Two dominant signal callers in Gage Walton and Laken Wiedel are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Plainview Pirates will square off against the Thayer Central Titans on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Plainview is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 43-8 win over Alma. Given the Pirates' advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska football rankings (they are ranked ninth, while the Cardinals are ranked 80th) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Kobe Maertins was his usual excellent self, rushing for 13 yards and one TD, while also throwing for 79 yards and one touchdown.
Gage Walton
| 10/23/25 vs Alma | 2 |
| 10/16/25 @ Lutheran-Northeast | 3 |
| 10/10/25 vs Stanton | 2 |
| 10/03/25 @ Laurel-Concord-Coleridge | 5 |
| 09/26/25 @ Summerland [Clearwater/Ewing/Orchard] | 2 |
| 09/19/25 vs Elkhorn Valley | 5 |
Plainview didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Braedon Kment, Walton, and Wyatt Schroth picked up one apiece. Walton has been hot, having also posted two or more rushing touchdowns the last six times he's played. Kment got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Thayer Central entered their tilt with Perkins County on Thursday with three consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with four. They blew past the Plainsmen 47-6.
Thayer Central's win came from a few key players Plainview will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Owen McLauhlin, who rushed for 71 yards and a pair of scores on only seven carries. Those 71 rushing yards gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jaxon Krupicka, who rushed for 55 yards and one touchdown.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Thayer Central proved: they limited Perkins County to a paltry 3.3 yards per carry. The team can thank Brady Degenhardt for the heroic effort on defense: he. Thayer Central didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 6.9.
Plainview's record is now 8-1. As for Thayer Central, their record now sits at an identical 8-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Plainview has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 207.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Thayer Central struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 267.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
