District C2-1
Aquinas Catholic
MONARCHS
Following a third straight state finals appearance the Monarchs return six starters on offense and four on defense from last year's 10-3 team.
"We can be a good team again if we avoid injuries, like all teams, and develop some depth," says veteran head coach Ron Mimick, who enters his 24th year at the school with a coaching record of 250-105, including five state titles and seven finals appearance. "Our initial strength will be our quickness. We hope to have a good running attack with a quick backfield and the ability to throw the ball. On defense we still need to figure out who can play but if we can develop a great attitude and work habits we can play into November."
The Monarchs will be under steady guidance thanks to the return of three-year starting QB Trev Semrad (5-6, 140), a two-time all-district pick who last year passed for 806 yards and seven touchdowns. His leading receiver also returns, senior Nate Kovar (6-3, 170), who last year caught 20 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns.
At running back the Monarchs will turn to 5-7, 140-pound junior letterman Noah Pelan with versatile junior Spencer Maguire (5-7, 150) another option and explosive junior Kenton Kobza (5-9, 195) lining up at fullback. Another speedy junior, Conner Koranda (5-7, 140), will also help at the skill positions.
Three outstanding linemen will anchor the Monarch line, among them senior guards Trevin Steager (6-0, 200) and Mitch White (6-0, 190) along with senior center Matt Kindler (6-2, 200). All three of them are returning all-conference and all-district players who will join with senior tight end Trent Smith (6-2, 190) to give Aquinas one of the better lines in Class C-2 football for 2014.
White (75 tackles, 4 FR) is an outstanding linebacker who will be joined at that position by sophomore Lane Napier (5-11, 170) with Pelan, Maguire and sophomore Brandon Svoboda (5-10, 175) other prospects at the position. Kindler (70 tackles, 3 FR) will lead a defensive line that will also include Steager, Smith, Kobza and another letterman, junior Brandon Comte (5-8, 220).
Semrad (3 INTs) and free safety Kovar will be featured in a secondary which also include Kranda.
Cedar Catholic, Scotus and Lutheran High Northeast - that's the first three teams on the Aquinas schedule. Challenging? Sure. But this is Aquinas and they win, so let's say they do so seven times in the regular season and advance in the playoffs.
Archbishop Bergan
KNIGHTS
Second-year head coach Seth Mruz has a full cupboard to choose from, with nine defensive starters and eight offensive starters returning from last year's 8-2 playoff team.
"On offense we will return quite a few skill players but will need our line to step up. We have a two quality quarterbacks to choose from, which is a blessing, and a good group of athletic receivers," says Coach Mruz, a graduate of Bergan and Nebraska Wesleyan. "Our defense is going to be a huge strength for us with so much returning experience. We will have experience, athleticism and a track record of past success on that side of the ball."
Last preseason the battle for the team's starting QB position came down to Luke Kerkaert and Tristin Logemann (6-0, 185) before Kerkaert was hurt and lost for the season. Logemann, a now a senior, stepped in and passed for 1,387 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for another 222 yards and two TDs. Now a junior, Kerkaert is back and healthy and it sets up for a great battle; both players will be on the field, one way or another.
Bergan loves to throw the ball from its spread set and will return a deep, talented set of receivers led by senior Adam Dykman (6-7, 215), a gifted athlete who last year caught 18 passes and turned them into 337 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also returning are seniors Wes LaBelle (6-1, 170) and Logan Bovill (6-2, 190); last year LaBelle caught 10 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns and Bovill caught eight passes for 230 yards and two scores.
Senior Santana Melgoza (5-10, 190) is a returning starter at receiver who will also get some carries, while it appears junior Cannon Arett is in line to be the team's workhorse running back.
Leading the line will be senior all-state candidate Tyler Thomsen (6-2, 215) with senior Felipe Pinales (6-0, 190) and junior Lane DeGroff (6-1, 215) also returning starters. Senior Rider Taylor (5-11, 200) is among the prospects to fill out the line.
Bergan's secondary will be headlined by returning starters Melgoza, LaBelle and junior Austin Ottis (6-2, 185), with Bovill and junior Lucas Moore also seeing time. Dykman (43 tackles, 2 INTs) and senior Alex Schmidt (44 tackles) will lead a set of linebackers which will also include Arett, Kerkaert and senior Brian Wilmes.
Thomsen (53 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 sacks) and Pinales (41 tackles, 8 TFL) are as good a set of interior defensive linemen as you'll see in Class C-2, with DeGroff also in the mix.
Lots of athletes, lots of experience. Here's a team that should win 10 or 11 games and be in the mix for a state finals appearance.
Tekamah-Herman
TIGERS
After qualifying for the third time in four seasons, and claiming their first playoff victory since 1991, the Tigers return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 5-5 team.
"We return an outstanding quarterback and receiver and also the second- and third-leading tacklers on defense plus we will have nine seniors, so those are areas of strength," says head coach Scott Guzinski, a 1997 graduate of Concordia University who enters his third year at Tekamah-Herman. "Areas of concern are the offensive line, where we lost five starters, and the fact we lost our leading tackler and thousand-yard rusher in Derek Method."
A returning all-stater, senior Dash Cameron (5-10, 190) enjoyed another big season in 2013, catching 50 passes for 771 yards and 13 touchdowns; he's the type of kid who will be a college football player someday. Throwing him the ball is senior Jason Hanson (5-8, 130, and a two-time state wrestling champion), who last year chalked up 1,691 yards passing, including 19 touchdowns, and can count on seniors Mark Heaney (5-10, 150) and Scot Anderson (5-11, 175) as steady targets. Anderson last season pulled in 16 catches for 245 yards and four TDs, Heaney caught 24 passes for 247 yards and you can also expect senior Beau Braniff (5-10, 130) to start at receiver.
Senior Justin Hansen (5-10, 165) is a good bet to move into the starting running back role with sophomore letterman Ben Metzler (5-9, 150) also in the mix.
A two-year starter, senior Cetan Barr (6-0, 205) will lead the rebuilt offensive line with juniors Juan Gonzalez (5-10, 165) and Matt Gross (6-2, 220) also battling for starting positions.
Justin Hansen (83 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 FR) and Anderson (91 tackles) give the Tigers an outstanding set of linebackers with Metzler also a good bet to start. There is outstanding depth in the secondary with the return of Cameron (3 FR), Jason Hansen, Heaney and Braniff but Barr, Gross and Gonzalez will need to step up in that defensive front to make the whole thing work.
It's scary to rebuild an entire line but look for those skill players to carry the day and get the Tigers to four wins, maybe five.
Omaha Brownell-Talbot
RAIDERS
Fresh from its first playoff season since 1997 the Raiders return five starters on defense and three on offense from last year's 9-1 team which completed the first perfect regular season in program history.
"We are going to have some pretty solid backs and linebackers but we will be very young on the offensive and defensive lines," says sixth-year head coach Mike Mancuso, a 2005 graduate of UN-Omaha. "Right now there are a number of guys in the line who have been competing for playing time, with no one returning with starting experience, though we have some sophomores who show promise. We will need to grow up in a hurry if we want to compete in what should be a really tough district."
Calling him "the best fullback I saw last season," Coach Mancuso is excited about the return of all-district senior Jonathan Vrana (6-0, 210), an outstanding blocker who last year rushed for 551 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Brandon Deacon (5-10, 165) and senior Jordan Proby (6-2, 170) will be involved in the running game and junior Rory McCarthy (6-1, 170), who "is a tough, competitive and a heck of an athlete," says Coach Mancuso.
Dylan Burkley (6-2, 160) returns as the team's most veteran receiver.
There is only one starter returning in the line, junior Josh Bartz (5-11, 185), and he's expected to provide leadership to a new crop of young linemen.
While young the defense has a chance to be good again, mainly thanks to the return of an pretty solid linebacker unit which includes Deacon (89 tackles), Vrana (73 tackles, 2 FR) and Bartz, with Burkley and Proby returning starters in the secondary.
Brimming with confidence following that perfect regular season, but starting over in the line, look for the Raiders to win about four games this season.
Yutan
CHIEFTAINS
Second-year head coach Dan Krajicek will return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 3-6 playoff team.
"We will be very young and green this season and will need to move some of our guys to new positions in order to get our best athletes on the field," says Coach Krajicek, a Gretna High graduate who has brought on board former GHS head coach Kirk Eledge as an assistant coach. "Defensively we will build around some good linebackers and we need to build our line on offense.
"We do have good numbers in our freshman and sophomore classes (28), so the future looks bright."
A promising junior, Wyatt Zaugg (5-11, 165) returns as starting quarterback after last year passing for 501 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His leading receiver will be senior tight end Tad Nelson (5-10, 175), who last year caught eight passes including two for touchdowns, with senior Colin Lewis (6-0, 160) returning at wide receiver.
