1991/1992 Thousand Yard Club Top 10 Rushers...and a lot more..

This Helmet was recognized by most in the State and the Nation during these years. (Falls City Sacred Heart)

1991

1. Brendan Holbein - Cozad.......2,740**

2. Shannon Poggendorf - Elwood...1,906

3. Todd Uhlir - Battle Creek.....1,901 Jr.

4. Doug Wendell - Spencer-Naper..1,783***

5. Ross Tomjack - Chambers.......1,767

6. Damon Benning - Omaha NW......1,584

7. Aaron Hass - Beemer...........1,528

8. Brian Schuster - Fullerton....1,498**

9. Clinton Childs - Omaha North..1,495

10. Curt Lenners - Filley........1,480 Jr.

Well, OK then. Mr Holbein of Cozad certainly established himself as the cream of the crop as far as 1991 running backs were concerned, and the crop was rich indeed. Look at who was number 3? Todd Uhlir was on his way to big things, and I mean big, when he rambled for over 1900 yards for Battle Creek. Damon Benning set a school record at Omaha Northwest that stood until this Fall when he scooted for 1,584 big ones. Future Husker FB Brian Schuster of Fullerton had another huge season and ran for almost 1500 yards. Another future Husker, Clinton Childs did it again with his 1,495 yards, and right off the top 10.........a kid you may have just know a little bit by the name of Scott Frost ran all over people for 1,464 yards. He could throw the pig a little too.

Chuck Mizerski led his Lincoln SE team to a Class A crown as the Knights bested Creighton Prep 21-7 in the Title game. Holbein led the Haymakers to a "B" title with a 17-6 win over Elkhorn. C-1's plum was nabbed Norfolk Catholic as they beat rival battle Creek 28-6. Catholic had their first 1000 yarder ever in Doug Beierman (1,302). In C-2, another exiting game saw Bertrand edge Bloomfield 16-15. Close, but no cigar twice in a row for the Bees. Aaron Long notched his second straight 1000 yard season for Bertrand (1,456) and Bloomfield had yet another Fehringer (Michael-1,384) featured in their backfield.

In the 8-Man ranks, Sterling won the first of two titles by beating Ansley 42-14 in that championship game. That was Ansley's FIFTH runner-up finish in the last 10 seasons, although they did grab the crown in '86. The Jets' Matt Uher hit a grand for the second time (1,312) AND Ansley had a pair of 1000 yard guys with Matt Lane (1,028) and Greg Stunkel (1,059). In D-2, Sacred Heart win their THIRD in a row with a 41-20 "W" over Chambers and Ross Tomjack. Sacred Heart did not have a back over a thousand, believe it or not. In the 6-Man game for all the marbles, Bartley won it by beating McPherson County of Tryon, 42-22. Dan Rayer ran for 1,336 for the Champs.

How about that All-State backfield, folks! Scottie Frost at QB, and Childs, Benning and Holbein behind him....oh mother of mercy! 7,283 yards rushing between the four. Good enough for you? I'll bet any coach in the universe would faint just thinking about calling plays for that crew. Holbein's buddy Chris Dishman was on that mythical team, GI's Matt Vrzal, and big old Jeff Ogard from St. Paul were on the offense too. An end named Ryan Terwilliger of Grant made the defensive side of things as a C-2 player.

Some of the 1000 yarders fans around my neck of the woods will recognize Jess Rother of Wolbach (1,275 and now an asst coach at St. Paul), the TD twins from Giltner, Jimmy Smith and Nate Nauman. Those two lads were "pretty" good on the track if you recall.

1992

1. Todd Uhlir - Battle Creek.......2,849**

2. Tom Mimick - Spencer-Naper......2,168

3. Chad Surrett - Mitchell.........2,021

4. Curt Lenners - Filley...........2,015**

5. Tim Squier - Anselmo-Merna......1,893 Jr.

6. Billy Legate - Clearwater.......1,807 Jr

7. Brian Shaw - Sandy Creek........1,738 Soph.

8. Don Mohr - Ponca................1,716

9. Chad Dormann - Oshkosh..........1,696

10. Jesse Kosch - Columbus Scotus..1,682

1992 was a year to remember as the parade of records poured in. A record 95 backs rushed for over a 1000 yards in '92. Battle Creek's Tom Uhlir became the most prolific ground gainer in history by setting a state single season record of 2,849 yards in 12 games. He also set the career rushing record by rambling for an amazing 5,926 yards in his four year stint at BC. Three time state champ, Falls City Sacred Heart was the first team to produce THREE thousand yard rushers since Marquette turned the trick in 1984. QB, Chris Darnell ran for 1,327 yards, and young Sophomore pups Chris Carpenter and Nate Froeschl rushed for 1,181 and 1,059 yards respectively for the Irish. Three State Champions had two 1000 yard backs each: Elkhorn in Class B (Derrick Johnson/1,103 and Patrick Brockley/1,030), Bloomfield in C-2 (Jeff Dennis/1,394 and Kyle Walling/1,002) and Sterling in 8-Man 1 (Luke Boldt/1,147 and Micah Uher/1,044).

NINE Class lads hit the 1000 yard mark in 1992, led by 10 grader Damion Morrow, who raced for 1,611 yards. I wonder if Morrow knew at the time he would be joined in the Omaha Central backfield the next year by his buddy, Ahman Green? I have a suspicion he may have. Jesse Kosch of Scotus notched his second 1000 yard season, and a junior from East Butler, Joel Makovicka, carried on the family tradition by running for 1,588 yards. A young man from 1000 yard-rich Beemer rushed for 1,346 yards.......his name, Brock Eichelberger. Might know this now famous Ewing coach, I trust. There were some pretty recognizable names on this list. How about hurdles specialist Tye Hohnstein of Scottbluff (1,198), or Creighton Prep's Dion Losole (1,186)? Current GICC head coach Charlie Shoemaker ran for 1,170 yards for Cambridge, Ravenna Asst., Matt Gangwish (Shelton) punished opponents for 1,013 yards. The late Dutch Orr of Lewellen gained 1,307 yards and was on the way to two of those, and Scott Frost completed a career with 1,585 yards and set a career passing record that withstood the test of time until Giltner's Nate Most surpassed it this Fall.

There were also a couple of mighty fine players on the Super-State list also. Ty Goode-Lincoln SE a future Notre Dame star, and Jon Zatechka of Lincoln East made that list, along with big Matt Hockinson of Battle Creek.

Lincoln Southeast again won the "A" crown by beating cross town rival, Lincoln High 17-0. Class B went to Elkhorn, as they beat the Minutemen of Lexington 36-12. In C-1, Aquinas was no match for Uhlir and the crew as they pummeled the Monarchs 50-16, in fact.......nobody was a match for Battle Creek in the playoffs. The Braves rolled over Kimball 50-7, applied payback big time to Norfolk Catholic, 46-3, and beat Frost and his Wood River buddies 67-26. Rumor has it that Schnitzler and the folks up there made Frost and the boys dress in a tiny kindergarten room that was designated as the "visitor's dressing room". Can't verify that baby for sure, but that is what I heard. In C-2, Bloomfield finally shed the bridesmaid role and edged Cambridge 21-20 for the title. In 8-Man One, Sterling beat Ansley again, but only 22-6.......but closing the gap from a year ago doesn't matter does it? Sterling still won. In D-2, it was the same old song and dance with Falls City Sacred Heart marching to number 4 in a row with a 44-14 win over SEM. In 6-Man, Cedar Rapids stuffed Dutch Orr and his Lewellen teammates, 32-6 for the hardware. Tigers had Brad Zoucha (1,349).

1992........a season to remember!