Here is a look at Huskerland Prep Report's 2014 Class C-1 team previews for districts 1 through 5. Hope you enjoy and tell a friend where you found them...
District C1-1
Ashland-Greenwood
BLUEJAYS
When your biggest disappointment is not winning the last game of the season you know things have gone pretty well. That was Ashland-Greenwood football 2013, as the Bluejays for the first time ever reached the state playoff final and ended the year 11-2. Head coach Ryan Thompson returns six starters on defense and five on offense.
"We achieved of taking our team to a higher level, exceeding a lot of expectations and proving a lot of doubters wrong throughout the season. Our players used that as fuel and were relentless in their effort. We want to bottle some of that and use it again in 2014," says Coach Thompson, who enters his seventh season at AGHS. "We know we need to replace some key players but we are excited about duplicating what we did last year and proving we aren't one-year wonders."
A productive tight end last season (650 yards, 7 TDs), senior Bryce Chudomelka (6-0, 175) will move to quarterback where he will be coupled with one of the rising sophomores in Class C-1 football, Trevor Nichelson (5-10, 185), who last year rushed for 669 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding another 219 yards receiving. Senior Ryan Schuster (5-10, 205) figures to step in at fullback.
One of the better receivers in C-1, senior Tyler Craven (6-1, 180) last season caught 41 passes for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns and he'll lead a receiving corps that will also include junior tight end Ben Stille (6-4, 195), senior Cory Washburn (5-10, 160) and sophomore Dawson Grell (5-8, 130).
Sophomore Brett Kitrell (6-3, 220) is an outstanding prospect at center and will lead an offensive line that includes senior part-time starter Alex DeGarmo (6-2, 300), juniors Luke Craft (6-2, 180), Willy Beard (6-0, 220) and Kaelan Dea (6-0, 180) and promising sophomore Cole Irland (6-0, 220), with senior Skyler Sherman (6-1, 315) also in the mix.
Kitrell (64 tackles, 4 sacks) leads a defensive line that includes DeGarmo (41 tackles) and Stille (41 tackles, 4 INTs) with Beard among those competing for a starting spot. Chudomelka (90 tackles) is also an outstanding linebacker and is joined in that unit by Schuster (57 tackles, 4 TFL), with junior Trevor Busenitz (5-11, 180) among other prospects in the mix.
Craven (59 tackles), Nichelson (45 tackles, 3 INTs), Washburn (56 tackles) and Grell (29 tackles) form what should be one of the best secondaries in Class C-1.
Another state final might not be in the cards but Ashland-Greenwood looks like a seven- or eight-win team in the regular season that will advance in the postseason.
Arlington
EAGLES
Coming off an outstanding 6-3 season which included the program's 10th playoff berth in 11 seasons the Eagles will return five starters on defense and three on offense.
"We return a number talented players who are going to be good senior leaders, which will be key as we prepare a large group of underclassmen for varsity competition," says head coach Steven Gubbels, who has won 76 games in his 16 seasons at AHS. "We have a motivated group of juniors and sophomores are ready to help fill the big shoes left by last year's graduating class."
A returning all-district running back, senior Jonathan Smailys (5-8, 170) last season rushed for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns and he'll again be the focal point of the AHS offense. Senior Chris Smith (6-2, 190) is another veteran back - chipping in with 191 yards in 2013 - and senior Ross Miller (6-1, 195) is an outstanding athlete at fullback. Look for seniors Jacob Frink (5-8, 160) and Kaylub Orebaugh (5-9, 180) to find roles in the running game.
Settling in as the new starting quarterback will be junior Ethan Gubbels (6-2, 170).
Two starters return in the offensive line, including senior Trevor Koger (6-8, 260) and junior Nick Gaffney (6-0, 190).
Miller is a returning all-district linebacker, having led last year's team with 43 tackles and three fumble recoveries, with Frink also returning at linebacker. Smith (39 tackles) is a returning all-district DB and will lead a secondary which will include senior Nick Nelson (5-8,145), who had 30 tackles in 2013, and Smailys.
Koger and Gaffney are returning starters in the defensive line.
Opening with Norfolk Catholic and Pierce is no way to break in a new lineup - and don't forget the match-up with defending state runner-up Ashland-Greenwood later in the season - but look for Arlington wind up with something like five or six wins.
Fort Calhoun
PIONEERS
Second-year head coach Andrew Christensen will welcome back a bunch of starters, including eight on offense and seven on defense, from last year's 3-5 team.
"We are looking to build on a strong finish to last season (three straight wins)," says Christensen, a 2007 graduate of Dana College. "Playing last season with a young, inexperienced roster enabled many of our athletes to get crucial playing time and with 13 seniors returning, including seven starters, we looked to be able to compete well in our district.
"Our strengths will be our depth at the skill positions and strong upperclassman leadership."
Right off the bat that depth shows up at quarterback where the Pioneers have two veterans, including senior Frederick Lehman (5-10, 190) and junior Riley Grosse-Rhode (5-7, 165). Grosse-Rohde passed for 657 yard and two touchdowns and rushed for three more scores while Lehman rushed for 193 yards and six TDs and passed for another 471 yards and a score.
Senior Tyler Pace (6-4, 205) is a big, physical receiver who last season caught 25 passes for 407 yards and two touchdowns, making the all-district team in the process. Also back at receiver are talented junior Ben Namuth (5-10, 160) and senior Brayden Lake (5-10, 195) and junior newcomer Trey Schwarz (6-4, 170) could help. Keep an eye on junior August Namuth (5-11, 165) who also figures to play a role in the receiving corps.
Senior Kyle Warthen (5-9, 175) led the Pioneers in rushing last season, finishing with 471 yards, and he'll be the key to the running attack again in 2014. Junior Bret Klabunde (5-9, 170) was injured last season and should add depth in the backfield.
Three starters return in the offensive line, including seniors Larry McFarlin (6-0, 195) and Matt Hiykel (5-9, 210) and junior Nolyn Appel (6-3, 180). Juniors Cole Welchert (6-0, 180) and Chance Oliver (5-11, 285) and sophomore Peyton Faust (5-8, 185) are lettermen who will play in the line.
Warthen (87 tackles), Pace (44 tackles) and McFarlin (46 tackles) give the Pioneers an outstanding set of linebackers and Ben Namuth (46 tackles, 5 INTs) leads a secondary which will include senior Tyler Ryan (6-1, 155) and August Namuth.
Looks like the Pioneers are poised to jump up to something like five or six wins and a run at a playoff spot.
Omaha Concordia
MUSTANGS
A program that's starting to get its legs under itself, that's Concordia, where last year the Mustangs finished 3-5 and now return a whopping 10 starters on both sides of scrimmage.
"We have a good group of starters returning and we will be athletic at the skill positions, with an improving knowledge of the game," says second-year head coach Steve Warren, the former Husker standout. "We will be inexperienced in our sophomore and junior classes and our line will be undersized but they are tough."
Running the show for the Mustangs is senior quarterback Tanner Torosian (6-0, 190), an outstanding dual threat who last year passed for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns and also rushed for 291 yards and five touchdowns. His leading returning receiver will be senior Bryan Moore (5-10, 160), who last year caught 32 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown, while senior Marc Sisson (5-9, 150) and junior Brendon Pribyl (6-2, 170) also bring experience to the position.
Senior Dakota Hendrickson (5-8, 155) is the team's leading returning rusher, last year going for 212 yards.
There is great experience in the line, which returns seniors John Waller (6-2, 215), Trevor Grimm (5-11, 200), Sam Gedwillo (6-1, 210) and Nate Rouse (6-1, 200) and junior Joe Yaksich (6-2, 205). Seniors Jackson Tews (6-1, 195) and Tanner Schwarting (6-2, 180) are back at the tight end positions.
Sisson (4 INTs) will lead a secondary that includes Moore (2 FR) and Hendrickson while Waller (47 tackles, 7 TFL), Grimm (39 tackles) and Rouse (22 tackles) lead a defensive line that will also include Gedwillo and Yaksich. Tews (62 tackles, 6 TFL) is a playmaker at linebacker, where Grasz (44 tackles, 7 TFL), Schwarting and Pribyl also return.
Good improvements last year figure to carry over in 2014, thanks to all that experience. Look for Concordia to reach five wins this year and maybe pull off a surprise or two along the way.
Boys Town
COWBOYS
Boys Town finished an uncharacteristic 2-7 last year but did qualify the for the playoffs for the 13th time in 14 seasons.
The Cowboys will be led by 19th-year head coach Kevin Kush, who has compiled an outstanding 137-51 career coaching record, including the 2008 Class C-1 state final.
No other information about the team was available at press time.
Douglas County West
FALCONS
Rookie head coach Brian Gralheer takes over a program that was winless in 2013 but one which does return seven starters on both sides of scrimmage.
"We have some good returning players and our overall team speed should be a strength of our team, as we have some individuals who can turn the field very quickly," says Coach Gralheer, a graduate of UN-Omaha. "Our weakness will be that we will be very young and we also won't have a lot of size. We've been trying to offset that with hard work in the weight room."
DC West returns an interesting set of skill players. Senior running back Roger O'Dell (5-8, 140) rushed for only 228 yards and a TD in 2013 but at the state track meet he ran a 49.84 400, which means the kid can fly. Senior TJ Egbarts (6-2, 185) is an outstanding athlete, a two-time all-district player, who last year rushed for 391 yards and four TDs. Sophomore Nolan Weiss (5-7,130) got his feet wet last year and returns as the team's QB after last year passing for 266 yards and two TDs.
Three starters return in the offensive line, including senior Jacob Widhelm (6-0, 190), junior Noah Bevington (5-11, 260) and sophomore Nick Kahlandt (5-10, 160).
O'Dell (52 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 FR), Egbarts (39 tackles, 4 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and Kahlandt (28 tackles, 5 TFL) give the Falcons a terrific set of linebackers. Widhelm and Bevington are returning starters in the defensive line while Weiss returns at safety.
Baby steps are probably needed here but look for the Falcons to grab a win or two before the season is over.
District C1-2
Syracuse
ROCKETS
After last fall completing a perfect regular season and winning a playoff game, their first postseason victory since 2009, the Rockets return five starters on both sides of the ball from a team which finished 9-1.
"We have some quality kids coming back on both sides of the ball. I feel like we can have a stout defense again this season and we should be able to run the ball well again," says head coach Rick Nordhues, who enters his 17th season with a career record of 86-65. "We need to develop some linemen and defensive backs."
Since he first set foot on a varsity football field as a freshman Matt Clark has been a dominant force. Now a senior and widely regarded as the top lineman in the state he is attracting Division I attention from all across the country. He leads the offensive line with senior Will Neels (6-0, 180) another returning starter and seniors Logan Teten (6-0, 185) and Courtland Wirtz (5-9, 200) lettermen who should compete for starting positions. Junior Connor Cameron (6-0, 190), who had two touchdown receptions last season, returns as a starter at one tight end position and junior letterman Tim Stilmock (6-3, 190) and senior Chris Gobel (6-2, 175) will compete for the other.
Junior Tanner Harsin (5-9, 150) is a letterman who is expected to step in as starting quarterback and he'll have two quality backs in seniors Trey Mueller (6-0, 180) and Ty Snyder (6-0, 170). Mueller last season rushed for 772 yards and eight touchdowns while Snyder added 679 yards and eight scores, making them one of the more prolific sets of backs in Class C-1.
Despite being blocked by about everybody available last year Clark still managed 94 tackles and two fumble recoveries and he and Neels, who return an INT for a touchdown in the playoffs, return in the defensive line, where Teten, Wirtz and Stilmock are other prospects. Snyder (82 tackles) and Cameron (74 tackles) give the Rockets a set of outstanding linebackers with sophomore Seth Bayliss (5-7, 150) competing for a starting position.
Mueller (3 INTs) will lead a secondary that will include seniors Jameson Bennett (5-8, 155), Dalton Swiercek (6-0,165) and Goble as candidates for playing time.
There is more to this team than Clark; expect the Rockets to win six, maybe more, and compete for a district title.