Another rising player is junior fullback Cody Fiest (5-10, 170), who last year rushed for 388 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Boston Rew (6-1, 175) returns at running back with senior Keyshon Brown (5-10, 175) and sophomore Parker Strand (6-0, 170) lettermen who could also figure into the running game.
Three players with starting experience return in the line, among them junior Peyton Pearce (5-10, 200), senior Josh Trost (6-0, 170) and sophomore Levi Kult (5-9, 160). Sophomore tight end Michael Kelly (6-1, 185) and sophomore Austin Fisher (5-10, 175) could also help in the line.
Fiest (93 tackles, 4 sacks) came up huge as a sophomore linebacker and will lead the defense with Nelson (41 tackles), Rew (21 tackles) and Kult also returning at linebacker. Lewis (31 tackles) will lead a secondary that will include Brown as another prospect.
Pearce (34 tackles) will lead a D-line that will include Josh Trost, senior Jake Trost (5-11, 160), Kelly, Fisher and sophomore Allan Cramblitt.
Something like last year's three wins is probably about right with brighter days ahead.
Logan View
RAIDERS
It's a mixed bag for the Raiders, who drop from C-1 but lost a good senior class. Head coach Jeremy Bohaboj returns seven starters on offense and five on defense from last year's 2-7 playoff team.
"We have a lot of young athletes who are still working hard to get better. We will be a very young team that is coming off a season where we faced some of the best teams in C-1 and well our seniors step into leadership roles will have a lot to say about our success," says Coach Bohaboj, a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan who enters his sixth year at Logan View. "We will be in unfamiliar territory with the move to Class C-2 but I feel our athletes will help us put a competitive product on the field."
There is excellent experience in the line for the Raiders, as seniors Dusty Shepard (5-6, 170) and Connor McManigal (5-9, 175) and juniors Zach Heinke (6-1, 190), Zac Wanamaker (5-6, 170) and Nick Epperson (5-10, 195) all have starting experience. Sophomore lettermen Brett Hull (5-10, 170) and Connor Miller (5-6, 190) will add depth in the interior line while senior tight end Tyler Landholm (5-11, 175) is another returning starter up front.
Juniors Nathan Rock (5-6, 140) and Garrett Knoell (5-8, 165) will handle the ball carrying duties while seniors Jordan Polk (5-11, 155) and Derek Beaumont (5-10, 165) bring starting experience to the receiver position with junior letterman Colin Vonseggern (5-11, 140) another candidate for catches.
Shepard, Wanamaker and Knoell (4 INTs) return at linebacker, where Miller could also help, with Rock, Polk and Beaumont veterans in the secondary. Landholm, an end, and Epperson, Heinke and McManigal will settle into the defensive line with Hull another option.
We could see Logan View making the most of the change of classes, winning something like four games, maybe more.
District C2-2
Freeman
FALCONS
Easing into the world of 11-man football, the Falcons return a solid core of players from last year's 8-3, Class D-1 quarterfinal playoff team.
"We return a thousand-yard rusher, a thousand-yard passer, our leader in tackles and our best lineman. We have quite an adjustment to make, moving from 8-man to 11-man, but we are excited for the challenge of competing in Class C-2," says new head coach Travis Andreasen, who had served as an assistant for the past nine seasons.
A returning all-stater, senior Issac Frerichs is one of the premier dual threat QBs in C-2, last year throwing for 1,386 yards and 22 TDs - only 4 INTs - and also rushing for 564 yards and eight more touchdowns. When Freeman goes to the ground it's got a workhorse in senior Jacob Buhr (5-11, 170), who last year rushed for 1,072 yards and 14 touchdowns, with senior Garrett Cacek (5-8, 150), who rushed for 378 yards and seven TDs in 2013, another outstanding option.
Buhr is also an outstanding receiver out of the backfield, last year catching 30 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns, while Devin Dorn (5-10, 155) turned five catches into 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Injury wrecked his 2013 but senior lineman Scott Adams (6-3, 235) is a bona fide all-state prospect, one of the best all-around players in this class. He will lead an offensive line that figures to include senior Kelton Ashelford (5-6, 205), junior Jacobson Podtburg (5-11, 185), senior JJ Jurgens (5-7, 155) and sophomore Gabe VanEngen (5-8, 215).
Buhr (118 tackles, 14.5 TFL) and Frerichs (70 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 INTs) are both top all-around players they and Dorn (53 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 FR) are as big a set of playmaking linebackers as you'll find. Cacek (58 tackles) rounds out what has to be one of Class C-2's best set of linebackers. Junior lettermen Everett Bloom (5-8, 145) and Tyler Buhr (5-8, 135) will help settle the secondary.
Adams (32 tackles) will be constantly double-teamed, mostly to no avail, and will be joined in the D-line by Ashelford, Jurgens and junior Holden Scott (6-5, 170).
It's a leap of faith, moving from eight-man to 11-man, but this bunch should be able to pull it off, winning seven or eight regular season games and making the playoffs.
Palmyra
PANTHERS
Former assistant Tyler Maas ascends to the head coaching job at Palmyra, where he returns seven starters on offense and six on defense from last year's 5-4 district champion and state playoff qualifier.
"We return a solid nucleus on both sides of the ball but the graduation of a several key skill players means player development will be important," says Coach Maas, a 2005 graduate of Wayne State College.
Anchoring the offensive line will be senior tight end Riley Reynoldson (6-4, 180), who has the physical tools to be a force, says Coach Maas. Also back in the line are senior Trevor Book (6-1, 220) and juniors Houston Hornby (6-3, 220) and Jon Fitzsimmons (6-1, 230).
Wide receiver is well stocked thanks to the return of talented junior Drew Huxoll (6-0, 175), who will enjoy a breakout year if he stays healthy, says Coach Maas, as well as junior Ryan Juilfs (6-3, 180) and Luke Thomsen (6-0, 175. Last season Huxoll caught 16 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 157 yards and another score; Juilfs caught 12 passes for 109 yards; Thomsen rushed for 149 yards and three TDs.
Huxoll (54 tackles) leads the secondary while Reynoldson (47 tackles), Book (50 tackles), Hornby (44 tackles) and Fitzsimmons should set the Panthers up with an excellent defensive line. Juilfs returns at linebacker with senior Marquis Buchanan (6-1, 170) and junior Miguel Barajas (5-8, 160) will be in the mix for playing time on defense.
There some momentum within the program, the energy of a new coach, and we see that adding up to another five wins or so and a run at the district title and playoff berth that comes with it.
Southern
RAIDERS
There is good returning experience - eight starters back on offense, seven on defense - as the Raiders look to rebound from a disappointing 3-5 season.
"We will miss this year's five seniors but our underclassmen got a lot of valuable experience last season and that should pay off in the 2014 season," says 14-year head coach Kane Hookstra, a 1996 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan. "Developing depth and staying healthy will be keys to us having a successful season but a bounce back season and being in contention for the district title are expected."
Senior dual threat Austin Lovell (6-1, 190), a returning all-district QB who last season passed for 523 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 415 yards and nine TDs, will lead the Raiders offense. It will be interesting to see how Lewiston senior transfer Hayden Albers, who last year passed for 1,077 yards and 18 TDs, might fit into Southern's plans.
Senior running back Dusty Dean (5-8, 180) last season rushed for 277 yards and caught nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown and he'll lead the Southern running game. Junior Jared Johnson (5-10, 190), who rushed for 116 yards and a TD, will also be a factor in the running game.
When Southern goes to the air senior Atreyu King (6-1, 170) figures in the plans; last season he caught 11 passes for 177 yards. Junior letterman Jalan Fields (6-2, 170) will be among those trying to earn the other starting receiver position.
The offensive line is young but experienced, led by all-district junior Travis Munstermann (5-10, 175) and including fellow juniors Preston Meyer (6-0, 210) and Daniel Lundstedt (6-0, 220) and sophomore Ethan Zvolanek (5-11, 200) and junior tight end Jacob Carpenter (6-2, 180).
Dean (61 tackles) is a returning all-district linebacker and will be joined in that unit by Munstermann (33 tackles, 3 TFL) and Johnson (24 tackles) with King the lone returning starter in the secondary.
There is good depth in the defensive line with Lovell (24 tackles, 3 INTs) and Carpenter (22 tackles) at the ends and Meyer (21 tackles), Lundstedt and Zvolanek on the interior. Senior letterman Keegan Wegner (6-2, 210) will add depth in the lines and junior letterman Casey Jones (5-10, 165) will help on both sides of the ball.
Lovell returns as the team's punter averaging 31 yards per in 2013.
Look for Southern to be a better team this fall, winning something like four of five games.
