Football Finals Primer

THE TOWN, THE TOWN, THE TOWN — They will play six games over the next two days at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. And, the towns will be there. Big and small. And, sure, you won’t see anywhere near 86,000 screaming folks there on Monday and Tuesday but you’ll see the passion.

The work. The effort it takes to win a championship. The support it takes from the fans.

No one knows about it more — sees it more — than Wahoo coach Chad Fox and Boone Central coach Mark Hudson. Their teams and their football communities will face off in the Class C-1 title game on Tuesday morning.

“Football means a lot here,” Hudson said of the town of Albion and his school district at Boone Central. “On Friday nights, you can feel how special it is. People around here know the little extra it takes to compete and stack up with the best teams in the area and the state.”

For Fox, who has helped build the Wahoo program to an near-equal of the basketball program in his 22 seasons, he sees a community in Wahoo that supports just about anything you put in front of them.

“I think people look at Wahoo and still think of basketball, but the people here have tremendous pride in everything they do,” he said. “We have had great championship teams in volleyball and softball. We’ve been fortunate to build a great youth football program here which has helped us.

“The other thing that has been unique to Wahoo is people who graduate here, they come back to live here. They know what it means and what it takes; it’s not hard to get kids in the gym in the summer.”

So, the towns collide on Tuesday. With those powerful running games and bruising defenses. A championship that will settled right between white lines, where so many lessons have already been taught this fall.

Boone is old — 17 seniors. Wahoo with a big chunk of sophomore contributors — maybe just a bit ahead of schedule. Both coaches have loved what they have got from their teams this season.

Hudson’s team has parlayed the running of Parker Borer and impressive line play with an imposing defense. They have given up 14 points just three times in 12 outings; and pitched five shutouts in the regular season.

“This bunch has had a really focused personality,” Hudson said. “They like to have a lot of fun but they know when to turn it on and get locked in as well. And, if I need to bark at them, I have been able to do that, too. They know what they want.”

After starting the season with wins over defending champion Pierce and third-ranked Ashland-Greenwood, Fox knew his young group would have potential.

“We had some kids in big spots to start the season and we didn’t really know how they would respond to being under the spotlight on a Friday night,” Fox said. “What we found was our seniors were great; they really gelled with our young guys well. It kind of turned into our secret sauce.”

The teams mirror each other and in talking to the coaches, so will the game plans. Borer has ran for 1,875 yards and ran for 23 touchdowns. Wahoo’s Noah Bordovsky has 977 yards, but the Warriors are over 2,400 yards by committee.

Defensively, both teams give up less than 150 yards per outing. Wahoo counters Boone’s five shutouts with six of their own and 10 of 12 games allowing a touchdown or less.

So, what gives? Not much. The game likely comes down to a play or two. Or three.

“Philosophically, they like to spread you horizontally but they want to run it,” Hudson said of the Warriors. “They force you to play really sound football for the full game. They are very active and very quick. Special teams will also be a big key, we think. They do a very, very good job there.”

Fox says the thing about facing Boone Central for his team is to not think about having to change anything as they approach the game.

“We just feel like if we can keep this as much the same as the rest of our games we will be okay,” Fox noted. “To beat them it’s going to take relentless effort and to play fast and physical football. We have to communicate really well. And on special teams we want to get one or two plays that will help us flip the field.”

Sometimes the game of football is pretty simple. It’s about hard work, discipline and coaching your players the best you can. Then putting them in spots to win. And, if you are lucky enough to do all those things you have to execute when it matters the most.

Six games over two days. More towns than that. And a bunch of kids playing a game they love for everyone there who has supported them since the dog days of August.

We should all stand up and cheer for that. No matter the final result.

Three Things: Class A

No. 1 Omaha Westside (12-0) vs. No. 3 Elkhorn South (11-1)

AVENGERS: Elkhorn South avenged their only loss in the semifinals as they reversed a 33-0 regular season game with Millard South. The Storm came back from nowhere in the last eight minutes for a 24-13 win. Trailing 13-3, ES got a 60-yard touchdown catch and a 8-yard touchdown run from Brady Bousquet to take the lead. Then Dylan Kingston sealed it with a pick-six with 1:13 left.

DEFENSIVE: There is plenty of talk about how productive the Omaha Westside offense has been all season (well deserved). But the Warrior defensive has been special. They have allowed just six points — total — in three playoff games after allowing 34 points all of the regular season.

ALL-TIMERS: You must play the game. And, Elkhorn South is in a well-deserved position for the title game. A Storm win would be an all-time Nebraska upset — in the category of the Hickory Huskers and the 1980 US Hockey team. A convincing win and the Warriors may lay claim to the best team in Nebraska prep football history.

