record: 42-49<br />
Assistant Coaches: Steve Rose, Pat<br />
Harington, Adison Kenning and<br />
Corey Serrano<br />
playmakers at other positions.<br />
“Developing skill positions<br />
on offense to play behind an<br />
experienced offensive line,” said<br />
Liess when asked what his team<br />
needs to do to be successful.<br />
“Defensively, we must rebuild<br />
our secondary and replace lots of<br />
tackles at linebacker, but expect<br />
to be better along the defensive<br />
line.”<br />
It’s no secret that the play of<br />
those filling skill positions for the<br />
Mustangs will be a determining<br />
factor in how successful the<br />
team is this season. One of those<br />
key positions they’ll need solid<br />
play at is quarterback, and the<br />
Mustangs could have a battle<br />
for the spot between senior<br />
Tucker Randall and junior Aiden<br />
Urbom.<br />
Despite the lack of experience in<br />
skill positions, Liess is optimistic.<br />
He said he likes the team they<br />
have, in large part because they<br />
have good attitudes, a good<br />
work ethic, and people who are<br />
ready to step into those bigger<br />
roles.<br />
The six players Liess and the<br />
Mustangs will lean on this<br />
season are OT/DE Jackson<br />
Fowler, C/LB Duke Nelson,<br />
OG/DE Nate Boyd, Randall, and<br />
TE/LB Jett Burklund. The six<br />
seniors all have at least one year<br />
of starting experience and will be<br />
relied on to play big roles both<br />
offensively and defensively for<br />
the Mustangs.<br />
The other players the team will<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 @ Aquinas Catholic<br />
9/1 Boys Town<br />
9/8 Douglas County West<br />
9/15 @ Syracuse<br />
9/22 Southern<br />
9/29 @ Lincoln Christian<br />
10/6 @ Milford-Dorchester<br />
10/13 Fairbury<br />
10/20 @ Ashland-Greenwood<br />
look to when filling big roles<br />
include DT Kody Swartz, LB/<br />
RB Eli Pickel, DT/OG Garret<br />
Moudry, LB/WR Easton<br />
Albrecht, Urbom, LB/RB Dylan<br />
Thornburg, and LB/RB Josh<br />
Palensky. These seven juniors<br />
will be needed to fill the void left<br />
by some of last year’s seniors<br />
and could be a big part of the<br />
reason if the Mustangs are able<br />
to improve upon last year’s 3-6<br />
record.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jackson Fowler (5’11” 220 lbs) Sr.<br />
OT/DE<br />
Tucker Randall (5’8” 155 lbs) Sr.<br />
ATH/FS<br />
Duke Nelson (5’9” 155 lbs) Sr. C/LB<br />
176 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 177
SANDY CREEKCOUGARS<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
For a program looking to<br />
rebuild, its not ideal to face<br />
the reigning state champs in<br />
week one. But for Sandy Creek,<br />
there’s a different perspective.<br />
The Cougars get the first<br />
opportunity to end Wilber-<br />
Clatonia’s 29-game regular<br />
season winning streak, which<br />
they will try to accomplish<br />
on August 25th. Sandy Creek<br />
knows the match-up will<br />
be challenging, especially<br />
considering the Cougars’ recent<br />
struggles. The <strong>2017</strong> squad,<br />
however, is full of optimism<br />
with starters returning at 15<br />
different positions.<br />
Sandy Creek has a solid core<br />
back from last season’s 1-8<br />
team. Running backs Nick<br />
Slater and Bailey Zimmerman<br />
lead the Cougar offense after<br />
combining for 639 rushing<br />
yards. Regardless of the ball<br />
carrier, Sandy Creek’s ground<br />
game hinges on the success of<br />
the offensive line. The unit is<br />
the strength of the team with<br />
starters returning at all five<br />
spots. Senior Hunter Rempe<br />
(5’10” 270 lbs) is the best of the<br />
group. Rempe has started every<br />
year since his freshman season.<br />
“We have an experienced<br />
offensive line,” Sandy Creek<br />
head coach Jeremy Borer said.<br />
“They are the key to allowing us<br />
to break in new skill players.”<br />
Other returning starters up front<br />
include Ty Schweer, Ryan Haack<br />
(5’7” 185 lbs), Colt Rademacher<br />
(5’10” 190 lbs), and Austin<br />
Wilson (5’9” 200 lbs).<br />
Sandy Creek hopes to increase<br />
its offensive production after<br />
averaging 10 points in 2016.<br />
Borer believes sophomores<br />
Connor Crumbliss and Wyatt<br />
Mach could be nice additions to<br />
the varsity team. The Cougars<br />
must also find a new starting<br />
quarterback after losing Nick<br />
Bailey to graduation. The<br />
departed QB threw 147 of Sandy<br />
Creek’s 150 passes last season.<br />
Defensively, Sandy Creek’s<br />
focus is stopping the run. The<br />
Cougars struggled in that area<br />
in 2016, allowing opponents<br />
to rush for an average of 300<br />
yards. To their credit, Sandy<br />
Creek faced some of Class C2’s<br />
most talented running attacks,<br />
including Wilber-Clatonia.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Wilber-Clatonia<br />
9/1 @ Fillmore Central<br />
9/8 Arcadia-Loup City<br />
9/15 Sutton<br />
9/22 @ Doniphan-Trumbull<br />
9/29 Gibbon<br />
10/6 @ Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
10/13 @ Wood River<br />
10/20 Southern Valley<br />
times over their past 22 games.<br />
Borer is entering his first season<br />
as Sandy Creek’s head coach.<br />
He also takes over the school’s<br />
tradition-rich girls basketball<br />
program after legendary coach<br />
Russ Ninemire announced his<br />
retirement.<br />
“We want to build Sandy Creek<br />
football back to a respectable,<br />
winning program,” Borer said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Hunter Rempe (5’10” 270 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
Ryan Haack (5’7” 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/LB<br />
Colt Rademacher (5’10” 190 lbs)<br />
Sr. OL/DL<br />
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OUR TEAM COVERING<br />
YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG<br />
KEVIN SJUTS • SPORTS DIRECTOR<br />
FRIDAYS AT 10 PM<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cougars<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 1-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Jeremy Borer<br />
Career Record: 0-0<br />
Assistant Coaches: Matt Whitten,<br />
Chris Hollister, Ryan Bauer<br />
Haack, who plays linebacker, is<br />
the team’s top returning tackler.<br />
Rempe can also be a force along<br />
the defensive line. Together,<br />
Haack and Rempe combined for<br />
102 tackles last season.<br />
Sandy Creek is hoping <strong>2017</strong><br />
can be the start of the school’s<br />
resurgence in football. The<br />
Cougars have won just four<br />
178 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 179
By: Megan McGill<br />
SEWARDBLUEJAYS<br />
The Bluejays were left with a<br />
bad taste in their mouth after an<br />
uncharacteristic and disappointing<br />
2016 season.<br />
Having won just a single game<br />
last fall, Seward is looking for<br />
redemption.<br />
Head coach Jamie Opfer enters<br />
his fifth season with the school.<br />
His team’s 1-8 finish is something<br />
he hopes his returners use as fuel<br />
come this fall.<br />
“We had a rough go,” he said.<br />
“Last season is something we<br />
never want to happen again.”<br />
Seward has the talent to produce<br />
a winning record. With nine<br />
returning starters on offense and<br />
seven on defense, Opfer likes the<br />
experience of his roster.<br />
Perhaps, the squad’s biggest tool<br />
will be returning quarterback<br />
Joseph Krause. The junior threw<br />
for 1,669 yards and 14 touchdowns<br />
in 2016, and produced on the<br />
ground too, running for 127 yards<br />
and five touchdowns.<br />
“He’s athletic with a strong arm<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bluejays<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 1-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Jamie Opfer<br />
Career Record: 14-24<br />
Assistant Coaches: Wade Miller,<br />
Casey Makey, Joe Troester<br />
and he’s smart,” Opfer said. “He’s<br />
got all the tools to be a big-time<br />
player.”<br />
Brett Meyer will be a big target for<br />
Krause come this fall. The junior<br />
wide receiver has great hand-eye<br />
coordination to go along with<br />
his tall and athletic frame. Meyer<br />
averaged 23.6 receiving yards a<br />
game and had five touchdowns his<br />
sophomore season. He will play a<br />
vital role on the Bluejay’s offense.<br />
Veteran Connor Ruth will be big<br />
for the ground game. The senior<br />
running back is the younger<br />
brother of Corbin Ruth, who<br />
will start his career at Northwest<br />
Missouri State this fall.<br />
The senior running back rushed for<br />
300 yards and three touchdowns<br />
last season, adding eight receptions<br />
and one touchdown. The one-year<br />
letterwinner will also see time on<br />
defense at linebacker.<br />
Opfer says the team’s strength will<br />
be on defense. Ruth will be joined<br />
by other experienced linebackers,<br />
including seniors Broc Lavelle and<br />
Victor Sigala.<br />
“We are returning all of our<br />
linebackers from last year’s team,”<br />
Opfer said. “We hope they can<br />
elevate their game this season.”<br />
The offensive and defensive lines<br />
will not enjoy this same amount of<br />
experience, but Opfer is confident<br />
in the young guys he has to fill<br />
those positions. He will look to<br />
underclassmen like sophomores<br />
Tyler Lenz and Jacob Potraz to<br />
step up on the line. Another<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Crete<br />
9/1 @ Waverly<br />
9/8 Norris<br />
9/15 Schuyler<br />
9/22 @ Hastings<br />
9/28 Elkhorn South<br />
10/6 @ Northwest<br />
10/13 York<br />
10/20 @ Aurora<br />
underclassmen who will see some<br />
playing time is running back<br />
Davon Brees. The sophomore<br />
gained a lot of experience in his<br />
first season at Seward.<br />
“He’s going to be a good one,”<br />
Opfer said.<br />
The Bluejays haven’t been to the<br />
playoffs since 2014, but Opfer<br />
hopes that is about to change this<br />
fall.<br />
“We want to get to the playoffs and<br />
we have the tools to get there,” he<br />
said.<br />
Fueled by that daunting record and<br />
several close games that slipped<br />
through their fingers, the Bluejays<br />
are determined to end the threeyear<br />
playoff drought and get back<br />
to the football they know they are<br />
capable of.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Joseph Krause (6’1” 185 lbs) Jr. QB<br />
Brett Meyer (6’3” 180 lbs) Jr. WR<br />
Connor Ruth (6’0” 205 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
LB<br />
Since 1968<br />
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180 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 181<br />
ON
By: Joe Musso<br />
SHELBY-RISING CITYHUSKIES<br />
Head Coach Kevin Kopecky is<br />
entering his third season at the<br />
helm for the Huskies and his<br />
28th season as a head coach.<br />
Although his coaching roots date<br />
back to the 80’s, Kopecky has<br />
implemented a new-wave no<br />
huddle offense during his time at<br />
Shelby-Rising City.<br />
Last season, the Huskies limped<br />
to a 3-6 record in Class C2, and<br />
Kopecky is well aware of the<br />
uphill battle the Huskies face in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“We have a very tough schedule<br />
and we lack size and experience,”<br />
Kopecky said. “Our defense must<br />
improve a lot and our offensive<br />
line must continue to get better.”<br />
The schedule Kopecky mentioned<br />
features five state playoff<br />
qualifiers and a week four match<br />
up with the defending class C2<br />
champion Wilber-Clatonia. It<br />
will be a challenge for a team of<br />
relative newcomers. The Huskies<br />
graduated 13 of 22 starters from<br />
last season.<br />
According to Kopecky, the<br />
Shelby-Rising City defense<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 2<br />
Head Coach: Kevin Kopecky<br />
Assistant Coaches: Eric Lindsley,<br />
Todd Pinneo, Jonathon Riggs,<br />
Jessie Truksa<br />
does have plenty of room for<br />
improvement. The Huskies<br />
surrendered 29 points per game<br />
while only averaging 26 as an<br />
offense.<br />
