Week 6 High School Football Heroes......Part One

Cozad's Jake Pauslen plants and cuts. *(photo courtesy of Jennifer Schmidt)

*Alec Ditoro-Papillion LV - Set the Class A single game passing yardage record when he threw for 482 yards in a 49-42 loss to Millard North in the battle of the "A" titans. Ditoro completed 23 of 31 passes and connected for 6 touchdowns in the offensive explosion. The junior found exiting WR Spencer Long for 4 touchdowns including catches of 6, 33, 78, and 14 yards. The 6-2, 190 pound speedster had 9 catches for 187 yards in all, increasing his Class A leading reception yardage total to 656 yards. Teammate Gabe Hoins had 6 receptions for 130 yards and a score in the loss.

*Isaac Aakre-Millard North - Senior QB returned from a week's absence (concussion) to rush 42 times for 277 yards in that 49-42 classic win against Papio. Aakre scored on runs of 8, 1, 23, and 1 yard while increasing his season rushing total to 927. Has anyone had a tougher schedule than Millard North.

***1000 Yard Alert*** Lane Yates-Omaha Westside - The hard rambling junior became the first Class A runner to reach the 1000 yard plateau in the Warriors 42-25 shocker over #2 Millard South. Yates rocketed for 220 yards on 31 carries and scored on runs of 50 and 43 yards in the 1st half then put 'em in the aisles by returning the second half kick-off 98 yards for a score. Yates now sits at 1,159 yards for the season.

*Hayden Guy-Omaha Burke - Guy must have thought he was an NFL kicker last Friday night. All he did was kick FIVE field goals...all of Burke's points....in the Bulldogs 15-14 upset of previously undefeated Omaha North. Guy's field goals came from 44, 25, 42, 34, and the winning kick of 32, which came with 5 seconds remaining in the contest. Maybe the Minnesota Vikings will dump Longwell and give this kid a shot. What have they got to lose?

*Brandon Pick-Plattsmouth - 5-10, 195 pounder exploded for 266-36 carries and scored on a couple of 3 yard runs as the 1-4 Blue Devils ripped 4-1 South Sioux City 41-15. Sweet night for Pick considering that one pre-season capsule on him read "may compete for some playing time." I have a hunch Pick is playing all he wants, man.

*Austin Havlena-David City - Sparkled in a 35-21 loss to powerful Boone Central/NG by running for 198 yards on 31 carries. Last week Havlena rushed for 279-44 carries, so how's 477 yards on 75 carries in a 2 week span sound to you? Austin scored on runs 25 and 45 yards for a David City team that is improving each time out. Havlena now has 748 rushing yards for 2012 after blasting for 1,311 a year ago. This young man is a fine running back.

*Matt Klein-Scottsbluff - Another stellar performance for the slender, but tough RB. Klein rushed for 148-31 carries in a 23-21 win against Grand Island Northwest. Klein scored on a 7 yard run for the Bearcats, who were buoyed by three field goals (23, 37, 21 yds) by Randy Wenz.

*Austin Bochart-Loup City - Sliced in, around, and through the stout Palmer defense for 223 yards on 24 carries, but his Red Raiders came out on the short end of a 49-22 score. Bochart scored from 27 and 12 yards out in the game.

*Ziah Jensen-Palmer - Junior tough guy ran for 182 yards on 22 carries and was an absolute demon on pass defense in the Tigers win over Loup City. Jensen hit paydirt from 3 and 53 yards out and caught a 28 yard TD pass from Kordell Glause.

*Jake Fowler-Hastings Adams Central - 2011 Class B all-state running back rambled for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first half in the Patriots 40-0 win over Central City. The Bison probably wished Fowler and his mates were still in Class B. Fowler hit the end zone on runs of 3, 8, 20, and 61 yard jaunts in the romp.

*Isaac Watson-Arapahoe - Intercepted a pass and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown with 3 seconds left in the game to preserve a 28-18 win over tough Overton.

*Jake Paulsen-Cozad - Shredded the Gothenburg to the tune of 253 yards on 24 carries in the Haymakers 42-7 drubbing of the Swedes. The :10.6 sprinter scored on runs of 55 and 34 runs and waved bye bye on a 98 yard kick return in the game. The track/football standout now has run for 806 yards in 2012. If you haven't seen this kid play, do it. Paulsen also wears a winning number on his jersey......#15. Of course, that was mine. The similarity stops there.

