By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Player of the Week: Curtis Hudiburgh - Grand Island
Curtis Hudiburgh rushed for 253 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Islanders to a 42-21 victory over Norfolk. The junior running back rushed for two first half touchdowns, and broke free on a 37-yard run with 9:03 left in the third quarter to break a 14-14 tie.
Honorable Mention
Collins Okafor - Omaha Westside: Okafor could have been named player of the week, too. Okafor rushed for 307 yards and two touchdowns in a narrow 24-21 victory over North Platte.
Jesse VerVelde - Millard West: VerVelde only completed five passes on the night, but his 65-yard strike to Tyler Davis tied the score at 14 with Millard North in the fourth quarter. VerVelde added two touchdown runs later in the fourth as Millard West defeated Millard North.
The Top Ten/Class A
School (Record) Previous Ranking
1. Omaha Westside (4-0) 1
Defeated North Platte, 24-21. Phew! Collins Okafor was called on to step up in a tight game, and the Nebraska commit delivered. Okafor rushed for 307 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner from 4 yards out, as the Warriors survived a scare from out west. Next: Thursday at Papillion-LaVista (2-2).
2. Kearney (4-0) 4
Defeated Millard South, 27-20. Kearney's Drew Tickle recovered a fumble in the end zone with less than five minutes remaining to give the Bearcats the victory. The defending state champions got 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Rustin Dring, while quarterback Zack Follmer completed 15-of-17 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. Next: Friday vs. Lincoln North Star (4-0).
3. Omaha Central (4-0) 3
Defeated Omaha Bryan, 36-22. Quarterback Chris Griffin threw for three touchdowns to lead the Eagles to the victory. Ronnell Grixby scored on a 1-yard run as part of a 22 point second quarter outburst. Next: Friday vs. Millard West (4-0).
4. Millard West (4-0) 5
Defeated Millard North, 28-14. The Wildcats do it again. Trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Millard West embarked on their comeback. Quarterback Jesse VerVelde threw a 65-yard scoring strike to Tyler Davis, and then scored on runs of 5 and 35 yards as the Wildcats pulled off the victory. VerVelde completed just five passes, but threw for 171 yards. Next: Friday at Omaha Central (4-0).
5. Millard South (3-1) 2
Lost to Kearney, 27-20. The Patriots were unable to survive the long journey down Interstate 80 despite 303 yards passing and two touchdowns from sophomore Bronson Marsh. Junior Ty Kildow caught eight passes for 135 yards, while Jordan Hale caught a touchdown and returned a punt for another. Next: Friday vs. Bellevue West (4-0).
6. Millard North (2-2) 6
Lost to Millard West, 28-14. Quarterback Nick Failla rushed for 191 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort. Fullback Rob Pirnie added 107 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs. Next: Thursday vs. Bellevue East (1-3).
7. Bellevue West (4-0) 8
Defeated Lincoln North Star, 33-14. Quarterback Tyler Seals threw for 220 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Thunderbirds in the rout. Seals has thrown for 16 scores already this season. Evan Herring and Greg Hardin each latched onto two touchdown passes in the victory. Next: Friday at Millard South (3-1).
8. Lincoln East (3-1) 10
Defeated Omaha Benson, 34-0. Mike Palm rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Spartans to the easy road victory. Palm also tacked on a touchdown pass for good measure. Friday vs. Columbus (2-2).
9. Grand Island (3-1) NR
Defeated Norfolk, 42-21. Junior running back Curtis Hudiburgh rushed for 253 yards and five touchdowns as the Islanders moved to 3-1 on the season. Next: Thursday vs. Fremont (1-3).
10. Omaha North (2-2) NR
Defeated Lincoln Southwest, 21-12. Brenton Bradford rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown to lead the Vikings to a victory over the team that was ranked number on the in preseason. Omaha North led 14-0 after the first quarter and held on. Next: Friday at Omaha Northwest (1-3).
Dropped Out:
Lincoln Southwest (2-2) 7
Lincoln North Star (3-1) 9
CLASS B
School (Record) Previous Ranking
1. McCook (3-0) 1
McCook forced Aurora to lay another goose egg against the stingy Bison. McCook's Zach Wieser rushed for three touchdowns in the 34-0 victory.