Elmwood-Murdock
KNIGHTS
With 14 consecutive state playoff appearances on its resume - including 11 district titles during that stretch - the Elmwood-Murdock program has dominated southeast Nebraska Class C-2 football for more than a decade. Trying to stretch that streak to 15 in a row will be a challenge as the Knights return just two starters on offense and one on defense from last year's 5-4 team.
"We feel like our district is up for grabs, as do the other teams in our district. We believe with continued hard work we can be competitive in our district," says Leigh Schmale, who enters his 23rd season at EMHS and has won 200 games in his coaching career. "We will be a younger team this season but we look to improve every game and be competitive when districts roll around."
Junior Brandon Frates (5-10, 160) returns as the team's starting quarterback, last year passing for 621 yards and four touchdowns, while senior Austin Closner (6-0, 150) and sophomores Justin Drake (5-9, 165) and Austin Drueke (5-8, 160) are lettermen who will compete for carries at running back.
Junior Tyler Oehlerking (5-9, 160) will step in at wingback with Alliance transfer Kenneth Erixson (5-8, 130) also in the mix and junior Cody Fries (5-10, 155) among the candidates at split end.
Leading the offensive line will be returning starter Zach Dwyer (6-0, 220) while seniors Tony Drake (6-0, 225), Christian Jones (5-11, 210) and Dallas Romine (5-10, 190) are leading candidates to start in the offensive line and junior Chris Beebee (5-9, 200) and sophomore Zach Lindsey (5-8, 220) also in the mix for playing time. Senior Josh Meyer (5-11, 170) is a leading candidate at tight end.
Dwyer (54 tackles, 3 TFL) will lead the defense, being joined at linebacker by Meyer, Justin Drake and Drueke while Jones and Romine should lead the defensive line. Oehlerking and Closner are leading candidates to show the way in a rebuilt secondary.
Tradition counts for a lot in high school football and we expect that to help the Knights to find a way to win something like last year's five games and be a factor in the district race.
Weeping Water
INDIANS
In 2013 Weeping Water made it three playoff appearances in four seasons and now returns six starters on both offense and defense from that 3-6 team.
"We lost a good senior class but our team is focused on again being competitive and we believe there is a lot of opportunity for success," says third-year head coach Adam McGill, a 2004 graduate of UN-Kearney. "We should be pretty well set in the offensive line and there will be a lot of opportunity for young players to prove themselves on defense. As always it is exciting to look forward to a new season, especially with a new schedule."
Much of what the Indians get done will center on the performance of junior Jon Dehne (5-11, 165), who as a running back last season rushed for 799 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury. Junior Gage Kraeger (5-10, 155), who missed four games last season due to suffering a broken arm, is scheduled to start at QB but depending on what happens in camp those players could swap positions.
Four starters return in the offensive line, including seniors Dan Hill (6-2, 210) and Brandon Brousard (5-11, 215) and juniors Ty West (6-1, 195) and Brandon Oliver (6-2, 180), with senior Chase Musil (6-1, 270) and sophomore Jake Meyer (5-11, 175) leading contenders to step into the rotation. The Indians also get a bump from the return of senior Michael Williams (5-10, 230), who missed last season due to injury.
Prospects at wide receiver include junior Justin Moore (5-11, 160) and sophomore Mason Heath (5-9, 150).
Dehne (63 tackles) is a already a two-time all-distrtict linebacker and both Kraeger (52 tackles) and Moore (65 tackles) also return at that position. Heath (35 tackles) leads the secondary.
Hill, Musil and Brousard will anchor what should be a big, physical defensive line with Aronson and senior Damian Hohn (6-1, 180) will contribute on defense, says Coach McGill.
Look for Weeping Water to win three or four games this season but with that veteran line in place the Indians could surprise.
Humbolt-Table Rock-Steinauer
TITANS
After back-to-back winless seasons it seems like the Titans have finally stockpiled enough talent and experience to make a breakthrough. Head coach Quentin Coatney returns 10 starters on both sides of the ball.
"We have tons of experience coming back but we are going to be on the small order so we need to work to overcome that," says Coach Coatney, who enters this third year at HTRS and is a graduate of Peru State College.
Returning at quarterback will be junior Nolan Schafer (6-0, 150) with seniors Ben Railsback (5-8, 165) and Jacob Phelps (5-6, 165) returning as starting running backs.
HTRS runs the spread offense and Schafer will have plenty of options in the passing game thanks to the return of senior Schuyler Kuhlmann (5-9, 145), juniors Will Drake (6-0, 160) and Eli Herr (6-0, 155) and sophomores Patrick Pindea (5-8, 135) and Logan Bredimeier (6-0, 150).
Senior Noah Sherman (6-2, 175) will provide leadership for an offensive line with also returns juniors Dalton Rhors (5-6, 205), Koalton Taiclet (5-8, 180) and Jesse Hickey (5-10, 175) and sophomore Chase Hain (6-1, 190).
Kuhlmann leads a secondary that will also include Bredimeier, Pindea and Drake with Schafer, Railsback, Phelps and Herr returning as linebackers. Hain, Taiclet, Sherman, Rhors and Hickey are back in the defensive line.
You root for a team like this, one which has struggled so badly, and we are calling for a win or two for the Titans in 2014.
District C2-3
Malcolm
CLIPPERS
The goal at Malcolm for 2014 is real simple: One More. As in one more win, which is what the Clippers needed last season to reach the state playoff finals for the first time in school history. As it is they return six starters on defense and five on offense from a 9-3 team.
"Although we lost a very good class I am very excited about this season because this year's seniors and juniors played key part in our playoff run," says head coach Scott Amen, a 1994 graduate of Doane College who is in his eighth year at MHS. "We are looking for good leaders, not worried so much about what grade they are in but for leaders who are going to work hard and earn the respect of their teammates."
After a productive 2013 at wide receiver - 24 catches, 488 yards, 2 TDs - senior Austin Bridges moves to quarterback where his athletic ability should make him a threat. There is great depth in the running game thanks to the return of seniors Jordan Redler (5-8,160), Mattias Holka (5-10, 160) and Jake Roberts (5-10, 165). Last season Redler churned out 726 yards rushing and four TDs while Holka rushed for 331 yards and two TDs and Roberts 330 yards and five touchdowns to go with 12 catches for 175 yards.
With Bridges moving to QB players like seniors Tucker McHugh (6-2, 185) and Dalton Witte (5-9, 130) will take over the receiver roles.
Three starters return in the interior line, including senior Brady Kopecky (6-3, 315) and sophomores Mason Warrelmann (6-1, 190) and Tim Dishman (6-3, 215). Returning at tight end are seniors Jamin Thomas (5-11, 165) and Jase Swanson (6-0,170).
McHugh (36 tackles ) is a returning all-district selection who leads a secondary that will include Bridges (86 tackles, 2 INTs) and Witte while Thomas, Kopecky, Dishman and Warrelmann return to the defensive line. Roberts (54 tackles), Holka (33 tackles), Redler and Dedrick (68 tackles) bring depth and experience to the linebacker corps.
While there are some glaring losses from last year's team there seems plenty of young talent ready to take over key roles for the Clippers. It wouldn't be shocking to see them complete a perfect regular season and advance in the playoffs.
Centennial
BRONCOS
Winning two playoff games in the same season for the first time since 1990, the Broncos reached the season 7-4 after reaching the Class C-2 quarterfinals. Head coach Evan Klanecky returns six starters on both sides of the ball.
"Our strength will be in both the offensive and defensive lines. As a result we will be more of a smash mouth team than counting on big plays, like last season," says Klanecky, who enters his fifth season at Centennial. "We did lose several key skill players and we will be undersized on defense. Young players will need to step up, especially at the skill positions."
What the Broncos do have is one of the more dynamic dual threat quarterbacks in Class C-2, senior Kyle Gierhan (5-10, 170), who last season passed for 1,756 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 650 yards and 11 more scores, setting three school records in the process. The kid has had the knack for big plays all through his high school career.
Senior fullback Cory Kennedy (6-0, 185) returns after last year rushing for 114 yards and five touchdowns, while sophomore letterman Ryan Schlueter (5-7, 150) is expected to step in a running back and sophomore letterman Noah Utter (5-10, 165) figures to become the team's go-to receiver.
Three starters return in the offensive line, including seniors Jarren Chrisman (6-2, 230) and Tanner Barth (6-1, 255) and junior Bryce Wright (6-0, 270).
Gierhan (60 tackles, 2 FR) doesn't limit his playmaking to offense and will lead the CHS secondary while Brayden Obermier (42 tackles, 4 FR) leads a set of linebackers that will include Kennedy, Schlueter and Utter.
Big and active, Chrisman (22 tackles), Wright (24 tackles) and Barth (28 tackles) will give Centennial an outstanding defensive front.
