By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
In the season-opener last season in a budding rivalry, Millard South made a huge splash by upsetting Millard North in a battle between the two suburban Omaha giants at Buell Stadium, 34-21. Was that the sign of things to come for the Patriots and Mustangs?
Millard North, for all of its success, has only two state titles to its credit (2003, 2005). Last season, Millard North looked as if it was going to make a strong case for another using a five-overtime victory over previously unbeaten Lincoln Southwest in the playoffs. But, an emerging Omaha Westside team quashed the title dreams with a victory over the Mustangs in the Class A semifinals.
Millard South loses its stellar signal-caller in Casey Hauptman heading into this season, but all is well for the Patriots. Sophmore Bronson Marsh could emerge as one of the brightest quarterback prospects in his class, and he has two big-time targets to help settle down in his first season as the starter.
Juniors Ty Kildow and Vontrae Tostenson could be one of the best receiving duos anywhere, and both have proven their worth. Last season, Kildow exploded onto the scene with 747 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for the Patriots.
Tostenson, in his third school in three seasons after spending time as a freshman at Omaha Central before playing at Creighton Prep last season, is as big-time as it gets. Tostenson has hauled in 13 touchdown receptions in two seasons in his travels, and could expand on those totals in 2007.
Last season, Millard South was rolling along using their victories over Millard South and Kearney to open the season, before losing round two to Kearney in the Class A quarterfinals. Kearney went on to win their first-ever state title with a victory over Omaha Westside.
Speaking of Westside, the Warriors are loaded for another run deep into the playoffs. Running back Collins Okafor, a Nebraska commit, rushed for 1,870 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior to lead the way for Westside. Tim Biere, an all-state selection at tight end and Kansas commit, also returns to bolster the Warriors.
Lincoln Southwest is also loaded on both sides of the ball, led by one of the best players at any position nationally. Baker Steinkuhler, ranked the 33rd best prospect in the country according to CSTV, will anchor the offensive and defensive lines for the Silverhawks. Linebacker Graham Stoddard and athlete Micah Fischer will also be forces for Southwest.
Class A Fab Five
1) Lincoln Southwest (10-1)
Lincoln Southwest has made a huge splash in just its sixth season in existence after opening its doors in 2002. The emergence of the Silverhawks program has caused a power shift in the Star City after Lincoln Southeast won eight state titles since the playoffs started in 1975. Ironically for Southeast, their last title was in 2002, the same year Southwest started.
Gone is dual-threat quarterback Austin Cassady, but there is plenty left in the cupboard for Southwest. The Silverhawks should be well-motivated entering the 2007 campaign after a shocking five-overtime loss to Millard North in the Class A quarterfinals. Running back Brandon Brown, who was a back-up to Ollie Sloup last season, returns for Southwest. Brown is a home run threat and should have a huge campaign. Micah Fischer only caught ten passes in 2006, but six of them went for paydirt.
Two-way standout Baker Steinkuhler needs no introduction. The Nebraska commit and son of Husker legend Dean Steinkuhler is back to pave the way for Brown. Steinkuhler registered 150 tackles as a junior to boost the defensive line. Linebacker Graham Stoddard is also one of the top talents in the region after posting 69 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions last season.
2) Omaha Westside (12-1)
The Warriors are loaded for another run deep into the playoffs. Last season, Westside's title aspirations were derailed in the Class A state championship game with a 41-21 loss to Kearney. Running back Collis Okafor (committed to Nebraska) exploded onto the scene last season with 1,870 yards and 16 touchdowns. Tight end Tim Biere (committed to Kansas) was key in the red zone, hauling in 29 passes for 456 yards and nine touchdowns. Damon Bechtold, another tight end, has been offered by Colorado State already.
Defensively, Biere led the way with 70 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Trent Goodman is one of the top linebackers in the state. As a junior, Goodman had 127 tackles for the Warriors.
Westside is a candidate to win its first state title since 1982 if a quarterback emerges.
3) Millard North (8-4)
The Mustangs generally don't spend much time rebuilding. They reload. Gone are numerous players from an offense that averaged over 300 rushing yards per game. Bolstering the transition will be offensive lineman Brian Thorson. Junior running back J.P. Hobson, a transfer from Creighton Prep, is due to have a breakout campaign. Junior Nick Fiala will inherit the quarterback position.
Defense could be the difference for the Mustangs in 2007, led by defensive back Sean Fisher (committed to Nebraska) and linebacker Eric Ringbolm. Fisher, who was also offered by Oklahoma, had 92 tackles and three interceptions last season. Ringbolm checked in with 91 tackles and is one of the top linebackers in the state.
4) Millard South (11-1)
Having athletes like receivers Ty Kildow and Vondrae Tostenson, who combined for 13 touchdown receptions last season as sophomores (Tostenson's seven came at Creighton Prep), should ease the transition for whomever inherits the quarterback role. Sophomore Bronson Marsh appears to be in line to replace Casey Hauptman, who went to Nebraska on a baseball scholarship. Devon Strecker appears to be the top candidate to start at running back.