Falls City
TIGERS
After notching the program's first-ever playoff win last fall the Tigers return eight starters on defense and seven on offense from their 6-4 team.
"Lots of our players earned valuable playing time last year, especially in the line, and even though we have some backfield positions to feel we believe we can be a competitive team this season," says Darin Fritz, who enters his third season as Falls City head coach. "Depth is always an issue but overall I believe we have a strong unit that has the potential to have a really good season."
The Tigers can count on an outstanding running back in senior Jordy Stoller (6-1, 170), a three-year starter and two-time all-district player who last year rushed for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns and also caught 12 passes for 222 yards and three more TDs. Seniors Jack Hartman (6-4, 185) and Brenden Heckenlively (6-1, 205) will also be involved in the running game.
There is good size and experience in the offensive line thanks to the return of seniors Tucker Merz (6-5, 245) - "he has the potential to become a great one," says Coach Fritz - Payton Adams (6-3, 245)_, Derek McCann (6-2, 220), Weston Witt (5-11, 220) and Brody Weinman (6-0, 230). This could wind up being one of the top two or three offensive lines in C-1 before it's all over.
Hartman (3 INTs) is a returning all-district linebacker, Heckenlively is the team's leading returning tackler and seniors Zach Jordening (6-0, 185) and Lee Huettner (6-1, 175) round out what should be an outstanding set of linebackers. Stoller (4 INTs) will lead a rebuilt secondary.
McCann is a returning all-district lineman and leads a unit that will include Merz, Adams, Witt and Weinmann, with seniors Jeremy Zimmerman (6-2, 250) and Luke Kirkendall (6-2, 185) also expected to play key roles.
Stoller did some punting last year and averaged 35.6 yards per attempt.
Leaning on its defense to start the season look for the Tigers to win six or seven games and make a run at a district title and playoff berth.
Louisville
LIONS
After last season qualifying for the playoffs a second time in a row the Lions return seven starters on both offense and defense from that 6-3 team. Louisville also moves up to Class C-1 from Class C-2.
"Our offense should be pretty solid with three starters back in the line and our skill positions have a lot of experience," says Trevor Longe, a 1997 graduate of Peru State College who enters his second year as LHS head coach. "Our defense made steady improvement last season and should be very good this season. Our ability to build depth in the line and adjust to a bump in class will be keys to our season."
Junior Dan Strohlman (5-10, 170) last season burst onto the scene with a big season, earning all-district honors after passing for 1,064 yards and 12 TDs and rushing for another 722 yards and 13 TDs. Junior tight end Jake Mohler (6-3, 175) is ready for a break-out season after last year catching 15 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns and the Lions have a very good back in senior Wade Knott (5-10, 160), who last year rushed for 433 yards and three TDs.
Junior Nic Snodgrass (5-7, 160) is a wild card in the Louisville offense, last year rushing for 156 yards and four touchdowns and catching 15 passes for 221 yards and two TDs. He's also a special teams threat, last year scoring twice on punt returns.
Leading the offensive line is senior all-district selection Zach Heilig (6-1, 260) with seniors Kole Powell (6-1, 225) and Hunter Dillon (6-0, 190) other returning starters. Senior lettermen Ryan Cleary (5-9, 170), Mike Nelson (5-8, 290) and Connor Juracek (5-11, 170) will battle for playing time in the line.
Knott (101 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 FR) is a legit all-state candidate at linebacker with Mohler (77 tackles, 5 TFL) his worthy wingman, and where sophomore Logan Zahn (5-11, 170) also has starting experience. Snodgrass (32 tackles, 2 FR, 2 INT) leads a secondary that will also include Stohlmann (24 tackles) and junior Blake Lutz (5-9, 165), who last season rang up 29 tackles.
Heilig (43 tackles), Dillon (29 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Powell return in the defensive line with Cleary, Nelson and Juracek adding depth to the position.
It's a pretty good leap going from Class C-2 to C-1 but we see the Lions winning their way to about four or five wins.
Auburn
BULLDOGS
Following a 3-5 season the Bulldogs return six starters on both offense and defense in the second year of the Bob Fuller coaching era.
"We will be strong at the skill positions and at linebacker but we lack depth and experience in the offensive line and secondary on defense," says Coach Fuller, who has won 264 games in his career.
After getting some snaps last season junior Justin Eren (6-0, 165), who passed for 167 yards and three TDs, will become the team's starting quarterback. The Bulldogs return a pair of veteran running backs, including senior Quinten Boden (6-0, 200), who rushed for 514 yards and seven touchdowns, and senior fullback Rex Harmon (5-11, 200), who gained 481 yards.
Auburn's not going to throw the ball around the lot but does return veteran ends in seniors Nathan Moran (5-10, 220) and Pat Frary (6-2, 170) and juniors Tucker Arban (5-10, 165) and Joey Dunn (5-11, 185).
Among the prospects expected to step up in the offensive line are three lettermen, juniors Kane Reiman (6-0, 200) and Noah Isaacs (6-0, 310) and sophomore Hezekiah Santana (6-1, 225).
Moran (107 tackles) is a three-time all-district player and one of the best linebackers in Class C-1. Boden (3 FR), Arban and Eren also return at linebacker and Harmon and juniors Joey Dunn (5-11, 185) and Tyler Wredt (6-2, 170) are veterans in the D-line.
Frary will lead the secondary with sophomores Sam Neiman (6-0, 155), Tristan Unruh (5-9, 150) and Dallas Yates (5-10, 150) lettermen who will bid for playing time.
Look for the Bulldogs to match last year's three wins, maybe a notch better if the O-line comes together.
Johnson County Central
THUNDERBIRDS
After reaching the playoffs last season the Thunderbirds move up to Class C-1 from Class C-2 and that will provide an extra challenge but remember they also return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 4-5 team.
"Despite moving up our team goals won't waver. We will be able to fill the vacant spots in our lineup with veteran players who have another year in our system," says JCC head coach Dustin Buggi, who enters his fourth year at the school. "It won't be an easy road with a schedule filled with successful teams but we will be ready for the challenge."
Versatile and valuable, senior fullback Zac Borrenpohl (6-0, 215) last season rushed for 198 yards and caught a couple of touchdown passes and will be joined in the backfield by senior Cole Beethe (5-11, 160), the team's new starting QB, and senior wingback Andrew Weinzetl (5-6, 175), who with 346 yards and three TDs is the team's leading returning rusher.
JCC's most veteran receiver is junior Nate Liberty (6-2, 170), who last year caught eight passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns, including a 66-yarder.
Returning starters in the line include seniors Ryan Teten (6-3, 295) and Hunter Thompson (6-0, 240) and junior Spencer Dorsey (5-10, 225), with sophomores Christian Reeves (6-1, 235) and Keaton Kleespies (6-2, 210) likely to move into starting positions.
Borrenpohl is a returning all-district defensive end who makes plays - 46 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 TFL, 2 FR - and will be joined in the D-line by Teten, Dorsey, Thompson and senior end Ben Doeden (6-1, 170). Liberty (2 INTs), Beethe and junior Bobby Johnson (5-8, 160) will give the secondary an athletic foundation.
Senior Terrance Finley-Watkins (5-9, 225) is the lone returning starter at linebacker with sophomore letterman Carlos Cabrales (5-11, 195) likely to earn playing time.
Borrenpohl is a dependable punter, averaging 34.1 yards per kick in 2013.
Getting back to four wins would make the season a success and that is possible for the T-Birds.
Conestoga
COUGARS
Sixth-year head coach Jeremy Schroeder returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense as his team tries to snap out of last year's winless season.
"We will again be a young team with only four seniors on our team and that will provide a challenge but we have sophomores and juniors anxious for their chance," says Coach Schroeder, a graduate of Peru State College. "We have some talented young players but we will count heavily on our seniors for leadership and showing our team how to prepare week-in and week-out."
Junior Jake Herz (6-0, 180) returns as the team's starting quarterback with sophomore Zach Schwindt (5-7, 140) a candidate in the running game and sophomore Seth Greenfield (6-1, 160) returning as a starter at receiver.
There is good experience in the line, thanks to the return of senior Joey Simpson (6-0, 290) and juniors Sam Simpson (6-1, 200), Brook Wagner (6-0, 200) and Dalton Topliff (5-11, 160), with senior Neil Bock (6-0, 190) back at tight end.
Herz and Sam Simpson return at defensive end while Joey Simpson and Wagner will man the interior of the defensive line. Bock, Topliff and Schwindt are returning starters at linebacker with Greenfield the team's safety.
We are hoping the added experience will make the Cougars more competitive so they can earn a win or two this season.
District C1-3
Boone Central
CARDINALS
Following a great season that included 11 wins and a trip the Class C-1 state semifinals the Cardinals return six starters on defense and four on offense, with sneaky depth across the board.
"We have skilled players who can make things happen but we lost a great deal of depth in the line," says head coach Arnie Johnson, who has won 226 games in his career, leading his teams to three state finals, including a Class C-1 state title in 2001. "With a great off-season we can fill those spots and have a team that can compete with anybody by the end of the season. This will be the kind of team that is much better at the end of the year than at the beginning."
The most dynamic offensive weapon in Class C-1 football for 2014, senior QB Wyatt Mazour (5-9, 185) is a returning all-stater who was magnificent last season, passing for 1,626 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 1,239 yards and 23 touchdowns. He'll be joined in the backfield by seniors Joseph (5-10, 180) and Matthew Brugger (6-2, 190); Joseph last season was second on the team with 739 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns while Matthew added 360 yards rushing and five TDs and also kicked 34 PATs.
There is good depth at receiver thanks to the return of 6-6, 200-pound Travis Kennedy, 6-6, 220-pound Garrett Temme, 6-3, 185-pound Zac Glidden and 6-3, 205-pound Keaton Henry. All but Henry are seniors, with Kennedy catching 12 balls for 308 yards and three touchdowns and Temme 15 for 193 yards and two scores.
There are no returning starters in the Boone interior offensive line. Senior center Noah Weidner (5-11, 175) is a two-year letterman and will lead a group that will also include juniors Isaac Sullivan (5-10, 220), David Hansen (6-1, 280), Tate Zwiebel (6-3, 215) and Joe O'Brien (5-10, 230) and sophomore Conner Johnson (6-2, 205). They'll be good, just give them time.
Matthew Brugger (47 tackles, 5.5 TFL), Henry (39 tackles) and 5-9, 195-pound senior Colton Pelster (41 tackles) and Kennedy give the Cardinals a good, deep bunch of linebackers. Mazour (3 INTs) and junior Scott Ketteler (6-2, 160), the latter finishing last season with 38 tackles and two interceptions, will lead the secondary.
Temme (5 TFL) returns at defensive end and senior Michael Lipker (6-2, 285) at nose guard, with all of those young linemen likely to also be in the mix for D-line playing time.
Henry is an outstanding punter (36.4 per) and junior Kyle Kramer (6-4, 170) is another experienced kicker, last year booting 11 PATs and three field goals.
Figuring the Cardinals put together a quality line - seems like a good assumption - look for them to win seven or eight games in the regular season and make another run at the playoff final four.
Norfolk Catholic
KNIGHTS
You know you are in good shape when your program wins eight games, reaches the state quarterfinals and you have to sit and wonder where it all went to so wrong. Three state titles in a row makes you think like that but all is well at NC, where the Knights return eight starters on defense and four on offense from last year's 8-3 team.
"We should be solid on defense with the eight starters back and our offense will get better as the season goes along," says head coach Jeff Bellar, who has won 309 games and eight state titles in his illustrious career. "Our kicking game should be good with both our punter and kicker returning."
Rising junior David Engelhaupt (6-3, 190) seems ready to take center stage in the running game after last year rushing for 212 yards in part-time duty; he also caught 11 passes for 152 yards and two scores. Senior wingback Seth Montag (5-10, 160) will also be a key part of the run game after last year rushing for 203 yards and catching eight passes for 118 yards. Senior Riley McCarthy (6-1, 195) will give the Knights a powerful fullback.
The battle for the starting quarterback position will revolve around senior Nathan Boyle (6-2, 175) and sophomore Myles Vrbka (5-9, 155).
