Burke is battle-tested and will fight for the top spot in Nebraska this season. Revenge upon Lincoln Southeast is certain to be a motivation for the Bulldogs.
Photo by Kristy Shaefer
2011 finish: 12-1
Head coach: Ryan Gottula
Team previewThe Knights will try for a repeat this year after defeating Omaha Burke in last year's Class A championship game. Lincoln Southeast has come a long way over the past five years, going from one win in 2008 to 12 in 2011. The Knights have won back-to-back state titles three times in school history and have the talent necessary to make it four. With
Devin Washington back at running back and
Najee Jackson returning at quarterback, the Knights have two of the state's top playmakers. Washington rushed for 1,907 yards and 22 touchdowns last year while Jackson threw for 1,500 yards and 17 scores. Meanwhile, junior offensive tackle
D.J. Foster ranks as one of the top linemen in the nation for the Class of 2014. Foster also benefits from playing next to potential All-State tackle
Landon Kubicek. The Knights also have one of the top receivers in the state in
Desmond Robinson, who scored eight touchdowns as a junior. The defense will be a little more suspect after losing 10 starters from last year. Lincoln Southeast will need to replace one player whose name is found on our list of
every Nebraska Class of 2012 Division 1 football signee.
2. Burke (Omaha)
2011 finish: 12-1
Head coach: Paul Limongi
Team previewThe Bulldogs won 12 straight games to start the 2011 season before falling to Lincoln Southeast 21-9 in the Class A final. Burke had one of the state's toughest schedules last season and that's the case again this year. Coach Limongi will have to get the job done without two of his top skill players as 1,000-yard running backs Jordan Nelson and Carson Collins have both graduated. Limongi will also have to replace some standouts on defense with the graduation of defensive linemen Andrew Coppa and Tyler Moll and linebackers Jeremy Queen and Mitch McCann. Fortunately Burke does return one of the state's top signal callers in
Zach Cook, who earned second-team All-Omaha honors last season after throwing for more than 1,700 yards.
Turner Gaines, an honorable mention All-District selection, returns to lead the defense at cornerback.
3. Omaha Central
2011 finish: 10-2
Head coach: Jay Ball
Team previewA pair of seven-point losses to Burke were the only black marks on the 2011 schedule for the Eagles, who posted a 10-2 record. Although losses on defense are heavy, coach Jay Ball has one of the state's top returning rushers in
Jackie Davis, who rushed for 1,481 yards as a junior. The Eagles also have one of the state's top wide receivers in
Tra-Deon Hollins. Central will know where it stands right away as it meets Burke on Aug. 31. Omaha Central's name can be found on our list of
Nebraska state football champions for the past 10 years.
4. Papillion-LaVista (Papillion)
2011 finish: 9-3
Head coach: Jeff Govier
Team previewThe Monarchs will try to improve upon last year's 9-3 mark that saw them reach the Class A semifinals. Papillion-LaVista returns three players who received All-Greater Metro Conference honors, including receiver
Bryce Sheard (6-foot-3, 180 pounds), offensive lineman
Jake Gaston (6-3, 255) and defensive back
Tyler Wrice (5-8, 175). The headliner for the Monarchs, however, is quarterback
Alec Ditoro, who led all Class A quarterbacks last season with 2,634 yards. Ditoro has one of the state's fastest players to throw to in two-time state sprint champion
Kenzo Cotton. Search for Papillion-LaVista players on the list of
2011 Nebraska All-District football teams.
5. Norfolk Catholic
2011 finish: 13-0
Head coach: Jeff Bellar
Team previewWinner of 26 straight games, Norfolk Catholic won its second-straight Class C-1 state championship last year with a 20-6 win over Platteview. Coach Jeff Bellar has a familiar face back at quarterback, as his son
Jordan Bellar figures to be one of the top quarterbacks in the state after earning All-Super State second team honors last season. Defensive lineman
Connor Ketter (6-5, 220) earned a similar honor on the defensive side of the ball. Bellar will have
Riley Knake at receiver and
Kyle Schaefer at fullback. Both earned honorable mention All-State honors last season. Coach Bellar has won eight state championships in 27 seasons at Norfolk Catholic and has a career mark of 262-42 at the school. Norfolk Catholic leads our list of
Nebraska's Top 10 most consistent football programs and is also No. 4 on the June, 2011 list of the
Top 10 Nebraska football dynasties.