Not only could Millard South make some noise in 2007 and 2008 in Nebraska, they are setting themselves up to be one of the best teams in the region in 2008.
5) Omaha Creighton Prep (5-5)
Junior quarterback Alex Hook leads the way for the Junior Jays. As a sophomore, Hook passed for 803 yards and nine touchdowns. Another junior is climbing the charts as a highly-regarded lineman, following in the footsteps of fellow Nebraskan Baker Steinkuhler. Jon Lechner is 6-6, 310 pounds and has schools such as Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, and Notre Dame watching closely.
Defense will be Creighton Prep's strong suit led by a trio of linebackers. Matt Manninger led the Junior Jays with 97 tackles and added an interception on a defense that was ranked the fourth best in the state, allowing just 245.7 yards per game. Colin and Conor McDermott chipped in to boost the linebacking corps. Colin registered 71 tackles as a junior.
Creighton Prep head coach Tom Jaworski is the all-time wins leader in Nebraska with 311 victories over his career.
Teams To Watch
Kearney (12-1): Kearney posted two shutouts in the playoffs and allowed just 9.8 points per game over the course of 2006 en route to their first-ever state football championship. A key component to the drive for the state title, running back Rustin Dring, returns for the Bearcats. As a junior, Dring rushed for 1,184 yards and 15 touchdowns. Kicker Brett Maher is a move-in from Utica Centennial and is the best kicker in the state. Maher was 11 of 15 on field goals inside 40 yards and just missed a 58-yard attempt last season.
Omaha Central (5-5): Quarterback Chris Griffin, running back Ronnell Grixby, wide receiver Shane Prater, defensive back Shaun Prater (committed to Iowa), and two-way threat Terrell Mayhue all return for the Eagles in 2007. Griffin threw for 1,097 yards and 10 touchdowns last season for the Eagles. Grixby had been regarded as one of the top players in his class nationally at one point, and is a Division I prospect. Grixby rushed for nine touchdowns last season, while Mayhue added six.
Omaha North (10-2): A one-point loss to Lincoln Southwest and a two-point loss to Omaha Westside to end the season in the playoffs were the only kink in the Vikings' armor in 2006. Gone are quarterback Philip Bates (Iowa State) and Army All-American Niles Paul (Nebraska), but there is plenty left for coach Larry Martin to make another decent run in 2007. Defensive tackle Nick Phillips is one of the best in the state. Phillips is joined up front by Nick Ryks and DeAndre Harris to form one of the most formidable defensive lines in the state. Sophomore Ron Coleman, a state wrestling champion, is a player to watch for the Vikings.
2006 Playoffs
First Round
Lincoln Southwest 31, Fremont 14
Millard North 40, Bellevue West 35
Omaha North 34, Papillion-LaVista 21
Omaha Westside 41, Grand Island 10
Kearney 17, Omaha Creighton Prep 0
Lincoln Northeast 14, Omaha Central 13
Lincoln East 35, Norfolk 24
Millard South 28, Omaha Bryan 0
Quarterfinals
Millard North 51, Lincoln Southwest 45 (5 OT)
Omaha Westside 21, Omaha North 19
Kearney 22, Lincoln Northeast 0
Millard South 14, Lincoln East 6
Semifinals
Omaha Westside 22, Millard North 21
Kearney 23, Millard South 20 (OT)
Class A State Championship
Kearney 41, Omaha Westside 21
Class A Districts (Playoff Teams in BOLD)
A-1: Kearney (12-1), Grand Island (5-5), Fremont (4-6), Lincoln Southeast (3-6), North Platte (2-7), Lincoln North Star (1-8)
A-2: Lincoln Southwest (11-1), Lincoln Northeast (8-3), Lincoln East (8-3), Norfolk (5-5), Columbus (2-7), Lincoln High (1-8)
A-3: Millard South (11-1), Bellevue West (7-3), Omaha Central (5-5), Millard West (4-5), Papillion-LaVista South (4-5), Omaha South (1-8)
A-4: Omaha Westside (12-1), Millard North (8-4), Creighton Prep (5-5), Bellevue East (2-7), Omaha Benson (1-8)
A-5: Omaha North (10-2), Omaha Bryan (5-5), Papillion-LaVista (4-6), Omaha Northwest (1-8), Omaha Burke (1-8)
2007 District Predictions by Scott Hansen (Playoff Teams in BOLD)
A-1: 1) Kearney, 2) Grand Island, 3) Lincoln Southeast, 4) Fremont, 5) North Platte, 6) Lincoln North Star
A-2: 1) Lincoln Southwest, 2) Lincoln Northeast, 3) Norfolk, 4) Lincoln East, 5) Columbus, 6) Lincoln High
A-3: 1) Millard South, 2) Omaha Central, 3) Millard West, 4) Papillion-LaVista South, 5) Bellevue West, 6)
Omaha South
A-4: 1) Omaha Westside, 2) Millard North, 3) Creighton Prep, 4) Bellevue East, 5) Omaha Benson
A-5: 1) Omaha North, 2) Papillion-LaVista, 3) Omaha Bryan, 4) Omaha Burke, 5) Omaha Northwest
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net