Senior Nate Flaherty (6-4, 275) - "a great blocker," says Coach Bellar - will lead an offensive line that could include some combination of senior Caleb DeMoss (6-0, 195), senior center Shane Mlinar (5-11, 215), juniors Aldan Burroughs (6-2, 245) and Jarod Marsden (6-2, 190) and sophomore Dylan Cattau (6-1, 180). Senior tight end Beau Schommer (6-4, 225) returns after last season catching 10 passes for 107 yards.
Montag (3 INTs) is a returning all-district DB and will lead a secondary that will include senior safety Austin Becker (6-4, 180), who checked in with 89 tackles and three INTs last fall, as well as senior DB Jacob Bellar (6-0, 170).Junior Aaron Hoff (6-2, 220), who registered 72 tackles last season, and DeMoss (43 tackles) lead a defensive line that will include Schommer among others.
Engelhaupt (73 tackles, 3 INTs) leads an outstanding set of linebackers which also includes McCarthy (97 tackles) and juniors Matt Miller (55 tackles) and Paul Uhlir (6-1, 180), who had 73 tackles last season.
Senior Chase Farlee (6-4, 185) is a solid place kicker, last year converting 18 PATs and two field goals, while Engelhaupt will again serve as the team's punter (34.4 per).
We expect Norfolk Catholic to again break .500 this season, ending up with something like 10 wins or so, and nobody would be surprised to see the Knights again in the state final.
Pierce
BLUEJAYS
Maybe it sounds easy but it's not. Pierce last season won at least one playoff game for the 12th time in 13 seasons, finishing the season 7-3 and ranked among C-1's top ten. Head coach Mark Brahmer returns five starters on both offense and defense.
"We have a number of skill players with experience returning but we have got to develop some offensive and defensive linemen in order to compete against a strong schedule," says Coach Brahmer, who enters his 19th season at Pierce, during which time he's compiled a 154-43 career record and led the Bluejays to five state finals, winning Class C-1 in both 2007 and 2008.
Pierce loves to pound the rock and has the backs to do the job, a group led by senior all-state candidate Collin Freeman (5-10, 190), who last season rushed for 927 yards and 20 touchdowns. Also doing damage is junior Mason Buckendahl (5-10, 180), who last year rushed for 436 yards and five touchdowns, with senior Dillon Dickey (5-9, 175) another option.
A good athlete, senior Noah Fisher (6-0, 180) will get first crack at the starting quarterback position and will benefit from the return of last year's leading receiver, senior John Huff (6-0, 170), who caught 16 passes for 248 yards. Senior tight end Braden Taylor (6-0, 190) will be another option in the passing game.
There is only one returning starter in the line, senior guard Matt Penne (5-9, 170), so lettermen like seniors Noah Krueger (6-1, 215) and Zach Brenden (6-3, 215) and junior Derek Asmus (5-10, 205) will have a chance to make a difference.
Buckendahl (71 tackles), Freeman (59 tackles), Huff and Dickey give the Bluejays an outstanding set of linebackers with senior Drew Fasse (6-0, 175) among the lettermen who could help at that position. Fisher is the only returning starter in the secondary though junior Austin Freeman (5-8, 150) intercepted two passes last season and seniors Colin Magdanz (6-2, 160) and Jared Cheney (5-9, 155) are among other prospects.
Penne is the lone returning starter in the defensive line with Krueger, Taylor, Brenden and Asmus all battling for playing time in the D-line.
Pierce will benefit from having two veteran punters in Taylor (43.0 average) and Fisher (37.4 average).
Though this might not be vintage Pierce the Bluejays are winners and we expect something like seven wins and a playoff berth.
Wayne
BLUE DEVILS
Losing a ton of seniors from last year's 5-5 playoff team the Blue Devils will return six starters on defense and five on offense.
"We will be a younger team than most but a lot of these players gained varsity experience last year when we had injuries," says head coach Terry Beair, who has won 53 games in his coaching career.
Where the Blue Devils have some solid experience is in the line where seniors Jacob Thompson (5-10, 215) and Josh Starka (6-4, 260) and junior Cole Koenig (5-10, 180) all have starting experience. Seniors Reed Trenhaile (5-7, 215) and Jackson Blankenau (5-8, 175) are lettermen who should help in the line.
Junior Drew Davie (6-0, 205) returns at fullback after rushing for 157 yards and a TD in 2013 and senior Brandon Beair (5-6, 175) and sophomore Tyler Pecena (155) are leading candidates at running back. Seniors Brook Bowers (6-0, 170) and Jack Belt (5-11, 190) will lead the receiver group with junior letterman Schuyler Schweers (200) also in the mix.
The Blue Devils will also receive a boost from Florida transfer Tayib Toussaint (5-7 ,155), a multi-skilled athlete who will fit in on both offense and defense.
Bowers (3 INTs) is a returning second-team all-district DB and will lead a secondary that will also include Pecena while Davie and Belt are returning starters at linebacker with Blankenau, Schweers and Beair also in the mix. Starka and Koenig will anchor the defensive line with Trenhaile a good bet to earn playing time in the D-line.
Wins won't come as easily this time around but we see the Blue Devils grabbing three or four victories.
West Point-Beemer
CADETS
Despite returning just six starters on defense and five on offense there is a lot of hidden experience on the Cadets roster as they attempt to improve upon last year's 2-6 mark.
"We have a lot of guys with playing experience at the skill positions and our line is also experienced and having a quarterback with two years experience sure helps," says fourth-year head coach Nathan Blankenship, a 2007 graduate of Concordia University. "We have a lot players who have developed while helping our JV program go 16-5 the past three years and some of those kids are ready to be impact players at the varsity level.
Senior Ty Haase (6-2, 180) is an athletic veteran at quarterback with senior Liam McClarnon (5-9, 165) the team's leading returning rusher with 127 yards, though the Cadets get a bump thanks to the return from injury by senior Austin Case (6-0, 170).
Seniors Karsten Schuetze (6-0, 180) and Joe Berg (5-6, 135) return at receiver positions with junior Jesus Cervantes (5-10, 165) another veteran running back.
Anchoring the offensive line will be senior tackles Tyler Zeher (6-0, 200) and William Bowman (5-9, 200).
Berg is a defensive playmaker a (24 tackles, 5 INTs), a returning all-district pick who will be joined in the secondary by Cervantes. Haase (53 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 sacks) is another big-timer at linebacker where McClarnon (19 tackles) and Schuetze will also play.
Zeher, Bowman and junior nose guard Edwin Ambrosio (5-7, 240) give the Cadets size and experience in the defensive line.
We see the Cadets winning something like two or three games this season.
District C1-4
Columbus Scotus
SHAMROCKS
There's a change at the top at Scotus where 10-year head coach Roger Krienke has stepped down and first-year head coach Tyler Linder has taken charge of the program. The Shamrocks were a 4-5 playoff team in 2013 and return a robust nine starters on both offense and defense.
"Our team is returning a lot of players and playmakers. We will be average in size and speed but a large portion of this team has seen significant varsity playing time so that will help," says Coach Linder, a 2010 graduate of UN-Omaha. "We have some talent but we need to play well against a very strong schedule."
A tremendous all-around athlete senior Grant Lahm will start under center, last year having passed for 178 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Jake Bos emerged as an outstanding two-way player last season, rushing for 521 yards, and junior Tanner Spenceri is another playmaker in the backfield, having scored five touchdowns.
Senior Garrit Shanle will lead the offensive line, a group which will include juniors Ross Bonk, Carson Fuscher and Ryan Mustard.
Bos (84 tackles, 2 INTs) is one of the rising underclassmen in Class C-1 and will lead a defense that includes junior Marcus Dodson (79 tackles) and Jackson Kumpf (2 INTs). Other impact player in that deep, talented junior class will include Quinn Blaser, Ross Bonk, Baeley Pelster and Cole Harrington.
Opening with Boone Central/Newman Grove and Aquinas and closing with Bishop Neumann and Columbus Lakeview isn't exactly a walkover but expect the Shamrocks to hold their own, winning five games or so.
Bishop Neumann
CAVALIERS
It will sort of be like watching a pot of water boil - be patient and things will start happening. That's the case at Neumann where the Cavaliers return just two starters on offense and six on defense from last year's 7-4 state quarterfinal team but also have an outstanding sophomore class which is about to blossom.
"We will be a young team, with just seven seniors, and sophomores will have to play. The good news is those sophomores have talent," says veteran head coach Tim Turman, who has a spectacular 269-142-2 career record and has led the Cavaliers to six state playoff championship games, winning Class C-1 in both 2002 and 2003. "Our strength will be the defensive backfield and our weakness will probably be in the lines. If we can hang in there until the sophomore get a little experience we could be competitive at the end of the season."
Senior Cole Prohaska (5-9, 155), a shifty open field runner, will start at running back. Last season Prohaska rushed for 239 yards and six touchdowns in limited carries and also proved a valuable receiver, catching 12 passes for 169 yard and a score. Versatile senior Cameron Benes (5-11, 185) - "he could play anywhere," says Coach Turman - could wind up at fullback with junior Wyatt Svara (5-10, 170), who is coming off an injury, also in the mix.
Rising sophomore Noah Vedral (6-1, 160), who just happens to be Coach Turman's grandson, is very athletic and figures to become the team's quarterback. Junior Jordan Fujan (6-2, 170) is a returning starter and athletic option at receiver and, as is sophomore Jaxon Simons (6-0, 150), and junior Ben Simons (6-0, 175) will also help at the skill positions.
Junior Nate Kmiecik (5-10, 215) returns at center and will lead a line that will include senior tackle Noah Spangler (5-10, 210) with juniors Blake Needham (6-1, 190), Jay Moss (5-11, 170) and Scott Benes (5-10, 170) and sophomore Brandon Breunig (6-4, 185) good bets to earn playing time in the line. Sophomore Reid Jurgensmeier (6-2, 155) is a leading prospect at tight end.
Ben Simons (48 tackles), Vedral (44 tackles) and Fujan lead what should be an outstanding secondary with Jaxon Simons also in the mix. Benes (35 tackles, 3 sacks) returns at linebacker with sophomores Theo Blum (5-11, 160) and Tom Lilly (5-9, 145) and Svara among those battling for the other starting positions.
Spangler (19 tackles) will be the leader of the defensive line with Breunig, Needham and another sophomore, Andrew Klement (6-0, 160), among other prospects in the defensive front.
Syracuse, Lincoln Christian and Norfolk Catholic to start will test the Cavs but they will do the testing by late October. Look for six or seven wins and a playoff berth.
Wahoo
WARRIORS
For the fifth year in a row the Warriors last season won a playoff game, finishing 7-3, and now return six starters on both offense and defense.
"We have our work cut out for us with only six returning starters and an extremely tough schedule, both in and out of our district," says 13th year head coach Chad Fox, who has compiled a 75-40 career record. "We hare definite question marks in the offensive and defensive lines and finding a quarterback to guide are offense will be imperative. We do return a good deal of skill at running back and receiver, as well as in the secondary, and it will be the development of intangibles like leadership and chemistry that will determine who successful we can be in 2014."
Versatile and an outstanding all-around athlete, senior Gavin Iversen (6-2, 175) has experience at quarterback but will slide to a wide receiver position for 2014. Senior Justin Jarman (6-2, 175) returns as the team's leading receiver from last year, catching 15 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns, and senior Seth Bohac (5-8, 165) and sophomore Seth Anderson (6-0, 175) are lettermen who could help.
Iversen's move to receiver means the battle for the starting QB position will fall on sophomore candidates Mitchell McGill (5-9, 160) and Josh Abbott (5-8, 150).
Seniors Derek Bell (5-9, 180) and Will Holdsworth (6-3, 180) will anchor the offensive line with senior tight end Drake Steinmetz (5-10, 190) also returning. Look for senior Doug Ford (5-11, 180), junior Bobby Spicka (5-10, 175) and sophomore tight end Jacob Ruzicka (6-2, 190) to be at the front of the line for playing time with senior Lincoln Belitz (6-1, 185) and sophomores Cole Krecklow (5-8, 190) and Sam Lindgren (5-11, 235) also in line to contribute.