Look for Centennial to win five or six games and be in the district title hunt.
Tri County
TROJANS
Second-year head coach Brett Scheiding will return eight starters on offense and seven on defense as the Trojans look to kick things up a notch after finishing last season 2-6.
"We will be much improved skill wise from last season and our young players come back with a year of experience. We return players at about every position and we have a lot of speed and athleticism, areas we are still working on," says Coach Scheiding, a 2006 graduate of UN-Lincoln. "Last season we made a lot of changes on offense and now our players have a better grasp of what we are trying to accomplish on that side of the ball. We are going to make some changes on defense to provide a better fit for the athletes we have on the roster.
"Even with small numbers there is an excitement in our program and desire to keep improving."
An excellent dual threat quarterback, senior Wyatt Kowalski (6-2, 170) had a big 2013, rushing for 316 yards, passing for 692 yards and accounting for nine total touchdowns. Senior end Keldon Barr (6-3, 195) last season pulled in nine passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns and senior Brayden Schultis (5-10, 160) and junior letterman Carson Hicks (6-0, 170) will also be in the mix at receiver.
There is great experience in the offensive line, where senior Rutger Sylier (6-0, 225) has the makings of a really good one, and sophomore Ben Schmidt (6-0, 240) flashed great potential as a freshman starter. Also back are senior center Cody McCain (5-11, 220) and senior guard Brendan Hahn (5-10, 200), with junior Alex Jantzen (6-0, 215) rounding out what should be a pretty good unit.
Barr is a handful at the line of scrimmage, a defensive end who racked up 14 tackles for loss among his 33 total stops, and will be joined in the D-line by Sylier (40 tackles, 6.5 TFL), Schmidt, Jantzen and McCain. Again, that looks like a strong group to me.
Junior Jack Spilker (5-8, 155) turned in 41 tackles last season and will lead a group of linebackers that will include Jiskra and Hahn, with sophomore Ryan Musil (6-0, 160), Ensz, junior Houston Parker and Schultis playing in the secondary.
Sophomore scatback Colby Ensz (5-6, 145) made quite an impression in his rookie season, rushing for 518 yards, totaling 329 yards on kick returns and scoring six touchdowns. Keep an eye on this kid. Also returning is junior Shane Jiskra (6-2, 195), a good athlete who rushed for 276 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Tri County took some lumps last season but seems poised to return the favor in 2014. Let's say the Trojans win five games and could be one of the real surprise teams of the fall. Just sayin'...
Fillmore Central
PANTHERS
After last year reaching .500, finishing 4-4 and just missing the playoffs, Fillmore drops to Class C-2, returning seven starters on offense and five on defense.
"We have some key players back from last year's team but we also need to replace some offensive linemen, defensive ends and linebackers," says Ryan Komenda, a 1995 graduate of UN-Kearney, entering his sixth year as Fillmore head coach. "Last season we had a lot of young players get some experience and that will help with the transition process. We are looking at having an outstanding year with a great bunch of kids to coach."
Senior Hunter Kleinschmidt (6-2, 180) returns under center, last year passing for 559 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for another 107 yards and five touchdowns, and he will be able to count upon senior fullback Trevor Adams (6-2, 210), a four-year starter and two-time all-district player who last year rushed for 265 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Nate Rasmussen (5-9, 140), who was injured last year, returns at running back.
Senior Lance Donovan (5-11, 160) is the team's leading returning receiver, last year having caught nine passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, while seniors Xavier Bridges (5-7, 140) and Davis Jacobson (5-10, 150) other veteran options.
Three starters return in the offensive line, led by powerful senior Jarrod Hinrichs (6-2, 285), who last year finished third at state wrestling, and with senior Thomas Norvell (5-10, 180) back at center, senior Wyatt Schiermeyer (6-1, 170) back at guard. Junior Riley Chapman (6-2, 190) figures to earn one of the other returning starting positions.
Adams (57 tackles, 7 TFL) and Hinrichs (49 tackles, 4 TFL) are about as good a set of defensive tackles as you will find in Class C-2 and they'll lead a D-line that includes Norvell and Schiermeyer (26 tackles) among other options. Donovan (78 tackles, 3 TFL) is an outstanding linebacker and Chapman (35 tackles, 5 TFL) is another playmaker at that position.
Fillmore will have a solid secondary, including junior Leyton Hopken (6-3, 150), who had 40 tackles last season, as well as Bridges (21 tackles), Jacobson (29 tackles) and Rasmussen.
Looks to me like Fillmore has the type of schedule it can contend with, winning five or six in the regular season and making a run at a playoff berth.
Thayer Central
TITANS
With five starters back on offense and four on defense the Titans will aim to make it seven playoff berths in eight seasons. Head coach Josh Lanik's team finished 2013 3-6, losing to Hastings St. Cecilia in the first round of the Class C-2 playoffs.
"We will have to replace a big group of seniors but our senior class this fall has quite a bit of experience as role players," says Lanik, a 2005 graduate of Midland Lutheran who enters his fifth year at Thayer. "We will have to develop a couple of offensive linemen and a second running back but we have good depth in the secondary and defensive line, which will be key for us early, we will need to lean on our defense while our offense is still meshing.
"We will need our sophomores to develop quickly and help us out to compete in a tough district."
Returning to run the offense is accomplished senior QB Jay Cottam (5-9, 180), who last year passed for 827 yards and six touchdowns, with senior Robert Dodes (6-1, 150), who last year caught 19 passes for 227 yards, his leading returning receiver. Senior Ryan Voss (5-8, 160) and junior Jadyn Dightman (5-8, 135) are lettermen who will get a chance to earn playing time at receiver.
Senior Tyler Hergott (5-8, 160), who last year rushed for 128 yards, is the team's most experienced running back.
The lone returning starter is senior Caleb Krupicka (5-9, 200), with senior Peyton Schmitt (5-11, 175) and juniors Greg Brozek (6-2, 180) and Broderick Harms (6-2, 180) lettermen who should become regulars this season.
Hergott (40 tackles) leads the defense at defensive back with Dodes also returning in the secondary and Voss and Dightman other candidates for playing time in the secondary. Linebacker is wide open but seniors Thomas Feulner (5-9, 160), who last season registered 37 tackles, and Preston Brinegar (5-10, 165), who had 29 tackles, return at defensive end, and senior Chris Kovacs (5-10, 175), is back at tackle after last year recording 33 tackles.
We see Thayer Central finishing with something like last year's three wins.
Shelby-Rising City
HUSKIES
Making the move from eight-man to 11-man football in 2014, Shelby-Rising City will return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 1-7 team.
"We have some kids with good experience but we really need to stay healthy; if we do we can compete with the teams on our schedule," says 16th-year head coach Jerald Humlicek, a 1986 graduate of UN-Lincoln. "We will have some depth in the backfield and also on defense. We had several players gain experience late last season and if we bring great attitude and work ethic we can be competitive."
Senior Ethan Sumner (6-2, 290) is a returning all-district lineman but he's the only returning starter up front. Senior Alex Micek (6-0, 230) rotated in the line and junior tight end Jarod Nekl (6-2, 190) has some starting experience and it will be up to them and sophomores Preston Gillotte (6-0, 230) and Jase Lloyd (6-1, 240) and senior Ty Steager (6-2, 185) to help build some quality depth in the line.
Sophomore Jake Hoatson (5-8, 145) is another critical figure on offense, moving into the QB role after a couple of starts as a freshman. Junior running back Parker Micek (6-1, 195) would be a breakout star after last year rushing for 467 yards and nine touchdowns before injury cut short his season. Seniors Mason Davis (5-9, 145), who rushed for 361 yards and three TDs, and Kade Pinneo (5-10, 180), who gained 147 yards and scored a TD, will also chip in.
Senior Chris Forney (5-10, 185) gives the team an outstanding, physical fullback and sophomore Carter Smith (6-0, 225) could also get some snaps.
Forney (51 tackles) is also a returning all-district linebacker, a position he'll share with another playmaker, junior Odin Velasco (6-0, 185), who totaled 67 tackles,including three for loss and two fumble recoveries, as well as Pinneo (36 tackles) with Smith and sophomore Carter Grossnicklaus (6-1, 195) also in the mix. It has a chance to be an outstanding set of linebackers.
Parker Micek, Davis and Nekl will head up the secondary with junior Raul Zuniga (5-8, 145) and Hoatson also expected to play. Alex Micek and Sumner return to lead a defensive front that will also include Gillotte, Lloyd and Steager as leading prospects for playing time.
Hmmm. Not much success in eight-man last season, moving to 11-man this fall, a roster filled with sophomores expected to play key roles. Hmmm. Let's go with three or four wins and see what happens.