*David Payne-Centennial - Junior RB had a great outing subbing for the injured Andrew Bader against Twin River Friday. Payne ran for 137-18 touches in the Broncos 35-20 victory.

*Jake Shadley-Columbus Lakeview - Junior sharpshooter was 14 of 17 passing for 316 yards in a 42-7 win over Madison. Shadley threw for 4 scores and averaged nearly 23 yards a completion in the win. Teammate Preston Luedke ran for 102 yards on only 7 carries and scored on a 73 yard run and had an 85 yard pass reception for a score. Shadley's season totals are 75-130 passes for 1,156 yards and 17 touchdowns.

*Jake Gaudreault-Madison - 160 pound senior ran for 126-23 carries and scored the Dragon's lone TD on a 14 yard run in the Lakeview game. Jake has rushed for a stellar 682 yards this season. Folks, that quite a feat for a team that is only 2-4 and was 2-6 a year ago.

*Connor Moeller and Coby Wollenburg-Tri-County - I'll wager that Conestoga had nightmares about these two guys last Friday night......bumps and bruises too. The two runners combined for 516 yards and 6 scores against the Cougars. Moeller (6-0, 185) motored for 246 yards and 5 TDs and Wollenburg (170) ran for 260 yards and a score in the 46-20 win. Moeller must just be heating up after running for 180 yards and 3 Tds a week ago.

*Trey Barnes-Seward - Bruising, durable 6-1, 215 fullback played marathon man by rushing for 144 yards on 42 grueling carries in a 14-0 win against Holdrege. That's called 3.4 yards and a cloud of dust to be exact. Barnes has rushed for 861 yards this year for the 2-4 'Jays. Coach Greg Welch isn't afraid to give his featured back the ball a gazillion times a game. Good gig, huh?

*Nick Arlt-Oakland-Craig - Remember this name for future reference. The 5-10, 160 pound sophomore ran for a massive 231 yards on 16 carries (14.44 per), including 166 in the 1st half in the Knights 54-14 thumping of North Bend. His TD runs of 10, 62, 20, and 5 yards came in that 1st half. Arlt has now rushed for 701 yards this year and friends, Oakland-Craig has a history of outstanding running backs, so Arlt has a solid, promising future. Looks to me like he's pretty solid now, come to think of it.

***1000 Yard Alert*** James Kruger-Norris - The splendid RB notched his 3rd straight 1000 yard rushing season by running for 179 yards on only 16 carries in a 49-7 win against Nebraska City. Kruger has 1,083 yards thus far and a 3 year total of 3,616 and counting. Kruger hit the end zone from 71 and 14 yards out against the Pioneers. This young man could start for any team in Class A, trust me.

*Eli Hrock (pronounced "Rock")-Diller-Odell - After being stopped for 17 yards a week ago, the 160 pound sophomore rushed for 142-17 in a 77-22 trouncing of Deshler. Hrock scored on runs of 47, 25, 5 and 25 yards and increased his season total to 695 for the Griffins.

*Austin Ruskamp-Freeman - Slowed by injuries the first 2 games of the season, the tough 170 pound Ruskamp ripped off 266 yards on 30 carries and scored on a 93 yard kick return plus runs of 31, 62, and 5 yards in the Falcons 55-34 win over Pawnee City. This kid is a kick to watch and can score from a multitude of places on the field. Ruskamp has run for 666 yards this season, the majority coming in the last 4 games. He ran for 1,246 a year ago. Great talent.

***1000 Yard Alert*** Josh Coyle-Atkinson West Holt - 295 yards on 36 totes for the outstanding 195 junior in a 42-36 win over an improved Battle Creek squad. I kid you not, I'd drive 200 miles to watch Coyle play and so would a lot of college scouts. Coyle ran for touchdowns of 25, 71, 24 and 10 yards in win. The way he changes a game is incredible. I know of no other player in the entire state that is the game changer Coyle is.......on either side of the ball and even special teams. Coyle now has 1,133 yards rushing for 2012. As a sophomore he ran for an eye opening 1,729 yards. Another young man that start for any Class A team in this state and excel. Coyle may very well be the most exiting player in Nebraska high school football.

No, we're not finished.......Wedneasday - Part two of the long list. You gotta love it.