The Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald both voted yes to Potter Dix running back Luke Kasten being named to last season's First-Team Six-Man All-State football team. But it was on defense where he put up some mind-boggling numbers.
Yes, Kasten ran the football for 1,128 yards on 107 carries during the Coyotes' Six-Man state runner-up season. And yes, he accounted for 29 touchdowns running and throwing the football. However, two numbers stand out on defense. Kasten battered enemy offenses for 35 tackles-for-losses and 59 quarterback hurries as a junior.
When you scroll through MaxPreps statistics database, Kasten finished 17th nationally among 11-Man and 6/8/9-Man athletes, collectively, and second in the 6/8/9-Man ranks nationally in tackles for losses. His quarterback hurry numbers ranked third nationally a year ago and first among 6/8/9-Man athletes nationally.
Kasten's pinball numbers on the stop side of the ball land him in the top spot of this week's Top 10 returning 6/8/9-Man defensive football stat lines. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 180-pound cornerback also posted 120 tackles, 11 ½ sacks, 11 passes defended and more during his junior season.
Neligh-Oakdale's Aiden Kuester claims the runner-up position following a junior season that saw him drop 131 opposing ball carriers, make 26 tackles for losses and block both a punt and a field goal. Avery Overfelt of Homer played his way into 164 tackles, recorded 14 tackles for losses and had a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Osmond's Alex Vinson and Carson Glunz of Wallace round out the Top 5 in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots respectively after combining for 277 tackles and 33 ½ tackles for losses.
Wallace is the only school to have two athletes make this week's Top 10. Besides Glunz, who made last week's list for the Top 10 returning offensive stat lines, Trey Robertson finished his junior season with 130 tackles, four tackles for losses, three interceptions and four blocked field goals.
Nebraska's Top 10 returning 6/8/9-Man defensive football stat lines
1. Luke Kasten, Potter-Dix (Potter)49 Solo Tackles | 71 Assisted Tackles | 120 Total Tackles | 35 Tackles for Losses | 11.5 Sacks | 59 Quarterback Hurries | 2 Interceptions | 11 Passes Defended | 2 Fumble Recoveries | 4 Forced Fumbles
2. Aiden Kuester, Neligh-Oakdale (Neligh)63 Solo Tackles | 68 Assisted Tackles | 131 Total Tackles | 26 Tackles for Losses | 2 Sacks | 1 Interception | 5 Passes Defended | 1 Blocked Punt | 1 Blocked Field Goal
3. Avery Overfelt, Homer116 Solo Tackles | 48 Assisted Tackles | 164 Total Tackles | 14 Tackles for Losses | 1 Sack | 1 Interception | 1 Fumble Recovery
4. Alex Vinson, Osmond60 Solo Tackles | 82 Assisted Tackles | 142 Total Tackles | 20.5 Tackles for Losses | 1 Sack | 4 Quarterback Hurries
5. Carson Glunz, Wallace75 Solo Tackles | 60 Assisted Tackles | 135 Total Tackles | 13 Tackles for Losses | 2 Fumble Recoveries | 2 Forced Fumbles
6. Beau Lacroix, Mead60 Solo Tackles | 68 Assisted Tackles | 128 Total Tackles | 12 Tackles for Losses | 2 Sacks | 1 Pass Defended | 2 Forced Fumbles
7. Trey Robertson, Wallace53 Solo Tackles | 77 Assisted Tackles | 130 Total Tackles | 4 Tackles for Losses | 3 Interceptions | 4 Blocked Field Goals
8. Keegan Shuler, Hitchcock County (Trenton)65 Solo Tackles | 73 Assisted Tackles | 138 Total Tackles | 1 Interception | 3 Fumble Recoveries | 4 Blocked Punts | 1 Blocked Field Goal
9. Jaxson Kusek, Arcadia/Loup City (Arcadia)73 Solo Tackles | 56 Assisted Tackles | 129 Total Tackles | 3 Tackles for Losses | 1 Fumble Recovery
10. Kale Gustafson, Osceola59 Solo Tackles | 81 Assisted Tackles | 140 Total Tackles | 2 Interceptions
