A 2013 Preview of Class A football

Omaha Westside's Lane Yates.

Nebraska's largest class will be rich with quarterbacks and running backs. Some excellent D-1 prospects are around this fall, some of whom have already committed. Things are looking for the Lincoln schools too. Might be the best the Capital city teams have looked in football since the talent was distributed with the opening of Southwest and North Star. That took care of the Lincoln SE run with Chuck Mizerski at the helm. The Knights will again be a contender in a year when parity is the word. Lots of tremendous individual talent in Class A this season but no dominant team. Should be a very interesting 2013 season and what more could you ask.

The first 5 weeks of this season should define how the rest of it pans out. The tops dogs will take turns beating each other up during that span and the squad that emerges in the best shape after those scraps will be the frontrunner when November rolls around.

On to the top dogs:

*Millard North - Only right to start with the defending champs. Everybody in Class A knows what Freddy Petito is going to run and will do their best to neutralize it. How good were the Mustangs a year ago? Every team they played in the regular season made the playoffs and the Mustangs won 'em all. Clay Fisher will take over the QB reins this fall and that usually means a 2000 yard rushing season. Fisher's athleticism is just mind boggling and we'll see if playing both ways drains his energy. I don't think there is any way you can sit him on defense. Mustangs lost too many back there to graduation. Next in line to be the next super back is junior Adrrell Taylor, a 6-1, 200 pounder. The line is anchored by 6-2, 275 pound Brandon Vandervorst, plus the linebacking corps again appears to be strong. Petito can rotate lots of lineman on both sides of the ball to keep them fresh. Can Millard North go back-to-back? Should be the preseason favorites.

*Millard West - Quarterback Ross Drwal is one big reason to believe the Wildcats have a great shot to win it all. If Kurt Peterson decides to move Drwal around to make things interesting opponents could be in for a nightmare. Half on the offensive and defensive lines return, but the new starters should be much bigger and stronger than a year ago. Stanford recruit Harrison Phillips, Sam Walker (6-1, 250) and Cole Neville (TE) anchor those talented lines. When Drwal decides to pass he has one of the finest targets in the state in Skyler Monaghan. Monaghan caught 46 passes for 775 yards and 8 scores a year ago. Secondary looks pretty solid and when Drwal hands the ball off 5-10, 190 pound FB Victor Beanum can bowl over defenders (549 yards in 2012). Salvatore Guido is a pretty slippery, shifty runner when he gets the ball. Might be the best shot Millard West has had in a few years. 1st four games are brutal as they meet Lincoln SE, Millard North, Omaha Burke and Millard South in succession.

*Lincoln Southeast - Husker recruit Luke Gifford will take over the quarterbacking duties in 2013 after being a two time all-state DB. Gifford will remain at his defensive slot but will take over an offensive position that he certainly knows well. Coach Ryan Gottula reminds us that Gifford has played the position since his freshman year, but always backed up Najee Jackson. The Knights have another Nebraska recruit in the outstanding lineman D J Foster, a 6-3, 305 mountain of a human being. Foster's blocking is something to behold and 2 other holdovers join him in that O-Line. Tight end BJ Day (6-4, 245) is quicker than you think and the defensive line of Foster, Kwame Robertson, Fyn Anderson, Marshall Dean, and Peter Read will be hard to move. The Knights have a legit chance to contend for all the goods. And talk about a coaching staff. This group may have most combined experienced than many D-1 college teams possess. That good folks.

Creighton Prep - Might have the best pitch and catch duo in Class A with QB Easton Stick and wide receiver R.J. Urzendowski. Division 1 prospect Stick completed 58% of his passes for 2,057 yards and 17 Tds. Urzandowski was on the receiving end of 61 of those 125 completions for 1,089 yards and 13 scores. Stick started as a sophomore but was injured in game three and missed the remainder of the season. But, in games Stick has been under center the past 2 seasons, Prep is 11-1. Don't forget about Kirk Kudlacz as a WR either (305 yds). The offensive and defensive lines will need to be fortified but Prep has some very talented younger players awaiting their turn. Linebacker Mike Emoldi, lean and mean at 205 pounds, leads the "D". The Junior Jays might have the best secondary in Omaha with Urzandowski, Rodino and Nick Vipond. One thing CP hopes to improve on is scoring defense. I think coach Chris Nizzi has done an outstanding job since taking over for Jaws.