Class A championship preview with Mike Sautter

Three Things: Class B

No. 1 Bennington (12-0) vs. No. 2 Omaha Skutt (11-1)

38 SPECIAL: The top-ranked Badgers have won 38 in a row and the past two Class B titles. Running back Quinton Archer has ran for 1,686 yards and quarterback Peyton Sanmann has thrown for 1,495 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Badger defense has allowed seven points or less in nine of 12 contests.

SURVIVING SKYHAWKS: After playing just three Class B playoff teams in the regular season, Skutt has survived their way to the final. Down 28-6 to Blair in the quarterfinals, they kicked a field goal as time expired for a 30-28 win before defeating unbeaten Waverly 38-26 in the semifinals. A balanced offense with multiple weapons compliments a defense led by Sam Brummund’s 92 tackles.

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND: Many thought that Omaha Skutt made a fourth-and-goal stop in week one against Bennington. Ahead 13-7, a goal line collision was ruled a touchdown and the Badgers kicked the extra point for a 14-13 win. Most were hoping for the rematch we get on Monday night. Let’s enjoy it.

Class B championship preview with Mike Sautter

Three Things: Class C-2

No. 1 Norfolk Catholic (12-0) vs. No. 3 Ord (10-2)

KNIGHTED: Top-ranked Norfolk Catholic has dominated their competition most of the season save a 24-19 mid-year win over then-healthy Battle Creek. In week two, they topped their finals opponent 31-14. Norfolk Catholic is in the finals for 20th time in school history. Brandon Kollars and Carter Janssen have combined for 2,040 yards on the ground.

THE VALLEY: Coach Nate Wells has built one of the best Class C programs over the past decade as the Chants try to add to their 2020 championship. They also have a Class C-1 title game appearance in 2018. After a 1-2 start — the Chants lost to Norfolk Catholic and Battle Creek — Ord has rattled off nine straight wins. Trent McClain and quarterback Dylan Hurlburt are over 2,500 yards rushing combined on the season.

NOVEMBER CLEANING: In the earlier meeting between the two teams, Norfolk Catholic returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns and fumbled the opening kick of the second half in the 31-14 loss. Can the Chants flip the turnover and special teams battle this time around?

Class C-2 championship preview with Mike Sautter

Three Things: Class D-1

No. 1 Stanton (12-0) vs. No. 7 Exeter-Milligan/Friend (11-1)

HORSE POWER: A Class C-2 finalist in 2004, the Mustangs make their first appearance in an 8-man title game. A high-powered offense, Stanton has been under 50 points just twice this season; last week against Sandy Creek in a 48-36 semifinal win and in the regular season against Wisner-Pilger that was a three-quarter, rain-shortened affair. Quarterback Barrett Wilke has thrown for 1,157 yards and ran for 1,890 and has accounted for 51 touchdowns. His backfield mate Becker Pohlman has ran for 1,697 yards.

BRECKAN AND THE BOYS: You can certainly say the Bobcats know who they are. They have passed just 60 times in 12 games while running back Breckan Schluter is averaging — AVERAGING — 29 carries per contest. The senior is over 2,700 yards this season and 7,000 for his career. In the semifinals against Crofton, he carried 43 times for 348 yards. Decent.

A FAMILIAR FOE: Both teams went to Sandy Creek this season. In week four of the regular season, EMF fell to the Cougars in double overtime 64-62. Last week, Stanton pulled away late for a 48-36 win to advance to the state finals. When the seniors on each team were freshmen, Stanton won an opening round playoff game 81-28.

Class D-1 championship preview with Mike Sautter

Three Things: Class D-2

No. 2 Wynot (12-0) vs. No. 8 Sandhills/Thedford (11-1)

DYLAN’S DEVILS: For all the Class D-2 success they have had in Wynot, this will be the first state football championship game appearance in school history. They have done it behind timely and stingy defense, coupled with a balanced passing attack spearheaded by quarterback Dylan Heine who has thrown for 2,042 yards and 25 touchdowns.

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE: Sandhills/Thedford advanced to the finals by reversing their only loss of the season in the semifinals when they topped unbeaten South Loup 33-18, after the Bobcats had beat them 48-34 in the regular season. In the semifinals, the Knights had a pick-six and fumble return for touchdowns. Junior quarterback Kyle Cox has ran for 2,414 yards and 49 touchdowns, while throwing for 970 yards and 11 more scores.

OVER THE HUMP: While S/T reversed their only loss of the season, Wynot got past two eastern stalwarts in their 12 wins this season. The Devils beat Humphrey St. Francis and Howells-Dodge in the regular season and in the playoffs to advance to Lincoln. Doesn’t that deserve a trophy in itself?

Class D-2 championship preview with Mike Sautter