The brunt of the responsibility<br />
will fall on the shoulders of senior<br />
linebacker Brenden Johnston.<br />
Johnston is one of only three<br />
seniors on the Husky roster. The<br />
two way stand-out earned alldistrict<br />
honors in both his junior<br />
and sophomore seasons.<br />
“Brendan is a very good<br />
linebacker,” Kopecky said. “He<br />
also started at offensive tackle as<br />
a Junior and despite his size and<br />
lack of experience, he did a solid<br />
job. He’ll also serve as a team<br />
captain for the <strong>2017</strong> season.”<br />
Fellow senior Lincoln<br />
Schoenrock will be featured in<br />
the Husky offense. Schoenrock<br />
rushed 50 times for 269 yards<br />
and seven touchdowns in a<br />
limited role last season. Look for<br />
the 5-foot-9 running back and<br />
special teams threat to see an<br />
increased roll in <strong>2017</strong>. Kopecky<br />
hopes to utilize Schoenrock’s<br />
top-end speed. The senior<br />
back broke the 100-meter and<br />
200-meter school records during<br />
last spring’s track season.<br />
“It will take a lot of hard work for<br />
us to have any success.” Kopecky<br />
said. “We’ll be young, small and<br />
lack experience.”<br />
The Huskies start the season on<br />
the road versus Twin River. They<br />
have not been to the state playoffs<br />
since 1999.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Twin River<br />
9/1 Hartington Cedar Catholic<br />
9/8 Lutheran High Northeast<br />
9/15 @ Wilber-Clatonia<br />
9/22 @ Sutton<br />
9/29 Fillmore Central<br />
10/6 @ Centennial<br />
10/13 Centura<br />
10/20 Cross County<br />
Key Players:<br />
Brenden Johnston (6’1” 190 lbs)<br />
Sr. OT/LB<br />
Lincoln Schoenrock (5’9” 165 lbs)<br />
Sr. RB/DB<br />
Austin Coffin (5’10” 150 lbs) Jr.<br />
WR/CB<br />
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182 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 183
SHELTONBULLDOGS<br />
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
The Shelton Bulldogs struggled<br />
in 2016, claiming only one win<br />
throughout the season.<br />
They finished 1-7, with that victory<br />
being a forfeit by Axtell. However,<br />
the bulldogs are under new<br />
leadership with Jeff Pohl at the helm.<br />
This is Pohl’s fifth year with Shelton<br />
High School, as he began as an<br />
assistant coach four years ago.<br />
Pohl attributed last year’s struggles<br />
to the lack of experience on the team.<br />
“We were extremely young. We<br />
had like three freshman that played<br />
quite a bit out of necessity more than<br />
necessarily skill at times. We only<br />
had five upperclassmen and seniors<br />
and then we only had small numbers<br />
in the junior class. Like this year,<br />
we’re going to have a couple kids<br />
that will hopefully come back out.<br />
Last year we only had two juniors<br />
out and two sophomores out. We<br />
had five seniors and 10 freshman,”<br />
Pohl said.<br />
With only three returning starters,<br />
Shelton needs to fill all of the line<br />
positions, the running back position,<br />
and the punter/kicker.<br />
“It’s definitely a rebuilding year. I<br />
think though we do have a couple<br />
kids that have moved in that if<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bulldogs<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 1-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Pohl<br />
Career Record: 0-0<br />
Assistant Coaches: Ed Lowe,<br />
Taryn Hawks<br />
they stick around we’re going to be<br />
competitive, even more competitive<br />
than last year. Only because we’ve<br />
got some kids that are willing to buy<br />
into what it takes to win whereas<br />
you kind of change your attitude,”<br />
Pohl said. “So I’m not going to say<br />
we’re rebuilding talent-wise but<br />
we’re probably rebuilding as far as<br />
the culture of the program goes.”<br />
One area the Bulldogs can improve<br />
and continue to build on is the<br />
quarterback position. Marcus Lauber<br />
is a sophomore this year and he<br />
already has a full year of experience<br />
under his belt at the position.<br />
Pohl said, “He came in from day one<br />
and was our first and only option,<br />
so we didn’t even really have a<br />
backup plan. We had to kind of be<br />
conservative with some of our play<br />
calls to keep him upright. This year<br />
we’ve got a couple kids and some<br />
different packages we can use if<br />
something happens, so I’m looking<br />
for more out of him this year. But I’m<br />
pleased where he’s at, but just like<br />
any kid he’s got a long way to go.”<br />
Pohl has certain expectations for<br />
Lauber coming into this season, and<br />
is optimistic he can be the strong<br />
leader the team needs.<br />
“Well hopefully things will just come<br />
to him a lot slower. We just got done<br />
with one of our summer camps that<br />
we’ve signed up to go to and he<br />
looked a little bit more poised back<br />
there,” Pohl said. “It’s tough to come<br />
in as a freshman and play anywhere,<br />
to play every single snap at<br />
quarterback for us and run the plays<br />
that we had in mind, I commend<br />
him for that. I wouldn’t have wanted<br />
to try and do that my freshman<br />
year, any of it. So I just want him to<br />
continue to grow and maybe become<br />
more of a vocal leader this next<br />
year.”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Pleasanton<br />
9/1 @ Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
9/8 @ Fullerton<br />
9/15 Loomis<br />
9/29 @ Axtell<br />
10/6 Lawrence-Nelson<br />
10/13 @ Giltner<br />
10/19 Blue Hill<br />
Pohl also touched on the lack of<br />
depth the Bulldogs dealt with last<br />
year in all positions, and how that<br />
issue was the cause of the majority of<br />
their losses.<br />
“I’m actually extremely excited about<br />
the kids that we’ve got. A couple<br />
upperclassmen that have come back<br />
out, they took a year off for different<br />
reasons and they’re going to come<br />
out. Plus we’ve got our large group<br />
of incoming sophomores. They’re<br />
all getting bigger, stronger and<br />
can hopefully contribute,” he said.<br />
“We’ve got another group of possibly<br />
anywhere from six to eight freshman<br />
coming in, so we’re going to have,<br />
if everything goes well, we’ll have<br />
25 kids out which is awesome. And<br />
even if we don’t get a few of those<br />
outliers out, we’ll still have around<br />
the 20 mark which is great. That will<br />
allow us to play a full JV slate with<br />
our youth and that’s going to be a<br />
huge thing too.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Daniel Romero (6’ 180 lbs) Sr. WR/<br />
DE<br />
Marcus Lauber (6’2” 165 lbs) Soph.<br />
QB<br />
Ben Bombeck (5’ 10” 190 lbs) Soph.<br />
RB/ OL<br />
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184 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 185
By: TJ Eck<br />
SILVER LAKEMUSTANGS<br />
Six-man football is a different<br />
game than its 11-man and eightman<br />
counterparts, and over<br />
the past few years Silver Lake<br />
has been one of the top teams<br />
in the state. The Mustangs are<br />
coming off an 8-2 record and<br />
an appearance in the state<br />
semifinals in 2016. Expectations<br />
are again high this fall as Silver<br />
Lake brings back a young, yet<br />
experienced group.<br />
“Because of injuries last fall,<br />
underclassmen got valuable<br />
playing time and experience,”<br />
said head coach Duane Arntt,<br />
who owns a 42-8 record with the<br />
Mustangs (93-43 overall).<br />
Silver Lake’s offense is led<br />
by dynamic senior running<br />
back Mark Thurston who is<br />
a threat in the running and<br />
passing game. Thurston rushed<br />
for 1,489 yards in 2016 while<br />
adding another 676 through<br />
the air and scoring a combined<br />
36 touchdowns (rushing &<br />
receiving). The Mustangs will<br />
have a new quarterback leading<br />
the offense in <strong>2017</strong> as junior<br />
Alex Ehrman is expected to<br />
assume the duty. Senior end<br />
Reid Parr (174 receiving yards,<br />
3 TD) and sophomore running<br />
back Zane Journey (4 total<br />
offensive touchdowns) return<br />
with starting experience.<br />
Much like offense, Thurston is<br />
the top player of Silver Lake’s<br />
defense. He recorded 88 total<br />
tackles - nine tackles for loss<br />
- and two sacks last fall and<br />
will again be looked on to lead<br />
the group in <strong>2017</strong>. Journey (67<br />
total tackles) brings size to the<br />
defensive front with his 6-foot,<br />
200-pound frame. Ehrman (43<br />
total tackles, 3 INT, 11 passes<br />
defensed) and Parr (13 total<br />
tackles, 3 TFL) are expected to<br />
anchor the secondary.<br />
Roster size is a key factor for<br />
most six-man teams and Silver<br />
Lake is no different. Arntt hopes<br />
a large freshman class will help<br />
the Mustangs have a group of 12<br />
or 13 players this fall, enough to<br />
scrimmage live in practice.<br />
“We have a good-sized group<br />
of freshmen coming in and<br />
many will have to play right<br />
away,” said Arntt. “How well<br />
they step up and contribute will<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
9/1 Hampton<br />
9/8 @ Harvard<br />
9/15 Red Cloud<br />
9/22 @McPherson County<br />
9/29 Maywood-Hayes Center<br />
10/6 @Wilcox-Hildreth<br />
10/12 Deshler<br />
10/20 @Elwood<br />
determine where we will finish<br />
at the end of the season.”<br />
Silver Lake is entering its sixth<br />
season of six-man football<br />
and the Mustangs have been<br />
successful since making the<br />
switch. With four returning<br />
starters on offense and three<br />
on defense, including All-State<br />
talent Thurston, Silver Lake<br />
should again be one of the top<br />
six-man teams in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Mark Thurston (5’9” 190 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Zane Journey (6’0” 200 lbs)<br />
Soph. RB/DE<br />
Alex Ehrman (5’10” 140 lbs) Jr.<br />
QB/DB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: 6-Man<br />
2016 Record: 8-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Duane Arntt<br />
Career Record: 93-43<br />
Assistant Coach: Kyle Conroy<br />
YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG<br />
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
186 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 187
SOUTH LOUPBOBCATS<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
A promising 2016 season came<br />
to a screeching halt and a<br />
disappointing end for the South<br />
Loup Bobcats. The team started<br />
7-0, outscoring its opponents by<br />
an average score of 45-13 along the<br />
way. Then came a disappointing<br />
loss to Elm Creek to wreck the<br />
perfect regular season, and a<br />
playoff loss carried even more<br />
heartache and abruptly ended a<br />
great season.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> brings renewed hope and<br />
optimism for the Bobcats, and<br />
perhaps more motivation to make<br />
sure the season doesn’t end like<br />
last year.<br />
Head coach Andy Schwarz seems<br />
to know how to help his team<br />
improve and succeed. Before last<br />
year’s 7-0 start, the Bobcats went<br />
just 3-6 in 2015. Another fourwin<br />
improvement would put the<br />
team in the state semifinals and<br />
within striking range of a state<br />
championship.<br />
“Last season, injuries killed us, so<br />
we need to stay healthy,” Schwarz<br />
said. “We need to develop on the<br />
offensive and defensive lines.”<br />
Those will be the big challenges for<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Bobcats<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 7-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Andy Schwarz<br />
Career Record: 36-30<br />
Assistant Coaches: Abe Hinman,<br />
Mike Weverka and Clint Lewis<br />
the Bobcats this season. Graduation<br />
created some holes along the<br />
offensive and defensive lines, so<br />
some newcomers will be relied on<br />
heavily. But the schedule doesn’t<br />
do the team any favors, either.<br />
“We have a very difficult<br />
schedule,” Schwarz said. “I expect<br />
