1000 Yard Guy's Class C-2 All-State Football Teams with Capsules

Aquinas standout Mitch White (#51), Class C-2's Finest Linebacker. A Super-State type talent.

1000 Yard Guy's Class C-2 All-State Football Teams with capsules.

*Class C-2 - Offense*

QB - Bradyn Snell - Gibbon - 5-10, 160, Senior

Gibbon field general etched his name in three catagories in Class C-2 High School Football. Best Completion Percentage- Career - .61.2%, Best Completion Percentage-Season - 66.6%, and Most Career Touchdowns - 79 (51 passing, 28 rushing). This past season, the Gibbon sharpshooter threw for 1,641 yards and 27 TDs with only 6 INTS. I'm not sure Snell even finished a game on the field in 2015 because of Gibbon's huge leads going into the 4th quarter. Season sadly ended on his first carry of the playoffs against Bridgeport. It is my belief, if Bradyn Snell had been healthy, Mark McLaughlin's Gibbon team may have made it to Lincoln.

Snell accounted for 5,077 yards and 79 touchdowns in his 3 year career as a Buffalo.

RB - Derek Renner - Battle Creek - 5-11, 180, Senior

1,799 yards and 31 touchdowns for the Braves this season. Led Battle Creek all the way to the C-2 semifinals with his quick feet. Renner had an almost magic stutter step that was so slick, it was nearly invisable to everyone.....except the defender who was left grasping nothing but Derek's shadow. Magnificent ability to glide after the stutter step and appeared to have been greased from head to foot the way would-be tacklers slipped off his body. Exceptional runner, who played in a reserve role a year ago behind Jordan Zautke. Also made 66 tackles on defense and picked off 4 passes.

RB - Braden Schuppan - Doniphan-Trumbull - 5-11, 165, Sr.

Never had an off game in 2015, Not one. Set a Class C-2 record with 13 consecutive 100+ yard rushing games. In fact, Schuppan ended his career with 13 straight one hundred plus rushing performances, culminating with 148 yard output in his final game at Battle Creek. Schuppan finished 2015 with 2,006 yards and 14 rushing TDs. Braden also made 35 tackles on defense and was a dangerous return man, bringing one kickoff back for a score against West Holt. Averaged 7.5 yards a pop for the 8-3 Cardinals.

RB - Cody Feist - Yutan - 5-10, 178, Senior

"Benny The Jet" baby! Ran for 1,735 yards and 31 touchdowns for the 9-2 Chieftains. Only teams to hold Feist under 100 yards were Aquinas and Hastings St. Cecilia. Forgiven. Incredible power for his size. "Benny The Jet" possessed a lightning quick first step, accerating in a hurry, then had a gliding running style that looked like smoke slithering through a keyhole. Also had 237 receiving yards on just 15 receptions (2 scores), and was a vicious blocker. A real headhunter from his middle linebacker slot, making 91 tackles, 68 of which were solo stops. 1,081 yards as a junior, Feist finshed with 3,204 career rushing yards and 47 TDs.

WR - Korbin Hynes - Gibbon - 5-10, 155, Senior

Was Bradyn Snell's other half on the gridiron, forming C-2's most lethal pass/catch combination. Scored a touchdown in 13 straight games spanning his junior/senior seasons. Streak only stopped when Snell went down and Korbin couldn't score in this seasons Oakland-Craig loss. Returning All-State WR from 2014, the sweet stepping, phantom moves senior hauled in 47 passes for 850 yards this past season for 18 touchdowns. Hynes had 615 receiving a year ago, and 1,652 for his career. Opposing coaches held their breath when Hynes returned punts or kick-offs too. The elusive, deep cutting Hynes averaged 32 yards a kick return and his 18.3 yards a punt return, placing him near the top of C-2 in that catagory. Terrific talent and one of C-2's most exciting players.

WR - Cody Mace - Oakland-Craig - 5-11, 170, Senior

Led Class C-2 in receiving with 944 yards. Scored 12 touchdowns in 2015 and caught anything that was within his reach and then some. A real sparkler in the the Knight's C-2 Final loss to Aquinas, catching 7 passes for 67 yards and making 7 tackles on defense. So talented was Cody Mace, he filled in for Oakland-Craig quarterback Cole Mitchell a year ago, throwing for 707 yards and 5 TDs. Cody also made 43 tackles on defense for the State Runner-Up Knights and intercepted 4 passes.

OL - Matt Kindler - David City Aquinas - 6-2, 200, Senior

2nd time around on the All-State list for Kindler, who could have easily made it on defense as well both his junior and senior seasons. Powerful blocker on offense and head hunter on defense, Matt Kindler just seemed to get huge rush everytime he put the Monarch pads on. Best C-2 lineman in Nebraska.

OL - Ozzy Rodriquez - Gibbon - 5-11, 265, Senior

Like Kindler, a repeat All-State selection who also could have made the grade on defense too. Not many defensive line players stayed standing when Ozzy blocked them. Powerfully strong lad who used that strength to overwhelm nearly every player he lined up against. Very strong team leader.

