By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Class A
Omaha Central Pounds Kearney, Halts Streak
It was not to be for Kearney, who entered its home semifinal game against Omaha Central riding a 20 game winning streak and the holders of the most coveted piece of hardware in Nebraska high school football as the 2006 champion. Omaha Central used a traditional brand of football by pounding out 337 rushing yards in a 46-23 victory over the Bearcats.
Central's Ronnell Grixby was the catalyst behind the attack for the Eagles, rushing for game-high 154 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. With the victory, Central has qualified for its first state final since 1984, its only title in school-history.
Kearney led 14-7 in the second quarter thanks to some big plays provided by quarterback Zach Follmer and running back Vinny Molina. Kearney opened the scoring on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Follmer to Jarrett Johnston and later added an 80-yard touchdown run by Molina to claim its lead.
Then, Central struck back with 17 unanswered points. Quarterback Chris Griffin, a Grixby touchdown run plus a two-point conversion, and a safety gave the Eagles a 24-14 lead in the third quarter.
Kearney's Brett Maher kicked a 26-yard field goal and added a 15-yard touchdown reception from Follmer to close the gap in the fourth quarter to 31-23.
Central iced it with a 14-yard touchdown run by Terrell Mayhue and a 19-yard scamper by Grixby.
Without Failla, Millard North Survives in Overtime
What happens when your quarterback that rushed for 1,600 yards is injured at Millard North? They plug in another future star and the steam engine keeps rolling. Millard North junior quarterback Nick Failla was injured early, but sophomore Connor Thomas passed the daunting task to replace Failla with flying colors as Millard North shocked Millard West 31-28 in overtime.
Millard North kicker Tim Weak blasted a 22-yard field goal in overtime to put the Mustangs in the Class A final for the fifth time in six years.
Instead of the intense dosage of fullback Rob Pirnie and Failla, the Mustangs turned to Nebraska-commit Sean Fisher. Fisher rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns after spending most of the season as the third option.
Millard North led 28-13 in the fourth quarter before Millard West turned to its star, quarterback Jesse VerVelde, to ignite the Wildcat offense and the crowd of 5,000 at the same time.
VerVelde hooked up with his top target, Jake Drwal, on a 66-yard touchdown pass. After a 46-yard field goal from Connor Stahmer, VerVelde found Andrew Robbins on an 8-yard touchdown pass. All Millard West needed was the point after kick to lead 29-28, but Stahmer hooked it and kept the score tied, thus forcing overtime.
Millard West fumbled on its possession, allowing Millard North to kick the game-winning field goal. Millard North won state titles in 2003 and 2005.
Class B
Crete 33, Beatrice 19: Crete is one-step closer to repeating as Class B champions with an impressive rushing performance against Beatrice. Quarterback John Leverson rushed for 96 yards and a score while Marcus Smith chipped in with three rushing touchdowns to push the Cardinals to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Beatrice got 193 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Zach Ruiz in a losing effort. Ruiz also chipped in with a team-high 73 rushing yards and a touchdown.
McCook 31, Cozad 0: McCook posted its fifth shutout of the campaign and picked up 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Zach Wieser in the victory. The Bison move to the Class B state final for the first time since 2005. Between the 2002-2005 seasons, McCook won two state titles (2002 and 2003) and picked up two runners-up trophies (2004-2005). Last season McCook fell to Crete, its opponent in the final, in the semifinals.
Class C-1
Pierce 27, Norfolk Catholic 3: Pierce defeated Norfolk Catholic for the second time this season thanks to Kevin Paulsen's game-breaking 69-yard touchdown on a punt return. The Bluejays picked up rushing touchdowns by Colton Stepp and Aron Eddy in the second half to quash any thoughts of a Norfolk Catholic comeback. Pierce qualifies for the Class C-1 final for the first time since 2001. In 1999 and 2001, Pierce finished as runners-up. Pierce's only state title came in 1978.
Wahoo Neumann 14, Bennington 10: Sophomore Dylan McGill completed a clutch 71-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Smith in the third quarter, which was enough for the Cavaliers to survive. Keith Chvatal scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter to provide Neumann's only other points of the game. Bennington was led by quarterback Tyler Byrd, who threw for 131 yards and a first quarter touchdown for the Badgers. Neumann moves into the Class C-1 final for the first time since winning it in 2003.
Class C-2
Blue Hill 14, Cambridge 0: Nathan Petska rushed for a pair of touchdowns to lead Blue Hill into a rematch of the 2006 state final. Blue Hill smothered Cambridge star Lance Shifflet, holding the 2,000-yard rusher to just 55 yards in the victory.
Wakefield 7, Hartington Cedar Catholic 0: Wakefield moved to its 25th straight victory over upset-minded Cedar Catholic. Wakefield's Nick Curnyn scored the only touchdown of the contest to help Wakefield set up a state final rematch with Blue Hill. Wakefield won the state title last season over Blue Hill, 34-7.
Semifinal Scores/Final Match-ups
Class A
Semifinals Nov. 10
Millard North 31, Millard West 28 (OT)
Om. Central 46, Kearney 23
Final Nov. 16, 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium
Om. Central (10-2) vs. Millard North (10-2), 7 p.m.
Class B
Semifinals Nov. 10
McCook 31, Cozad 0
Crete 33, Beatrice 19
Final Nov. 17, 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium
McCook (12-0) vs. Crete (12-0)
Class C-1
Semifinals Nov. 10
Pierce 27, Norfolk Catholic 3
Wahoo Neumann 14, Bennington 10
Finals Nov. 17 at Memorial Stadium
Wahoo Neumann (12-0) vs. Pierce (12-0), 10:30 a.m.
Class C-2
Semifinals Nov. 10
Blue Hill 14, Cambridge 0
Wakefield 7, Hartington CC 0
Final Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m. at Memorial Stadium
Blue Hill (12-0) vs. Wakefield (12-0)
Eight Man-1
Semifinals Nov. 10
Clarkson 22, Humphrey SF 20 (OT)
Pope John 40, Elwood 21
Final Nov. 15, 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium
Clarkson (10-2) vs. Pope John (12-0)
Eight Man-2
Semifinals Nov. 10
Chambers 33, Pleasanton 22
Elgin 58, Dodge 22
Final Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m. at Memorial Stadium
Chambers (11-1) vs. Elgin (12-0)
Six-Man
Final, Nov. 8 at Foster Field, Kearney
Elba 59, Arcadia 32