Elm Creek, Amherst, Hemingford,<br />
and Bertrand to be near the top (of<br />
the class).”<br />
The Bobcats won’t get the luxury<br />
of a tune-up game, as they’ll open<br />
the <strong>2017</strong> season against one of<br />
those tough teams — Hemingford.<br />
Schwarz will rely heavily on<br />
a group of juniors this season,<br />
but he’s confident they can lead<br />
the way to another successful<br />
campaign. Landon Furne is one of<br />
those players. The two-year starter<br />
gives the Bobcats a quick and<br />
explosive option to hand the ball<br />
off to. Blake Schwarz is another<br />
great option on the ground, as<br />
he led the team in rushing last<br />
season, and also was a leading<br />
tackler at linebacker.<br />
And you won’t miss Jack Rush if<br />
you watch a South Loup game.<br />
The quarterback and defensive<br />
back has the potential to be great,<br />
according to his coach. If he can<br />
play up to that potential, it will be<br />
another fun year for Bobcats fans.<br />
There are certainly obstacles for<br />
this year’s team to overcome,<br />
but Schwarz is confident he’s got<br />
the right group of guys to have<br />
another great season.<br />
“They are great young men,”<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Hemingford<br />
9/1 @ Ainsworth<br />
9/8 Bertrand<br />
9/15 @ Sutherland<br />
9/29 Ravenna<br />
10/6 @ Amherst<br />
10/13 Overton<br />
10/20 @ Elm Creek<br />
Schwarz said. “They work hard,<br />
are responsible and they love the<br />
game.”<br />
As for the keys to success for<br />
the upcoming year, Schwarz<br />
doesn’t think his team needs to<br />
change much, but rather, just be<br />
themselves.<br />
“We need to play with confidence<br />
and enthusiasm,” he said. “We<br />
are a good team, we just need to<br />
believe.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jack Rush (6’4” 180 lbs) Sr. QB/DB<br />
Blake Schwarz (5’10” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Landon Furne (5’9” 160 lbs) Sr. LB<br />
188 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 189
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
SOUTHERNRAIDERS<br />
The Southern Raiders struggled<br />
throughout the 2016 football<br />
season. As the smallest school<br />
in Class C1, the team - which is<br />
really Southern/Lewiston - has<br />
many obstacles to overcome, and<br />
many of those same challenges<br />
will need to be addressed this year<br />
for the team to have a successful<br />
campaign.<br />
The team will still struggle with<br />
depth and will need to have a few<br />
players to have breakout seasons<br />
for the team to get on track this<br />
year. The one good thing the<br />
Raiders did gain from last season<br />
was experience. Through the ups<br />
and downs of the challenging<br />
season, many of the players will<br />
have learned something that can<br />
help them improve from last<br />
season.<br />
Coach Kane Hookstra will likely be<br />
preaching that to his players, but<br />
the good news for the coach and<br />
the team is that 16 letterwinners<br />
and seven seniors return to the<br />
team for the upcoming season,<br />
eight on offense and six on defense.<br />
Of course, there are still many<br />
challenges the team will face, but<br />
the slight advantage of having an<br />
experienced group should be able<br />
to help Southern/Lewiston bounce<br />
back this year.<br />
Another key to the season, as is<br />
the case for every team, is health.<br />
Coach Hookstra says the team<br />
has a chance to have a successful<br />
season if they can avoid numerous<br />
injuries. Of course, the coach also<br />
knows a lot depends on how<br />
successful the offseason for the<br />
team is.<br />
“It will take a lot of hard work<br />
and dedication to get back on the<br />
winning track,” Hookstra said. A<br />
strong offseason combined with<br />
the experience the team returns<br />
gives plenty of hope for a bounce<br />
back season this year.<br />
With all of that said, the Raiders<br />
still may need a breakout season<br />
from a few players on the team to<br />
really have a great turnaround.<br />
Trevin Saathoff is one of the<br />
candidates for a breakout season<br />
for the team. The senior plays<br />
receiver and defensive back for<br />
the Raiders and can be a leader<br />
through both his words and actions<br />
on the field.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Falls City<br />
9/1 @ Auburn<br />
9/8 Freeman<br />
9/15 Johnson County Central<br />
9/22 @ Raymond Central<br />
9/29 Milford-Dorchester<br />
10/6 @ Fairbury<br />
10/13 Ashland-Greenwood<br />
10/20 @ Lincoln Christian<br />
Mention for All-District and All-<br />
Conference awards, and recorded<br />
38 solo tackles for the team last<br />
season.<br />
The <strong>2017</strong> season shapes up to<br />
be another tough one for the<br />
Southern/Lewiston Raiders,<br />
but the experience and a strong<br />
offseason should give Raiders’ fans<br />
hope for the potential of a bounce<br />
back year this season.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Trevin Saathoff (6’0” 160 lbs) Sr.<br />
WR/DB<br />
Dalton Trauernicht (5’10” 160 lbs)<br />
Sr. WR/DB<br />
Trenton Munstermann (6’2” 200<br />
lbs) Sr. OL/DL<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Raiders<br />
Class: C1<br />
2016 Record: 1-8<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Kane Hookstra<br />
Career Record: 55-82<br />
Assistant Coaches: Shane Saathoff,<br />
John Creek and Devan Garcia<br />
Junior quarterback and defensive<br />
end Drake Adams is another<br />
player to watch. In just three games<br />
last season, Adams passed for 341<br />
yards and 4 TDs. If he can complete<br />
a higher percentage of passes, he<br />
can be a threat for the Raiders.<br />
Finally, sophomore Braden Klover,<br />
a tight end and defensive end for<br />
the team, will be a big player for<br />
the Raiders. He was an Honorable<br />
190 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 191
SOUTHERN VALLEYEAGLES<br />
SOUTHWESTROUGHRIDERS<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
The Southern Valley Eagles<br />
football team has a new coach this<br />
year. Darren Tobey, the school’s<br />
superintendent, is expected to<br />
take over the coaching duties<br />
after Bob Frederickson accepted a<br />
job in Coal Ridge, Colorado.<br />
The Eagles finished 2016 with a<br />
record of 3-6, and will return just<br />
two starters on each side of the<br />
ball. Southern Valley didn’t score<br />
in double figures any of their<br />
first three games last year before<br />
finally breaking out, scoring 35 in<br />
a three-point loss at Bayard.<br />
But the Eagles were able to win<br />
their next two games, averaging<br />
40 points while surrendering 21<br />
points per game in the two wins.<br />
Another two losses followed the<br />
wins before they finished the<br />
season with a 58-13 win over<br />
Sandy Creek.<br />
The big problem for the Eagles<br />
this season will likely be depth<br />
and experience. As mentioned<br />
earlier, just two starters return<br />
on offense and defense — OG/<br />
DT Jose Olivas and TE/DE Chase<br />
Becker.<br />
Sophomore Jaden Quinn<br />
could be the team’s starting<br />
quarterback, with seniors Riley<br />
Mustin and Chase Becker his<br />
likely targets. Outside of that,<br />
Tobey and the Eagles will have<br />
to figure out who can step up<br />
and fill the holes in the roster.<br />
The Eagles will open the <strong>2017</strong><br />
season on the road when they<br />
take on Bridgeport on Aug. 25.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jose Olivas (5’10” 260 lbs) Sr. G/<br />
DT<br />
Chase Becker (6’3” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/DE<br />
Jaden Guinn (6’ 165 lbs) Soph.<br />
QB<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Bridgeport<br />
9/1 Hershey<br />
9/8 @ Minden<br />
9/15 Bayard<br />
9/22 @ Gibbon<br />
9/29 Wood River<br />
10/6 @ Doniphan-Trumbull<br />
10/13 Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
10/20 @ Sandy Creek<br />
In 2016, Southwest finished with<br />
a 2-6 record in Class D1 under<br />
the direction of Nick Brost.<br />
Besides going 6-3 in 2015, the<br />
Roughriders have finished<br />
under .500 every year since 2007.<br />
However, the team returns a lot<br />
of starters this year and Brost<br />
is optimistic <strong>2017</strong> can propel<br />
the school’s football program<br />
forward.<br />
“We go into every year hoping<br />
for success, hoping to win more<br />
games than we lose, of course.<br />
But our schedule is really tough,<br />
same as last year. All the teams<br />
that are on our schedule are<br />
going to be very competitive. We<br />
have the potential to be really<br />
competitive in all of our games.<br />
It will just be a few minutes<br />
of each game that determine<br />
whether we win or lose,” Brost<br />
said.<br />
Returning seniors, quarterback<br />
Ryan Van Pelt and backs Logan<br />
Greenlee and Cody Downey, will<br />
lead this year’s offense.<br />
“We like to run the ball and<br />
in the past we’ve always ran<br />
the ball a lot. (We are) really<br />
dependent on our fullback<br />
and tailback to do a lot of the<br />
work for us,” Brost said. “We’ll<br />
probably be primarily a running<br />
team again but we always like to<br />
be kind of multidimensional and<br />
be able to throw the ball and get<br />
the ball in when the opportunity<br />
presents itself.”<br />
After losing every game on the<br />
road last season, the Roughriders<br />
defense is an area of focus for<br />
<strong>2017</strong>. The team allowed an<br />
average 47 points per game and<br />
scored 31.5.<br />
“Defense is where we need to<br />
have to improve the most off<br />
of last season. We have a lot of<br />
starters returning on offense so<br />
defensively we’re going to look<br />
different than we have in the<br />
past,” Brost said.<br />
Although, the coaching staff<br />
believes the team can pride itself<br />
on the experience from the front<br />
four on defense.<br />
A major change for Southwest<br />
this season is the switching up of<br />
leadership and coaching on the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Sutherland<br />
9/1 @ Overton<br />
9/9 Perkins County<br />
9/22 @ Dundy County-Stratton<br />
9/29 Medicine Valley<br />
10/6 @ Cambridge<br />
10/13 @ Bertrand<br />
10/19 Alma<br />
team.<br />
“We’re replacing a new coach,<br />
so we have a new offensive and<br />
defensive line coach. And so<br />
that will be interesting to see<br />
how that kind of works out,”<br />
Brost said. “So I think that area is<br />
going to be our biggest question<br />
mark going into the season.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Ryan Van Pelt (6’0” 155 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/S<br />
Derek Greenlee (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/LB<br />
Tanner Brooks (6’2” 215 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 3-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 6<br />
Head Coach: Darren Tobey<br />
Career Record: 4-5<br />
Team Name: Roughriders<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Nick Brost<br />
Career Record: 13-29<br />
Assistant Coaches: Marcus Bish,<br />
Christian Arterburn<br />
Rehab locations in Arapahoe, 658 Pine Street, 308-962-5402 & Cambridge, 1305 Hwy 6/34, 308-697-4718<br />
192 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 193
By: Megan McGill<br />
ST. MARY’S CATHOLICCARDINALS<br />
After losing only one senior to<br />
graduation last year, St. Mary’s<br />
finished the 2016 season 8-2<br />
with essentially their entire<br />
team in tact. Losing six starters<br />
to graduation and one transfer,<br />
St. Mary’s will only return<br />
two starters on both offense<br />
and defense, putting them in a<br />
much different situation than<br />
last fall.<br />
Head coach Tony Allen will be<br />
looking for fresh faces to fill<br />
positions at outside linebacker,<br />
defensive tackle, fullback,<br />
and nose guard just to name<br />
a few. Although the Cardinals<br />
won’t have a lot of experience<br />
this time around, Allen is still<br />
confident in his roster.<br />