OL - Garrett Clark - Sutton - 6-0, 265, Senior

A road grader type blocker for 2,000 yard runners this year and last. Gaping running lanes made life easy for Mustang backs like Garrett Leach this season and Noah Johnson a year ago. Trustworth center on offense and gap stopper on defense.

OL - Blake Huisman - Stanton - 6-4, 230, Senior

This "gentleman" struck fear into opposing defenders hearts and souls when he pulled to lead a sweep. Players just cringed, planted their feet and were then flattened by Huisman, who often times never left his feet. From his defensive line position, the hulking 230 pounder just simpy ran over his defender and went about his business destroying running backs or quarterbacks. Frightened me just watching the dude. I'm your friend, Blake. Might be a real asset pulling a car out of a snow drift by simply hooking a chain to his waste.

OL - Coltin Brown - Gibbon - 5-11, 190, Senior

Actually would have been a better pick on defense, but you find a place to put this kid on an All-State team. There would have no reason to have a Pancake Feed in Gibbon during football season because Coltin Brown and Ozzy Rodriquez took care of that catagory on the football field. Brown was a great blocker and even better middle linebacker, recording 106 tackles. Colton loved to roll offensive linemen and cause fumbles when hit smashed the quarterback. Very strong for a buck 90. Captain for the Buffaloes.

PK - Grant Schmidt - Hastings St. Cecilia - 6-2, 190, Junior

Real talent was at the Quarterback position for Carl Tesmer's Bluehawks, but the talented junior also was the place kicker for St. C's. Dangerous form that QB slot with his arm or running the ball, and he's only a junior. Good defensive player in that Bluehawk secondary as well.

ATH - Wyatt Pankowski - Bridgeport - 6-3, 220, Senior

Gibbon super coach Mark McLaughlin put it as well as anyone when describing Pankowski. "This is a MAN" A three time 1000 yard rusher on offense for the Bulldogs, the 220 pound physical speciman ran for 1,336 yards and 14 TDs in 2015 alone. Pankowski may have set a Class C-2 record for rushing for over a hundred yards 19 times in his career. Only 2 teams (Chase County and Gibbon) held Wyatt under a 100 yards this past season. For his career, Pankowski rushed for 3,701 yards and scored 39 touchdowns. On defense in 2015, the solid senior made 43 tackles, 35 were solos and 17 of those were for losses. This MAN looks like he has NO body fat. Tremendous talent. I'll miss writing about Pankowski.

*Class C-2 - Defense*

DL - Mike Walz - Hastings St. Cecilia - 5-11, 205, Senior

#54 was so focused on making the tackle for the Bluehawks that there were occasions, Walz pulled both his blocker and the ball carrier down in a single heap. Literally tossed his would-be blockers aside to get to the running back several times during the season. So powerfully strong for his size, the 200 pound senior made 145 stops his junior season alone. It took about two seconds to put this dude on All-State. Wrapped up when he tackled better than most in C-2. Bear Hug specialist and that's not pretty to a running back.

DL - Aaron Rudloff - Battle Creek - 6-2, 200, Senior

Pretty cut and dried here. Junior and senior seasons combined, the crunching Rudloff made 185 tackles, had 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, and averaged nearly 8 tackles a game. Disrupted so many plays just by pestering the quarterback or causing fumbles or hurried passes. Just loved to play on kickoff teams just to roll defenders whether he made the tackle or not. Often times Rudloff did both. This kid had to be on every coaches all-state list that saw him play. #18 was a dandy!

DL - Tristan Sheridan - Sutton - 6-1, 215, Senior

Strong as an ox. No defender wanted to see #30 barrelling around the corner leading a sweep or lead blocking for the RB into the defensive line. Ferocious blocker and even meaner middle linebacker. Benched 300 pounds in the weight room, and his point of impact when tackling showed it. Rushed for over 400 yards from his FB position both his junior and senior seasons.

DL - Brook Svoboda - Sandy Creek - 5-11, 215, Senior

Svoboda flew under the radar to many, but if you saw him play, it would only take a quarter to know this kid was the real deal. Lateral movement was incredible, and an eye and nose for the football made him one of the most feared linebackers in Class C-2. Played for a team that won only 3 games all year, but made an unreal 154 tackles from his LB slot for the Cougars. 81 solos, 74 assists, 13 tackles for losses, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 6 caused fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles, and a gazillion headaches for opposing ball carriers. Don't kid yourself, Svoboda was really, really good.

LB - Lane Napier - David City Aquinas - 5-10, 170, Junior

How's this for a stat line for a super balanced team like Aquinas: Lane Napier had 1,101 yard rushing and 23 touchdowns on offense. 100 tackles, nine QB sacks, 2 INTS and a couple of blocked kicks on Tony Smith's defense. Napier has already made my All-State list as a sophomore when he rushed for 797 yards and 13 scores. Lane was the leading receiver with 9 catches/174 yards, and 103 tackles on defense in 2014. Mr. Napier is just an honest to God, pure AQUINAS FOOTBALL player, and that is as good as it gets in this state.

