By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Class A First Round- All Games Friday, October 26
Omaha Bryan (3-6) vs. Millard West (8-1), 1 p.m. at Buell Stadium
Omaha Creighton Prep (6-3) vs. Lincoln East (8-1), 7 p.m. at Seacrest Field
Omaha Westside (7-2) at Bellevue West (7-2), 7 p.m.
Lincoln Southwest (5-4) vs. Millard North (7-2), 4:30 p.m. at Buell Stadium
Lincoln Northeast (5-4) at Omaha Central (7-2), 7:30 p.m.
Omaha North (7-2) at Grand Island (7-2), 7 p.m.
Lincoln North Star (6-3) vs. Millard South (6-3), 8 p.m. at Buell Stadium
Omaha Burke (3-6) at Kearney (9-0), 6 p.m. at University of Nebraska-Kearney
Quarterfinals- Friday, November 2
Semifinals- Saturday, November 10
Class A State Championship
Friday, November 16, 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium-Lincoln
Defending Champion: Kearney
2007 Favorite: Kearney
Darkhorse: Omaha Westside
Top First Round Match-up: Omaha Westside at Bellevue West
Can Kearney repeat? No Class A team has pulled off the daunting task since 1998 when Lincoln Southeast repeated. It has happened five times since the Nebraska state playoffs started in 1975. All teams were from either Omaha or Lincoln.
Kearney has an explosive offense led by All-State candidate Rustin Dring. The running back owns the Bearcat school-record for career rushing yards, and this season has 1,154 yards and a Class A leading 22 touchdowns.
Who can challenge Kearney for the title? It appears that all three Millard High Schools are ready and waiting for the Bearcats to falter. Millard South, Millard North, and Millard West are two through four heading into the playoffs in all major ratings. Due to the resounding success of the three suburban Omaha powers, Buell Stadium will host a tripleheader on Friday.
Omaha Westside, who lost to Kearney in the Class A final last season, comes into the playoffs as a darkhorse. Nebraska-commit Collins Okafor. Okafor has gone for over 1,300 yards this season. Westside started the season with a bang before back-to-back losses to Omaha Creighton Prep and Millard North.
Team-by-team Breakdown
Millard West (8-1): The Wildcats came out of nowhere to earn the top-seed. Jesse VerVelde operates the controls of the offense, having passed for 1,267 yards and 10 touchdowns. VerVelde can also get it done on the ground, rushing for two touchdowns in a 36-35 victory over Millard South. Jake Drwal is one of the top receivers in the state, while Tyler Davis is a sufficient option at running back. Davis is also one of the state leaders in interceptions.
Kearney (9-0): The Bearcats have won 18-straight following a loss last season to Millard South, one they would avenge in the state playoffs en route to its first-ever state title. Dring is the ring leader of the attack, but wide receiver/kicker Brett Maher is also explosive. Maher averages over 23 yards per catch this season and has five touchdown receptions. Maher had the distance on a 59-yard field goal attempt in a victory over Grand Island this season, missing wide.
Omaha Central (7-2): When Nebraska state football powers come to mind, Central is usually mentioned. However, the Eagles are searching for their first title since 1984 despite a laundry list of Division I athletes that have passed through the hallways in downtown Omaha. Ronnell Grixby leads the way for the Eagles, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Chris Griffin is experienced and is athletic enough to give any defense in the state fits. Shane and Shawn Prater are potential game-breakers to watch for the Eagles.
Millard North (7-2): Another season, another quarterback that is the leading rusher in Class A. Nick Failla has rushed for 1,374 yards and 17 touchdowns this season for the Mustangs, and has plenty of help from his friends. Fullback Rob Pirnie almost hit 1,000 yards in the regular season, Nebraska commit Sean Fisher is known to bust a big play every now and again, and junior J.P. Hobson had a breakout game last week with 214 yards and four touchdowns. Hobson could hold the key to this playoff run. Don't count these Mustangs out by any means.
Bellevue West (7-2): Junior Tyler Seals is the latest in a growing line of passing threats for the Thunderbirds. Seals has thrown for 2,095 yards and 29 touchdowns this season. Greg Hardin is clearly the number one target having latched on to a state leading 14 touchdowns. Shane Winsor is the leading tackler in the entire state this season leading the Bellevue West defense.