Iversen (74 tackles) is an all-district DB who leads a secondary that will include Jarman and junior Jordan Ptacek (5-9, 160) along with Bohac. Bell (38 tackles) and Holdsworth will anchor the defensive line with Lindgren, a promising talent, along with Krecklow, Spicka and senior Chase Rathke (5-8, 170) also playing in the line.
Steinmetz (38 tackles) is the only returning linebacker but expect Ford and Ruzicka to be in the mix for the other starting positions.
Look for Wahoo to win something like six games and contend for the district title, like usual.
Columbus Lakeview
VIKINGS
It's time to start over at Lakeview, where the Vikings lose a great number of three-year starters and return only two starters on defense and none on offense from last year's 9-3 team which reached the Class C-1 state playoff semifinals, the program's best finish in 23 seasons.
"Even though we return very little experience we don't expect to fall far from the top level in C-1 because we have a great deal of capable returning players who can keep Viking football headed in the right direction," says head coach Kurt Frenzen, who has compiled a 68-54 record in his 13 years at Lakeview. "We have a tough schedule with seven of our nine games against playoff teams."
Taking over for the program's all-time leading passer, all-stater Jake Shadley, will be either senior Dominick Henk (5-11, 175) or junior Dylan Johnson (5-10, 165). The running game will center around senior running back Marcus Holmberg (5-9, 170), with senior Kali Lichtenfeld (6-2, 200) and junior Austin Foltz (6-2, 195) new starters at wide receiver. "All of these players are capable and getting their chance," says Coach Frenzen.
Leading the offensive line will be seniors Dalton Saltz (6-1, 215) and Karston Runge (5-11, 195), both of whom have played a lot of key snaps over the past two seasons. Among the contenders for starting jobs are senior Phillip Ohlerich (5-9, 260) and junior Noah Duncan (6-0, 220), both returning lettermen.
Runge is a returning starter in the defensive line with Foltz another veteran at end. Henk returns at outside linebacker with Holmberg stepping in at middle linebacker and senior David Knapp (5-9, 170) will be the leader of the secondary.
Junior Tate Janssen (5-9, 150) will take over the kicking duties for the Vikings.
In what will be the program's most challenging season in many years look for the Vikings to win about four games.
David City
SCOUTS
Third-year head coach Amp Ferg returns six starters on both sides of the ball from last year's 2-6 team.
Soon to become a three-year starter, senior quarterback Ben Danielson (6-2, 185) gives the team steady production and leadership, last year passing for 367 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 296 yards and a score. Senior Tony Meusch (5-10, 160) is a two-year starter in the backfield and juniors Dustin Papa (5-10, 165), Kalan Zeilinger (5-9, 180) and Devin Betzen (5-11, 185) all bring experience to the running back position.
Another two-year starter, senior Ben Barlean (6-2, 210), will anchor an offensive line that also returns senior tight end Jonah Scheffler (6-3, 215).
Danielson (26 tackles) and Meusch (23 tackles) will lead a secondary that figures to include senior lettermen John Jacobsen (6-0, 185) and Cody Sabata (5-10, 160) and junior lettermen Brandon Theewen (5-10, 170) and Logan Detmer (5-10, 170).
Barlean and Scheffler return in the defensive line while Zeilinger and Betzen are veterans at the linebacker spots.
A brutal schedule - Norfolk Catholic, Wahoo, Neumann, et al - probably means David City gets locked in at about another two wins for the season.
North Bend Central
TIGERS
North Bend Central was 2-6 in 2013 and elected not to send a preview to Huskerland Prep Report.
District C1-5
Lincoln Christian
CRUSADERS
Last season Lincoln Christian finished 9-2, winning two playoff games.
Lincoln Christian elected not to return information for this preview but return four outstanding players in junior QB Jared Bubak, who moves from wide receiver, senior linemen Phil Grothaus and Taylor Hanson and senior running back Tanner Schwaninger. The Crusaders will be good, that much we know.
Wilber-Clatonia
WOLVERINES
For the sixth straight season the Wolverines won a playoff game in 2013 - one of the longer stretches in the state - and return four starters on both sides of the ball from that 6-4 team.
"We hope to be competitive in all of our games and earn a chance for the district title and a playoff spot," says sixth-year head coach Lynn Jurgens. "We have a strong senior class that doesn't like to lose but we need to develop depth in both of our lines."
The Wolverines return the makings of an outstanding line thanks to the return of seniors Chandler Oliver (6-4, 215) and Nick Maschman (5-9, 200) and senior tight end David Zimmerman (6-2, 230). "All three of those players are high motor, aggressive strong players," says Coach Jurgens. Senior lettermen Jake Sykes (6-4, 260) and Quentin Slama (6-4, 275) figure to fill out the rest of the offensive line.
A two-time all-district player and one of the best running backs in Class C-1, senior Carter Zlab (5-11, 165) returns after last year rushing for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns and catching eight passes for 226 yards and another score. He is one of the best big play backs in the class. Senior fullback Tyler Combs (5-9, 195) could be ready for a huge year, says Coach Jurgens, and sophomore Connor O'Toole (5-2, 185) seems ready to take over at quarterback. In limited duty last year he rushed for 127 yards and five touchdowns.
Maschman (86 tackles, 18 TFL, 6.5 sacks) and Oliver (43 tackles, 9 TFL, 5 sacks) are both dynamic defensive linemen who will be joined in that unit by Sykes and Slama. Zimmerman (94 tackles, 9 TFL) is another playmaker at linebacker, where O'Toole, Comb should be big factors and a group of lettermen led by senior Alex Munro (5-10,160) can help provide depth.
Zlab (32 tackles, 2 INTs) leads a secondary that will include senior letterman Derek Ahrens (6-2, 170) among others. Chandler is back as the team's place kicker after booting 14 PATs last season and O'Toole returns as the team's punter.
Traditionally overlooked, the Wolverines will be good again in 2014. How good will be determined by how quick those non-starters get a grip at the varsity level. Let's say in time to help Wilber-Clatonia win seven games or so and make the playoffs again.
Milford-Dorchester
EAGLES
Entering his 36th season at Milford, head coach Marty Hingst welcomes five starters back on offense and four on defense from last year's 3-6 team which qualified for the playoffs.
"We don't have a lot of big bodies up front, but we are faster and have more quickness. We have a good mix of returning starters among our linemen, our skill players and our receivers," says Coach Hingst, who has won 237 games in his career, including the C-1 state titles in 1995 and 1996. "We need to find some defensive linemen and add some depth on defense but we can be very good at linebacker and will build around that position.
"We are also excited about having our players from Dorchester able to play varsity ball this season."
Milford will have a couple of options at quarterback, with junior Cam Carritt (5-11, 185) the more experienced signal caller, last year passing for 135 yards and a touchdown, with sophomore Jaidon Policky (6-0, 160) bidding for playing time. Junior Andrew Hauder (5-11, 145) battled injuries last year but when healthy he was effective as a running back, averaging 71 yards per game. Junior TJ Havlat (5-9, 165) and sophomores Dustin Nelson (5-9,145) and Brendon Gerlach (6-2, 175) will add depth in the running game.
Senior tight end Daniel Mitchell (6-4, 220) is a powerful blocker who has good hands, as witnessed by his 11 catches for 230 yards and four TDs in 2013.
Three starters return in the offensive line including Dylan Rakow (6-0, 195), Taylor Schildt (6-2, 195) and Jake Schweitzer (5-11, 215), with senior Dalton Bluhm (6-2, 205) and junior Phil Schildt (5-10, 215) among the lettermen who will make a play to start along side them.
Mitchell and Rakow (67 tackles) were all-district linebackers last season and Carritt, Hauder and Policky could give the Eagles a solid secondary. Taylor Schildt and Schweitzer are returning starters in the defensive line, with Phil Schildt, Bluhm, seniors Nixon Nerud (6-3, 170) and Chris Nelson (5-10, 175), Phil Schildt and Gerlach all battling for playing time in the D-line.
Added depth is always a good thing and we see it helping the Eagles to something like five or six wins in the regular season.
Raymond Central
MUSTANGS
Hopes are high at Raymond Central where the Mustangs return eight starters on both sides of the ball from a playoff team that finished 3-6.
"We are going to have an experienced line, with four starters back, and good experience on both sides of the ball, period, though we hae little or no experience at quarterback," says head coach Nathan Liess, who enters his fourth year at the school. "On defense returns all three of our linebackers, which is good, but we will have fewer than 30 kids on the roster so we need to stay healthy and so some learning on the fly come Friday nights."
Junior Jake Palensky (5-10, 185) is an outstanding all-around back, making the all-district team after last season after rushing for 799 yards and catching 21 passes for another 203 yards, scoring 10 total touchdowns. Senior Alex Kruse (6-1, 200) got some carries last year, rushing for 152 yards and four TDs, but he will play receiver where he caught nine passes for 174 yards. Junior Mitch Russman (6-5, 200) is the team's leading returning receiver, last season catching 17 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Senior Mitch Fredrickson (6-0, 175) moves from receiver to quarterback, where his overall athletic skills will serve him well.
The four returning starters in the line include seniors Zach Brandenburgh (5-10, 220) and Lupe Lopez (5-6, 215) and juniors Peter McNally (5-10, 200) and Justen Hall (6-0, 190). Sophomore letterman Ian McIntyre (5-10, 190) has the goods to become a factor and junior Jacob Hiebert (6-0, 315) could also develop into a difference maker, says Coach Liess.
Kruse (102 tackles), Palensky (88 tackles) and senior Ben States (6-0, 180) give the Mustangs a pair of outstanding linebackers and McIntyre could easily make it four of a kind. McNally, Brandenburgh, Lopez and Hall return in the defensive line with Russman leading the secondary, where sophomores Grant Albrecht (5-7, 140) and Jack Hornung (5-10, 150) will have a chance to help.
The quarterback thing is sort of a big deal but the Mustangs have been to the playoffs each of the past three seasons and should find their way somewhere around .500 this season.
Lincoln Lutheran
WARRIORS
Greg Nelson begins his first year as LLHS head coach with eight starters back on defense and seven on offense from last year's 1-7 team.
"We should be solid at the skill positions, especially with two returning quarterbacks with starting experience, but we will young up front and need help from multiple underclassmen in those positions," says Coach Nelson, a 2009 graduate of UN-Nebraska.
Seniors lettermen returning for the Warriors include Josh Leymaster, Elijah Kouma, Ben Schmeling, Koby Hruza, Scott Wineman and Harrison Martin, with juniors Jake Kilham, Garrett Wachael, Dylan Brockhaus and Max McCoy lettermen who will play.
Fairbury
JEFFS
Establishing new leadership is one of the primary goals for the Jeffs, who are coming off a 1-7 season.
"It will be very important that we keep working at bigger and stronger and that we develop some leadership," says head coach Derek Garfield, who enters his second year at FHS. "We return a lot of players with experience and that should benefit us greatly."
Another benefit will be the return of senior quarterback Dalton Hinrichs (6-0, 175), who last season passed for 613 yards and four touchdowns and also served as the team's punter. His leading receiver returns, senior Nate Klaumann (5-8, 160), who last season caught 21 passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns and added 134 yards rushing. Senior Chris Fisher (5-10, 140) and junior Trevin Likens (6-2, 150) are other experienced receivers.
Fairbury's most veteran running back is junior letterman Lane McLain (5-10, 160).
Returning in the offensive line are seniors Connor Livingston (6-0, 215), Andrew Grummert (5-9, 170) and John Abbott (6-1, 225) and sophomore Paul Mach (6-1, 250).
There is some returning experience at linebacker where Hinrichs had 45 tackles while being named all-district, senior Wesley Jackson (6-0, 185) had 30 tackles in 2013 and sophomores Damian Green (5-7, 150) and Patrick Ondrak (5-10, 165) both saw playing time. Klaumann (40 tackles), Fisher (25 tackles) and senior Brett Wanamaker (5-10, 150), who last season had 26 tackles, give the secondary a veteran look.
Livingston (66 tackles) is an outstanding defensive lineman, a returning all-district player, and Mach seems a good bet to start there as well.