LB - Mitch White - David City Aquinas - 6-1, 190, Senior

Best linebacker in Class C-2 the past two seasons. Would have been All-State in Class A. If I did a Super-State team, Mitch White would have been entreched at linebacker. Led the Monarchs with 103 tackles in 2014, and made 93 crunches this year with 8 QB sacks. Mitch always, always knew where the football was when he played defense. Such a terrific talent. Prime example of a Tony Smith product.

LB - Connor Thiele - Oakland-Craig - 6-2, 210, Senior

Good grief, you would just run for cover as a running back if you even thought Oakland-Craig's #63 was looking at you. Thiele had X-Ray eyes when tracking down the ball carrier. Reminded me of a young Mike Ditkus. The fierce tackling Thiele made shambles of ball carriers 124 times this season, including 17 tackles, and a forced fumble in the C-2 Title game. The dude ordered a pound of 10 penny nails for breakfast every day of the football season.

LB - Hunter Fischer - Hastings St. Cecilia - 6-1, 195, Senior

148 tackles in 2014 and had to be near that in 2015 before breaking a collarbone in the playoffs. Also rushed for 1,162 yards on offense on limited carries. Honestly, if Carl Tesmer would have ridden Hunter Fisher all year in the backfield, the guy would have cracked the 2,000 yard mark. Monster 2-Way player.

DB - Cole Mitchell - Oakland-Craig - 5-10, 180, Senior

Talk about a Two-Way player. Mitchell was a ball hawker from his defensive back position, intercepting 5 passes and making 48 tackles. Even more alarming was the fact that 3 of those passes Mitchell pirated turned into Pick-6's. #2 brought back interceptions for touchdowns against Battle Creek, Tekamah-Herman, and Ponca in a span of 4 weeks during the regular season. On offense, Cole Mitchell was Class C-2's leader in passing yardage. Mitchell completed 114 of 213 throws for 1,934 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2015. Cole also rushed for 442 yards and an additonal 5 scores and even caught a touchdown pass against Brownell-Talbot, his only reception of the year. Easy choice.

DB - Connor Kranda - David City Aquinas - 5-9, 145, Senior

A shining star in the C-2 Championship game. Picked off 3 Oakland-Craig passes in that C-2 Title game for a total of 54 yards. Kranda made 33 tackles during the season, but that is a solid amount for an Aquinas team that rarely let anybody with a football in their hands get into their secondary where Kranda roamed. Packed a whale of a punch when he mae contact for 145 pounder. On offense, Connor rushed for 640 yards but carried the ball only 70 times (9.2/carry). Also caught 4 passes during the season, TWO of which, went for touchdowns. Part of the Terrific Trio Monarch Backfield that all achieved All-State status in 2015.

DB - Travis Holcomb - Centura - 6-4, 210, Senior

Absolutely a bright, shining star for a Centura football team that finished 4-5. This kid was a MAN both offensively and defensively. Carried the ball a staggering 25 times a game, finishing the year with 1,288 yards and 10 TDs, despite missing the Gibbon game. Holcomb also made 96 crushing tackles and 57 were solo stops. The top notch talent also did the kickoffs, handled the punting duties, and returned punts and kickoffs for the Centurions. Travis Holcomb literally never came off the football field. They say he pitched a tent on Centura's practice field for a week on one occasion.

DB - Noah Pelan - David City Aquinas - 5-8, 168, Senior

Great 2-Way performer for Ron Mimick. So exciting to watch when he had the pigskin in his hands. Super sharp cuts left many defenders looking silly. He and Scotus 1000 yard man Baeley Pelster were Class C's most electrifying runners. Noah exploded for 193 yards in the C-2 Championship game, elevating his season total to 1,067 yards and 19 TDs. On defense, Pelan made 57 tackles, had 8 QB sacks and recovered a fumble. 193 rushing yards and 8 tackles in the C-2 Title game convinced me he deserved a spot on this All-State team. So elusive on offense and lightning quick streaking to the ball carrier on offense. Great pass defender too.

PUNTER - Dayton Sealey - Hastings St. Cecilia - 6-0, 190, Senior

Multi-talented Sealey boomed his punts so high, the football had angel dust on it when the ball came back into the atmosphere. But that is only the beginning. The 190 pound senior with State Track sprinter speed, was an outstanding ball carrier and a threat to break a touchdown everytime he ran the football, caught a pass, or returned a punt or kick-off. Another St. Cecilia RB that easily could have gained a thousand yards had he been the main man OR stayed healthy all season. Dogged by injuries all year long, Dayton Sealey still performed well above most other players that touched the ball in Class C-2.