“Even though we lost seven<br />
starters, a lot of the returners<br />
played meaningful minutes,”<br />
he said.<br />
The most experienced name on<br />
the roster will be senior Taylan<br />
Reiser (5’8” 205 lbs). Reiser<br />
is a two-year starter who will<br />
see action at outside guard,<br />
defensive tackle and middle<br />
linebacker. Last season Reiser<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Cardinals<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 8-2<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Tony Allen<br />
Career Record: 102-69<br />
Assistant Coach: Darold<br />
Schneider<br />
recorded 47 tackles and one<br />
sack. Reiser will likely settle<br />
into a leadership role come this<br />
fall.<br />
The Cardinals offense that<br />
rushed for 219.9 yards a game<br />
will look to running back<br />
Jared Atkeson (5’9” 170 lbs).<br />
The senior has never started,<br />
but still put up some good<br />
numbers last season rushing<br />
for 232 yards. Atkeson will also<br />
see time on defense at outside<br />
linebacker. The senior recorded<br />
66 tackles last fall. Senior Tate<br />
Shoemaker (5’11” 160lbs) and<br />
junior Zach Crumly (5’8” 165<br />
lbs) will join Atkeson at outside<br />
linebacker.<br />
Grady Semin (6’ 3” 170 lbs) will<br />
be another name to watch out<br />
for. Never being in a starting<br />
role, his chances this year look<br />
pretty good. In 2016 he had 134<br />
yards on the ground and 79<br />
receiving yards. He’ll make an<br />
impact on defense at safety too,<br />
where he racked up 18 total<br />
tackles. Allen said he will likely<br />
be the team’s new quarterback.<br />
Cole Rosenkrans (6’1” 220 lbs)<br />
will be another force on the<br />
3-1/4-2 defense. At 220 pounds,<br />
he’ll provide some size for the<br />
Cardinals at defensive tackle<br />
and offensive guard.<br />
With a brand new starting<br />
lineup will come more learning<br />
and a new team chemistry and<br />
identity.<br />
“We need to stay healthy,”<br />
Allen said. “We will have<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Allen<br />
8/31 @ Clearwater-Orchard<br />
9/7 Wausa<br />
9/21 @ Stuart<br />
9/29 @ Elkhorn Valley<br />
10/5 Bloomfield<br />
10/13 North Central<br />
10/19 @ Osmond<br />
new players learning new<br />
positions. We need to develop<br />
team cohesion with seven new<br />
starters.”<br />
The three-time state<br />
championship program knows<br />
what it takes to get to the<br />
playoffs. The Cardinals were<br />
knocked off by Blue Hill in the<br />
second round, 42-14. Losing<br />
just once in the regular season,<br />
this new Cardinal squad will<br />
have their work cut out for<br />
them this time around.<br />
St. Mary’s may lack in the<br />
experience category this<br />
year, but there will still be no<br />
shortage of drive and talent.<br />
The Cardinals will open their<br />
season on Aug. 25 at home<br />
against Allen.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Taylan Reiser (5’8” 205 lbs) Sr.<br />
OG/MLB/DT<br />
Jared Atkeson (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/OLB<br />
Grady Semin (6’3” 170 lbs) Jr.<br />
E/S<br />
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194 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 195
ST. PAULWILDCATS<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
Although St. Paul’s nice run in<br />
2016 came to an end in the state<br />
quarterfinals with a loss to Yutan,<br />
an eight-win season is nothing to<br />
be disappointed about. Last year<br />
was the team’s first as a member of<br />
Class C2, and the Wildcats showed<br />
that they can be a force to be<br />
reckoned with.<br />
Head Coach Rusty Fuller’s squad<br />
returns seven starters on each side<br />
of the ball this year, which looks<br />
poised to make another run to the<br />
state playoffs, one they’re hoping<br />
lasts longer this time around. But<br />
while the <strong>2017</strong> Wildcats will have<br />
plenty of experience, Fuller still<br />
expects some position competition.<br />
One of the spots likely up for<br />
grabs is quarterback. Senior Jarred<br />
Hulinsky has played under center<br />
in the past, but is expected to move<br />
to the backfield this year. That<br />
leaves freshman Jackson Seward<br />
and Junior Michael Allen, who<br />
started three games at quarterback<br />
last season, to compete for the job.<br />
The good news for whoever<br />
wins the job is he’ll have plenty<br />
of help from his supporting cast.<br />
Four offensive lineman return for<br />
the Wildcats, including two first<br />
team all-district players in Hunter<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wildcats<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 8-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Rusty Fuller<br />
Career Record: 11-18<br />
Assistant Coaches: Chris Smith,<br />
Derek Reinsch and Alex Egger<br />
Kocian and Col Fousek. Add in<br />
running back Miles Griffith, who<br />
earned all-state honorable mention,<br />
and the Wildcats have the makings<br />
of a dangerous offense, especially<br />
running the ball.<br />
“We have a lot of experience (and)<br />
depth,” Fuller said. “Those are<br />
good characteristics to develop a<br />
solid foundation.”<br />
It’s more than a solid start for a<br />
team that loves to run the ball.<br />
Opponents of the Wildcats will<br />
see a lot of the flexbone formation<br />
while the team lines up in a base<br />
4-4 defense. If the St. Paul defense<br />
plays like they did last year, the<br />
offense won’t need to score a<br />
bunch of points to win games. In<br />
2016, the Wildcats allowed no more<br />
than 26 points in any game before<br />
giving up 39 in their season-ending<br />
loss to Yutan. They also had three<br />
shutouts.<br />
Kocian anchors the defensive line,<br />
Fousek the linebacking core, and<br />
Griffith the secondary of an even<br />
more experienced Wildcat defense.<br />
So what does a seemingly solid<br />
team need to work on to have a<br />
successful season?<br />
“We need to establish a<br />
quarterback and solid option run<br />
game,” Fuller said. “If we can get<br />
our ground game going and have<br />
success early in the season, then<br />
our confidence will grow and we<br />
could be scary.”<br />
Yes, St. Paul is poised to strike fear<br />
into several teams. But who scares<br />
St. Paul? Well, we don’t know that,<br />
but Valentine and Arcadia-Loup<br />
City will certainly pose threats<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Wood River<br />
9/1 Cross County<br />
9/8 @ Valentine<br />
9/15 Gibbon<br />
9/22 Arcadia-Loup City<br />
9/29 @ Centennial<br />
10/6 @ Centura<br />
10/13 Twin River<br />
10/20 @ Central City<br />
to the Wildcats. The team will<br />
also likely be looking for revenge<br />
against Centennial after a narrow<br />
loss at home last season. But Fuller<br />
doesn’t want those teams to be<br />
the focus, and instead wants the<br />
team to just focus on playing good<br />
football.<br />
“The biggest challenges we face are<br />
ourselves,” Fuller said. “Too many<br />
times we had mental lapses last<br />
year that led to turnovers. We have<br />
good physical kids with a great<br />
work ethic.”<br />
If the Wildcats can limit those<br />
costly mistakes and catch up with<br />
the mental part of the game, Fuller<br />
has good reason to believe the team<br />
will do just fine.<br />
We’ll see Fuller and his Wildcats<br />
kick the season off on the road<br />
against Wood River on Aug. 25.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Tanner Wroblewski (5’9” 160 lbs)<br />
Sr. QB/CB<br />
Hunter Kocian (5’9” 215 lbs) Sr.<br />
DT/G<br />
Parker Klinginsmith (5’11” 165 lbs)<br />
Sr. FB/OLB<br />
608 Howard Ave, St Paul, NE 68873<br />
308-754-4611<br />
CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEADER<br />
196 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 197
STUARTBRONCOS<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
The Stuart Broncos enter the <strong>2017</strong><br />
season with high expectations<br />
following a 3-5 2016 campaign in<br />
Coach Colin Schurmans first year<br />
at the helm. The Broncos made the<br />
playoffs in 2015, and after missing<br />
out on the postseason last fall, the<br />
goal this year is simple — get back.<br />
Last season, Schurman and the<br />
Broncos started the campaign 2-0<br />
with big double-digit wins over<br />
Wausa and Central Valley, but after<br />
that the team ran into some trouble.<br />
In their four-game losing streak, the<br />
Broncos were outscored 173 to 32.<br />
All four of the games were against<br />
playoff teams in Twin Loup, St.<br />
Marys, Osmond and North Central.<br />
This season the Broncos return<br />
eight total starters with four<br />
coming back on each side of the<br />
ball. Maybe none as important as<br />
quarterback Ethan Sattler, running<br />
back Chance Engel, and tight end<br />
Isaac Steinhauser.<br />
“I like the group of guys we have<br />
coming back,” Schurman said.<br />
“Our quarterback, running back,<br />
and tight end are all coming back<br />
this year. Those three were a big<br />
part of our offense last season and<br />
will be again this year with a year<br />
of experience under their belts.”<br />
Last year the Broncos offense was<br />
incredibly balanced, averaging<br />
136.9 yards rushing per game, 139.4<br />
yards passing per game and 33.3<br />
points. Between Sattler, Engel and<br />
Steinhauser, the team will return 25<br />
touchdowns.<br />
“I like how much experience we<br />
have coming back,” Schurman<br />
said. “Our junior class got a lot of<br />
playing time last season and were<br />
our playmakers on both offense<br />
and defense. I like how we have<br />
those playmakers coming back.”<br />
Defensively the team’s 4-4 style<br />
gave up on average 36.9 points<br />
per game. This season Schurman<br />
knows what he needs out of his<br />
inexperienced group — leadership.<br />
“We will have to have guys step<br />
up and fill the linebackers and<br />
defensive backs positions. We have<br />
some good talent coming up so it’s<br />
definitely something that we can<br />
do.”<br />
If Schurman is looking for<br />
defensive leadership again, he<br />
knows where to look — Engel, who<br />
had 120 tackles last season, led the<br />
team.<br />
The team shouldn’t expect a cake<br />
walk if they want to return to<br />
the postseason with yet another<br />
gauntlet in <strong>2017</strong>. The schedule will<br />
feature Twin Loup in week three<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Wausa<br />
8/31 Central Valley<br />
9/8 @ Twin Loup<br />
9/21 St. Mary’s<br />
9/29 @ Osmond<br />
10/5 @ North Central<br />
10/13 Elkhorn Valley<br />
10/19 Bloomfield<br />
followed by St. Mary’s, Osmond<br />
and North Central.<br />
Even with the tough schedule<br />
staring them down, Coach<br />
Schurman knows his guys are<br />
prepared for the task ahead of<br />
them. He said, “We will have some<br />
young players on the field this year<br />
that didn’t play much last season.<br />
They have the potential to be big<br />
time players for us.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Ethan Sattler (5’10’’ 160 lbs) Jr. QB<br />
Chance Engel (5’11’’ 185 lbs) Jr. RB/<br />
LB<br />
Isaac Steinhauser (6’3’’ 190 lbs) Jr.<br />
TE/DE<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 3-5<br />
Playoff Appearances: 16<br />
Head Coach: Colin Schurman<br />
Career Record: 3-5<br />
Assistant Coaches: Doug Erb, Jon<br />
Schmaderer<br />
KELLY & BETH MURPHY<br />
402.924.3330 • U.S. HWY 20 STUART, NE<br />
198 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 199
SUPERIORWILDCATS<br />
By: Joe Musso<br />
The Superior Wildcats are<br />
coming off of a 5-3 record in<br />
2016, but head coach Brandon<br />
Seigel and company aren’t<br />
satisfied with the way the<br />
season ended. The Wildcats<br />
strung together a four-game<br />
winning streak in the middle of<br />
the season but stumbled to a 1-2<br />
finish. Nonetheless, 2016 was a<br />
huge improvement from their<br />
1-8 showing a year prior.<br />
Seigel hopes to build more<br />
momentum for the program in<br />
