Cole Payton carried the football for 129 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 218 yards and a pair of scores, allowing Omaha Westside to outscore Elkhorn South 37-21 in the 2020 Class A state championship football contest. In the process, the Warriors claimed their first state football title since winning back-to-back championships in 1981 and 1982.
With the convincing win, Brett Froendt's program garnered a high enough MaxPreps power ranking to finish the 2020 season as Nebraska's seventh best 11-man football squad since MaxPreps started ranking football teams in 2004. Omaha Westside remained in that spot following last November's state championship competition.
Andy Mean's 2009 version of Millard South football looks up to no one since they produced Nebraska's highest MaxPreps power ranking — ever — and are the team to beat in Nebraska's battle of gridiron greatness.
After claiming the 2014 Class A state football title, Omaha North produced the state's second highest power ranking while 2019 state champions Wahoo (Class C1) and Bellevue West (Class A) fill in at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. Norfolk Catholic's 2005 title winners round out this week's Top 5. Norfolk Catholic landed a pair of clubs in the Top 10 while Pierce, Crete, Elkhorn South and Skutt Catholic all produced a pair of Top 20 finishes.
Milard South (2009, 38th), Wahoo (2019, 81st), Bellevue West (2019, 86th), Norfolk Catholic (2005, 18th), Norfolk Catholic (2004, 19th), Pierce (2007, 43rd) and Crete (2007, 53rd) all finished in the Top 100 nationally during their dominant runs.
Wahoo's 2019 team lands tied for second in top 11-man teams since 2004.
File photo by Samuel Mfinanga
1. Millard South (Omaha) (2009) Head Coach: Andy Means
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 59.2
Scoring Differential: 614-198
Rankings: Class A (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (38th)
2009 Patriot Greats: Gary Hiatt, Bronson Marsh, Quentin Urban, Joey Felici
2. (tie) Omaha North (Omaha) (2014) Head Coach: Larry Martin
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 59.0
Scoring Differential: 614-148
Rankings: Class A (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (113th)
2014 Viking Greats: Marquise Lewis, Michael Decker, Calvin Strong, Cole Bixler, Jason Martin, Markell Vaughn
2. (tie) Wahoo (2019) Head Coach: Chad Fox
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 59.0
Scoring Differential: 612-54
Rankings: Class C1 (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (81st)
2019 Warrior Greats: Gunnar Vanek, Callan Phillips, Trevin Luben, Brandon Swahn, Kole Bordovsky, Grant Kolterman
4. Bellevue West (Bellevue) (2019) Head Coach: Michael Huffman
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 58.7
Scoring Differential: 662-65
Rankings: Class A (1st), Nebraska (2nd), Nationally (86th)
2019 Thunderbird Greats: Zavier Betts, Thomas Ault, Nate Glantz, Jay Ducker, Matt Thompson, Jack McDonnell
5. Norfolk Catholic (Norfolk) (2005) Head Coach: Jeff Bellar
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 57.7
Scoring Differential: 469-90
Rankings: Nebraska (1st), Nationally (18th)
2005 Knight Greats: Ben LaCrosse, Aaron Schulte, Eric Pieper, Bryce Miller, Calvin Thor, Beau Simpson
6. Pierce (2007) Head Coach: Mark Brahmer
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 56.5
Scoring Differential: 624-143
Rankings: Nebraska (1st), Nationally (43rd)
2007 Bluejay Greats: Josh Weber, Eric Koehlmoos, Corey Woslager
7. Omaha Westside (Omaha) (2020) Head Coach: Brett Froendt
Overall Record: 12-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 55.6
Scoring Differential: 533-161
Rankings: Class A (1st), Nebraska (1st)
2020 Warrior Greats: Cade Haberman, Cole Payton, Ben Radicia, Koby Bretz, Dominic Rezac
8. Crete (2007) Head Coach: Reed Manstedt
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 55.2
Scoring Differential: 425-99
Rankings: Nebraska (2nd), Nationally (53rd)
2007 Cardinal Greats: John Levorson, Shane Renner, Marcus Smith, Cody Wockenfuss
9. Norfolk Catholic (2004) Head Coach: Jeff Bellar
Overall Record: 12-1
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 54.1
Scoring Differential: 494-175
Rankings: Nebraska (1st), Nationally (19th)
2004 Knight Greats: Ricky Distefano, Aaron Lund, Tyler Sudbeck, Jacob Ludemann
10. Boone Central/Newman Grove (Albion, Neb.) (2014) Head Coach: Arnold Johnson
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 53.3
Scoring Differential: 543-166
Rankings: Class C1 (1st), Nebraska (2nd), Nationally (217th)
2014 Cardinal Greats: Michael Lipker, Wyatt Mazour, Travis Kennedy, Zac Glidden
The next 10: Elkhorn South (2015), Archbishop Bergan (2021), Crete (2006), Elkhorn South (2016), Skutt Catholic (2014), Columbus Scotus (2015), Skutt Catholic (2019), Millard North (2012), Pierce (2020), Millard West (2008).
