So.......You want to be a Prep Football Rater?

Some outstanding high school football photography by Crystal Logiudice, one of the best in the business.

There is always widespread anticipation about this time of year regarding the release of the pre-season high school football ratings. Thus far only Stu Pospisil of the Omaha World-Herald and Bob Jensen of Huskerland Prep Report have presented these ratings. Both of these gentlemen are certainly qualified, experienced pros at this craft, which is cloudy with a forecast of some surprises most years. Funny how so many "experts" out there seem to think compiling these pre-season Top 10's is a walk in the park. Easy stuff, man.

Lots of high school football fans are talking about Class A right now, so here's your chance to be an expert or just have a little fun. I've compiled some pertinent information, stats, records on every single football team in Class A. Not a ton of info, but enough to digest and formulate your own Class A Top 10. Have some fun.

No Top 10 for this guy, I leave that to the experts like Stu and Bob Jensen and they do a terrific job.

Teams will be listed in alphabetical order. This is how things will be listed:

Returning offensive and defensive starters, head coach and his years at the school and record (if possible). We will have the team's record the last 3 seasons, last playoff appearance, Rating at the end of 2013. If they have a returning QB or not and finally how many offensive lineman return for this season.

*Class A District 1*

*Lincoln High - Returns 6 on offense, 6 on defense. Head coach-Mark Macke-4th season. Last season-3-6, 2-7 (2012), 2-7 (2011). Last Playoff appearance-2004. 4 returning offensive lineman.

*Lincoln North Star - Return 3 offense, 3 defense. Head coach-Mark Waller beginning 12th season and only coach the Gators have ever had. Last season-5-4, 7-3 (2012), 5-4 (2011). Last playoff appearance 2012. No returning QB and 3 O-lineman are back.

*Lincoln Southwest - Return 6 offense, 4 defense. Head coach-Mark King-148-114 career record. Last season 5-5, 6-4 (2012), 9-2 (2011). Playoffs last 11 years. Chase Gobel returns at QB. 6 returning offensive lineman. Projected to be one of the best in Class A.

*Millard North - 5 offense, 5 defense. Head Coach-Freddy Petito-268-126 career record. 5-6 last season finished 6th in final ratings, 13-0 (2012-State Champs), 4-6 (2011). Playoffs last 5 and 17 of last 18 years. No returning QB. 2 returning offensive lineman, but always one of the best in Class A. Has to be, they run, run, run!

*Omaha Northwest - 5 offense, 4 defense. Head coach-Tim Clemenger-3rd year. 1-8 last year, 2-7 (2012), 0-9 (2011). Last in playoffs-2008. No returning QB and 3 offensive lineman are back.

*Papillion La Vista - 5 offense, 4 defense return. Head coach-Sean McLaughlin-1st season. 7-4 last year/7th in final ratings. 6-4 (2012), 9-3 (2011). Playoffs last 6 seasons. No returning QB and 2 returning O-lineman.

*Papillion La Vista South - 6 offense, 9 defense. Head coach-Walt Olsen-4th year at PLVS and has coached for a gazillion years. 5-5 last year, 2-7 (2012), 6-5 (2011). Playoffs last season. 4 returning offensive lineman and rated as one of the top lines in "A".

*Class A, District 2

*Kearney - 4 offense, 3 defense. Head Coach-Brandon Cool-14th season. 5-5 last year, 8-2 (2012), 7-3 (2011). Playoffs last 4 years. Jacob White/Peyton Pocock returning QB's (split time). 4 O-lineman return.

*Lincoln East - 4 offense, 4 defense. Head coach-John Gingery-18th year. 8-2 last season, 4-5 (2012), 3-7 (2011). Playoffs last year. No returning QB and 2 offensive lineman are back.

*Lincoln Southeast - 4 offense, 2 defense. Head Coach-Ryan Gottula-4th season (26-8). 5-5 last year, 9-2 (2012), 12-1 and State title in 2011. Playoffs last 4. No QB and 3 returning O-lineman.

*Millard West - 5 offense, 4 defense. Head Coach-Kirk Peterson-12th season. 10-2 last year and 3rd-final ratings, 4-7 (2012), 6-4 (2011). Playoffs last 7 seasons. No QB returns, but 4 O-lineman are back.

*Norfolk - 2 offense, 2 defense. Head Coach-Tom Olson-77 career wins. 5-4 a year ago, 4-6 (2012), 4-5 (2011). No QB back and 2 O-lineman return. Last playoff-2012.

