By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The Top Ten
1. Omaha Westside (3-0) 1
Beat Omaha Northwest, 49-7. Collins Okafor rolled to 191 yards and three touchdowns to lead the top-ranked Warriors. Westside rushed for seven touchdowns total and only gave up a special teams touchdown, its first points allowed on the season. Christian Barksdale had two interceptions to lead an impressive defensive unit for the Warriors.
Next: Friday vs. North Platte
2. Millard South (3-0) 2
Beat Bellevue East, 19-6. Millard South was rocked this week when it was discovered junior wide receiver Vondrae Tostenson will miss the rest of the season after undergoing major knee surgery on Wednesday. Without Tostenson and running back Devon Strecker on Thursday night, the Patriots managed to fight off a pesky Bellevue East squad 19-6.
Jordan Hale, Strecker's replacement at running back, rushed for two touchdowns for Millard South. The combination of sophomore quarterback Bronson Marsh and junior Ty Kildow proved lethal once again as the two hooked up for a 29-yard touchdown strike to cap off the scoring for Millard South. Next: at Friday at #4 Kearney.
3. Omaha Central (3-0) 3
Beat Omaha Benson, 34-16. Shaun Prater rushed for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass from Chris Griffin to keep the Eagles unbeaten on the season. Shane Prater also hauled in one of two touchdown passes from Griffin on the evening. Ronnell Grixby chewed up 144 rushing yards to pace the Eagles. Next: Friday at Omaha Bryan.
4. Kearney (3-0) 4
Beat Columbus, 38-13. Brett Maher hauled in four passes and 135 yards and a touchdown while also adding a 37-yard field goal as the Bearcats rolled over Columbus. Vinny Molina added 81 rushing yards and a touchdown as the defending state champions moved to 3-0 on the young season. Next: Friday vs. #2 Millard South.
5. Millard West (3-0) 5
Beat Omaha North, 28-12. Wide receiver Jake Drwal continued his fast start to the campaign, catching two Jesse VerVelde touchdown passes in the victory. Drwal had four receptions for 99 yards. Tyler Davis had 132 yards rushing on just 12 carries for the Wildcats. VerVelde threw for 203 yards to pace Millard West. Next: Friday vs. #6 Millard North.
6. Millard North (2-1) 6
Beat Grand Island, 41-7. Quarterback Nick Failla rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown run, as the Mustangs rolled to 394 rushing yards in the victory. Fullback Rob Pirnie added 141 yards on just 11 carries for Millard North in the rout. Next: Friday at #5 Millard West.
7. Lincoln Southwest (2-1) 7
Beat Lincoln Southeast, 38-14. Brandon Brown rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns as the Silver Hawks got back into the win column. Conner Cosgrove returned a fumble for a touchdown to pace the Lincoln Southwest defensive unit. Next: Friday at Omaha North.
8. Bellevue West (3-0) 10
Beat Omaha Bryan, 41-0. Tyler Seals completed 14 of 16 passes for 261 yards and five touchdowns as the Thunderbirds rolled over Omaha Bryan. Seals also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter as Bellevue West took a 34-0 halftime lead. Next: Friday at #9 Lincoln North Star.
9. Lincoln North Star (3-0) NR
Beat Lincoln High, 42-7. Diego Green rushed for 97 yards to lead the Navigators, who stayed unbeaten. Last season, North Star won just one game. Payton Iverson, arguably North Star's most talented player, recovered a fumble and caught a touchdown pass from Zach Ziemba. Next: Friday vs. #8 Bellevue West.
10. Lincoln East (2-1) NR
Beat North Platte, 14-7. Harry Meginnis rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown to lead the Spartans over previously-unbeaten North Platte. Justin Burns threw a 40-yard halfback pass to set up a Meginnis touchdown run and also had an interception in the victory. Next: Friday at Omaha Benson.
Dropped Out: Omaha North (1-2) 8, Grand Island (2-1) 9
CLASS B (Record) Previous
1. McCook (2-0) 1 Beat Ogallala, 21-7.
2. Crete (2-0) 2 Idle
3. Omaha Skutt (2-0) 3 Beat Omaha Roncalli, 42-13.
4. Elkhorn (2-0) 4 Beat Gretna, 47-7.
5. Omaha Gross (2-0) 5 Beat Blair, 43-19.
6. Beatrice (1-1) 6 Beat York, 34-20.
7. Fairbury (3-0) 8 Beat Holdrege, 24-14.
8. Waverly (2-0) NR Beat Aurora, 17-14.
9. Norris (2-0) NR Beat Plattsmouth, 31-7.
10. Lincoln Pius X (1-1) NR Beat Ralston, 30-27.
Dropped Out: Ralston (1-1) 7, Aurora (2-1) 9, Holdrege (1-1) 10
Class B Quick Hits
Lee Horky threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns to lead Fairbury to a 24-14 victory over Holdrege. Brian Dein had 187 receiving yards on five receptions to pace the 3-0 Jeffs. Fairbury's defense held the Dusters to just 39 yards rushing.
Omaha Skutt quarterback Austin Cole ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 79 yards to lead the Skyhawks to a 42-13 victory over Omaha Roncalli. Skutt sprinted out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back against the Crimson Pride.
Elkhorn's Jared Brill was at it again on Friday night. Brill threw for two touchdowns, ran for one, and returned a blocked field goal 92 yards for a touchdown as the Antlers rolled over Gretna, 47-7. Elkhorn scored the first 40 points of the game and led 40-7 at halftime.