<strong>2017</strong>.<br />
This will be Seigel’s fourth<br />
season as head coach of the<br />
Wildcats, and the Superior staff<br />
will have their work cut out for<br />
them. The Wildcats graduated<br />
16 of 22 starters.<br />
Seigel knows the task won’t be<br />
easy.<br />
“After graduating eight seniors<br />
from last season’s team, we are<br />
looking to rebuild our varsity<br />
roster,” he said. “We have<br />
quality returning skill players,<br />
our challenge will be rebuilding<br />
our offensive and defensive<br />
lines, as well as finding a<br />
quarterback to lead the offensive<br />
side of the ball.”<br />
Those quality position players<br />
are highlighted by senior<br />
running back Trey Fierstein.<br />
Fierstein racked up 383 yards<br />
on just 55 carries in 2016.<br />
The talented tailback also<br />
accounted for six touchdowns.<br />
After playing second fiddle in<br />
his junior season, Fierstein is<br />
looking forward to the lion’s<br />
share of the touches in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“Trey is an explosive running<br />
back with the ability to carry<br />
a team with his talent,” Seigel<br />
said. “He will be a crucial part<br />
of our offense this season.”<br />
The Wildcats will lean on<br />
the two-headed monster of<br />
Fierstein and Chase Morris.<br />
Morris provides the thunder to<br />
Fierstein’s lightning. Morris had<br />
three touchdowns of his own in<br />
2016 and will take on a bigger<br />
workload this season.<br />
“Chase is a tough running kid<br />
who’s physicality is something<br />
we will try to build off of on<br />
both sides of the ball,” Seigel<br />
said.<br />
Morris had 41 tackles at the<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Tri County<br />
9/1 Ravenna<br />
9/8 @ Diller-Odell<br />
9/22 @ Franklin<br />
9/29 McCool Junction<br />
10/6 @ Heartland<br />
10/13 Kenesaw<br />
10/20 @ Thayer Central<br />
linebacker position last season.<br />
Coach Seigel and the Wildcats<br />
came close last season, but the<br />
quest to return to the playoffs<br />
continues. Superior has not been<br />
to the NSAA playoffs since 2010,<br />
and their last playoff win came<br />
in 2007. The program is still<br />
without a state title.<br />
The Wildcats kick off the season<br />
at home versus Tri County.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Trey Fierstein (5’9” 150 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/S<br />
Chase Morris (6’0” 150 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
John Sullivan (6’2” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/DE<br />
Kenny’s Lumber & Farm Supply<br />
Providing Superior Lumber<br />
www.kennylumber.doitbest.com<br />
155 N. Central Ave.<br />
Superior, NE 68978<br />
PHONE:<br />
FAX:<br />
402-879-3296<br />
402-879-3297<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wildcats<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 5-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 9<br />
Head Coach: Brandon Siegel<br />
Career Record: 8-18<br />
Assistant Coach: Syd Shepler<br />
348 N Central Ave - Superior, NE - 402-879-4234<br />
200 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 201
SUTTONMUSTANGS<br />
PROPANE - GAS - DIESEL - FERTILIZER - GRAIN - FLATBED HAULING<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
Sutton head coach Steve Ramer<br />
is no stranger to success. In<br />
his seven years leading the<br />
Mustangs, he has posted a 53-<br />
20 record while leading the<br />
program to the playoffs in each<br />
season. Ramer’s <strong>2017</strong> squad<br />
should again contend for a<br />
postseason berth in Class C2,<br />
as Sutton brings back a large<br />
number of starters on both sides<br />
of the ball from a team that went<br />
6-4 last season.<br />
The Mustangs return two<br />
players with experience at the<br />
quarterback position in junior<br />
Jordan Davis (6’1” 185 lbs) and<br />
senior Chandler Stone (5’11”<br />
170 lbs). Last season’s leading<br />
rusher, Garrett Leach, has moved<br />
on, but talent still remains in the<br />
backfield. Junior Brett Simonsen<br />
dealt with injury in 2016 but still<br />
managed to rush for 339 yards<br />
on just 42 carries (8.1 avg) and<br />
score two touchdowns. Fellow<br />
junior James Griess (34 Att, 307<br />
yards, 5 TD) and senior fullback<br />
Spencer Sanko (19 Att, 113 yards)<br />
give the Mustangs options<br />
for running the ball. Sutton<br />
features a rush-heavy attack,<br />
but senior wide receiver Nathan<br />
Hohensee is a player to watch.<br />
Hohensee hauled in 15 catches<br />
for 362 yards (24.1 avg) and two<br />
touchdowns last fall. Seniors<br />
Treygan Rafert (6’3” 220 lbs) and<br />
Sam Nuss (6’2” 190 lbs) anchor<br />
the offensive line.<br />
Defensively, Sutton’s strength<br />
comes at the linebacker<br />
position. Five players with<br />
starting experience are back<br />
for the Mustangs, led by Griess<br />
(88 total tackles), and fellow<br />
juniors Cameron Kleinschmidt<br />
(84 total tackles) and Jacob<br />
Rogers (62 total tackles). Rafert<br />
(42 total tackles) provides<br />
experience along the defensive<br />
line. Hohensee is a two-way<br />
player who can do it all for the<br />
Mustangs. He registered 59<br />
tackles and picked off five passes<br />
from the defensive back position<br />
in 2016.<br />
Sutton has the luxury of being<br />
an experienced, but still a young<br />
team in <strong>2017</strong>. The Mustangs<br />
have six starters back on offense<br />
and seven on defense but just<br />
five seniors are expected to see<br />
significant time. However, the<br />
junior class is a talented bunch<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Doniphan-Trumbull<br />
9/1 @ Malcolm<br />
9/8 Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
9/15 @ Sandy Creek<br />
9/22 Shelby-Rising City<br />
9/29 @ Cross County<br />
10/6 @ Central City<br />
10/13 Fillmore Central<br />
10/20 @ Centennial<br />
with players like Simonsen,<br />
Rogers, and Griess in the mix.<br />
Sutton should again contend<br />
for a playoff spot this fall and<br />
the Mustangs could even win a<br />
game or two in the postseason.<br />
But this season could be more<br />
about laying the groundwork for<br />
a potential state championship<br />
run in 2018.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Nathan Hohensee (6’3” 185 lbs)<br />
Sr. WR/DB<br />
Treygan Rafert (6’3” 220 lbs) Sr.<br />
OL/DL<br />
James Griess (5’10” 170 lbs) Jr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
George Brothers Propane & Fertilizer<br />
George Bros., Inc. - Trucking<br />
George’s 66 Easy Step<br />
3G Car Wash<br />
George’s Aerial Spraying<br />
SUTTON, NE - 1.800.228.4008<br />
YOUR DAILY HUSKER COVERAGE ALL SEASON LONG<br />
HIGHLIGHTS • INTERVIEWS • ANALYSIS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Mustangs<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 6-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 18<br />
Head Coach: Steve Ramer<br />
Career Record: 131-64<br />
Assistant Coaches: Craig Rafert,<br />
Chad Wiseman<br />
202 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 203
THAYER CENTRALTITANS<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
Thayer Central head coach<br />
Jereme Jones is hoping his<br />
second season with the Titans<br />
gets off to a better start than the<br />
first. TC lost its first five games<br />
before winning two of three to<br />
end the 2016 campaign. Despite<br />
the loss of seven seniors, the<br />
Titans have a number of talented<br />
players returning who could help<br />
improve on last year’s win total.<br />
“I like the way they bought into<br />
our culture last season...and really<br />
improved,” Jones said.<br />
Senior quarterback Max Madsen<br />
is back to lead the offense. He<br />
threw for 1,076 yards and 13<br />
touchdowns as a junior. Thayer<br />
Central will have a new-look<br />
back field as the top two rushers<br />
from last season have graduated.<br />
Madsen should have a talented<br />
and experienced group of passcatchers<br />
to throw the ball to.<br />
Juniors Zach Koss (14 rec, 203<br />
yards, 3 TDs) and Jarod Hergott<br />
(5 rec, 80 yards, 1 TD) are back,<br />
along with senior tight end Seth<br />
Mumford (8 rec,109 yards, 1 TD).<br />
Junior center Shevin Solomon<br />
(5’9” 210 lbs) is the only returning<br />
starter up front but his classmates<br />
Keith Hergott (6’1” 180 lbs),<br />
Logan Luehring (5’10” 205 lbs),<br />
Taylor Koss (5’11” 160 lbs), and<br />
sophomore Carter Miller (5’8”<br />
215 lbs) are expected to contribute<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
TC saw vast improvement on<br />
defense at the end of the 2016<br />
season, allowing just 15.3 points<br />
per game over the final three<br />
contests after surrendering 54.6<br />
in the first five games. Four<br />
starters return led by Mumford<br />
(77 total tackles, team-leader) at<br />
the linebacker position. Joining<br />
Mumford on the second level<br />
is fellow senior Tim Schulte (69<br />
total tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4 sacks).<br />
Senior Brendan Fangmeier (49<br />
total tackles, 1 sack) anchors the<br />
defensive line while sophomore<br />
defensive back Jackson Feulner<br />
(70 total tackles, 2.5 TFL)<br />
is coming off a sensational<br />
freshman season.<br />
Thayer Central has not been<br />
to the playoffs since 2013 and<br />
the Titans’ last two postseason<br />
appearances both ended in first<br />
round, shutout losses. The <strong>2017</strong><br />
version of Thayer Central football<br />
should see an improvement<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Johnson-Brock<br />
9/1 @ Tri County<br />
9/15 Diller-Odell<br />
9/22 Kenesaw<br />
9/29 @ Heartland<br />
10/6 Franklin<br />
10/13 @ McCool Junction<br />
10/20 Superior<br />
on last year’s 2-6 record and<br />
the squad could challenge for<br />
a playoff berth. But the Titans<br />
will need contributions from<br />
underclassmen who experienced<br />
success last season as TC’s JV<br />
team went undefeated in 2016.<br />
“I am excited to see them step up<br />
to new challenges this season and<br />
watch them grow,” said Jones.<br />
Thayer Central opens play Aug.<br />
25 at Johnson-Brock.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Max Madsen (6’0” 160 lbs) Sr. QB<br />
Seth Mumford (6’1” 170 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/LB<br />
Tim Schulte (6’1” 185 lbs) Sr. LB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 2-6<br />
Playoff Appearances: 10<br />
Head Coach: Jereme Jones<br />
Career Record: 43-46<br />
Assistant Coaches: Josh Lanik,<br />
Clint Havel, Justin Bornar<br />
We are your local community connection for high<br />
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240 N LINCOLN AVE. HEBRON, NE • 402.768.6216<br />
204 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 205
TRI COUNTYTROJANS<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
Playing in the postseason is<br />
becoming a common occurrence<br />
for Tri County. After earning<br />
a spot in the Class D1 playoffs<br />
in 2016, the Trojans have now<br />
played past the regular season<br />
seven times since 2008. The <strong>2017</strong><br />
version of Tri County football<br />
has the pieces in place to make a<br />
return to the postseason in <strong>2017</strong>.<br />
“I think we have some tough<br />
kids that enjoy playing physical<br />
football,” said head coach Brett<br />
Scheiding. “I love that culture,<br />
even when we spread teams<br />
out.”<br />
The Trojans have weapons on<br />
offense that should help Tri<br />
County score consistently this<br />
season. Junior quarterback<br />
Creighton Niemeyer (473<br />
passing yards, 133 rushing yds,<br />
6 TD in 2016) is back to lead the<br />
attack. Playing behind him in the<br />
backfield is senior running back<br />
Cooper Smith (618 rushing yds,<br />
133 receiving yds, 16 TD) who<br />
Scheiding describes as an “allstate<br />
caliber” player. Senior tight<br />
end Trevin Williams (15 rec, 213<br />
yds, 2 TD) gives the Trojans an<br />
experienced pass-catcher. Senior<br />
guard Chase Barnts (6’4” 210 lbs)<br />
anchors the offensive line.<br />
