Class C1:
#1 Ashland-Greenwood @ #9 GICC: Grand Island Central Catholic was the only low seed to win in the first round of the playoffs. (35-35 in OT against #8 Wilber-Clatonia.) A-G travels this week to GICC, I think this game could be close, GICC has gotten after it after a slow start to begin the season. Have they caught "lightning in a bottle?" We will see, but I can't go against A-G, they have so much talent and were playoff tested last year. Ashland-Greenwood wins, 35-24.
#5 Chadron @ #4 Cozad: Both teams come into this game, 9-1. Chadron lost to Class B Sidney 0-48 in week 1, while Cozad lost to Kearney Catholic 27-20 in week 4. Cozad wins this game after Chadron struggled with a rugged Ogallala team last week. The Haymkers march on to the semi-finals. Cozad wins 27-14.
#6 Kearney Catholic @ #3 Columbus Scotus: Both teams come into this game 9-1, Catholic lost to GICC late in the season, 13-20, while Columbus Scotus lost in week one to Boone Central 31-14. Scotus has been on a roll since the week 1 loss to Boone, including beating one of the Class C2 favorites, David City Aquinas in week 2. Kearney Catholic has played a few tight games this year, including last weeks win over Boys Town in OT. I give this matchup to the home team, the Shamrocks get it done. Columbus Scotus wins, 33-18.
#7 Norfolk Catholic @ #2 Boone Central: The last time these two met, Boone won 32-16, that was two weeks ago. I know it's hard to beat a team twice I just don't see it. The beatdown Boone gave NC is still fresh in their minds, and I think that is in favor of Boone Central. This has been a hell of a rivalry over the past decade, and it's always a great game when these two meet. But Boone Central is going to get it done, and in my opinion, win Class C1 this year. Boone Central wins 24-17.
Class C2:
#8 Archbishop Bergan @ #1 Battle Creek: Bergan has had a great season, including last weeks win against Malcolm, but it all comes to an end on Friday. Battle Creek is the real deal this year in Class C2, owning big wins over 9-1 Oakland Craig, 41-6, 7-3 Stanton 35-7, and 8-2 Hartington Cedar Catholic 36-14. I don't know if anyone can stop the Braves this year. Battle Creek wins, 42-14.
#5 David City Aquinas @ #4 Hastings St. Cecilia: Tesmer vs Mimick, two of the greatest high school coaches in the state of Nebraska going at it. Both teams are 8-1, Aquinas losing in week 2 against Class C1 Columbus Scotus, 13-16. While St. Cecilia lost to a 9-1 Sutton team 26-20. I know the transitive property doesn't work in football, BUT Aquinas did beat Hartington CC, who just beat Sutton by 13 last week. Something to think about? Probably not, but I'm going with David City Aquinas, they want to get back to Lincoln. Aquinas wins in OT, 28-21.
#3 Freeman @ #11 Hartington Cedar Catholic: Cedar Catholic got a HUGE win last week on the road against a previously unbeaten Sutton team, 27-14. Now Freeman has to travel a ways to Hartington to take a team that is feeling pretty good over its win from last week. Honestly, I don't see this one being close. Hartington Cedar Catholic wins 31-10.
#7 Oakland-Craig @ #2 North Platte St. Pat's: Both teams took care of business last week fairly easy. Oakland-Craig is 8-1, their only loss coming to Battle Creek in week 2. While NPSP has beaten every team they have faced this year, really only being tested in week 1 on the road against the defending state champions, Doniphan-Trumbell. This is a long bus ride for Oakland-Craig, who doesn't have to travel far for games. Drew McClellen from NPSP and Nick Alrt from OC are going to be fun to watch going against each other. McClellen is one of the states best kickers as well, booting at 58 yard field goal last year. That may be the difference in this ball game. This is a pretty even matchup in my eyes, but the home team wins it. North Platte St. Pat's wins, 17-14.
I'd love to see more predictions as well!