Grand Island (7-2): Losses to Millard North and top-ranked Kearney are the only blemishes this season for the Islanders. Junior Curtis Hudiburgh has rushed for 868 yards and 13 touchdowns this season after being inserted in the starting line-up due to injury. Braden Taylor leads a defense that is one of the top units in Class A. Shane Bolles and Mike Lorenz are all-around threats for the Islanders.
Millard South (6-3): Imagine how explosive this offense would be with junior wide receiver Vondrae Tostenson. Even without the injured talent since the second game of the season, Millard South has managed to produce a high-octane offense. Sophomore Bronson Marsh is the trigger man, throwing for 2,031 yards and 13 touchdowns. Junior Ty Kildow is arguably the most exciting talent in the state hauling in 36 receptions for 845 yards and nine touchdowns. Devon Strecker and Jordan Hale also are big play threats for the Patriots.
Lincoln East (8-1): Lincoln East was expected to have a rebuilding effort this year after qualifying for the quarterfinals last season. Think again. The Spartans have won seven straight after a three-point loss to Grand Island. In a 56-14 victory last week over Lincoln High, East piled on 35 points in just over four minutes. The offensive explosion is there for East to make a serious run this season. Quarterback Mike Palm and Harry Meginnis are the leaders for the Spartans.
Creighton Prep (6-3): After a 0-2 start, the Junior Jays have powered their way to the playoffs behind the running of Brad Heldt. Heldt almost hit 900 yards this season and has scored 11 touchdowns. Prep has an outside linebacking corps with Matt Manninger along with Conor and Colin McDermott. Prep handed Westside its first loss of the season following a loss to Millard North, its only blemish since the 0-2 start.
Lincoln North Star (6-3): The Navigators won just one game last season and have turned things around in a hurry, qualifying for their second playoff appearance in school history. Running back Tony Perry is the leader of the North Star offense, but Michael Mikaya has emerged in the final two regular season games to give the unit a boost. North Star suffered a three-game losing skid midway through the season to teams with a combined record of 23-4.
Omaha North (7-2): The Vikings were another team that figured to be in for a rebuilding effort this season. After they started 1-2 this season, the experts appeared to be right. North has recovered to win its last six games by an average score of 38-6. Defensive tackle Nick Phillips has led the defensive resurgence for a unit that allows just over 200 yards per contest. Brenton Bradford is leading rusher for the Vikings and is a potential home run threat.
Omaha Westside (7-2): The Warriors probably have the most to prove out of anybody in the state. They are talented enough to make a serious run to win the whole thing, led by Nebraska commit Collins Okafor. The running back eclipsed 1,300 yards this season and has padded his resume' with 14 touchdowns. Kansas verbal Tim Biere, a tight end, and junior quarterback Ron Kellogg Jr. are capable to produce big plays through the air.
Lincoln Southwest (5-4): Southwest barely qualifying for the postseason is one of the most puzzling events in the state this season. Baker Steinkuhler leads the Silverhawks as they limp into the playoffs. Micah Fisher, Brandon Brown, and Graham Stoddard are a few of the best players in the state.
Lincoln Northeast (5-4): For the Rockets, Tyler Collier has rushed for 1,230 yards and nine touchdowns this season. All four of the losses this season for Northeast have come to playoff teams including a three-point loss to Lincoln East and a one-point loss to Lincoln North Star.
Omaha Burke (3-6): The Bulldogs took care of business in District play, winning three of their last five games to qualify for the playoffs. Jake Marousek is one of the top players for the Bulldogs.
Omaha Bryan (3-6): The Bears needed a stellar performance by the best player in Nebraska hardly anybody has heard of, Jeremy Wallace. Wallace rushed for 327 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-39 victory over Papillion-LaVista.
Scott Hansen's Picks
First Round: Millard West over Omaha Bryan, Omaha Creighton Prep over Lincoln East, Omaha Westside over Bellevue West, Millard North over Lincoln Southwest, Omaha Central at Lincoln Northeast, Omaha North over Grand Island, Millard South over Lincoln North Star, Kearney over Omaha Burke.
Quarterfinals: Millard West over Omaha Creighton Prep, Millard North over Omaha Westside, Omaha Central over Omaha North, Kearney over Millard South.
Semifinals: Millard North over Millard West, Kearney over Omaha Central
Final: Millard North over Kearney