Smith is a force for the Trojans on<br />
defense. The middle linebacker<br />
registered 106 total tackles<br />
and 15.5 tackles for loss last<br />
fall. Teams might have trouble<br />
throwing the ball against<br />
Tri County this season with<br />
Williams (65 total tkls, 4 TFL,<br />
2 INT) and Niemeyer (46 total<br />
tkls) patrolling the secondary.<br />
Tri County has holes to fill along<br />
the defensive front, but seniors<br />
Dylan Seibolt (6’0” 240 lbs) and<br />
Peter Spilker (5’8” 150 lbs) along<br />
with junior Benton Gustafson<br />
(6’2” 280 lbs) have all played<br />
along the defensive line.<br />
Williams is a jack-of-all-trades<br />
and is expected to serve as both<br />
the punter and kicker for the<br />
upcoming season.<br />
While Tri County doesn’t return<br />
a large number of starters, the<br />
Trojans have a core group who<br />
are impact players on both<br />
sides of the ball led by Smith.<br />
If Tri County can get solid<br />
contributions from newcomers,<br />
they could again be a playoff<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Superior<br />
9/1 Thayer Central<br />
9/8 @ BDS<br />
9/15 High Plains Community<br />
9/22 @ Lourdes Central Catholic<br />
9/29 @ Cedar Bluffs<br />
10/6 Johnson-Brock<br />
10/19 Diller-Odell<br />
team in <strong>2017</strong> and potentially<br />
make a postseason run.<br />
“We have some great, young and<br />
athletic numbers coming and<br />
they are excited to compete,”<br />
said Scheiding. “I think guys<br />
will really be looking to find<br />
ways to step into roles we have<br />
available.”<br />
Key Players:<br />
Cooper Smith (6’1” 195 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Creighton Niemeyer (6’2” 165<br />
lbs) Jr. QB/DB<br />
Trevin Williams (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr.<br />
TE/DB<br />
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OUR TEAM COVERING<br />
YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG<br />
KEVIN SJUTS • SPORTS DIRECTOR<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Trojans<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 6-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 18<br />
Head Coach: Brett Scheiding<br />
Career Record: 18-19<br />
Assistant Coaches: Delva Smith,<br />
Ray Brown, Anthony Drewes<br />
FRIDAYS AT 10 PM<br />
206 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 207
TWIN LOUPWOLVES<br />
TWIN RIVERTITANS<br />
By: Chelsea Croft<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
The Twin Loup Wolves were able<br />
to turn the program around in<br />
2016 after several losing seasons.<br />
Head coach Mike Kozeal has lead<br />
the program to 143 wins and 60<br />
losses during his time in Sargent.<br />
Reaching an impressive 12-1<br />
record last season, the Wolves<br />
outscored their opponents by an<br />
average of 34 points per game. In<br />
addition, limiting other teams to<br />
an average of 14.4 points per game<br />
speaks a lot about the strength of<br />
their defense.<br />
“Our defense was very good last<br />
year and we will need to replace<br />
four three-year-starters,” Kozeal<br />
said.<br />
That one loss in 2016 was to Falls<br />
City Sacred Heart in the state<br />
championship. This year they feel<br />
they can bring home the school’s<br />
second state football title.<br />
“We need to take the next step<br />
and continue to improve. We are<br />
good enough to go a long way in<br />
the playoffs, how far is yet to be<br />
determined,” Kozeal added.<br />
Twin Loup only lost four players<br />
this season and have most of their<br />
starters coming back with a lot of<br />
experience.<br />
“Depth and experience, we have<br />
numerous players that could<br />
step in and help,” Kozeal said.<br />
“We have a returning all-state RB<br />
(Horky) and two-year starter at<br />
QB (Oxford) and an all-state kicker<br />
(Kraus). We also have six or seven<br />
kids capable of playing in the<br />
line.”<br />
Alex Horky is a key player<br />
for the team, playing multiple<br />
positions including special teams<br />
as a kickoff/punt returner. He<br />
has 198 career tackles and four<br />
interceptions as a safety. He also<br />
racked up 1,950 career rushing<br />
yards along with 43 touchdowns<br />
at running back. That helps the<br />
team’s average of completing 261<br />
rushing yards a game, which is<br />
the strong point of Twin Loup’s<br />
offense.<br />
They only averaged 77 passing<br />
yards per game in 2016, and that’s<br />
an area that can improve upon.<br />
Quarterback Rowdy Oxford is<br />
coming into <strong>2017</strong> with 954 passing<br />
yards, 15 touchdowns and only<br />
two interceptions in his career.<br />
Twin Loup is expecting tough<br />
competition from all of its<br />
opponents this season, but are<br />
looking for the biggest battle to be<br />
with Sandhills-Thedford.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/24 Sandhills/Thedford<br />
9/1 @ Anselmo-Merna<br />
9/8 Stuart<br />
9/15 @ North Central<br />
9/22 Sumner-Eddyville-Miller<br />
9/29 Pleasanton<br />
10/6 @ Ansley-Litchfield<br />
10/13 @ Central Valley<br />
In 2016, the Knights challenged<br />
the Wolves the most out of the<br />
other seven regular season teams.<br />
In the regular season, they put<br />
up the most points against Twin<br />
Loup than any other competition<br />
and limited the Wolves, scoring<br />
more than any other school.<br />
That matchup against Sandhills-<br />
Thedford this season will be the<br />
season opener at home on Aug. 24.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Alex Horky (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. RB/S<br />
Rowdy Oxford (6’3” 185 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB<br />
Hunter Kraus (6’2” 175 lbs) Sr.<br />
OLB/K/P/E<br />
Twin River is looking to snap a 10-<br />
game losing streak as it enters the<br />
upcoming season. The Titans had<br />
a 0-9 record in 2016, yet optimism<br />
surrounds Todd Connelly’s<br />
program.<br />
“We return a lot of young men<br />
that played a lot for us,” Connelly<br />
said. “For most of them, they saw<br />
their first varsity experience last<br />
year. Hopefully the experience<br />
will provide us a jump start to this<br />
season.”<br />
Most of that experience is in<br />
Twin River’s junior class. Jaxson<br />
Hinkle, Curtis Miller and Dylan<br />
Loewe will all become two-year<br />
starters this year. Hinkle returns<br />
as the Titans’ quarterback after<br />
completing 31 of 70 passes last<br />
season.<br />
Hinkle hopes to lead an offensive<br />
resurgence at Twin River. The<br />
Titans were shut out five times<br />
in 2016, including the final four<br />
games of the season. Offensively,<br />
Twin River averaged just 111 yards<br />
per game while competing in the<br />
mighty C2-6 district.<br />
“We need to find some<br />
playmakers,” Connelly said. “The<br />
young players we have need to<br />
make a big step up this year.”<br />
Connelly added developing his<br />
offensive line will be key to Twin<br />
River’s success.<br />
Up front, the Titans have four<br />
returning starters, as David Kunes,<br />
Dylan Loewe, Jacob Czarnick and<br />
Tucker Alexander will anchor<br />
the line. Alexander, along with<br />
classmate Grant Swantick, saw<br />
varsity action as freshmen last<br />
year.<br />
Overall, Twin River has starters<br />
returning at 13 different positions.<br />
Jayden Schoder is perhaps the<br />
most talented player on the Titans’<br />
roster. Schroder will likely be<br />
the focal point of Twin River’s<br />
offense. He rushed for 103 yards<br />
on 27 attempts last year. Corbin<br />
Miller will also be an option out<br />
of the backfield. The Schroder-<br />
Miller combo looks to replace the<br />
production of Justyce Stankoski<br />
and Beau Wattier, who made up<br />
more than half of Twin River’s<br />
rushing yardage last year.<br />
The Titans’ schedule opens with<br />
a home game against Shelby-<br />
Rising City. The schools will<br />
meet on opening night for the<br />
fourth straight year. Twin River’s<br />
toughest stretch comes during the<br />
middle of the season. The Titans<br />
face returning playoff qualifiers<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Shelby-Rising City<br />
9/1 @ Lutheran High Northeast<br />
9/8 @ Hartington Cedar Catholic<br />
9/15 Crofton<br />
9/22 @ Cross County<br />
9/29 Central City<br />
10/6 Arcadia-Loup City<br />
10/13 @ St. Paul<br />
10/20 @ Centura<br />
in four straight weeks, starting<br />
with a Sept. 9 match-up against<br />
Hartington Cedar Catholic. The<br />
following week, the Titans host<br />
Crofton, who reached the Class C2<br />
championship game last fall.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jayden Schroder (5’10” 155 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB/LB<br />
Curtis Miller (5’8” 145 lbs) Jr. RB/<br />
DB<br />
Dylan Loewe (5’11” 175 lbs) Jr.<br />
OL/DE<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolves<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 12-1<br />
Head Coach: Mike Kozeal<br />
Career Record: 143-60<br />
Assistant Coaches: Rusty<br />
Ruppert, Zane Young, Cory Beran<br />
307 S Highway 183 • Sargent, NE• 308-527-3440<br />
GOOD LUCK TO THE TWIN LOUP WOLVES!<br />
Team Name: Titans<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 0-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 1<br />
Head Coach: Todd Connelly<br />
Career Record: 9-34<br />
Assistant Coaches: Josh Majerus<br />
and Dan Parry<br />
Best of luck this season!<br />
402.993.2231 • 502 Willard Ave, Genoa, NE • www.genoacb.com<br />
208 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 209
WAUNETA-PALISADEBRONCOS<br />
WAVERLYVIKINGS<br />
By: Derek Kopp<br />
By: TJ Eck<br />
Following a jump to eight-man<br />
football in 2016, the Wauneta-<br />
Palisade Broncos made it to the<br />
playoffs in their first year and<br />
finished with a winning record of<br />
5-4.<br />
The team is led by co-head<br />
coaches in University of Nebraska<br />
at Kearney graduate Randy Geier<br />
and Hastings College graduate<br />
Joseph Frecks. The tandem enter<br />
the season with a combined record<br />
of 70-52 and 15 years of coaching<br />
experience between them.<br />
Last season the Broncos came out<br />
of the gate on fire, winning four<br />
of their first five games, but went<br />
0-3 against playoff teams. The<br />
team enters <strong>2017</strong> with a bevy of<br />
returners from that group.<br />
“We will still be a very young<br />
football team, and expect to start<br />
several sophomores and juniors.<br />
However, we do have some solid<br />
experience returning,” Geier and<br />
Frecks said.<br />
The Broncos’ power offense last<br />
season was exactly that, powerful.<br />
The team averaged less than 50<br />
yards passing a game but put up<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Broncos<br />
Class: D2<br />
2016 Record: 5-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 8<br />
Head Coach: Randy Geier/Joseph<br />
Frecks<br />
Career Record: Geier (169-105)/<br />
Frecks (25-20)<br />
Assistant Coach: Mark Frecks<br />
over 220 yards per game on the<br />
ground. That rushing game was<br />
led by then freshman and now<br />
sophomore Ty Duvel, who had<br />
106 attempts and 617 yards to go<br />
along with eight touchdowns.<br />
While the team is expected to keep<br />
the ball on the ground, they do<br />
have their leading receiver back in<br />
Cash Yearous. The senior caught<br />
everything in his direction last<br />
season, hauling in more receptions<br />
(21) and touchdowns (4) than<br />
the rest of the wide receivers<br />
combined.<br />
Much like his dominating<br />
performances on offense, he<br />
brings it on the other side of<br />
the ball as well. Yearous led the<br />
Broncos with 49 solo tackles and<br />
62 total tackles, 11 of them for a<br />
loss, three interceptions, and two<br />
fumble recoveries.<br />
“(Cash) is a very aggressive player<br />
on offense and defense who plays<br />
much bigger than his size. Great<br />
leader, outstanding work ethic<br />
and heart. Just an overall great kid<br />
who is ready for an outstanding<br />