Look for the Jeffs to win about three games this season.
District C1-1
Ashland-Greenwood
BLUEJAYS
When your biggest disappointment is not winning the last game of the season you know things have gone pretty well. That was Ashland-Greenwood football 2013, as the Bluejays for the first time ever reached the state playoff final and ended the year 11-2. Head coach Ryan Thompson returns six starters on defense and five on offense.
"We achieved of taking our team to a higher level, exceeding a lot of expectations and proving a lot of doubters wrong throughout the season. Our players used that as fuel and were relentless in their effort. We want to bottle some of that and use it again in 2014," says Coach Thompson, who enters his seventh season at AGHS. "We know we need to replace some key players but we are excited about duplicating what we did last year and proving we aren't one-year wonders."
A productive tight end last season (650 yards, 7 TDs), senior Bryce Chudomelka (6-0, 175) will move to quarterback where he will be coupled with one of the rising sophomores in Class C-1 football, Trevor Nichelson (5-10, 185), who last year rushed for 669 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding another 219 yards receiving. Senior Ryan Schuster (5-10, 205) figures to step in at fullback.
One of the better receivers in C-1, senior Tyler Craven (6-1, 180) last season caught 41 passes for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns and he'll lead a receiving corps that will also include junior tight end Ben Stille (6-4, 195), senior Cory Washburn (5-10, 160) and sophomore Dawson Grell (5-8, 130).
Sophomore Brett Kitrell (6-3, 220) is an outstanding prospect at center and will lead an offensive line that includes senior part-time starter Alex DeGarmo (6-2, 300), juniors Luke Craft (6-2, 180), Willy Beard (6-0, 220) and Kaelan Dea (6-0, 180) and promising sophomore Cole Irland (6-0, 220), with senior Skyler Sherman (6-1, 315) also in the mix.
Kitrell (64 tackles, 4 sacks) leads a defensive line that includes DeGarmo (41 tackles) and Stille (41 tackles, 4 INTs) with Beard among those competing for a starting spot. Chudomelka (90 tackles) is also an outstanding linebacker and is joined in that unit by Schuster (57 tackles, 4 TFL), with junior Trevor Busenitz (5-11, 180) among other prospects in the mix.
Craven (59 tackles), Nichelson (45 tackles, 3 INTs), Washburn (56 tackles) and Grell (29 tackles) form what should be one of the best secondaries in Class C-1.
Another state final might not be in the cards but Ashland-Greenwood looks like a seven- or eight-win team in the regular season that will advance in the postseason.
Arlington
EAGLES
Coming off an outstanding 6-3 season which included the program's 10th playoff berth in 11 seasons the Eagles will return five starters on defense and three on offense.
"We return a number talented players who are going to be good senior leaders, which will be key as we prepare a large group of underclassmen for varsity competition," says head coach Steven Gubbels, who has won 76 games in his 16 seasons at AHS. "We have a motivated group of juniors and sophomores are ready to help fill the big shoes left by last year's graduating class."
A returning all-district running back, senior Jonathan Smailys (5-8, 170) last season rushed for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns and he'll again be the focal point of the AHS offense. Senior Chris Smith (6-2, 190) is another veteran back - chipping in with 191 yards in 2013 - and senior Ross Miller (6-1, 195) is an outstanding athlete at fullback. Look for seniors Jacob Frink (5-8, 160) and Kaylub Orebaugh (5-9, 180) to find roles in the running game.
Settling in as the new starting quarterback will be junior Ethan Gubbels (6-2, 170).
Two starters return in the offensive line, including senior Trevor Koger (6-8, 260) and junior Nick Gaffney (6-0, 190).
Miller is a returning all-district linebacker, having led last year's team with 43 tackles and three fumble recoveries, with Frink also returning at linebacker. Smith (39 tackles) is a returning all-district DB and will lead a secondary which will include senior Nick Nelson (5-8,145), who had 30 tackles in 2013, and Smailys.
Koger and Gaffney are returning starters in the defensive line.
Opening with Norfolk Catholic and Pierce is no way to break in a new lineup - and don't forget the match-up with defending state runner-up Ashland-Greenwood later in the season - but look for Arlington wind up with something like five or six wins.
Fort Calhoun
PIONEERS
Second-year head coach Andrew Christensen will welcome back a bunch of starters, including eight on offense and seven on defense, from last year's 3-5 team.
"We are looking to build on a strong finish to last season (three straight wins)," says Christensen, a 2007 graduate of Dana College. "Playing last season with a young, inexperienced roster enabled many of our athletes to get crucial playing time and with 13 seniors returning, including seven starters, we looked to be able to compete well in our district.
"Our strengths will be our depth at the skill positions and strong upperclassman leadership."
Right off the bat that depth shows up at quarterback where the Pioneers have two veterans, including senior Frederick Lehman (5-10, 190) and junior Riley Grosse-Rhode (5-7, 165). Grosse-Rohde passed for 657 yard and two touchdowns and rushed for three more scores while Lehman rushed for 193 yards and six TDs and passed for another 471 yards and a score.
Senior Tyler Pace (6-4, 205) is a big, physical receiver who last season caught 25 passes for 407 yards and two touchdowns, making the all-district team in the process. Also back at receiver are talented junior Ben Namuth (5-10, 160) and senior Brayden Lake (5-10, 195) and junior newcomer Trey Schwarz (6-4, 170) could help. Keep an eye on junior August Namuth (5-11, 165) who also figures to play a role in the receiving corps.
Senior Kyle Warthen (5-9, 175) led the Pioneers in rushing last season, finishing with 471 yards, and he'll be the key to the running attack again in 2014. Junior Bret Klabunde (5-9, 170) was injured last season and should add depth in the backfield.
Three starters return in the offensive line, including seniors Larry McFarlin (6-0, 195) and Matt Hiykel (5-9, 210) and junior Nolyn Appel (6-3, 180). Juniors Cole Welchert (6-0, 180) and Chance Oliver (5-11, 285) and sophomore Peyton Faust (5-8, 185) are lettermen who will play in the line.
Warthen (87 tackles), Pace (44 tackles) and McFarlin (46 tackles) give the Pioneers an outstanding set of linebackers and Ben Namuth (46 tackles, 5 INTs) leads a secondary which will include senior Tyler Ryan (6-1, 155) and August Namuth.
Looks like the Pioneers are poised to jump up to something like five or six wins and a run at a playoff spot.
Omaha Concordia
MUSTANGS
A program that's starting to get its legs under itself, that's Concordia, where last year the Mustangs finished 3-5 and now return a whopping 10 starters on both sides of scrimmage.
"We have a good group of starters returning and we will be athletic at the skill positions, with an improving knowledge of the game," says second-year head coach Steve Warren, the former Husker standout. "We will be inexperienced in our sophomore and junior classes and our line will be undersized but they are tough."
Running the show for the Mustangs is senior quarterback Tanner Torosian (6-0, 190), an outstanding dual threat who last year passed for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns and also rushed for 291 yards and five touchdowns. His leading returning receiver will be senior Bryan Moore (5-10, 160), who last year caught 32 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown, while senior Marc Sisson (5-9, 150) and junior Brendon Pribyl (6-2, 170) also bring experience to the position.
Senior Dakota Hendrickson (5-8, 155) is the team's leading returning rusher, last year going for 212 yards.
There is great experience in the line, which returns seniors John Waller (6-2, 215), Trevor Grimm (5-11, 200), Sam Gedwillo (6-1, 210) and Nate Rouse (6-1, 200) and junior Joe Yaksich (6-2, 205). Seniors Jackson Tews (6-1, 195) and Tanner Schwarting (6-2, 180) are back at the tight end positions.
Sisson (4 INTs) will lead a secondary that includes Moore (2 FR) and Hendrickson while Waller (47 tackles, 7 TFL), Grimm (39 tackles) and Rouse (22 tackles) lead a defensive line that will also include Gedwillo and Yaksich. Tews (62 tackles, 6 TFL) is a playmaker at linebacker, where Grasz (44 tackles, 7 TFL), Schwarting and Pribyl also return.
Good improvements last year figure to carry over in 2014, thanks to all that experience. Look for Concordia to reach five wins this year and maybe pull off a surprise or two along the way.
Boys Town
COWBOYS
Boys Town finished an uncharacteristic 2-7 last year but did qualify the for the playoffs for the 13th time in 14 seasons.
The Cowboys will be led by 19th-year head coach Kevin Kush, who has compiled an outstanding 137-51 career coaching record, including the 2008 Class C-1 state final.
No other information about the team was available at press time.
Douglas County West
FALCONS
Rookie head coach Brian Gralheer takes over a program that was winless in 2013 but one which does return seven starters on both sides of scrimmage.
"We have some good returning players and our overall team speed should be a strength of our team, as we have some individuals who can turn the field very quickly," says Coach Gralheer, a graduate of UN-Omaha. "Our weakness will be that we will be very young and we also won't have a lot of size. We've been trying to offset that with hard work in the weight room."
DC West returns an interesting set of skill players. Senior running back Roger O'Dell (5-8, 140) rushed for only 228 yards and a TD in 2013 but at the state track meet he ran a 49.84 400, which means the kid can fly. Senior TJ Egbarts (6-2, 185) is an outstanding athlete, a two-time all-district player, who last year rushed for 391 yards and four TDs. Sophomore Nolan Weiss (5-7,130) got his feet wet last year and returns as the team's QB after last year passing for 266 yards and two TDs.
Three starters return in the offensive line, including senior Jacob Widhelm (6-0, 190), junior Noah Bevington (5-11, 260) and sophomore Nick Kahlandt (5-10, 160).
O'Dell (52 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 FR), Egbarts (39 tackles, 4 TFL, 3.5 sacks) and Kahlandt (28 tackles, 5 TFL) give the Falcons a terrific set of linebackers. Widhelm and Bevington are returning starters in the defensive line while Weiss returns at safety.
Baby steps are probably needed here but look for the Falcons to grab a win or two before the season is over.
District C1-2
Syracuse
ROCKETS
After last fall completing a perfect regular season and winning a playoff game, their first postseason victory since 2009, the Rockets return five starters on both sides of the ball from a team which finished 9-1.
"We have some quality kids coming back on both sides of the ball. I feel like we can have a stout defense again this season and we should be able to run the ball well again," says head coach Rick Nordhues, who enters his 17th season with a career record of 86-65. "We need to develop some linemen and defensive backs."
Since he first set foot on a varsity football field as a freshman Matt Clark has been a dominant force. Now a senior and widely regarded as the top lineman in the state he is attracting Division I attention from all across the country. He leads the offensive line with senior Will Neels (6-0, 180) another returning starter and seniors Logan Teten (6-0, 185) and Courtland Wirtz (5-9, 200) lettermen who should compete for starting positions. Junior Connor Cameron (6-0, 190), who had two touchdown receptions last season, returns as a starter at one tight end position and junior letterman Tim Stilmock (6-3, 190) and senior Chris Gobel (6-2, 175) will compete for the other.
Junior Tanner Harsin (5-9, 150) is a letterman who is expected to step in as starting quarterback and he'll have two quality backs in seniors Trey Mueller (6-0, 180) and Ty Snyder (6-0, 170). Mueller last season rushed for 772 yards and eight touchdowns while Snyder added 679 yards and eight scores, making them one of the more prolific sets of backs in Class C-1.
Despite being blocked by about everybody available last year Clark still managed 94 tackles and two fumble recoveries and he and Neels, who return an INT for a touchdown in the playoffs, return in the defensive line, where Teten, Wirtz and Stilmock are other prospects. Snyder (82 tackles) and Cameron (74 tackles) give the Rockets a set of outstanding linebackers with sophomore Seth Bayliss (5-7, 150) competing for a starting position.
Mueller (3 INTs) will lead a secondary that will include seniors Jameson Bennett (5-8, 155), Dalton Swiercek (6-0,165) and Goble as candidates for playing time.
There is more to this team than Clark; expect the Rockets to win six, maybe more, and compete for a district title.
Falls City
TIGERS
After notching the program's first-ever playoff win last fall the Tigers return eight starters on defense and seven on offense from their 6-4 team.