This post was edited on 8/25 12:53 PM by Huskerland Bob
Aquinas Catholic
MONARCHS
Following a third straight state finals appearance the Monarchs return six starters on offense and four on defense from last year's 10-3 team.
"We can be a good team again if we avoid injuries, like all teams, and develop some depth," says veteran head coach Ron Mimick, who enters his 24th year at the school with a coaching record of 250-105, including five state titles and seven finals appearance. "Our initial strength will be our quickness. We hope to have a good running attack with a quick backfield and the ability to throw the ball. On defense we still need to figure out who can play but if we can develop a great attitude and work habits we can play into November."
The Monarchs will be under steady guidance thanks to the return of three-year starting QB Trev Semrad (5-6, 140), a two-time all-district pick who last year passed for 806 yards and seven touchdowns. His leading receiver also returns, senior Nate Kovar (6-3, 170), who last year caught 20 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns.
At running back the Monarchs will turn to 5-7, 140-pound junior letterman Noah Pelan with versatile junior Spencer Maguire (5-7, 150) another option and explosive junior Kenton Kobza (5-9, 195) lining up at fullback. Another speedy junior, Conner Koranda (5-7, 140), will also help at the skill positions.
Three outstanding linemen will anchor the Monarch line, among them senior guards Trevin Steager (6-0, 200) and Mitch White (6-0, 190) along with senior center Matt Kindler (6-2, 200). All three of them are returning all-conference and all-district players who will join with senior tight end Trent Smith (6-2, 190) to give Aquinas one of the better lines in Class C-2 football for 2014.
White (75 tackles, 4 FR) is an outstanding linebacker who will be joined at that position by sophomore Lane Napier (5-11, 170) with Pelan, Maguire and sophomore Brandon Svoboda (5-10, 175) other prospects at the position. Kindler (70 tackles, 3 FR) will lead a defensive line that will also include Steager, Smith, Kobza and another letterman, junior Brandon Comte (5-8, 220).
Semrad (3 INTs) and free safety Kovar will be featured in a secondary which also include Kranda.
Cedar Catholic, Scotus and Lutheran High Northeast - that's the first three teams on the Aquinas schedule. Challenging? Sure. But this is Aquinas and they win, so let's say they do so seven times in the regular season and advance in the playoffs.
Archbishop Bergan
KNIGHTS
Second-year head coach Seth Mruz has a full cupboard to choose from, with nine defensive starters and eight offensive starters returning from last year's 8-2 playoff team.
"On offense we will return quite a few skill players but will need our line to step up. We have a two quality quarterbacks to choose from, which is a blessing, and a good group of athletic receivers," says Coach Mruz, a graduate of Bergan and Nebraska Wesleyan. "Our defense is going to be a huge strength for us with so much returning experience. We will have experience, athleticism and a track record of past success on that side of the ball."
Last preseason the battle for the team's starting QB position came down to Luke Kerkaert and Tristin Logemann (6-0, 185) before Kerkaert was hurt and lost for the season. Logemann, a now a senior, stepped in and passed for 1,387 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for another 222 yards and two TDs. Now a junior, Kerkaert is back and healthy and it sets up for a great battle; both players will be on the field, one way or another.
Bergan loves to throw the ball from its spread set and will return a deep, talented set of receivers led by senior Adam Dykman (6-7, 215), a gifted athlete who last year caught 18 passes and turned them into 337 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also returning are seniors Wes LaBelle (6-1, 170) and Logan Bovill (6-2, 190); last year LaBelle caught 10 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns and Bovill caught eight passes for 230 yards and two scores.
Senior Santana Melgoza (5-10, 190) is a returning starter at receiver who will also get some carries, while it appears junior Cannon Arett is in line to be the team's workhorse running back.
Leading the line will be senior all-state candidate Tyler Thomsen (6-2, 215) with senior Felipe Pinales (6-0, 190) and junior Lane DeGroff (6-1, 215) also returning starters. Senior Rider Taylor (5-11, 200) is among the prospects to fill out the line.
Bergan's secondary will be headlined by returning starters Melgoza, LaBelle and junior Austin Ottis (6-2, 185), with Bovill and junior Lucas Moore also seeing time. Dykman (43 tackles, 2 INTs) and senior Alex Schmidt (44 tackles) will lead a set of linebackers which will also include Arett, Kerkaert and senior Brian Wilmes.
Thomsen (53 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 sacks) and Pinales (41 tackles, 8 TFL) are as good a set of interior defensive linemen as you'll see in Class C-2, with DeGroff also in the mix.
Lots of athletes, lots of experience. Here's a team that should win 10 or 11 games and be in the mix for a state finals appearance.
Tekamah-Herman
TIGERS
After qualifying for the third time in four seasons, and claiming their first playoff victory since 1991, the Tigers return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 5-5 team.
"We return an outstanding quarterback and receiver and also the second- and third-leading tacklers on defense plus we will have nine seniors, so those are areas of strength," says head coach Scott Guzinski, a 1997 graduate of Concordia University who enters his third year at Tekamah-Herman. "Areas of concern are the offensive line, where we lost five starters, and the fact we lost our leading tackler and thousand-yard rusher in Derek Method."
A returning all-stater, senior Dash Cameron (5-10, 190) enjoyed another big season in 2013, catching 50 passes for 771 yards and 13 touchdowns; he's the type of kid who will be a college football player someday. Throwing him the ball is senior Jason Hanson (5-8, 130, and a two-time state wrestling champion), who last year chalked up 1,691 yards passing, including 19 touchdowns, and can count on seniors Mark Heaney (5-10, 150) and Scot Anderson (5-11, 175) as steady targets. Anderson last season pulled in 16 catches for 245 yards and four TDs, Heaney caught 24 passes for 247 yards and you can also expect senior Beau Braniff (5-10, 130) to start at receiver.
Senior Justin Hansen (5-10, 165) is a good bet to move into the starting running back role with sophomore letterman Ben Metzler (5-9, 150) also in the mix.
A two-year starter, senior Cetan Barr (6-0, 205) will lead the rebuilt offensive line with juniors Juan Gonzalez (5-10, 165) and Matt Gross (6-2, 220) also battling for starting positions.
Justin Hansen (83 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 FR) and Anderson (91 tackles) give the Tigers an outstanding set of linebackers with Metzler also a good bet to start. There is outstanding depth in the secondary with the return of Cameron (3 FR), Jason Hansen, Heaney and Braniff but Barr, Gross and Gonzalez will need to step up in that defensive front to make the whole thing work.
It's scary to rebuild an entire line but look for those skill players to carry the day and get the Tigers to four wins, maybe five.
Omaha Brownell-Talbot
RAIDERS
Fresh from its first playoff season since 1997 the Raiders return five starters on defense and three on offense from last year's 9-1 team which completed the first perfect regular season in program history.
"We are going to have some pretty solid backs and linebackers but we will be very young on the offensive and defensive lines," says sixth-year head coach Mike Mancuso, a 2005 graduate of UN-Omaha. "Right now there are a number of guys in the line who have been competing for playing time, with no one returning with starting experience, though we have some sophomores who show promise. We will need to grow up in a hurry if we want to compete in what should be a really tough district."
Calling him "the best fullback I saw last season," Coach Mancuso is excited about the return of all-district senior Jonathan Vrana (6-0, 210), an outstanding blocker who last year rushed for 551 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Brandon Deacon (5-10, 165) and senior Jordan Proby (6-2, 170) will be involved in the running game and junior Rory McCarthy (6-1, 170), who "is a tough, competitive and a heck of an athlete," says Coach Mancuso.
Dylan Burkley (6-2, 160) returns as the team's most veteran receiver.
There is only one starter returning in the line, junior Josh Bartz (5-11, 185), and he's expected to provide leadership to a new crop of young linemen.
While young the defense has a chance to be good again, mainly thanks to the return of an pretty solid linebacker unit which includes Deacon (89 tackles), Vrana (73 tackles, 2 FR) and Bartz, with Burkley and Proby returning starters in the secondary.
Brimming with confidence following that perfect regular season, but starting over in the line, look for the Raiders to win about four games this season.
Yutan
CHIEFTAINS
Second-year head coach Dan Krajicek will return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 3-6 playoff team.
"We will be very young and green this season and will need to move some of our guys to new positions in order to get our best athletes on the field," says Coach Krajicek, a Gretna High graduate who has brought on board former GHS head coach Kirk Eledge as an assistant coach. "Defensively we will build around some good linebackers and we need to build our line on offense.
"We do have good numbers in our freshman and sophomore classes (28), so the future looks bright."
A promising junior, Wyatt Zaugg (5-11, 165) returns as starting quarterback after last year passing for 501 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His leading receiver will be senior tight end Tad Nelson (5-10, 175), who last year caught eight passes including two for touchdowns, with senior Colin Lewis (6-0, 160) returning at wide receiver.