senior season,” Geier and Frecks<br />
said.<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
9/1 Leyton<br />
9/8 @ Creek Valley<br />
9/15 Stapleton<br />
9/22 @ Arapahoe<br />
9/28 Wallace<br />
10/6 @ Eustis-Farnam<br />
10/13 Loomis<br />
10/19 @ Hitchcock County<br />
Yearous will have some help<br />
on defense with sophomore<br />
Austen Rozelle behind him at the<br />
linebacker position. Rozelle tied<br />
Yearous last season for the team<br />
lead in tackles with 62.<br />
This season, the Broncos will<br />
not play a playoff team until<br />
Arapahoe in week four, and after<br />
that will have a tough two-game<br />
stretch, facing Eustis-Farnam and<br />
Loomis in back-to-back weeks.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Cash Yearous (5’11’’ 155 lbs) Sr.<br />
DE/DB<br />
Austen Rozelle (5’11’’ 175 lbs)<br />
Soph. B/LB<br />
Ty Duvel (6’1’’ 170 lbs) Soph. RB<br />
Waverly is hoping what head<br />
coach Tim Williams called<br />
“growing pains” in 2016 will<br />
result in growth for the <strong>2017</strong><br />
season. The Vikings bring back<br />
16 starters, many who played<br />
significant roles as sophomores<br />
last fall.<br />
“I feel really good about the<br />
experience the younger kids got<br />
(in 2016),” Williams said.<br />
The Vikings are hoping last<br />
season’s experience can lead to<br />
more wins this year as Waverly<br />
looks to bounce back from a 2-7<br />
record.<br />
In an effort to improve during<br />
the off-season, members of the<br />
team traveled to Colorado for a<br />
team camp in June. 55 Waverly<br />
players were in attendance<br />
and after a bit of a slow start,<br />
Williams said the Vikings were<br />
one of the top teams in terms of<br />
fundamentals by the end of the<br />
camp.<br />
Waverly has two solid options<br />
at the quarterback position.<br />
Juniors Rhett Jordon (381<br />
passing yds, 5 total TD in<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Vikings<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 2-7<br />
Playoff Appearances: 17<br />
Head Coach: Tim Williams<br />
Career Record: 11-18<br />
Assistant Coaches: Brian Benson, Mark<br />
Robles, Allen Osborn, Matt Brewer,<br />
Brian Jackson, Kyle Branum, Joe Dalton,<br />
Aaron Jones<br />
2016) and Ben Carter provide<br />
the Vikings with two athletic<br />
options who can run the offense.<br />
Regardless of who wins the QB<br />
battle, both players are expected<br />
to see the field this fall.<br />
Junior wide receiver Jay<br />
Adams (25 rec, 369 yds, 3<br />
TD) is back after leading the<br />
Vikings in receiving yards as a<br />
sophomore. The offensive line<br />
could be a strength in <strong>2017</strong> as<br />
the unit is anchored by three<br />
returning starters in seniors<br />
Alex Schmailzl (5’10” 265 lbs),<br />
Damien Wylder (5’10” 240 lbs),<br />
and junior Logan Schuelke (6’0”<br />
220 lbs).<br />
Nine starters return on defense<br />
for a unit that struggled at<br />
times in 2016, allowing 26.2<br />
points per game. While last<br />
year’s returning tackler Brenden<br />
Corning has moved on, talent<br />
remains on the defensive side of<br />
the ball. Senior Hunter Lee (80<br />
total tkls, 6.5 TFL) and juniors<br />
Thatcher Kozal (69 total tkls,<br />
4 TFL) and Schuelke (56 total<br />
tkls, 4 TFL) are back to man<br />
the linebacker position. Senior<br />
Jack Sharp (47 total tkls, 3 TFL)<br />
started at outside linebacker<br />
in 2016. Wylder (30 total tkls),<br />
Schmailzl, junior Kaleb Canoyer<br />
(5’7” 160 lbs), and senior<br />
Dalton Neeman (27 total tkl, 5<br />
TFL) provide depth along the<br />
defensive line. Jordon (39 total<br />
tkls, 2 INT) brings leadership<br />
and starting experience to the<br />
secondary.<br />
The present and future is bright<br />
for Waverly. The Vikings have<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Columbus<br />
9/1 Seward<br />
9/8 @ Aurora<br />
9/15 @ Bennington<br />
9/22 Nebraska City<br />
9/29 @ Elkhorn<br />
10/6 Beatrice<br />
10/13 Norris<br />
10/20 @ Crete<br />
a number of players with<br />
varsity experience who are only<br />
entering their junior season.<br />
After a disappointing 2016<br />
campaign, the Vikings could<br />
be poised to make a run at a<br />
playoff spot this fall. However,<br />
Waverly will have to navigate<br />
a tough schedule that includes<br />
road games at Aurora (9/8) and<br />
Elkhorn (9/29), and challenging<br />
home contests against Beatrice<br />
(10/6) and Norris (10/13).<br />
Although, Williams and the<br />
coaching staff are already seeing<br />
a payoff from last year’s bumpy<br />
ride.<br />
“I am really excited...there’s<br />
been a huge shift in attitude this<br />
summer,” Williams said.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Logan Schuelke (6’0” 220 lbs) Jr.<br />
OL/LB<br />
Jay Adams (5’9” 185 lbs) Jr. WR<br />
Alex Schmailzl (5’10” 265 lbs)<br />
Sr. OL/DL<br />
210 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 211
WEST HOLTHUSKIES<br />
By: Josh Skluzacek<br />
The West Holt Huskies seem<br />
primed for another strong<br />
season.<br />
In 2016, Steve Neptune’s squad<br />
went 5-3 in the regular season,<br />
picking up a first-round win<br />
in the playoffs over Dundy<br />
County-Stratton before losing in<br />
the second round to Chambers/<br />
Wheeler Central/Ewing.<br />
This season, the Huskies should<br />
be a little more prepared, as<br />
they’ve now experienced a<br />
season in Class D1 after making<br />
the move from Class C2 the<br />
previous year. The team returns<br />
senior starters at quarterback<br />
(Bryce Kerkman), wide receiver<br />
(Shayden Neptune) and running<br />
back (Mason Hale), with<br />
Kerkman and Hale also leading<br />
the charge on the defensive side<br />
of the ball.<br />
Coach Neptune said the<br />
returning skill players and<br />
bigger lineman have the team in<br />
a good position for a successful<br />
season. However, he noted the<br />
team will need a little luck and<br />
limited injuries, like most, to stay<br />
on track throughout the year.<br />
Offensively, the Huskies use<br />
multiple formations, but rely<br />
heavily on their running game.<br />
The team averaged more<br />
than 200 yards per game on<br />
the ground last season, while<br />
passing for just shy of 100 per<br />
game.<br />
Defensively, the team uses a 2-3<br />
formation, and gave up almost<br />
identical numbers, on average,<br />
as their offense put up.<br />
Still, with a year of experience<br />
in the class, the number of<br />
returning starters, and the<br />
improvement the team has<br />
shown, Neptune has reason<br />
to feel good about West Holt’s<br />
upcoming season.<br />
As far as challenges, Neptune<br />
wants to see his team get better<br />
at adjusting to what is thrown at<br />
them each week.<br />
“Playing better defense and<br />
adjusting quicker to the different<br />
types of offense we see week in<br />
and week out,” Neptune said.<br />
The Huskies will open the<br />
season at home on Aug. 25<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Plainview<br />
9/8 @ Niobrara/Verdigre<br />
9/15 @ Creighton<br />
9/22 Boyd County<br />
9/29 @ Burwell<br />
10/6 CWCE<br />
10/13 @ Clearwater-Orchard<br />
10/19 Ainsworth<br />
against Plainview.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Bryce Kerkman (5’9” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
QB/CB<br />
Shayden Neptune (6’1” 170 lbs)<br />
Sr. WR/FS<br />
Mason Hale (5’10” 175 lbs) Sr. RB<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Huskies<br />
Class: D1<br />
2016 Record: 6-4<br />
Playoff Appearances: 12<br />
Head Coach: Steve Neptune<br />
Career Record: 110-78<br />
Assistant Coaches: Chris Nemetz,<br />
Andy Osborn and Cassidy Kramer<br />
212 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 213
By: Joe Musso<br />
WILBER-CLATONIAWOLVERINES<br />
Heavy lies the head that wears the<br />
crown. But the Wilber-Clatonia<br />
Wolverines will happily bare that<br />
burden. Head coach Lynn Jurgens<br />
and the Wolverines are coming<br />
off the most successful season in<br />
program history. The team earned<br />
a perfect 13-0 record en route to<br />
their first ever state championship.<br />
The Wolverines were dominant<br />
in every sense of the word.<br />
Offensively, Wilber-Clatonia<br />
averaged nearly 40 points per<br />
game behind a robust rushing<br />
attack. The Wolverines averaged<br />
255 yards a game on the ground.<br />
And their offensive prowess was<br />
only outdone by their suffocating<br />
defense. Wilber surrendered a<br />
mere 55 points all season, an<br />
astounding 4.2 points per game.<br />
The Wolverine defense also tallied<br />
8 shutouts including a 20-0 effort<br />
in the Class C2 state title game.<br />
But last season is merely a fond<br />
memory. A repeat effort for the<br />
Wolverines won’t be easy. Coach<br />
Juegens’ squad only returns two<br />
offensive starters and four on the<br />
defensive side of the ball. The<br />
most notable void was left on the<br />
offensive and defensive lines, the<br />
group largely responsible for the<br />
dominant run game and stingy<br />
defense. Head Coach Lynn Jurgens<br />
will be tasked with replacing his<br />
entire offensive line from tackle to<br />
tackle.<br />
“We have to develop a line very<br />
quickly,” Jurgens said. “We need<br />
consistent quarterback play<br />
because we are very small, but<br />
hopefully team speed will be a<br />
strength.”<br />
While there will be fresh faces<br />
across the offensive line, the man<br />
running the ball will look to add<br />
to his already impressive resume.<br />
The Wolverine offense will lean<br />
on junior tailback Coltin Rezabek.<br />
Rezabek led the Wolverines<br />
in rushing last season as a<br />
sophomore amassing 908 yards on<br />
the ground.<br />
The only other returning starter<br />
for the Wolverines will lead the<br />
way for Rezabek - senior fullback<br />
Bryan Odvody-Martinez.<br />
“We have kids who work very<br />
hard and now they understand<br />
what it takes to win,” Jurgens<br />
said. “Our skill kids should be the<br />
strength of our team. Trying to get<br />
kids to mesh with one another and<br />
trying to make sure we have our<br />
best eleven players on the field<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 Sandy Creek<br />
9/1 @ Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
9/8 @ Elmwood-Murdock<br />
9/15 Shelby-Rising City<br />
9/22 Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer<br />
9/29 @ Palmyra<br />
10/6 Yutan<br />
10/13 @ Johnson County Central<br />
10/20 Freeman<br />
will be a challenge.”<br />
Due to their utter domination<br />
in 2016 and multiple blowout<br />
performances, many of the players<br />
moving into starting roles already<br />
have considerable in-game<br />
experience.<br />
Wilber-Clatonia will begin their<br />
title defense on Aug. 25th at home<br />
against Sandy Creek.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Colton Rezabek (6’0” 175 lbs) Jr.<br />
RB/OLB<br />
Bryan Odvody-Martinez (5’5” 160<br />
lbs) Sr. FB/OLB<br />
Cooper Bates (6’0” 175 lbs) Sr. CB<br />
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TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Wolverines<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 13-0<br />
Playoff Appearances: 14<br />
Head Coach: Lynn Jurgens<br />
Career Record: 81-24<br />
Assistant Coaches: Eamonn Feeney,<br />
Randy Homolka and<br />
Lance Kuhlmann<br />
319W 3RD • WILBER, NE<br />
FRIDAYS AT 10 PM<br />
214 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 215
WOOD RIVEREAGLES<br />
By: Kevin Sjuts<br />
Jeff Ashby turned Giltner into<br />
one of the top eight-man football<br />
programs in Nebraska. Now,<br />
he’s hoping to resurrect the<br />
Wood River Eagles. Ashby left<br />
Giltner after ten years during the<br />
off-season and accepted the head<br />
coaching position at Wood River.<br />
“It was time for a new<br />
challenge,” Ashby said. “The<br />
timing felt right. I want to see<br />
if I can turn another program<br />
around.”<br />
At Giltner, Ashby led the<br />
Hornets to ten consecutive<br />
playoff appearances, including<br />
championship game appearances<br />