2. Crete (3-0) 2
John Leverson rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and added another one through the air in a 49-0 rout over Blair.
3. Omaha Skutt (3-0) 3
Quarterback Austin Cole threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the SkyHawks rolled over Lincoln Pius X, 28-7. Nick Anderson caught a touchdown pass and returned his second punt for a score on the season to pace Skutt.
4. Elkhorn (3-0) 4
Elkhorn quarterback Jared Brill totaled six touchdowns as the Antlers rolled over York, 54-7. Brill threw for three touchdowns and added three rushing scores.
5. Omaha Gross (3-0) 5
The Cougars rolled to a 42-0 victory over Omaha Roncalli thanks to 105 yards and four touchdowns from Brandon Winkleman.
6. Beatrice (2-1) 6
Defeated Ralston, 35-7.
7. Fairbury (4-0) 7
Junior Lee Horky proved to be human, throwing for 150 yards and three interceptions but the Jeffs still prevailed over Grand Island Northwest, 41-14.
8. Waverly (3-0) 8
Andrew Bundy did the dirty work, rushing for 197 yards to lead Waverly to a 36-0 victory over Platteview. Jordan Balance and Trevor Wittrock both scored two rushing touchdowns to pace the Vikings.
9. Norris (3-0) 9
Drew Swanson rushed for 107 yards to lead Norris to a 42-6 victory over Seward.
10. Lincoln Pius X (1-2) 10
Pius X got a touchdown reception for 6-6 wide receiver K.C. Hyland as the Thunderbolts fell to Omaha Skutt, 28-7.
Dropped Out: None
CLASS C-1
1. Hastings St. Cecilia (3-0) 1
2. Norfolk Catholic (3-0) 2
3. Pierce (3-0) 3
4. Chadron (3-0) 4
5. Wahoo Bishop Neumann (2-0) 5
6. Boys Town (3-0) 7
7. Auburn (2-1) 8
8. Hastings Adams Central (3-0) 9
9. Boone Central (2-1) 10
10. Crofton (3-0) NR
Dropped Out:
Ashland-Greenwood (2-1) 6
Notes: Hastings St. Cecilia is a solid number one after defeating their opponents by a combined score of 140-7. Ashland-Greenwood had nothing left from their upset over Auburn, losing 35-7 to Bennington. Auburn, thanks to their 43-8 follow-up victory over Utica Centennial, moves up to seventh. Crofton enters at ten after starting at 3-0 with victories over Wisner-Pilger, Plainview, and Hartington Cedar Catholic.
CLASS C-2
1. Howells (3-0) 1
2. Wakefield (3-0) 2
3. Fremont Archbishop Bergan (3-0) 3
4. East Butler (3-0) 4
5. Perkins County (4-0) 5
6. Laurel-Concord (3-0) 6
7. Elmwood-Murdock (3-1) 8
8. Cambridge (3-0) 10
9. Cross County (3-0) NR
10. Pender (3-0) NR
Dropped Out:
West Point Central Catholic (2-1) 7
Creighton (1-1) 9
Notes: West Point Central Catholic is out after losing 18-13 to Pender. Speaking of Pender, the Pendragons are 3-0, and debut this week at ten. Cross County is ninth after wins over Louisville, Sandy Creek, and Fullerton. Archbishop Bergan and East Butler both won, setting up a three vs. four match-up on Friday night.
Eight-Man
1. Dodge (3-0) 2
2. Clarkson (2-1) 1
3. Humphrey St. Francis (2-0) 3
4. High Plains (2-0) 5
5. Elwood (3-0) 7
6. Bancroft-Rosalie (2-1) 8
7. Nebraska City Lourdes (3-0) 9
8. Hampton (3-0) NR
9. Wauneta-Palisade (3-0) NR
10. Parkview Christian (4-0) NR
Dropped Out:
Overton (2-1) 4
Chambers (2-1) 6
Shickley (2-1) 10
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net