Another rising player is junior fullback Cody Fiest (5-10, 170), who last year rushed for 388 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Boston Rew (6-1, 175) returns at running back with senior Keyshon Brown (5-10, 175) and sophomore Parker Strand (6-0, 170) lettermen who could also figure into the running game.
Three players with starting experience return in the line, among them junior Peyton Pearce (5-10, 200), senior Josh Trost (6-0, 170) and sophomore Levi Kult (5-9, 160). Sophomore tight end Michael Kelly (6-1, 185) and sophomore Austin Fisher (5-10, 175) could also help in the line.
Fiest (93 tackles, 4 sacks) came up huge as a sophomore linebacker and will lead the defense with Nelson (41 tackles), Rew (21 tackles) and Kult also returning at linebacker. Lewis (31 tackles) will lead a secondary that will include Brown as another prospect.
Pearce (34 tackles) will lead a D-line that will include Josh Trost, senior Jake Trost (5-11, 160), Kelly, Fisher and sophomore Allan Cramblitt.
Something like last year's three wins is probably about right with brighter days ahead.
Logan View
RAIDERS
It's a mixed bag for the Raiders, who drop from C-1 but lost a good senior class. Head coach Jeremy Bohaboj returns seven starters on offense and five on defense from last year's 2-7 playoff team.
"We have a lot of young athletes who are still working hard to get better. We will be a very young team that is coming off a season where we faced some of the best teams in C-1 and well our seniors step into leadership roles will have a lot to say about our success," says Coach Bohaboj, a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan who enters his sixth year at Logan View. "We will be in unfamiliar territory with the move to Class C-2 but I feel our athletes will help us put a competitive product on the field."
There is excellent experience in the line for the Raiders, as seniors Dusty Shepard (5-6, 170) and Connor McManigal (5-9, 175) and juniors Zach Heinke (6-1, 190), Zac Wanamaker (5-6, 170) and Nick Epperson (5-10, 195) all have starting experience. Sophomore lettermen Brett Hull (5-10, 170) and Connor Miller (5-6, 190) will add depth in the interior line while senior tight end Tyler Landholm (5-11, 175) is another returning starter up front.
Juniors Nathan Rock (5-6, 140) and Garrett Knoell (5-8, 165) will handle the ball carrying duties while seniors Jordan Polk (5-11, 155) and Derek Beaumont (5-10, 165) bring starting experience to the receiver position with junior letterman Colin Vonseggern (5-11, 140) another candidate for catches.
Shepard, Wanamaker and Knoell (4 INTs) return at linebacker, where Miller could also help, with Rock, Polk and Beaumont veterans in the secondary. Landholm, an end, and Epperson, Heinke and McManigal will settle into the defensive line with Hull another option.
We could see Logan View making the most of the change of classes, winning something like four games, maybe more.
District C2-2
Freeman
FALCONS
Easing into the world of 11-man football, the Falcons return a solid core of players from last year's 8-3, Class D-1 quarterfinal playoff team.
"We return a thousand-yard rusher, a thousand-yard passer, our leader in tackles and our best lineman. We have quite an adjustment to make, moving from 8-man to 11-man, but we are excited for the challenge of competing in Class C-2," says new head coach Travis Andreasen, who had served as an assistant for the past nine seasons.
A returning all-stater, senior Issac Frerichs is one of the premier dual threat QBs in C-2, last year throwing for 1,386 yards and 22 TDs - only 4 INTs - and also rushing for 564 yards and eight more touchdowns. When Freeman goes to the ground it's got a workhorse in senior Jacob Buhr (5-11, 170), who last year rushed for 1,072 yards and 14 touchdowns, with senior Garrett Cacek (5-8, 150), who rushed for 378 yards and seven TDs in 2013, another outstanding option.
Buhr is also an outstanding receiver out of the backfield, last year catching 30 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns, while Devin Dorn (5-10, 155) turned five catches into 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Injury wrecked his 2013 but senior lineman Scott Adams (6-3, 235) is a bona fide all-state prospect, one of the best all-around players in this class. He will lead an offensive line that figures to include senior Kelton Ashelford (5-6, 205), junior Jacobson Podtburg (5-11, 185), senior JJ Jurgens (5-7, 155) and sophomore Gabe VanEngen (5-8, 215).
Buhr (118 tackles, 14.5 TFL) and Frerichs (70 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 INTs) are both top all-around players they and Dorn (53 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 FR) are as big a set of playmaking linebackers as you'll find. Cacek (58 tackles) rounds out what has to be one of Class C-2's best set of linebackers. Junior lettermen Everett Bloom (5-8, 145) and Tyler Buhr (5-8, 135) will help settle the secondary.
Adams (32 tackles) will be constantly double-teamed, mostly to no avail, and will be joined in the D-line by Ashelford, Jurgens and junior Holden Scott (6-5, 170).
It's a leap of faith, moving from eight-man to 11-man, but this bunch should be able to pull it off, winning seven or eight regular season games and making the playoffs.
Palmyra
PANTHERS
Former assistant Tyler Maas ascends to the head coaching job at Palmyra, where he returns seven starters on offense and six on defense from last year's 5-4 district champion and state playoff qualifier.
"We return a solid nucleus on both sides of the ball but the graduation of a several key skill players means player development will be important," says Coach Maas, a 2005 graduate of Wayne State College.
Anchoring the offensive line will be senior tight end Riley Reynoldson (6-4, 180), who has the physical tools to be a force, says Coach Maas. Also back in the line are senior Trevor Book (6-1, 220) and juniors Houston Hornby (6-3, 220) and Jon Fitzsimmons (6-1, 230).
Wide receiver is well stocked thanks to the return of talented junior Drew Huxoll (6-0, 175), who will enjoy a breakout year if he stays healthy, says Coach Maas, as well as junior Ryan Juilfs (6-3, 180) and Luke Thomsen (6-0, 175. Last season Huxoll caught 16 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 157 yards and another score; Juilfs caught 12 passes for 109 yards; Thomsen rushed for 149 yards and three TDs.
Huxoll (54 tackles) leads the secondary while Reynoldson (47 tackles), Book (50 tackles), Hornby (44 tackles) and Fitzsimmons should set the Panthers up with an excellent defensive line. Juilfs returns at linebacker with senior Marquis Buchanan (6-1, 170) and junior Miguel Barajas (5-8, 160) will be in the mix for playing time on defense.
There some momentum within the program, the energy of a new coach, and we see that adding up to another five wins or so and a run at the district title and playoff berth that comes with it.
Southern
RAIDERS
There is good returning experience - eight starters back on offense, seven on defense - as the Raiders look to rebound from a disappointing 3-5 season.
"We will miss this year's five seniors but our underclassmen got a lot of valuable experience last season and that should pay off in the 2014 season," says 14-year head coach Kane Hookstra, a 1996 graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan. "Developing depth and staying healthy will be keys to us having a successful season but a bounce back season and being in contention for the district title are expected."
Senior dual threat Austin Lovell (6-1, 190), a returning all-district QB who last season passed for 523 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 415 yards and nine TDs, will lead the Raiders offense. It will be interesting to see how Lewiston senior transfer Hayden Albers, who last year passed for 1,077 yards and 18 TDs, might fit into Southern's plans.
Senior running back Dusty Dean (5-8, 180) last season rushed for 277 yards and caught nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown and he'll lead the Southern running game. Junior Jared Johnson (5-10, 190), who rushed for 116 yards and a TD, will also be a factor in the running game.
When Southern goes to the air senior Atreyu King (6-1, 170) figures in the plans; last season he caught 11 passes for 177 yards. Junior letterman Jalan Fields (6-2, 170) will be among those trying to earn the other starting receiver position.
The offensive line is young but experienced, led by all-district junior Travis Munstermann (5-10, 175) and including fellow juniors Preston Meyer (6-0, 210) and Daniel Lundstedt (6-0, 220) and sophomore Ethan Zvolanek (5-11, 200) and junior tight end Jacob Carpenter (6-2, 180).
Dean (61 tackles) is a returning all-district linebacker and will be joined in that unit by Munstermann (33 tackles, 3 TFL) and Johnson (24 tackles) with King the lone returning starter in the secondary.
There is good depth in the defensive line with Lovell (24 tackles, 3 INTs) and Carpenter (22 tackles) at the ends and Meyer (21 tackles), Lundstedt and Zvolanek on the interior. Senior letterman Keegan Wegner (6-2, 210) will add depth in the lines and junior letterman Casey Jones (5-10, 165) will help on both sides of the ball.
Lovell returns as the team's punter averaging 31 yards per in 2013.
Look for Southern to be a better team this fall, winning something like four of five games.