in 2009 and 2012. Giltner won<br />
the Class D2 title in 2012. Ashby<br />
implemented a pass-oriented,<br />
fast-paced offense at Giltner that<br />
broke multiple individual and<br />
team records during his tenure.<br />
He plans on keeping the same<br />
playbook at Wood River, despite<br />
the Eagles being in Class C2<br />
which is 11-man football.<br />
“It takes awhile to get used to,”<br />
Ashby said. “(Players) seem<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Eagles<br />
Class: C2<br />
2016 Record: 0-9<br />
Playoff Appearances: 7<br />
Head Coach: Jeff Ashby<br />
Assistant Coaches: Clark Benne<br />
and Philip Smith<br />
excited. There’s a lot more to it<br />
than they know. It’ll be quite a<br />
bit of a change to what they’re<br />
used to.”<br />
Wood River is looking for a<br />
spark after struggling offensively<br />
in 2016. The Eagles averaged<br />
eight points last season and<br />
failed to score more than two<br />
touchdowns in a game. Overall,<br />
Wood River went 0-9 in 2016 and<br />
carries a 12-game losing streak<br />
into the upcoming season.<br />
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,”<br />
Ashby said. “Changing the<br />
culture is the big thing.”<br />
Ashby hopes to grow the<br />
popularity of Wood River<br />
football with more studentathletes<br />
joining the team. He<br />
said turnout right now is decent<br />
with plenty of room to grow,<br />
and growth can go beyond<br />
numbers. Weight training has<br />
always been important with<br />
Ashby, no matter which school<br />
he is coaching. Ashby attributes<br />
7-on-7 tournaments and summer<br />
camps to his success building<br />
Giltner’s program.<br />
“It’s important to get extra time<br />
in the summer,” Ashby said.<br />
Wood River will have a firstyear<br />
starting quarterback this<br />
fall. Junior Tanner Herman and<br />
sophomore Ty Swanson are<br />
battling for the top quarterback<br />
job. Herman hasn’t played<br />
football since middle school, yet<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 St. Paul<br />
9/1 @ Centura<br />
9/8 Fillmore Central<br />
9/15 @ North Platte St. Patrick’s<br />
9/22 Hastings St. Cecilia<br />
9/29 @ Southern Valley<br />
10/6 Gibbon<br />
10/13 Sandy Creek<br />
10/20 @ Doniphan-Trumbull<br />
Ashby expects him to make a<br />
strong push at quarterback.<br />
Another player that has caught<br />
the eye of Wood River’s firstyear<br />
head coach is Grant<br />
Gannon.<br />
“He looks pretty good in drill<br />
work,” Ashby said. Gannon<br />
is a two-way player entering<br />
his junior season. Classmate<br />
Camden Thompson was Wood<br />
River’s tackling leader last<br />
season.<br />
The Eagles will be tested early<br />
in their 2016 schedule. Four<br />
of Wood River’s first five<br />
opponents finished the regular<br />
season with a winning record<br />
last year. Ashby’s coaching debut<br />
will be Aug. 25 against St. Paul.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Jose Trejo (5’7” 140 lbs) Jr. DE/K<br />
Diego Guerrero (5’9” 165 lbs) Sr.<br />
RB<br />
Camden Thompson (5’6” 135<br />
lbs) Jr. RB/LB<br />
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216 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 217
YORKDUKES<br />
By: Megan McGill<br />
Depth may pose some challenges<br />
for the Dukes this fall, but there<br />
is no shortage of talent on York’s<br />
<strong>2017</strong> roster. Six starters on offense<br />
and seven on defense will return,<br />
and the caliber of athletes is more<br />
than enough to make up for the<br />
lack of depth.<br />
Head coach Glen Snodgrass enters<br />
his seventh season with the team,<br />
posting a 42-22 overall record<br />
with the Dukes. Snodgrass’ Dukes<br />
finished with a 7-3 record last<br />
season, falling to Aurora 24-7 in<br />
the first round of the playoffs.<br />
Three first-team all-state selections<br />
will grace the roster, including<br />
Masry Mapieu (6’4” 305 lbs), who<br />
has proven to be one of the top<br />
players in Class B. The senior<br />
defensive tackle recorded 42<br />
tackles his junior year, 16 of which<br />
were solo tackles. The defensive<br />
machine committed to Nebraska,<br />
turning down offers from Iowa,<br />
Iowa State and UCLA. The twoyear<br />
letterwinner will see time at<br />
both tackle and defensive tackle.<br />
Snodgrass said the senior has off<br />
the charts potential.<br />
“Masry has incredible size and<br />
power,” he said. “He has the<br />
TEAM FACTS<br />
Team Name: Dukes<br />
Class: B<br />
2016 Record: 7-3<br />
Playoff Appearances: 13<br />
Head Coach: Glen Snodgrass<br />
Career Record: 139-56<br />
Assistant Coach: Matt Kern<br />
ability to dominate two A-gaps<br />
and demands a double and triple<br />
team on every play.”<br />
Another senior guaranteed to pose<br />
challenges for opposing teams<br />
on both sides of the ball is Simon<br />
Otte (6’2” 185 lbs). With over 1,200<br />
yards rushing as a junior and<br />
120 tackles on defense, Otte has<br />
proved his versatility.<br />
“Simon will be one of the best<br />
players in Class B,” Snodgrass<br />
said. “Simon’s instincts,<br />
toughness, speed and versatility<br />
make him a top notch player.”<br />
Otte was second team all-<br />
Nebraska and first team allstate<br />
Class B. He will see time<br />
at running back, linebacker and<br />
safety.<br />
Versatility couldn’t be truer for<br />
Snodgrass’ son Garrett (6’3”<br />
215 lbs), who will get reps at<br />
quarterback, linebacker, tight end<br />
and wide receiver. The junior who<br />
recorded over 500 yards receiving<br />
and over 200 yards rushing is<br />
getting attention from FCS and<br />
FBS teams.<br />
“Garrett is bigger, stronger, and<br />
much faster than he was a year<br />
ago,” Snodgrass said. “He will be<br />
playing all over our offense.”<br />
Joining Snodgrass on offense will<br />
be wide receivers Tyler Cast and<br />
Brady Danielson. Cast led Class<br />
B in interceptions last season, and<br />
will see time on the other side<br />
of the ball at safety. Danielson<br />
is getting attention from FCS<br />
schools. In addition to receiver, the<br />
junior will also play cornerback.<br />
Snodgrass said Danielson has<br />
<strong>2017</strong> SCHEDULE<br />
8/25 @ Elkhorn South<br />
9/1 Lexington<br />
9/8 @ Schuyler<br />
9/15 Holdrege<br />
9/22 @ McCook<br />
9/29 Sidney<br />
10/6 @ Aurora<br />
10/13 @ Seward<br />
10/20 Northwest<br />
all-state potential with his great<br />
hands and his ability to knock<br />
down his side of the field.<br />
All-state punter Mayson Conner<br />
will be back for his senior season.<br />
The wide receiver/safety broke<br />
the school record for the longest<br />
punt and punting average at 42.<br />
Despite their loaded arsenal,<br />
the Duke’s schedule won’t be<br />
easy with a road game against<br />
defending state champion Elkhorn<br />
South.<br />
The Dukes have made a playoff<br />
appearance each of the last five<br />
years, and hope their versatility<br />
and talent will put them in<br />
contention for York’s first state<br />
championship in school history.<br />
Key Players:<br />
Garrett Snodgrass (6’3” 215 lbs) Jr.<br />
WR/TE/QB/LB<br />
Masry Mapieu (6’5” 305 lbs) Sr. T/<br />
DT<br />
Simon Otte (6’2” 185 lbs) Sr. RB/<br />
LB/S<br />
218 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 219
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222 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 223
WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE<br />
MEET THE AUTHORS OF THE PREPZONE PIGSKIN PREVIEW MAGAZINE<br />
KEVIN SJUTS<br />
KOLN Sports Director<br />
JUSTIN BIEGEL<br />
NBC Nebraska Sports Anchor<br />
CHELSEA CROFT<br />
KNOP Sports Reporter/Weekend Anchor<br />
AUSTIN MILLER<br />
NBC Nebraska Sports/News Reporter<br />
JOE MUSSO<br />
KOLN Sports Anchor/Reporter<br />
JAY OMAR<br />
Senior Digital Producer<br />
Hometown: Royal, IL<br />
Hometown: Columbia, MD<br />
Hometown: Annapolis, MD<br />
Hometown: Louisville, KY<br />
Hometown: Chicago, IL<br />
Hometown: Omaha, NE<br />
Favorite Football Team: Chicago Bears<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
Jim Ebke leading Lincoln East to a comeback playoff<br />
win in 2006. Ebke rushed for 240 yards in 2nd half.<br />
Favorite Football Team: Washington Redskins<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
My favorite memory is my first ever 5th Quarter<br />
show with NBC Nebraska...Friday nights are made<br />
for high school football!<br />
Favorite Football Team: Baltimore Ravens<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
Just being under those Friday night lights talking<br />
with players and coaches.<br />
Favorite Football Team: Kentucky Wildcats<br />
and Tennessee Titans<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
I don’t have a specific favorite, but I love it<br />
whenever a wide receiver hauls in an impossible<br />
one-handed catch.<br />
Favorite Football Team: Chicago Bears<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
It was during the first round of the 2016 playoffs<br />
when Lincoln East had a great second half<br />
comeback versus Lincoln Southeast.<br />
Favorite Football Team: Chicago Bears<br />
and Nebraska Cornhuskers<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
While covering football in Oregon, an underdog<br />
team in my coverage area managed to win a state<br />
title. The celebration continued for the next few<br />
days around town, with former graduates coming<br />
back to celebrate with the current players. It was an<br />
amazing experience to see the happiness the championship<br />
brought current players, former athletes,<br />
and the town in general.<br />
TJ ECK<br />
KOLN Sports Anchor/Reporter<br />
Hometown: Columbia, PA<br />
Favorite Football Team: Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)<br />
and Miami (FL) Hurricanes (CFB)<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
Covering my first 8-man football game in Western<br />
NE with cars parked all around the field.<br />
DEREK KOPP<br />
KNOP Sports Director<br />
Hometown: Parker, CO<br />
Favorite Football Team: LSU Tigers and<br />
Green Bay Packers<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
Thriller in McCook last season in the Class B state<br />
semifinals. Elkhorn South won 42-41 in 2OT after<br />
McCook dropped the snap on the PAT.<br />
MEGAN MCGILL<br />
KOLN Sports Reporter<br />
Hometown: Omaha, NE<br />
Favorite Football Team: Nebraska Cornhuskers<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
My favorite memory was witnessing Wilber-Clatonia<br />
clinch their first state title in school history!<br />
SPENCER SCHUBERT<br />
NBC Nebraska Evening News Anchor<br />
Hometown: Kearney, NE<br />
Favorite Football Team: Nebraska Cornhuskers<br />
and Kansas City Chiefs<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
It’s not just one memory for me. Instead, it’s getting<br />
to meet the players, coaches and fans. I’ve never<br />
met anybody more appreciative to receive television<br />
coverage of their team or sport, and it’s something<br />
that makes all of the long Friday night more than<br />
worth it for me!<br />
JOSH SKLUZACEK<br />
Digital Content Producer<br />
Hometown: Montgomery, MN<br />
Favorite Football Team: Minnesota Vikings<br />
Favorite Memory Covering High School Football:<br />
Getting to see all the small towns come together on<br />
Friday nights!<br />
224 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong> www.1011now.com/prepzonepigskinpreview 225
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226 <strong>2017</strong> <strong>Prepzone</strong> <strong>Pigskin</strong> <strong>Preview</strong><br />
The Nebraska State Colleges are equal opportunity institutions and do not discriminate against any student, employee<br />
or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion,<br />
or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. Each<br />
College has designated an individual to coordinate the College’s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with<br />
regulations implementing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil<br />
Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.