The Elkhorn South Storm will face off against the Norfolk Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Elkhorn South's defense has only allowed 13.4 points per game this season, so Norfolk's offense will have their work cut out for them.
Elkhorn South is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Nebraska's top teams: Omaha Westside, who was ranked third at the time (Elkhorn South was ranked 11th). The Storm had to suffer through a 58-17 loss at the hands of the Warriors. The defensive woes were uncharacteristic for the Storm, who until this game were averaging 13.43 points allowed.
The match pitted two dominant backs against one another in Jaydon Sutko and Tay Tay Jenkins. Jenkins had a great game on Friday and rushed for 134 yards and three TDs. Meanwhile, Sutko did his best for the losing side, rushing for 108 yards.
Meanwhile, Norfolk made easy work of Burke on Friday and carried off a 38-15 win. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won four contests by 23 points or more so far this season.
Norfolk's win came from a few key players Elkhorn South will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Parker Rabbass, who threw for 167 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also punched in one score on the ground. Isidro Rosas helped Rabbass out on the ground, rushing for 97 yards and one TD.
Norfolk didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. In fact, those interceptions all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Isaiah Wapelhorst. Norfolk received some extra help from Tanner Wagner, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
The victory made it two in a row for Norfolk and bumps their season record up to 5-2. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 40.0 points over those games. As for Elkhorn South, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 6-1.
Everything came up roses for Elkhorn South against Norfolk in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 45-13 victory. Do the Storm have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
