Levi Belina carried the football 23 times for 153 yards, scored on runs of 44, 7, 9 and 16 yards and tossed a six-yard scoring strike to Gavin Nelson last November allowing Howells-Dodge to outscore Cross County 42-12 in the Class D1 state championship football contest.
In the process, the Jaguars claimed their first state football title as a consolidation after the two schools merged in time for the 2012-13 season. With the convincing win, Mike Speirs program garnered a high enough MaxPreps power ranking to finish the 2021 season as Nebraska's fifth best 8-Man football squad since MaxPreps started ranking 8-Man teams in 2004.
Howells and Dodge both have a lot of history when it comes to winning state football titles. The former Cornhusker Conference foes claimed 15 8-Man titles between them. Howells last won a state championship on the gridiron in 2010. Dodge, meanwhile, claimed its sixth state football title in 2006.
With the 30-point win over Cross County last fall, Howells has its name all over this week's Top 10. Before the consolidation, Howells 2005 squad featuring football stars like Michael Bazata, Justin Sindelar, Scott Bayer, Eric Burenheide and Bryon Janata, is MaxPreps' best squad after the then Bobcats posted an 88.7 MaxPreps power ranking. Speirs-led clubs from 2010 (7th) and 2004 (8th) also land in this week's Top 10.
Johnson-Brock's 2018 Class D2 state championship club nearly unseated Howells from the top spot when it posted an 88.0 power ranking. Humphrey St. Francis' 2019 edition claimed the Class D2 state championship and is nestled into the No. 3 spot this week with an 87.1 power ranking. Creighton's 2018 Class D1 state champions posted an 85.9 and sits fourth this week.
Howells and Humphrey St. Francis can both claim five of the top 20 squads over the last 18 years. Howells placed four teams in this week's Top 10 and added its 2009 club to the second 10 while the Flyers landed four clubs in this week's second 10. The former Cornhusker Conference rivals are the only schools to have placed multiple teams in the Top 20.
Howells (2005, 2nd), Johnson-Brock (2018, 6th), Humphrey St. Francis (2019, 8th), Creighton (2018, 10th), Howells (2010, 6th), Howells (2004, 2nd), Giltner (2012, 9th) and Elgin Pope John (2007, 7th) all finished in the Top 10 nationally during their dominant runs. Every member of this week's Top 10 finished in the Top 16 nationally at the conclusion of its fine football season.
St. Francis on its way to a 2019 title.
File photo by Samuel Mfinanga
1. Howells (2005) Head Coach: Mike Speirs
Overall Record: 12-1
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 88.7
Scoring Differential: 598-175
Rankings: Nebraska (1st), Nationally (2nd)
2005 Bobcat Greats: Michael Bazata, Justin Sindelar, Scott Bayer, Eric Burenheide, Bryon Janata.
2. Johnson-Brock (Johnson) (2018) Head Coach: Mitch Roberts
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 88.0
Scoring Differential: 856-215
Rankings: Class D2 (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (6th)
2018 Eagle Greats: Ty Hahn, Kaden Glynn, Cole Fossenbarger, Seth Moerer, Dylan Rowe, Shane Westhart.
3. St. Francis (Humphrey) (2019) Head Coach: Eric Kessler
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 87.1
Scoring Differential: 780-124
Rankings: Class D2 (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (8th)
2019 Flyer Greats: Dylan Wemhoff, Kolbe Classen, Trevor Pfeifer, Taylor Wemhoff, Evan Foltz.
4. Creighton (2018) Head Coach: Zac Kliment
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 85.9
Scoring Differential: 797-287
Rankings: Class D1 (1st), Nebraska (2nd), Nationally (10th)
2018 Bulldog Greats: Brayden Zimmerer, Bryce Zimmerer, Travis Tyler.
5. Howells-Dodge (Howells) (2021) Head Coach: Mike Speirs
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 85.1
Scoring Differential: 626-197
Rankings: Class D1 (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (15th)
2021 Jaguar Greats: Levi Belina, Rj Bayer, Aandy Dominguez, Jestin Bayer.
6. Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (Bruning) (2017) Head Coach: Christopher Ardissono
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 81.0
Scoring Differential: 668-202
Rankings: Class D2 (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (16th)
2017 Eagle Greats: Garrett Schardt, John Christensen, Karson Dickson, Holden Stengel, Caden Norder, Thomas Mick.
7. Howells (2010) Head Coach: Mike Speirs
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 80.0
Scoring Differential: 600-173
Rankings: Class D1 (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (6th)
2010 Bobcat Greats: Trent Mastny, Jordan Brichacek, Brian Bayer, Nathan Bazata, Cory Brester, Sam Schlautman.
8. Howells (2004) Head Coach: Mike Speirs
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 79.4
Scoring Differential: 631-115
Rankings: Nebraska (1st), Nationally (2nd)
2004 Bobcat Greats: Steven Bazata, Scott Bayer, Craig Brester.
9. Giltner (2012) Head Coach: Jeff Ashby
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 78.5
Scoring Differential: 825-240
Rankings: Class D2 (1st), Nebraska (1st), Nationally (9th)
2012 Hornet Greats: Blake Findley, Kyle Hawthorne, Dillon Gartner, Garrett Poppen, Dustin Hastings, Jake Findley, Ryan Kleier.
10. Pope John (Elgin) (2007) Head Coach: P.J. Book
Overall Record: 13-0
MaxPreps Power Ranking: 77.2
Scoring Differential: 649-130
Rankings: Nebraska (1st), Nationally (7th)
2007 Crusader Greats: Jay Reicks, Dean Veik.
The next 10: Humphrey St. Francis (2018), Sargent (2011), Cross County (2021), Humphrey St. Francis (2005), Hemingford (2014), Dundy County-Stratton (2020), Humphrey St. Francis (2015), Howells (2009), Humphrey St. Francis (2009), Falls City Sacred Heart (2020).