"Lots of our players earned valuable playing time last year, especially in the line, and even though we have some backfield positions to feel we believe we can be a competitive team this season," says Darin Fritz, who enters his third season as Falls City head coach. "Depth is always an issue but overall I believe we have a strong unit that has the potential to have a really good season."
The Tigers can count on an outstanding running back in senior Jordy Stoller (6-1, 170), a three-year starter and two-time all-district player who last year rushed for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns and also caught 12 passes for 222 yards and three more TDs. Seniors Jack Hartman (6-4, 185) and Brenden Heckenlively (6-1, 205) will also be involved in the running game.
There is good size and experience in the offensive line thanks to the return of seniors Tucker Merz (6-5, 245) - "he has the potential to become a great one," says Coach Fritz - Payton Adams (6-3, 245)_, Derek McCann (6-2, 220), Weston Witt (5-11, 220) and Brody Weinman (6-0, 230). This could wind up being one of the top two or three offensive lines in C-1 before it's all over.
Hartman (3 INTs) is a returning all-district linebacker, Heckenlively is the team's leading returning tackler and seniors Zach Jordening (6-0, 185) and Lee Huettner (6-1, 175) round out what should be an outstanding set of linebackers. Stoller (4 INTs) will lead a rebuilt secondary.
McCann is a returning all-district lineman and leads a unit that will include Merz, Adams, Witt and Weinmann, with seniors Jeremy Zimmerman (6-2, 250) and Luke Kirkendall (6-2, 185) also expected to play key roles.
Stoller did some punting last year and averaged 35.6 yards per attempt.
Leaning on its defense to start the season look for the Tigers to win six or seven games and make a run at a district title and playoff berth.
Louisville
LIONS
After last season qualifying for the playoffs a second time in a row the Lions return seven starters on both offense and defense from that 6-3 team. Louisville also moves up to Class C-1 from Class C-2.
"Our offense should be pretty solid with three starters back in the line and our skill positions have a lot of experience," says Trevor Longe, a 1997 graduate of Peru State College who enters his second year as LHS head coach. "Our defense made steady improvement last season and should be very good this season. Our ability to build depth in the line and adjust to a bump in class will be keys to our season."
Junior Dan Strohlman (5-10, 170) last season burst onto the scene with a big season, earning all-district honors after passing for 1,064 yards and 12 TDs and rushing for another 722 yards and 13 TDs. Junior tight end Jake Mohler (6-3, 175) is ready for a break-out season after last year catching 15 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns and the Lions have a very good back in senior Wade Knott (5-10, 160), who last year rushed for 433 yards and three TDs.
Junior Nic Snodgrass (5-7, 160) is a wild card in the Louisville offense, last year rushing for 156 yards and four touchdowns and catching 15 passes for 221 yards and two TDs. He's also a special teams threat, last year scoring twice on punt returns.
Leading the offensive line is senior all-district selection Zach Heilig (6-1, 260) with seniors Kole Powell (6-1, 225) and Hunter Dillon (6-0, 190) other returning starters. Senior lettermen Ryan Cleary (5-9, 170), Mike Nelson (5-8, 290) and Connor Juracek (5-11, 170) will battle for playing time in the line.
Knott (101 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 FR) is a legit all-state candidate at linebacker with Mohler (77 tackles, 5 TFL) his worthy wingman, and where sophomore Logan Zahn (5-11, 170) also has starting experience. Snodgrass (32 tackles, 2 FR, 2 INT) leads a secondary that will also include Stohlmann (24 tackles) and junior Blake Lutz (5-9, 165), who last season rang up 29 tackles.
Heilig (43 tackles), Dillon (29 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Powell return in the defensive line with Cleary, Nelson and Juracek adding depth to the position.
It's a pretty good leap going from Class C-2 to C-1 but we see the Lions winning their way to about four or five wins.
Auburn
BULLDOGS
Following a 3-5 season the Bulldogs return six starters on both offense and defense in the second year of the Bob Fuller coaching era.
"We will be strong at the skill positions and at linebacker but we lack depth and experience in the offensive line and secondary on defense," says Coach Fuller, who has won 264 games in his career.
After getting some snaps last season junior Justin Eren (6-0, 165), who passed for 167 yards and three TDs, will become the team's starting quarterback. The Bulldogs return a pair of veteran running backs, including senior Quinten Boden (6-0, 200), who rushed for 514 yards and seven touchdowns, and senior fullback Rex Harmon (5-11, 200), who gained 481 yards.
Auburn's not going to throw the ball around the lot but does return veteran ends in seniors Nathan Moran (5-10, 220) and Pat Frary (6-2, 170) and juniors Tucker Arban (5-10, 165) and Joey Dunn (5-11, 185).
Among the prospects expected to step up in the offensive line are three lettermen, juniors Kane Reiman (6-0, 200) and Noah Isaacs (6-0, 310) and sophomore Hezekiah Santana (6-1, 225).
Moran (107 tackles) is a three-time all-district player and one of the best linebackers in Class C-1. Boden (3 FR), Arban and Eren also return at linebacker and Harmon and juniors Joey Dunn (5-11, 185) and Tyler Wredt (6-2, 170) are veterans in the D-line.
Frary will lead the secondary with sophomores Sam Neiman (6-0, 155), Tristan Unruh (5-9, 150) and Dallas Yates (5-10, 150) lettermen who will bid for playing time.
Look for the Bulldogs to match last year's three wins, maybe a notch better if the O-line comes together.
Johnson County Central
THUNDERBIRDS
After reaching the playoffs last season the Thunderbirds move up to Class C-1 from Class C-2 and that will provide an extra challenge but remember they also return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 4-5 team.
"Despite moving up our team goals won't waver. We will be able to fill the vacant spots in our lineup with veteran players who have another year in our system," says JCC head coach Dustin Buggi, who enters his fourth year at the school. "It won't be an easy road with a schedule filled with successful teams but we will be ready for the challenge."
Versatile and valuable, senior fullback Zac Borrenpohl (6-0, 215) last season rushed for 198 yards and caught a couple of touchdown passes and will be joined in the backfield by senior Cole Beethe (5-11, 160), the team's new starting QB, and senior wingback Andrew Weinzetl (5-6, 175), who with 346 yards and three TDs is the team's leading returning rusher.
JCC's most veteran receiver is junior Nate Liberty (6-2, 170), who last year caught eight passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns, including a 66-yarder.
Returning starters in the line include seniors Ryan Teten (6-3, 295) and Hunter Thompson (6-0, 240) and junior Spencer Dorsey (5-10, 225), with sophomores Christian Reeves (6-1, 235) and Keaton Kleespies (6-2, 210) likely to move into starting positions.
Borrenpohl is a returning all-district defensive end who makes plays - 46 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 TFL, 2 FR - and will be joined in the D-line by Teten, Dorsey, Thompson and senior end Ben Doeden (6-1, 170). Liberty (2 INTs), Beethe and junior Bobby Johnson (5-8, 160) will give the secondary an athletic foundation.
Senior Terrance Finley-Watkins (5-9, 225) is the lone returning starter at linebacker with sophomore letterman Carlos Cabrales (5-11, 195) likely to earn playing time.
Borrenpohl is a dependable punter, averaging 34.1 yards per kick in 2013.
Getting back to four wins would make the season a success and that is possible for the T-Birds.
Conestoga
COUGARS
Sixth-year head coach Jeremy Schroeder returns eight starters on offense and seven on defense as his team tries to snap out of last year's winless season.
"We will again be a young team with only four seniors on our team and that will provide a challenge but we have sophomores and juniors anxious for their chance," says Coach Schroeder, a graduate of Peru State College. "We have some talented young players but we will count heavily on our seniors for leadership and showing our team how to prepare week-in and week-out."
Junior Jake Herz (6-0, 180) returns as the team's starting quarterback with sophomore Zach Schwindt (5-7, 140) a candidate in the running game and sophomore Seth Greenfield (6-1, 160) returning as a starter at receiver.
There is good experience in the line, thanks to the return of senior Joey Simpson (6-0, 290) and juniors Sam Simpson (6-1, 200), Brook Wagner (6-0, 200) and Dalton Topliff (5-11, 160), with senior Neil Bock (6-0, 190) back at tight end.
Herz and Sam Simpson return at defensive end while Joey Simpson and Wagner will man the interior of the defensive line. Bock, Topliff and Schwindt are returning starters at linebacker with Greenfield the team's safety.
We are hoping the added experience will make the Cougars more competitive so they can earn a win or two this season.
District C1-3
Boone Central
CARDINALS
Following a great season that included 11 wins and a trip the Class C-1 state semifinals the Cardinals return six starters on defense and four on offense, with sneaky depth across the board.
"We have skilled players who can make things happen but we lost a great deal of depth in the line," says head coach Arnie Johnson, who has won 226 games in his career, leading his teams to three state finals, including a Class C-1 state title in 2001. "With a great off-season we can fill those spots and have a team that can compete with anybody by the end of the season. This will be the kind of team that is much better at the end of the year than at the beginning."
The most dynamic offensive weapon in Class C-1 football for 2014, senior QB Wyatt Mazour (5-9, 185) is a returning all-stater who was magnificent last season, passing for 1,626 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 1,239 yards and 23 touchdowns. He'll be joined in the backfield by seniors Joseph (5-10, 180) and Matthew Brugger (6-2, 190); Joseph last season was second on the team with 739 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns while Matthew added 360 yards rushing and five TDs and also kicked 34 PATs.
There is good depth at receiver thanks to the return of 6-6, 200-pound Travis Kennedy, 6-6, 220-pound Garrett Temme, 6-3, 185-pound Zac Glidden and 6-3, 205-pound Keaton Henry. All but Henry are seniors, with Kennedy catching 12 balls for 308 yards and three touchdowns and Temme 15 for 193 yards and two scores.
There are no returning starters in the Boone interior offensive line. Senior center Noah Weidner (5-11, 175) is a two-year letterman and will lead a group that will also include juniors Isaac Sullivan (5-10, 220), David Hansen (6-1, 280), Tate Zwiebel (6-3, 215) and Joe O'Brien (5-10, 230) and sophomore Conner Johnson (6-2, 205). They'll be good, just give them time.
Matthew Brugger (47 tackles, 5.5 TFL), Henry (39 tackles) and 5-9, 195-pound senior Colton Pelster (41 tackles) and Kennedy give the Cardinals a good, deep bunch of linebackers. Mazour (3 INTs) and junior Scott Ketteler (6-2, 160), the latter finishing last season with 38 tackles and two interceptions, will lead the secondary.
Temme (5 TFL) returns at defensive end and senior Michael Lipker (6-2, 285) at nose guard, with all of those young linemen likely to also be in the mix for D-line playing time.
Henry is an outstanding punter (36.4 per) and junior Kyle Kramer (6-4, 170) is another experienced kicker, last year booting 11 PATs and three field goals.
Figuring the Cardinals put together a quality line - seems like a good assumption - look for them to win seven or eight games in the regular season and make another run at the playoff final four.
Norfolk Catholic
KNIGHTS
You know you are in good shape when your program wins eight games, reaches the state quarterfinals and you have to sit and wonder where it all went to so wrong. Three state titles in a row makes you think like that but all is well at NC, where the Knights return eight starters on defense and four on offense from last year's 8-3 team.
"We should be solid on defense with the eight starters back and our offense will get better as the season goes along," says head coach Jeff Bellar, who has won 309 games and eight state titles in his illustrious career. "Our kicking game should be good with both our punter and kicker returning."
Rising junior David Engelhaupt (6-3, 190) seems ready to take center stage in the running game after last year rushing for 212 yards in part-time duty; he also caught 11 passes for 152 yards and two scores. Senior wingback Seth Montag (5-10, 160) will also be a key part of the run game after last year rushing for 203 yards and catching eight passes for 118 yards. Senior Riley McCarthy (6-1, 195) will give the Knights a powerful fullback.
The battle for the starting quarterback position will revolve around senior Nathan Boyle (6-2, 175) and sophomore Myles Vrbka (5-9, 155).