#1 Ashland-Greenwood @ #9 GICC: Grand Island Central Catholic was the only low seed to win in the first round of the playoffs. (35-35 in OT against #8 Wilber-Clatonia.) A-G travels this week to GICC, I think this game could be close, GICC has gotten after it after a slow start to begin the season. Have they caught "lightning in a bottle?" We will see, but I can't go against A-G, they have so much talent and were playoff tested last year. Ashland-Greenwood wins, 35-24.
#5 Chadron @ #4 Cozad: Both teams come into this game, 9-1. Chadron lost to Class B Sidney 0-48 in week 1, while Cozad lost to Kearney Catholic 27-20 in week 4. Cozad wins this game after Chadron struggled with a rugged Ogallala team last week. The Haymkers march on to the semi-finals. Cozad wins 27-14.
#6 Kearney Catholic @ #3 Columbus Scotus: Both teams come into this game 9-1, Catholic lost to GICC late in the season, 13-20, while Columbus Scotus lost in week one to Boone Central 31-14. Scotus has been on a roll since the week 1 loss to Boone, including beating one of the Class C2 favorites, David City Aquinas in week 2. Kearney Catholic has played a few tight games this year, including last weeks win over Boys Town in OT. I give this matchup to the home team, the Shamrocks get it done. Columbus Scotus wins, 33-18.
#7 Norfolk Catholic @ #2 Boone Central: The last time these two met, Boone won 32-16, that was two weeks ago. I know it's hard to beat a team twice I just don't see it. The beatdown Boone gave NC is still fresh in their minds, and I think that is in favor of Boone Central. This has been a hell of a rivalry over the past decade, and it's always a great game when these two meet. But Boone Central is going to get it done, and in my opinion, win Class C1 this year. Boone Central wins 24-17.
Class C2:
#8 Archbishop Bergan @ #1 Battle Creek: Bergan has had a great season, including last weeks win against Malcolm, but it all comes to an end on Friday. Battle Creek is the real deal this year in Class C2, owning big wins over 9-1 Oakland Craig, 41-6, 7-3 Stanton 35-7, and 8-2 Hartington Cedar Catholic 36-14. I don't know if anyone can stop the Braves this year. Battle Creek wins, 42-14.
#5 David City Aquinas @ #4 Hastings St. Cecilia: Tesmer vs Mimick, two of the greatest high school coaches in the state of Nebraska going at it. Both teams are 8-1, Aquinas losing in week 2 against Class C1 Columbus Scotus, 13-16. While St. Cecilia lost to a 9-1 Sutton team 26-20. I know the transitive property doesn't work in football, BUT Aquinas did beat Hartington CC, who just beat Sutton by 13 last week. Something to think about? Probably not, but I'm going with David City Aquinas, they want to get back to Lincoln. Aquinas wins in OT, 28-21.
#3 Freeman @ #11 Hartington Cedar Catholic: Cedar Catholic got a HUGE win last week on the road against a previously unbeaten Sutton team, 27-14. Now Freeman has to travel a ways to Hartington to take a team that is feeling pretty good over its win from last week. Honestly, I don't see this one being close. Hartington Cedar Catholic wins 31-10.
#7 Oakland-Craig @ #2 North Platte St. Pat's: Both teams took care of business last week fairly easy. Oakland-Craig is 8-1, their only loss coming to Battle Creek in week 2. While NPSP has beaten every team they have faced this year, really only being tested in week 1 on the road against the defending state champions, Doniphan-Trumbell. This is a long bus ride for Oakland-Craig, who doesn't have to travel far for games. Drew McClellen from NPSP and Nick Alrt from OC are going to be fun to watch going against each other. McClellen is one of the states best kickers as well, booting at 58 yard field goal last year. That may be the difference in this ball game. This is a pretty even matchup in my eyes, but the home team wins it. North Platte St. Pat's wins, 17-14.
I'd love to see more predictions as well!