Beatrice's Justin Coleman hauled the opening kickoff back 84 yards for a touchdown to lead the Orangemen to a 34-20 victory over York. Coleman later added touchdown runs of 30 and 5 yards as Beatrice got its first win of the season.
Lincoln Pius X gets back in this week's rankings with a 30-27 victory over Ralston thanks to a huge game from K.C. Hyland. Hyland, a 6-6 receiver, had six receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown to lead the Thunderbolts to a 23-0 halftime lead. Ralston came roaring back in the second half with two touchdown runs from Jason Marshall, but Pius X put the nail in the coffin when Ben Mattern scored on a 15-yard run.
Waverly's Derrick Bash booted a 38-yard field goal with three seconds left to lift the Vikings to a 17-14 victory over previously-ranked Aurora. Zach Hoy had a fourth-quarter touchdown run to tie the game, capping a 17-play, 60-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge.
CLASS C-1
1. Hastings St. Cecilia (2-0) 1 Beat Kearney Catholic, 42-7.
2. Norfolk Catholic (2-0) 3 Beat Boone Central, 37-28.
3. Pierce (2-0) 4 Beat Twin River, 88-7.
4. Chadron (2-0) 5 Beat Alliance, 34-20.
5. Wahoo Bishop Neumann (2-0) 6 Beat Logan View, 34-12.
6. Ashland-Greenwood (2-0) NR Beat Auburn, 28-26.
7. Boys Town (2-0) 7 Beat Lincoln Christian, 20-0.
8. Auburn (1-1) 2 Lost to Ashland-Greenwood, 28-26.
9. Hastings Adams Central (2-0) 10 Beat Gothenburg, 27-7.
10. Boone Central (1-1) 8 Lost to Norfolk Catholic, 37-28.
Dropped Out: Valentine (1-2) 9
Class C-1 Quick Hits
Hastings St. Cecilia overwhelmed Kearney Catholic 42-7. Quarterback Jono Schwenka threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns to lead the rout for St. Cecilia. Riley Nikkila had three receptions for 121 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown pass for the first points in a 28 point second quarter for the Blue Hawks.
Ashland-Greenwood beat previously second-ranked and Class C-1 defending state champion Auburn, 28-26. Jonathan Meyers rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns to lead the upset victory for the Bluejays. Auburn did everything they could through the air as quarterback Grant Cole threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Auburn's Spenser Mason grabbed six passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, while preseason All-State selection Troy Williams hauled in 15 passes for 189 yards. Williams had a touchdown reception and threw for a score in a losing effort.
Chadron quarterback Jonn McLain threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-20 victory over Alliance. Chadron sprinted out to a 28-14 halftime lead and never looked back against the Class B Bulldogs.
Boys Town's K.D. McCoy rushed for 209 yards to lift the Cowboys to a 20-0 victory over Lincoln Christian. McCoy scored two touchdowns on runs for 39 and 60 yards in the victory.
Pierce defeated Twin River 88-7 in one of the most impressive scores of Week 2.
CLASS C-2
1. Howells (2-0) 1 Idle
2. Wakefield (2-0) 2 Beat Lyons-Decatur Northeast, 69-14.
3. Fremont Archbishop Bergan (2-0) 3 Beat Arlington, 47-19.
4. East Butler (2-0) 4 Beat Louisville, 21-14.
5. Perkins County (2-0) 5 Beat Amherst, 26-12.
6. Laurel-Concord (2-0) 6 Beat Creighton, 19-13.
7. West Point Central Catholic (2-0) 8 Beat Emerson-Hubbard, 35-8.
8. Elmwood-Murdock (2-1) NR Beat Johnson County Central, 55-0.
9. Creighton (1-1) 7 Lost to Laurel-Concord, 19-13.
10. Cambridge (2-0) 10 Idle
Dropped Out: Kearney Catholic (1-1) 9
Class C-2 Quick Hits
Archbishop Bergan quarterback Joey Spellerberg threw for 354 yards and five touchdowns as the Knights downed Arlington, 47-19. Bergan trailed 7-6 in the second quarter before Spellerberg went to work. Travis Brown had 10 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns for Bergan, while Issac Morrissey added 151 receiving yards on seven catches to pace the Knights.
Curt Softley threw two touchdown passes as Perkins County defeated Amherst, 26-12. Softley added a fourth-quarter touchdown run to put the game away for the Plainsmen.
Eight-Man
1. Clarkson (2-0) 1 Beat Mead, 52-11.
2. Dodge (2-0) 2 Beat Bancroft-Rosalie, 26-24.
3. Humphrey St. Francis (2-0) 3 Beat Newman Grove, 18-0.
4. Overton (2-0) 4 Beat Wilcox-Hildreth, 44-6.
5. High Plains (2-0) 5 Beat Cedar Bluffs, 50-13.
6. Chambers (2-0) 7 Beat West Boyd, 42-6.
7. Elwood (2-0) 10 Beat Brady, 76-6.
8. Bancroft-Rosalie (1-1) 8 Lost to Dodge, 26-24.
9. Nebraska City Lourdes (2-0) NR Beat Diller-Odell, 62-8.
10. Shickley (2-0) NR Beat Sterling, 40-18.
Dropped Out: West Boyd (1-1) 6, Pleasanton (1-1) 9
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net