Elmwood-Murdock
KNIGHTS
With 14 consecutive state playoff appearances on its resume - including 11 district titles during that stretch - the Elmwood-Murdock program has dominated southeast Nebraska Class C-2 football for more than a decade. Trying to stretch that streak to 15 in a row will be a challenge as the Knights return just two starters on offense and one on defense from last year's 5-4 team.
"We feel like our district is up for grabs, as do the other teams in our district. We believe with continued hard work we can be competitive in our district," says Leigh Schmale, who enters his 23rd season at EMHS and has won 200 games in his coaching career. "We will be a younger team this season but we look to improve every game and be competitive when districts roll around."
Junior Brandon Frates (5-10, 160) returns as the team's starting quarterback, last year passing for 621 yards and four touchdowns, while senior Austin Closner (6-0, 150) and sophomores Justin Drake (5-9, 165) and Austin Drueke (5-8, 160) are lettermen who will compete for carries at running back.
Junior Tyler Oehlerking (5-9, 160) will step in at wingback with Alliance transfer Kenneth Erixson (5-8, 130) also in the mix and junior Cody Fries (5-10, 155) among the candidates at split end.
Leading the offensive line will be returning starter Zach Dwyer (6-0, 220) while seniors Tony Drake (6-0, 225), Christian Jones (5-11, 210) and Dallas Romine (5-10, 190) are leading candidates to start in the offensive line and junior Chris Beebee (5-9, 200) and sophomore Zach Lindsey (5-8, 220) also in the mix for playing time. Senior Josh Meyer (5-11, 170) is a leading candidate at tight end.
Dwyer (54 tackles, 3 TFL) will lead the defense, being joined at linebacker by Meyer, Justin Drake and Drueke while Jones and Romine should lead the defensive line. Oehlerking and Closner are leading candidates to show the way in a rebuilt secondary.
Tradition counts for a lot in high school football and we expect that to help the Knights to find a way to win something like last year's five games and be a factor in the district race.
Weeping Water
INDIANS
In 2013 Weeping Water made it three playoff appearances in four seasons and now returns six starters on both offense and defense from that 3-6 team.
"We lost a good senior class but our team is focused on again being competitive and we believe there is a lot of opportunity for success," says third-year head coach Adam McGill, a 2004 graduate of UN-Kearney. "We should be pretty well set in the offensive line and there will be a lot of opportunity for young players to prove themselves on defense. As always it is exciting to look forward to a new season, especially with a new schedule."
Much of what the Indians get done will center on the performance of junior Jon Dehne (5-11, 165), who as a running back last season rushed for 799 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury. Junior Gage Kraeger (5-10, 155), who missed four games last season due to suffering a broken arm, is scheduled to start at QB but depending on what happens in camp those players could swap positions.
Four starters return in the offensive line, including seniors Dan Hill (6-2, 210) and Brandon Brousard (5-11, 215) and juniors Ty West (6-1, 195) and Brandon Oliver (6-2, 180), with senior Chase Musil (6-1, 270) and sophomore Jake Meyer (5-11, 175) leading contenders to step into the rotation. The Indians also get a bump from the return of senior Michael Williams (5-10, 230), who missed last season due to injury.
Prospects at wide receiver include junior Justin Moore (5-11, 160) and sophomore Mason Heath (5-9, 150).
Dehne (63 tackles) is a already a two-time all-distrtict linebacker and both Kraeger (52 tackles) and Moore (65 tackles) also return at that position. Heath (35 tackles) leads the secondary.
Hill, Musil and Brousard will anchor what should be a big, physical defensive line with Aronson and senior Damian Hohn (6-1, 180) will contribute on defense, says Coach McGill.
Look for Weeping Water to win three or four games this season but with that veteran line in place the Indians could surprise.
Humbolt-Table Rock-Steinauer
TITANS
After back-to-back winless seasons it seems like the Titans have finally stockpiled enough talent and experience to make a breakthrough. Head coach Quentin Coatney returns 10 starters on both sides of the ball.
"We have tons of experience coming back but we are going to be on the small order so we need to work to overcome that," says Coach Coatney, who enters this third year at HTRS and is a graduate of Peru State College.
Returning at quarterback will be junior Nolan Schafer (6-0, 150) with seniors Ben Railsback (5-8, 165) and Jacob Phelps (5-6, 165) returning as starting running backs.
HTRS runs the spread offense and Schafer will have plenty of options in the passing game thanks to the return of senior Schuyler Kuhlmann (5-9, 145), juniors Will Drake (6-0, 160) and Eli Herr (6-0, 155) and sophomores Patrick Pindea (5-8, 135) and Logan Bredimeier (6-0, 150).
Senior Noah Sherman (6-2, 175) will provide leadership for an offensive line with also returns juniors Dalton Rhors (5-6, 205), Koalton Taiclet (5-8, 180) and Jesse Hickey (5-10, 175) and sophomore Chase Hain (6-1, 190).
Kuhlmann leads a secondary that will also include Bredimeier, Pindea and Drake with Schafer, Railsback, Phelps and Herr returning as linebackers. Hain, Taiclet, Sherman, Rhors and Hickey are back in the defensive line.
You root for a team like this, one which has struggled so badly, and we are calling for a win or two for the Titans in 2014.
District C2-3
Malcolm
CLIPPERS
The goal at Malcolm for 2014 is real simple: One More. As in one more win, which is what the Clippers needed last season to reach the state playoff finals for the first time in school history. As it is they return six starters on defense and five on offense from a 9-3 team.
"Although we lost a very good class I am very excited about this season because this year's seniors and juniors played key part in our playoff run," says head coach Scott Amen, a 1994 graduate of Doane College who is in his eighth year at MHS. "We are looking for good leaders, not worried so much about what grade they are in but for leaders who are going to work hard and earn the respect of their teammates."
After a productive 2013 at wide receiver - 24 catches, 488 yards, 2 TDs - senior Austin Bridges moves to quarterback where his athletic ability should make him a threat. There is great depth in the running game thanks to the return of seniors Jordan Redler (5-8,160), Mattias Holka (5-10, 160) and Jake Roberts (5-10, 165). Last season Redler churned out 726 yards rushing and four TDs while Holka rushed for 331 yards and two TDs and Roberts 330 yards and five touchdowns to go with 12 catches for 175 yards.
With Bridges moving to QB players like seniors Tucker McHugh (6-2, 185) and Dalton Witte (5-9, 130) will take over the receiver roles.
Three starters return in the interior line, including senior Brady Kopecky (6-3, 315) and sophomores Mason Warrelmann (6-1, 190) and Tim Dishman (6-3, 215). Returning at tight end are seniors Jamin Thomas (5-11, 165) and Jase Swanson (6-0,170).
McHugh (36 tackles ) is a returning all-district selection who leads a secondary that will include Bridges (86 tackles, 2 INTs) and Witte while Thomas, Kopecky, Dishman and Warrelmann return to the defensive line. Roberts (54 tackles), Holka (33 tackles), Redler and Dedrick (68 tackles) bring depth and experience to the linebacker corps.
While there are some glaring losses from last year's team there seems plenty of young talent ready to take over key roles for the Clippers. It wouldn't be shocking to see them complete a perfect regular season and advance in the playoffs.
Centennial
BRONCOS
Winning two playoff games in the same season for the first time since 1990, the Broncos reached the season 7-4 after reaching the Class C-2 quarterfinals. Head coach Evan Klanecky returns six starters on both sides of the ball.
"Our strength will be in both the offensive and defensive lines. As a result we will be more of a smash mouth team than counting on big plays, like last season," says Klanecky, who enters his fifth season at Centennial. "We did lose several key skill players and we will be undersized on defense. Young players will need to step up, especially at the skill positions."
What the Broncos do have is one of the more dynamic dual threat quarterbacks in Class C-2, senior Kyle Gierhan (5-10, 170), who last season passed for 1,756 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 650 yards and 11 more scores, setting three school records in the process. The kid has had the knack for big plays all through his high school career.
Senior fullback Cory Kennedy (6-0, 185) returns after last year rushing for 114 yards and five touchdowns, while sophomore letterman Ryan Schlueter (5-7, 150) is expected to step in a running back and sophomore letterman Noah Utter (5-10, 165) figures to become the team's go-to receiver.
Three starters return in the offensive line, including seniors Jarren Chrisman (6-2, 230) and Tanner Barth (6-1, 255) and junior Bryce Wright (6-0, 270).
Gierhan (60 tackles, 2 FR) doesn't limit his playmaking to offense and will lead the CHS secondary while Brayden Obermier (42 tackles, 4 FR) leads a set of linebackers that will include Kennedy, Schlueter and Utter.
Big and active, Chrisman (22 tackles), Wright (24 tackles) and Barth (28 tackles) will give Centennial an outstanding defensive front.
Look for Centennial to win five or six games and be in the district title hunt.
