The Bishop Neumann Cavaliers will face off against the Grand Island Central Catholic Crusaders at 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Bishop Neumann will be looking to extend their current six-game winning streak.
Bishop Neumann is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup last Friday. They took their game with ease, bagging a 34-0 victory over Kearney Catholic. Considering the Cavaliers have won six matchups by more than 20 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Beau Fujan looked great while leading his team to the win, rushing for 53 yards and one score.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Bishop Neumann was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 283 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 227 rushing yards in six consecutive contests.
On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Bishop Neumann's defense and their three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Jack Van Slyke, Henry Woita, and Kobe Miller, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, Grand Island Central Catholic faced Ord in a battle between two of the state's top teams last Friday. The Crusaders walked away with a 23-13 win over the Chanticleers.
Grand Island Central Catholic's win came from a few key players Bishop Neumann will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Grayson Sack, who threw for 206 yards and a pair of TDs on only 17 passes, and also rushed for 68 yards. A healthy portion of Sack's aerial production (99 yards to be exact) went to Connor Haney, who also brought in a receiving touchdown.
Bishop Neumann's record now sits at 11-1. As for Grand Island Central Catholic, their record is now an identical 11-1.
Tuesday's game might be decided on the ground. Bishop Neumann has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 263 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Grand Island Central Catholic struggles in that department as they've been averaging 188 rushing yards. There's a good chance Tuesday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Bishop Neumann was able to grind out a solid victory over Grand Island Central Catholic in their previous matchup back in September of 2023, winning 34-21. Will the Cavaliers repeat their success, or do the Crusaders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.