*North Platte - 7 offense, 4 defense. HC-Bernie Madison-6th season. 0-9 last year, 2-7 (2012), 2-7 (2011). Last playoff-2004. Shane Mauch returns at QB along with 2 offensive lineman.

*Omaha Bryan - 7 offense, 6 defense. HC is Jeff Keezor-3rd year. 2-7 last year, 2-7 (2012), 1-8 (2011). Last playoff-2007. Jacob Stewert returns QB along with 3 O-lineman.

*Class A, District 3:

*Bellevue East - NO-offense, 5 defense. Head coach-Jerry Lovell-20th year. 4-6 last year, 4-5 (2012), 2-7 (2011). Playoffs last year. 2 returning offensive lineman, no QB.

*Bellevue West - 7 offense, 6 defense. HC Michael Huffman-3rd season. 6-4 last year and 9th in final ratings, 4-6 (2012), 3-7 (2011). Playoffs last 11 years. 5 returning offensive lineman, no QB.

*Creighton Prep - 6 offense, 7 defense. HC-Chris Nizzi-4th season. 7-4 last year/8th in final ratings, 8-4 (2012), 4-6 (2011). Playoffs last 19 seasons! No QB returns along with 3 O-lineman.

*Omaha Central - 7 offense, 7 defense. HC Jay Ball-42 wins at Central. 6-4 last year/10-final ratings, 7-4 (2012), 10-2 (2011). Playoffs last 3 years. No QB returning and 3 offensive lineman.

*Omaha North - 8 offense, 7 defense from last year's State Title team. HC-Larry Martin-15th season (157-81 career). 12-1 last season, 11-2 (2012-runner-up), 3-6 (2011). Playoffs last 2 years. Payton Nelson returns at QB along with 4 offensive lineman and a top rating for that line. 5 offense

*Omaha South - 5 offense, 4 defense. HC-Kevin O'Donnell-5th season. 0-9 last year, 2-7 (2012), 1-8 (2011). Last playoff-2004. 4 offensive lineman return, along with QB Tajai Graves.

*South Sioux City - 8 offense, 8 defense. Head coach-Greg Hansen-1st year. Last 3 years in Class B were 4-5, 6-4, 5-4. Last playoff-2012 in "B". No info on returning O-line but QB Jake Schmeidt returns along with Michael Hansen, coach's son who started for C-2, Centura last year.

*Class A, District 4:

*Columbus - 5 offense, 7 defense. HC-Craig Williams-4th year. Last 3 seasons in Class B were 2-7, 2-7, 5-5. Last playoff was 2011 in "B". Columbus last competed in Class A in 2010. Only 1 offensive lineman returns, but QBs Spencer Humphrey and Ethan Vesely return after splitting time last year.

*Fremont - 7 offense, 6 defense. HC-Seth McClain-3rd season. 2-7 last year, 2-7 (2012), 1-8 (2011). Last playoff-2008. 5 offensive lineman are back.

*Grand Island - 4 offense, 4 defense. HC-Jeff Tomlin-12th season/129 wins. 10-2 last year/4th in final ratings, 4-5 (2012), 9-2 (2011). Playoffs last season. 2 returning O-limeman along with pre-season all-state QB Pierce Almond.

*Lincoln Northeast - 5 offense, 4 defense. HC-Bump Christensen-2nd season. 2-7 last year, 2-7 (2012), 5-4 (2011). Playoffs in 2010. 1 returning O-lineman plus QB Derrick Curtis.

*Millard South - 8 offense, 6 defense. HC-Andy Means-85-30 career record. 3-6 last year, 8-3 (2012), 8-4 (2011). In Class A finals 2008, 09, 2010, champs in 2009. Last playoff-2012. 6 returning offensive lineman but no QB.

*Omaha Burke - 4 offense, 5 defense. HC Paul Limongi-52-32. 7-4 last year, 9-2 (2012), 12-1 (2011 and runner-up). 5th in last year's final ratings. Three O-lineman return. No QB.

*Omaha Westside - 3 offense, 1 defense. HC Brett Froendt-6th season (32-20 career). 11-2 last year and runner-up, 8-2 (2012), 6-4 (2011). Playoffs last 4 seasons. 2 offensive lineman back and no QB. Finished #2 in last year's final ratings.

There you have it, potential prep football raters. I would like to thank Stu Pospisil for the returning quarterback info and Bob Jensen for some valuable statistical information. Plus a whole lot of deep digging by yours truly. Have fun.