Tri County
TROJANS
Second-year head coach Brett Scheiding will return eight starters on offense and seven on defense as the Trojans look to kick things up a notch after finishing last season 2-6.
"We will be much improved skill wise from last season and our young players come back with a year of experience. We return players at about every position and we have a lot of speed and athleticism, areas we are still working on," says Coach Scheiding, a 2006 graduate of UN-Lincoln. "Last season we made a lot of changes on offense and now our players have a better grasp of what we are trying to accomplish on that side of the ball. We are going to make some changes on defense to provide a better fit for the athletes we have on the roster.
"Even with small numbers there is an excitement in our program and desire to keep improving."
An excellent dual threat quarterback, senior Wyatt Kowalski (6-2, 170) had a big 2013, rushing for 316 yards, passing for 692 yards and accounting for nine total touchdowns. Senior end Keldon Barr (6-3, 195) last season pulled in nine passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns and senior Brayden Schultis (5-10, 160) and junior letterman Carson Hicks (6-0, 170) will also be in the mix at receiver.
There is great experience in the offensive line, where senior Rutger Sylier (6-0, 225) has the makings of a really good one, and sophomore Ben Schmidt (6-0, 240) flashed great potential as a freshman starter. Also back are senior center Cody McCain (5-11, 220) and senior guard Brendan Hahn (5-10, 200), with junior Alex Jantzen (6-0, 215) rounding out what should be a pretty good unit.
Barr is a handful at the line of scrimmage, a defensive end who racked up 14 tackles for loss among his 33 total stops, and will be joined in the D-line by Sylier (40 tackles, 6.5 TFL), Schmidt, Jantzen and McCain. Again, that looks like a strong group to me.
Junior Jack Spilker (5-8, 155) turned in 41 tackles last season and will lead a group of linebackers that will include Jiskra and Hahn, with sophomore Ryan Musil (6-0, 160), Ensz, junior Houston Parker and Schultis playing in the secondary.
Sophomore scatback Colby Ensz (5-6, 145) made quite an impression in his rookie season, rushing for 518 yards, totaling 329 yards on kick returns and scoring six touchdowns. Keep an eye on this kid. Also returning is junior Shane Jiskra (6-2, 195), a good athlete who rushed for 276 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Tri County took some lumps last season but seems poised to return the favor in 2014. Let's say the Trojans win five games and could be one of the real surprise teams of the fall. Just sayin'...
Fillmore Central
PANTHERS
After last year reaching .500, finishing 4-4 and just missing the playoffs, Fillmore drops to Class C-2, returning seven starters on offense and five on defense.
"We have some key players back from last year's team but we also need to replace some offensive linemen, defensive ends and linebackers," says Ryan Komenda, a 1995 graduate of UN-Kearney, entering his sixth year as Fillmore head coach. "Last season we had a lot of young players get some experience and that will help with the transition process. We are looking at having an outstanding year with a great bunch of kids to coach."
Senior Hunter Kleinschmidt (6-2, 180) returns under center, last year passing for 559 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for another 107 yards and five touchdowns, and he will be able to count upon senior fullback Trevor Adams (6-2, 210), a four-year starter and two-time all-district player who last year rushed for 265 yards and five touchdowns. Junior Nate Rasmussen (5-9, 140), who was injured last year, returns at running back.
Senior Lance Donovan (5-11, 160) is the team's leading returning receiver, last year having caught nine passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, while seniors Xavier Bridges (5-7, 140) and Davis Jacobson (5-10, 150) other veteran options.
Three starters return in the offensive line, led by powerful senior Jarrod Hinrichs (6-2, 285), who last year finished third at state wrestling, and with senior Thomas Norvell (5-10, 180) back at center, senior Wyatt Schiermeyer (6-1, 170) back at guard. Junior Riley Chapman (6-2, 190) figures to earn one of the other returning starting positions.
Adams (57 tackles, 7 TFL) and Hinrichs (49 tackles, 4 TFL) are about as good a set of defensive tackles as you will find in Class C-2 and they'll lead a D-line that includes Norvell and Schiermeyer (26 tackles) among other options. Donovan (78 tackles, 3 TFL) is an outstanding linebacker and Chapman (35 tackles, 5 TFL) is another playmaker at that position.
Fillmore will have a solid secondary, including junior Leyton Hopken (6-3, 150), who had 40 tackles last season, as well as Bridges (21 tackles), Jacobson (29 tackles) and Rasmussen.
Looks to me like Fillmore has the type of schedule it can contend with, winning five or six in the regular season and making a run at a playoff berth.
Thayer Central
TITANS
With five starters back on offense and four on defense the Titans will aim to make it seven playoff berths in eight seasons. Head coach Josh Lanik's team finished 2013 3-6, losing to Hastings St. Cecilia in the first round of the Class C-2 playoffs.
"We will have to replace a big group of seniors but our senior class this fall has quite a bit of experience as role players," says Lanik, a 2005 graduate of Midland Lutheran who enters his fifth year at Thayer. "We will have to develop a couple of offensive linemen and a second running back but we have good depth in the secondary and defensive line, which will be key for us early, we will need to lean on our defense while our offense is still meshing.
"We will need our sophomores to develop quickly and help us out to compete in a tough district."
Returning to run the offense is accomplished senior QB Jay Cottam (5-9, 180), who last year passed for 827 yards and six touchdowns, with senior Robert Dodes (6-1, 150), who last year caught 19 passes for 227 yards, his leading returning receiver. Senior Ryan Voss (5-8, 160) and junior Jadyn Dightman (5-8, 135) are lettermen who will get a chance to earn playing time at receiver.
Senior Tyler Hergott (5-8, 160), who last year rushed for 128 yards, is the team's most experienced running back.
The lone returning starter is senior Caleb Krupicka (5-9, 200), with senior Peyton Schmitt (5-11, 175) and juniors Greg Brozek (6-2, 180) and Broderick Harms (6-2, 180) lettermen who should become regulars this season.
Hergott (40 tackles) leads the defense at defensive back with Dodes also returning in the secondary and Voss and Dightman other candidates for playing time in the secondary. Linebacker is wide open but seniors Thomas Feulner (5-9, 160), who last season registered 37 tackles, and Preston Brinegar (5-10, 165), who had 29 tackles, return at defensive end, and senior Chris Kovacs (5-10, 175), is back at tackle after last year recording 33 tackles.
We see Thayer Central finishing with something like last year's three wins.
Shelby-Rising City
HUSKIES
Making the move from eight-man to 11-man football in 2014, Shelby-Rising City will return six starters on both offense and defense from last year's 1-7 team.
"We have some kids with good experience but we really need to stay healthy; if we do we can compete with the teams on our schedule," says 16th-year head coach Jerald Humlicek, a 1986 graduate of UN-Lincoln. "We will have some depth in the backfield and also on defense. We had several players gain experience late last season and if we bring great attitude and work ethic we can be competitive."
Senior Ethan Sumner (6-2, 290) is a returning all-district lineman but he's the only returning starter up front. Senior Alex Micek (6-0, 230) rotated in the line and junior tight end Jarod Nekl (6-2, 190) has some starting experience and it will be up to them and sophomores Preston Gillotte (6-0, 230) and Jase Lloyd (6-1, 240) and senior Ty Steager (6-2, 185) to help build some quality depth in the line.
Sophomore Jake Hoatson (5-8, 145) is another critical figure on offense, moving into the QB role after a couple of starts as a freshman. Junior running back Parker Micek (6-1, 195) would be a breakout star after last year rushing for 467 yards and nine touchdowns before injury cut short his season. Seniors Mason Davis (5-9, 145), who rushed for 361 yards and three TDs, and Kade Pinneo (5-10, 180), who gained 147 yards and scored a TD, will also chip in.
Senior Chris Forney (5-10, 185) gives the team an outstanding, physical fullback and sophomore Carter Smith (6-0, 225) could also get some snaps.
Forney (51 tackles) is also a returning all-district linebacker, a position he'll share with another playmaker, junior Odin Velasco (6-0, 185), who totaled 67 tackles,including three for loss and two fumble recoveries, as well as Pinneo (36 tackles) with Smith and sophomore Carter Grossnicklaus (6-1, 195) also in the mix. It has a chance to be an outstanding set of linebackers.
Parker Micek, Davis and Nekl will head up the secondary with junior Raul Zuniga (5-8, 145) and Hoatson also expected to play. Alex Micek and Sumner return to lead a defensive front that will also include Gillotte, Lloyd and Steager as leading prospects for playing time.
Hmmm. Not much success in eight-man last season, moving to 11-man this fall, a roster filled with sophomores expected to play key roles. Hmmm. Let's go with three or four wins and see what happens.
This post was edited on 8/25 12:53 PM by Huskerland Bob
