Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

KEARNEY SENIOR HIGHBEARCATS
COVERING CENTRAL NEBRASKA BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE
By: Justin Biegel
Since Brandon Cool took over
the Kearney High football
program in 2001, the Bearcats
have missed the Class A playoffs
only twice. Now, in his 17th
season, Cool will look to lead
Kearney back to the state
championship game for the first
time since 2006.
It won’t be an easy task for the
Bearcats, who return just two
starters on offense and one
starter on defense from last
year’s 8-3 team that advanced
to the second round of the state
playoffs.
However, one of those players
on offense will be senior
quarterback Kanon Koster, who
threw for nearly 1,500 yards and
17 touchdowns his junior season.
When he wasn’t slinging the ball
downfield, he used his legs to
pick up another 500 yards and a
score.
“Kanon is one of the best athletes
in Class A,” Cool said. “There’s
nothing better than watching
him compete on a Friday night.”
Bearcat fans are also familiar
with his heroics on the basketball
court, averaging 16 points a
game and helping lead Kearney
to the state semifinals in March.
Koster will have a big target
at wide receiver in senior Bret
Obermiller, who Cool expects
to get a majority of the targets
this fall. Last season, Obermiller
appeared in seven games and
hauled in just 10 catches, but
averaged over 25 yards per
reception. He finished his junior
season with three touchdowns.
Tyler Atchinson, a senior and
two-way player at defensive end
and tight end, will be another
big target in the Bearcat passing
attack.
A player who could fly under
the radar, but make considerable
contributions, is senior offensive
and defensive lineman Lee
Herrington. The reigning Class
A heavyweight wrestling
champion saw significant snaps
in 2016, tallying 25 total tackles.
His supporting cast, however,
will be filled by a number
of players with little to no
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Grand Island
9/1 @ Lincoln East
9/8 North Platte
9/15 Lincoln Northeast
9/22 @ Fremont
9/28 @ Millard North
10/6 Papillion-LaVista
10/13 Creighton Preparatory School
10/20 @ Omaha Benson
experience. It’s the biggest
question mark and area of
concern for Cool.
Kearney opens the season for
the second consecutive year
versus Tri-City rival Grand
Island. The Bearcats defeated
the Islanders twice last season,
first on opening night, then in
the opening round of the Class A
playoffs.
Key Players:
Kanon Koster (6’2” 210 lbs) Sr.
QB
Bret Obermiller (6’2” 200 lbs) Sr.
WR
Hunter Novacek (6’0” 195 lbs) Sr.
WR/DB
WEEKNIGHTS AT 6 & 10 PM
BRANDON RECTOR • SPENCER SCHUBERT • CATHERINE SILVER • JUSTIN BIEGEL
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Bearcats
Class: A
2016 Record: 8-3
Playoff Appearances: 22
Head Coach: Brandon Cool
Assistant Coach: Brad Archer
308.455.1335
2112 CENTRAL AVE KEARNEY, NE
CENTRAL NEBRASKA’S HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEADER
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