The football season for Bellevue West ended far earlier than Thunderbird faithful were hoping for a year ago.
Soon however the disappointment of that 35-23 quarterfinal loss to Gretna will serve only as a reminder of Bellevue West's gridiron angst as the Thunderbirds and other Cornhusker State programs prepare to make deep postseason runs this fall.
Back to fire up the Bellevue West offense is senior quarterback Daniel Kaelin and his favorite target Isaiah McMorris, both of whom made our Top 10 list of Nebraska's finest returning offensive stat lines.
A 6-foot-3 senior, Kaelin tops this week's top 10 after completing 236 of 371 aerials for 3,186 yards and 36 touchdowns to just seven interceptions a year ago. McMorris was on the other end of 90 of those balls for 1,297 yards and 14 scores and sits fourth this week.
Michael Huffman's 6-foot senior receiver reached 100 yards seven times a year ago, including a season-high 171 yards and a touchdown in a 35-34 loss to Kearney. Kaelin threw for 300 yards or better six times last fall and a season-high 394 yards and three scores in a 56-35 loss to defending Class A state champion Omaha Westside.
Speaking of the defending champion Warriors, dual-threat signal caller Anthony Rezac, who takes over the No. 2 rung, returns to help guide Omaha Westside to another state title run. Paul Limongi's quarterback completed 168 of 250 passes for 2,239 yards and 19 touchdowns and ran the ball 160 times for 1,118 yards and another 19 scores a year ago.
Running backs Trent McCain of Ord and Exeter-Milligan/Friend's Breckan Schluter round out the Top 5 in the No. 3 and 5 spots respectively. McCain ran the ball 299 times for 2,011 yards and 24 touchdowns while Schluter rumbled for 1,930 yards on 225 carries and scored 32 times on the ground.
Nebraska's Top 10 returning offensive stat lines1.
Daniel Kaelin,
Bellevue West (Bellevue), 6-3, 195, senior, quarterback
236-371 passing | 3,186 yards | 36 TDs | 7 interceptions | 115.4 QB rating
38 carries | 175 yards | 4.6 Avg. | Zero 100-yard games | 3 TDs
2.
Anthony Rezac,
Omaha Westside (Omaha), 6-3, 195, senior, quarterback
168-250 passing | 2,239 yards | 19 TDs | 4 interceptions | 114.1 QB rating
160 carries | 1,118 cards | 7.0 Avg. | Five 100-yard games | 19 TDs
3.
Trent McCain,
Ord, senior, running back
299 Carries | 2,011 yards | 6.7 Avg. | 79 long | Ten 100-yard games | 24 TDs
5 catches | 98 yards | 19.6 avg. | 70 long | Zero 100-yard Games | 2 TDs
4.
Isaiah McMorris, Bellevue West, 6-0, 170, senior, wide receiver
90 catches | 1,297 yards | 14.4 avg. | 99 long | Seven 100-yard games | 14 TDs
6 carries | 29 yards | 4.8 avg. | 12 long | Zero 100-yard games | 1 TD
5.
Breckan Schluter,
Exeter-Milligan/Friend (Exeter), senior, running back
225 carries | 1,930 yards | 8.6 avg. | Nine 100-yard games | 32 TDs
3 catches | 17 yards | 5.7 avg. | Zero 100-yard games | 0 TDs
6.
Sebastien Boyle,
Scottsbluff, 5-11, 210, senior, running back
237 carries | 1,926 yards | 8.1 avg. | 70 long | Nine 100-yard games | 26 TDs
1 catch | 11 yards | 11.0 avg. | 11 long | Zero 100-yard games | 0 TDs
7.
Keenan Valverde,
Pierce, 5-7, 155, senior, running back
226 carries | 1,900 yards | 8.4 avg. | 80 long | Eight 100-yard games | 26 TDs
5 catches | 66 yards | 13.2 avg. | 29 long | Zero 100-yard games | 2 TDs
8.
Bryson Gadeken,
Neligh-Oakdale (Neligh) 6-2, 192, senior, wide receiver
85 catches | 1,197 yards | 14.1 avg. | 50 long | Six 100-yard games | 9 TDs
72 carries | 397 yards | 5.5 Avg. | 33 long | Zero 100-yard games | 6 TDs
9.
Dylan Heine,
Wynot, 6-1, 150, senior, quarterback
179-307 passing | 2,269 yards | 36 TDs | 13 interceptions | 102.9 QB rating
103 carries | 389 yards | 3.8 avg. | One 100-yard game | 8 TDs
10.
Dylan Sheard,
Omaha South (Omaha), 6-2, 217, senior, wide receiver
50 catches | 1,105 yards | 22.1 Avg. | Seven 100-yard games | 9 TDs
18 carries | 226 yards | 12.6 avg. | Zero 100-yard games | 4 TDs