Senior Nate Flaherty (6-4, 275) - "a great blocker," says Coach Bellar - will lead an offensive line that could include some combination of senior Caleb DeMoss (6-0, 195), senior center Shane Mlinar (5-11, 215), juniors Aldan Burroughs (6-2, 245) and Jarod Marsden (6-2, 190) and sophomore Dylan Cattau (6-1, 180). Senior tight end Beau Schommer (6-4, 225) returns after last season catching 10 passes for 107 yards.
Montag (3 INTs) is a returning all-district DB and will lead a secondary that will include senior safety Austin Becker (6-4, 180), who checked in with 89 tackles and three INTs last fall, as well as senior DB Jacob Bellar (6-0, 170).Junior Aaron Hoff (6-2, 220), who registered 72 tackles last season, and DeMoss (43 tackles) lead a defensive line that will include Schommer among others.
Engelhaupt (73 tackles, 3 INTs) leads an outstanding set of linebackers which also includes McCarthy (97 tackles) and juniors Matt Miller (55 tackles) and Paul Uhlir (6-1, 180), who had 73 tackles last season.
Senior Chase Farlee (6-4, 185) is a solid place kicker, last year converting 18 PATs and two field goals, while Engelhaupt will again serve as the team's punter (34.4 per).
We expect Norfolk Catholic to again break .500 this season, ending up with something like 10 wins or so, and nobody would be surprised to see the Knights again in the state final.
Pierce
BLUEJAYS
Maybe it sounds easy but it's not. Pierce last season won at least one playoff game for the 12th time in 13 seasons, finishing the season 7-3 and ranked among C-1's top ten. Head coach Mark Brahmer returns five starters on both offense and defense.
"We have a number of skill players with experience returning but we have got to develop some offensive and defensive linemen in order to compete against a strong schedule," says Coach Brahmer, who enters his 19th season at Pierce, during which time he's compiled a 154-43 career record and led the Bluejays to five state finals, winning Class C-1 in both 2007 and 2008.
Pierce loves to pound the rock and has the backs to do the job, a group led by senior all-state candidate Collin Freeman (5-10, 190), who last season rushed for 927 yards and 20 touchdowns. Also doing damage is junior Mason Buckendahl (5-10, 180), who last year rushed for 436 yards and five touchdowns, with senior Dillon Dickey (5-9, 175) another option.
A good athlete, senior Noah Fisher (6-0, 180) will get first crack at the starting quarterback position and will benefit from the return of last year's leading receiver, senior John Huff (6-0, 170), who caught 16 passes for 248 yards. Senior tight end Braden Taylor (6-0, 190) will be another option in the passing game.
There is only one returning starter in the line, senior guard Matt Penne (5-9, 170), so lettermen like seniors Noah Krueger (6-1, 215) and Zach Brenden (6-3, 215) and junior Derek Asmus (5-10, 205) will have a chance to make a difference.
Buckendahl (71 tackles), Freeman (59 tackles), Huff and Dickey give the Bluejays an outstanding set of linebackers with senior Drew Fasse (6-0, 175) among the lettermen who could help at that position. Fisher is the only returning starter in the secondary though junior Austin Freeman (5-8, 150) intercepted two passes last season and seniors Colin Magdanz (6-2, 160) and Jared Cheney (5-9, 155) are among other prospects.
Penne is the lone returning starter in the defensive line with Krueger, Taylor, Brenden and Asmus all battling for playing time in the D-line.
Pierce will benefit from having two veteran punters in Taylor (43.0 average) and Fisher (37.4 average).
Though this might not be vintage Pierce the Bluejays are winners and we expect something like seven wins and a playoff berth.
Wayne
BLUE DEVILS
Losing a ton of seniors from last year's 5-5 playoff team the Blue Devils will return six starters on defense and five on offense.
"We will be a younger team than most but a lot of these players gained varsity experience last year when we had injuries," says head coach Terry Beair, who has won 53 games in his coaching career.
Where the Blue Devils have some solid experience is in the line where seniors Jacob Thompson (5-10, 215) and Josh Starka (6-4, 260) and junior Cole Koenig (5-10, 180) all have starting experience. Seniors Reed Trenhaile (5-7, 215) and Jackson Blankenau (5-8, 175) are lettermen who should help in the line.
Junior Drew Davie (6-0, 205) returns at fullback after rushing for 157 yards and a TD in 2013 and senior Brandon Beair (5-6, 175) and sophomore Tyler Pecena (155) are leading candidates at running back. Seniors Brook Bowers (6-0, 170) and Jack Belt (5-11, 190) will lead the receiver group with junior letterman Schuyler Schweers (200) also in the mix.
The Blue Devils will also receive a boost from Florida transfer Tayib Toussaint (5-7 ,155), a multi-skilled athlete who will fit in on both offense and defense.
Bowers (3 INTs) is a returning second-team all-district DB and will lead a secondary that will also include Pecena while Davie and Belt are returning starters at linebacker with Blankenau, Schweers and Beair also in the mix. Starka and Koenig will anchor the defensive line with Trenhaile a good bet to earn playing time in the D-line.
Wins won't come as easily this time around but we see the Blue Devils grabbing three or four victories.
West Point-Beemer
CADETS
Despite returning just six starters on defense and five on offense there is a lot of hidden experience on the Cadets roster as they attempt to improve upon last year's 2-6 mark.
"We have a lot of guys with playing experience at the skill positions and our line is also experienced and having a quarterback with two years experience sure helps," says fourth-year head coach Nathan Blankenship, a 2007 graduate of Concordia University. "We have a lot players who have developed while helping our JV program go 16-5 the past three years and some of those kids are ready to be impact players at the varsity level.
Senior Ty Haase (6-2, 180) is an athletic veteran at quarterback with senior Liam McClarnon (5-9, 165) the team's leading returning rusher with 127 yards, though the Cadets get a bump thanks to the return from injury by senior Austin Case (6-0, 170).
Seniors Karsten Schuetze (6-0, 180) and Joe Berg (5-6, 135) return at receiver positions with junior Jesus Cervantes (5-10, 165) another veteran running back.
Anchoring the offensive line will be senior tackles Tyler Zeher (6-0, 200) and William Bowman (5-9, 200).
Berg is a defensive playmaker a (24 tackles, 5 INTs), a returning all-district pick who will be joined in the secondary by Cervantes. Haase (53 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 sacks) is another big-timer at linebacker where McClarnon (19 tackles) and Schuetze will also play.
Zeher, Bowman and junior nose guard Edwin Ambrosio (5-7, 240) give the Cadets size and experience in the defensive line.
We see the Cadets winning something like two or three games this season.
District C1-4
Columbus Scotus
SHAMROCKS
There's a change at the top at Scotus where 10-year head coach Roger Krienke has stepped down and first-year head coach Tyler Linder has taken charge of the program. The Shamrocks were a 4-5 playoff team in 2013 and return a robust nine starters on both offense and defense.
"Our team is returning a lot of players and playmakers. We will be average in size and speed but a large portion of this team has seen significant varsity playing time so that will help," says Coach Linder, a 2010 graduate of UN-Omaha. "We have some talent but we need to play well against a very strong schedule."
A tremendous all-around athlete senior Grant Lahm will start under center, last year having passed for 178 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Jake Bos emerged as an outstanding two-way player last season, rushing for 521 yards, and junior Tanner Spenceri is another playmaker in the backfield, having scored five touchdowns.
Senior Garrit Shanle will lead the offensive line, a group which will include juniors Ross Bonk, Carson Fuscher and Ryan Mustard.
Bos (84 tackles, 2 INTs) is one of the rising underclassmen in Class C-1 and will lead a defense that includes junior Marcus Dodson (79 tackles) and Jackson Kumpf (2 INTs). Other impact player in that deep, talented junior class will include Quinn Blaser, Ross Bonk, Baeley Pelster and Cole Harrington.
Opening with Boone Central/Newman Grove and Aquinas and closing with Bishop Neumann and Columbus Lakeview isn't exactly a walkover but expect the Shamrocks to hold their own, winning five games or so.
Bishop Neumann
CAVALIERS
It will sort of be like watching a pot of water boil - be patient and things will start happening. That's the case at Neumann where the Cavaliers return just two starters on offense and six on defense from last year's 7-4 state quarterfinal team but also have an outstanding sophomore class which is about to blossom.
"We will be a young team, with just seven seniors, and sophomores will have to play. The good news is those sophomores have talent," says veteran head coach Tim Turman, who has a spectacular 269-142-2 career record and has led the Cavaliers to six state playoff championship games, winning Class C-1 in both 2002 and 2003. "Our strength will be the defensive backfield and our weakness will probably be in the lines. If we can hang in there until the sophomore get a little experience we could be competitive at the end of the season."
Senior Cole Prohaska (5-9, 155), a shifty open field runner, will start at running back. Last season Prohaska rushed for 239 yards and six touchdowns in limited carries and also proved a valuable receiver, catching 12 passes for 169 yard and a score. Versatile senior Cameron Benes (5-11, 185) - "he could play anywhere," says Coach Turman - could wind up at fullback with junior Wyatt Svara (5-10, 170), who is coming off an injury, also in the mix.
Rising sophomore Noah Vedral (6-1, 160), who just happens to be Coach Turman's grandson, is very athletic and figures to become the team's quarterback. Junior Jordan Fujan (6-2, 170) is a returning starter and athletic option at receiver and, as is sophomore Jaxon Simons (6-0, 150), and junior Ben Simons (6-0, 175) will also help at the skill positions.
Junior Nate Kmiecik (5-10, 215) returns at center and will lead a line that will include senior tackle Noah Spangler (5-10, 210) with juniors Blake Needham (6-1, 190), Jay Moss (5-11, 170) and Scott Benes (5-10, 170) and sophomore Brandon Breunig (6-4, 185) good bets to earn playing time in the line. Sophomore Reid Jurgensmeier (6-2, 155) is a leading prospect at tight end.
Ben Simons (48 tackles), Vedral (44 tackles) and Fujan lead what should be an outstanding secondary with Jaxon Simons also in the mix. Benes (35 tackles, 3 sacks) returns at linebacker with sophomores Theo Blum (5-11, 160) and Tom Lilly (5-9, 145) and Svara among those battling for the other starting positions.
Spangler (19 tackles) will be the leader of the defensive line with Breunig, Needham and another sophomore, Andrew Klement (6-0, 160), among other prospects in the defensive front.
Syracuse, Lincoln Christian and Norfolk Catholic to start will test the Cavs but they will do the testing by late October. Look for six or seven wins and a playoff berth.
Wahoo
WARRIORS
For the fifth year in a row the Warriors last season won a playoff game, finishing 7-3, and now return six starters on both offense and defense.
"We have our work cut out for us with only six returning starters and an extremely tough schedule, both in and out of our district," says 13th year head coach Chad Fox, who has compiled a 75-40 career record. "We hare definite question marks in the offensive and defensive lines and finding a quarterback to guide are offense will be imperative. We do return a good deal of skill at running back and receiver, as well as in the secondary, and it will be the development of intangibles like leadership and chemistry that will determine who successful we can be in 2014."
Versatile and an outstanding all-around athlete, senior Gavin Iversen (6-2, 175) has experience at quarterback but will slide to a wide receiver position for 2014. Senior Justin Jarman (6-2, 175) returns as the team's leading receiver from last year, catching 15 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns, and senior Seth Bohac (5-8, 165) and sophomore Seth Anderson (6-0, 175) are lettermen who could help.
Iversen's move to receiver means the battle for the starting QB position will fall on sophomore candidates Mitchell McGill (5-9, 160) and Josh Abbott (5-8, 150).
Seniors Derek Bell (5-9, 180) and Will Holdsworth (6-3, 180) will anchor the offensive line with senior tight end Drake Steinmetz (5-10, 190) also returning. Look for senior Doug Ford (5-11, 180), junior Bobby Spicka (5-10, 175) and sophomore tight end Jacob Ruzicka (6-2, 190) to be at the front of the line for playing time with senior Lincoln Belitz (6-1, 185) and sophomores Cole Krecklow (5-8, 190) and Sam Lindgren (5-11, 235) also in line to contribute.