Omaha Burke - Bulldogs are going to be good in 2013 and they have no choice being in District 2 with Millard North and Omaha North. About half the starters return on both sides including some real playmakers. South Dakota St. recruit Trey Carr is an outstanding receiver (51-843 yds) and DB (5 Ints) who can change any game in a hurry. Back to run the 'Dogs offense is QB Blake Esmick. Esmick is 6-2, 210 and can play. One of the most electric runners in the Metro, Logan Gier will be at RB. Gier is a real cut-and-go runner who can slash on a dime and kick it in high gear in a hurry. He gained 828 yds a year ago. Three very capable offensive lineman are back and one of the most imposing linebackers in Class A, Dalton Frahm....all 6-5, 270 pounds of him is back. Need a game winning field goal? Hayden Guy is your "guy", having booted 11 last season. 6-0, 220 pound FB Colton Hough can pin the opposition deep in their own territory with one of his 41 yard/per punts.

*Omaha North - When my old drum student Tommy Lee introduced to then "new" head football coach at North, Larry Martin, I just knew in time he would be something special. Martin led the Vikings to a Class A runner-up trophy in 2012 and even though the Vikings lose 7 starters on both offense and defense, things are still looking pretty sweet. Main reason is RB Calvin Strong, the best back in the state in my opinion. Only one other sophomore in Metro history has done what Strong did in 2012. Calvin ran for an astounding 1,892 yards and looks like he's been playing the game for years. Only 5-8, 175, this guy runs like a 200 pounder and sheds tacklers so well. Strong's junior classmate Michael Decker (6-3, 275) is a sparkling lineman and a pretty good fella to have blocking for you. One reason for optimism for the Vikings is their line backing crew. Guys like Jason Martin (another junior) and Elijah Hawkins really caught my eye in that splendid Class A championship game a year ago. Another sure-fire all-state man is JaVaughn Perkins. That guy can flat out get to the man with the ball in a flash or the receiver that thinks he's going to get it. Great player.

*Lincoln North Star - OK, I like this team because they continue to improve and have a couple of very fine players. The Gators are the only Lincoln School other than Lincoln High in District 4 and should be able to win that crown. Mark Waller has done an outstanding job coaching this team and deserves success. North Star has a bone fide D-1 recruit in RB Austin Rose. Rose just blows me away man. 5-11 and 210 pounds of muscle that can flat out pick 'em up and lay 'em down. This guy can fly and can squash a few would-be tacklers along the way. Wasn't even supposed to start in 2012 and ended up with 1,403 yards. The QB is really a good one in Brook Bolles. Bolles threw for 1,349 yards last season and has nearly 2,500 in his career. Gators have a solid O-Line led by D-1 prospect Matt Dietz who is 6-3 and 300 lbs. LB is manned by the tough, head hunting Zach Jackson. North Star can score in bunches and has a favorable schedule that does not include Lincoln SE. The Seacrest home game against Kearney on October 18 should be a biggie.

.......not far behind:

*Millard South - Only 6 starters return but considering Andy Means has a lifetime record of 82-24 and a slew of talented younger players makes one feel that the Patriots will contend. One huge plus is having Anthony Cloyd coming back at QB. 1,797 yards and 14 scores will do it every time. Oh yea, Cloyd can run too (586 yds.)

*Omaha Westside - Running back Lane Yates and his 1,549 yds, 20 tds. and darn near 2,200 all purpose yards makes the Warriors pretty sharp on offense. Defense returns an experienced 8 starters and a guy I watched last year that impressed me on that unit was Drew Fitzsimmons. Cody Cramer likes to visit the opponents backfield from his linebacker spot too.

*Papillion LV - All you need to know is Quarterback Alec Ditoro. Last year: 243 of 389 passes for 3,112 yards/31 touchdowns (63%). Sophomore-2,694 yards passing and 28 TDs. Ditoro is the good news. Other news is he will have to break in new receivers. Monarchs need new RB's also. Bad news...defense gave up 333 yds/game and 37 points per the final 5 regular season games. Good news...7 starters back on that unit. ( in Papio's defense, they faced Bell West, Millard North, Om. North, Burke, and Millard South in those games).

.......and high hopes:

*Kearney - All you need to know is Brandon Cool is the coach.

*Grand Island - 16 returning starters from a 4-5 team, all-state LB in Chase Reis, and an outstanding coach in Jeff Tomlin, who may be the best line coach in these here parts.