Iversen (74 tackles) is an all-district DB who leads a secondary that will include Jarman and junior Jordan Ptacek (5-9, 160) along with Bohac. Bell (38 tackles) and Holdsworth will anchor the defensive line with Lindgren, a promising talent, along with Krecklow, Spicka and senior Chase Rathke (5-8, 170) also playing in the line.
Steinmetz (38 tackles) is the only returning linebacker but expect Ford and Ruzicka to be in the mix for the other starting positions.
Look for Wahoo to win something like six games and contend for the district title, like usual.
Columbus Lakeview
VIKINGS
It's time to start over at Lakeview, where the Vikings lose a great number of three-year starters and return only two starters on defense and none on offense from last year's 9-3 team which reached the Class C-1 state playoff semifinals, the program's best finish in 23 seasons.
"Even though we return very little experience we don't expect to fall far from the top level in C-1 because we have a great deal of capable returning players who can keep Viking football headed in the right direction," says head coach Kurt Frenzen, who has compiled a 68-54 record in his 13 years at Lakeview. "We have a tough schedule with seven of our nine games against playoff teams."
Taking over for the program's all-time leading passer, all-stater Jake Shadley, will be either senior Dominick Henk (5-11, 175) or junior Dylan Johnson (5-10, 165). The running game will center around senior running back Marcus Holmberg (5-9, 170), with senior Kali Lichtenfeld (6-2, 200) and junior Austin Foltz (6-2, 195) new starters at wide receiver. "All of these players are capable and getting their chance," says Coach Frenzen.
Leading the offensive line will be seniors Dalton Saltz (6-1, 215) and Karston Runge (5-11, 195), both of whom have played a lot of key snaps over the past two seasons. Among the contenders for starting jobs are senior Phillip Ohlerich (5-9, 260) and junior Noah Duncan (6-0, 220), both returning lettermen.
Runge is a returning starter in the defensive line with Foltz another veteran at end. Henk returns at outside linebacker with Holmberg stepping in at middle linebacker and senior David Knapp (5-9, 170) will be the leader of the secondary.
Junior Tate Janssen (5-9, 150) will take over the kicking duties for the Vikings.
In what will be the program's most challenging season in many years look for the Vikings to win about four games.
David City
SCOUTS
Third-year head coach Amp Ferg returns six starters on both sides of the ball from last year's 2-6 team.
Soon to become a three-year starter, senior quarterback Ben Danielson (6-2, 185) gives the team steady production and leadership, last year passing for 367 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 296 yards and a score. Senior Tony Meusch (5-10, 160) is a two-year starter in the backfield and juniors Dustin Papa (5-10, 165), Kalan Zeilinger (5-9, 180) and Devin Betzen (5-11, 185) all bring experience to the running back position.
Another two-year starter, senior Ben Barlean (6-2, 210), will anchor an offensive line that also returns senior tight end Jonah Scheffler (6-3, 215).
Danielson (26 tackles) and Meusch (23 tackles) will lead a secondary that figures to include senior lettermen John Jacobsen (6-0, 185) and Cody Sabata (5-10, 160) and junior lettermen Brandon Theewen (5-10, 170) and Logan Detmer (5-10, 170).
Barlean and Scheffler return in the defensive line while Zeilinger and Betzen are veterans at the linebacker spots.
A brutal schedule - Norfolk Catholic, Wahoo, Neumann, et al - probably means David City gets locked in at about another two wins for the season.
North Bend Central
TIGERS
North Bend Central was 2-6 in 2013 and elected not to send a preview to Huskerland Prep Report.
District C1-5
Lincoln Christian
CRUSADERS
Last season Lincoln Christian finished 9-2, winning two playoff games.
Lincoln Christian elected not to return information for this preview but return four outstanding players in junior QB Jared Bubak, who moves from wide receiver, senior linemen Phil Grothaus and Taylor Hanson and senior running back Tanner Schwaninger. The Crusaders will be good, that much we know.
Wilber-Clatonia
WOLVERINES
For the sixth straight season the Wolverines won a playoff game in 2013 - one of the longer stretches in the state - and return four starters on both sides of the ball from that 6-4 team.
"We hope to be competitive in all of our games and earn a chance for the district title and a playoff spot," says sixth-year head coach Lynn Jurgens. "We have a strong senior class that doesn't like to lose but we need to develop depth in both of our lines."
The Wolverines return the makings of an outstanding line thanks to the return of seniors Chandler Oliver (6-4, 215) and Nick Maschman (5-9, 200) and senior tight end David Zimmerman (6-2, 230). "All three of those players are high motor, aggressive strong players," says Coach Jurgens. Senior lettermen Jake Sykes (6-4, 260) and Quentin Slama (6-4, 275) figure to fill out the rest of the offensive line.
A two-time all-district player and one of the best running backs in Class C-1, senior Carter Zlab (5-11, 165) returns after last year rushing for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns and catching eight passes for 226 yards and another score. He is one of the best big play backs in the class. Senior fullback Tyler Combs (5-9, 195) could be ready for a huge year, says Coach Jurgens, and sophomore Connor O'Toole (5-2, 185) seems ready to take over at quarterback. In limited duty last year he rushed for 127 yards and five touchdowns.
Maschman (86 tackles, 18 TFL, 6.5 sacks) and Oliver (43 tackles, 9 TFL, 5 sacks) are both dynamic defensive linemen who will be joined in that unit by Sykes and Slama. Zimmerman (94 tackles, 9 TFL) is another playmaker at linebacker, where O'Toole, Comb should be big factors and a group of lettermen led by senior Alex Munro (5-10,160) can help provide depth.
Zlab (32 tackles, 2 INTs) leads a secondary that will include senior letterman Derek Ahrens (6-2, 170) among others. Chandler is back as the team's place kicker after booting 14 PATs last season and O'Toole returns as the team's punter.
Traditionally overlooked, the Wolverines will be good again in 2014. How good will be determined by how quick those non-starters get a grip at the varsity level. Let's say in time to help Wilber-Clatonia win seven games or so and make the playoffs again.
Milford-Dorchester
EAGLES
Entering his 36th season at Milford, head coach Marty Hingst welcomes five starters back on offense and four on defense from last year's 3-6 team which qualified for the playoffs.
"We don't have a lot of big bodies up front, but we are faster and have more quickness. We have a good mix of returning starters among our linemen, our skill players and our receivers," says Coach Hingst, who has won 237 games in his career, including the C-1 state titles in 1995 and 1996. "We need to find some defensive linemen and add some depth on defense but we can be very good at linebacker and will build around that position.
"We are also excited about having our players from Dorchester able to play varsity ball this season."
Milford will have a couple of options at quarterback, with junior Cam Carritt (5-11, 185) the more experienced signal caller, last year passing for 135 yards and a touchdown, with sophomore Jaidon Policky (6-0, 160) bidding for playing time. Junior Andrew Hauder (5-11, 145) battled injuries last year but when healthy he was effective as a running back, averaging 71 yards per game. Junior TJ Havlat (5-9, 165) and sophomores Dustin Nelson (5-9,145) and Brendon Gerlach (6-2, 175) will add depth in the running game.
Senior tight end Daniel Mitchell (6-4, 220) is a powerful blocker who has good hands, as witnessed by his 11 catches for 230 yards and four TDs in 2013.
Three starters return in the offensive line including Dylan Rakow (6-0, 195), Taylor Schildt (6-2, 195) and Jake Schweitzer (5-11, 215), with senior Dalton Bluhm (6-2, 205) and junior Phil Schildt (5-10, 215) among the lettermen who will make a play to start along side them.
Mitchell and Rakow (67 tackles) were all-district linebackers last season and Carritt, Hauder and Policky could give the Eagles a solid secondary. Taylor Schildt and Schweitzer are returning starters in the defensive line, with Phil Schildt, Bluhm, seniors Nixon Nerud (6-3, 170) and Chris Nelson (5-10, 175), Phil Schildt and Gerlach all battling for playing time in the D-line.
Added depth is always a good thing and we see it helping the Eagles to something like five or six wins in the regular season.
Raymond Central
MUSTANGS
Hopes are high at Raymond Central where the Mustangs return eight starters on both sides of the ball from a playoff team that finished 3-6.
"We are going to have an experienced line, with four starters back, and good experience on both sides of the ball, period, though we hae little or no experience at quarterback," says head coach Nathan Liess, who enters his fourth year at the school. "On defense returns all three of our linebackers, which is good, but we will have fewer than 30 kids on the roster so we need to stay healthy and so some learning on the fly come Friday nights."
Junior Jake Palensky (5-10, 185) is an outstanding all-around back, making the all-district team after last season after rushing for 799 yards and catching 21 passes for another 203 yards, scoring 10 total touchdowns. Senior Alex Kruse (6-1, 200) got some carries last year, rushing for 152 yards and four TDs, but he will play receiver where he caught nine passes for 174 yards. Junior Mitch Russman (6-5, 200) is the team's leading returning receiver, last season catching 17 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Senior Mitch Fredrickson (6-0, 175) moves from receiver to quarterback, where his overall athletic skills will serve him well.
The four returning starters in the line include seniors Zach Brandenburgh (5-10, 220) and Lupe Lopez (5-6, 215) and juniors Peter McNally (5-10, 200) and Justen Hall (6-0, 190). Sophomore letterman Ian McIntyre (5-10, 190) has the goods to become a factor and junior Jacob Hiebert (6-0, 315) could also develop into a difference maker, says Coach Liess.
Kruse (102 tackles), Palensky (88 tackles) and senior Ben States (6-0, 180) give the Mustangs a pair of outstanding linebackers and McIntyre could easily make it four of a kind. McNally, Brandenburgh, Lopez and Hall return in the defensive line with Russman leading the secondary, where sophomores Grant Albrecht (5-7, 140) and Jack Hornung (5-10, 150) will have a chance to help.
The quarterback thing is sort of a big deal but the Mustangs have been to the playoffs each of the past three seasons and should find their way somewhere around .500 this season.
Lincoln Lutheran
WARRIORS
Greg Nelson begins his first year as LLHS head coach with eight starters back on defense and seven on offense from last year's 1-7 team.
"We should be solid at the skill positions, especially with two returning quarterbacks with starting experience, but we will young up front and need help from multiple underclassmen in those positions," says Coach Nelson, a 2009 graduate of UN-Nebraska.
Seniors lettermen returning for the Warriors include Josh Leymaster, Elijah Kouma, Ben Schmeling, Koby Hruza, Scott Wineman and Harrison Martin, with juniors Jake Kilham, Garrett Wachael, Dylan Brockhaus and Max McCoy lettermen who will play.
Fairbury
JEFFS
Establishing new leadership is one of the primary goals for the Jeffs, who are coming off a 1-7 season.
"It will be very important that we keep working at bigger and stronger and that we develop some leadership," says head coach Derek Garfield, who enters his second year at FHS. "We return a lot of players with experience and that should benefit us greatly."
Another benefit will be the return of senior quarterback Dalton Hinrichs (6-0, 175), who last season passed for 613 yards and four touchdowns and also served as the team's punter. His leading receiver returns, senior Nate Klaumann (5-8, 160), who last season caught 21 passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns and added 134 yards rushing. Senior Chris Fisher (5-10, 140) and junior Trevin Likens (6-2, 150) are other experienced receivers.
Fairbury's most veteran running back is junior letterman Lane McLain (5-10, 160).
Returning in the offensive line are seniors Connor Livingston (6-0, 215), Andrew Grummert (5-9, 170) and John Abbott (6-1, 225) and sophomore Paul Mach (6-1, 250).
There is some returning experience at linebacker where Hinrichs had 45 tackles while being named all-district, senior Wesley Jackson (6-0, 185) had 30 tackles in 2013 and sophomores Damian Green (5-7, 150) and Patrick Ondrak (5-10, 165) both saw playing time. Klaumann (40 tackles), Fisher (25 tackles) and senior Brett Wanamaker (5-10, 150), who last season had 26 tackles, give the secondary a veteran look.
Livingston (66 tackles) is an outstanding defensive lineman, a returning all-district player, and Mach seems a good bet to start there as well.
Look for the Jeffs to win about three games this season.
