Who was the Omaha Metro area's finest Class A running back in history?

Posted Saturday, December 23, 2017, at 11:33 AM

Millard North's Noah Mick, a 1000 yard rusher from 2016, escapes for a long run. *(photo courtesy of Kelly Mick)

Ah yes, that proverbial question. Who was the best Class A prep running back in the Omaha area ever hit the gridiron?

The argument will never end for the simple reason the old guard has seen ‘em come and go over the years, the Millennials have witnessed a group of backs over the past couple of decades, and the current high school players simply haven’t lived long enough to see much over a decade of high school football.

I’ll let you be the judge by simply presenting to you, every Class A 1000 yard rusher to grace the gridirons of the Omaha Metro area. I did include Skutt, Gross and Roncalli in this group, plus now closed, Omaha Cathedral and Omaha Holy Name.

These are just raw statistics, but there are names on the list that just may jog some memories and spark some debates. I will do the Class A Lincoln outstate Nebraska schools next.

At the conclusion of all this, I’m going to tell you about the top single game performance I have ever witnessed over the years in Class A.

(I have noted if the RB was a 1000 yard rusher other than senior season)

Bellevue High

Dan Walker……….…..1,357….(1971)

Joe Adams………….....1,093….(1975)

Bellevue East

Dino Salcedo…….…....1,424….(1981)

Robert Rands……….....1,267….(2003) Jr.

Tom Rush………….….1,183….(1982)

Roberts Rands……........1,130….(2004)

Damien Roberts…..…...1,015….(1993)

Bellevue West

Jaylin Bradley…………2,915….(2016)

Jaylin Bradley…….…..1,712….(2015) Jr.

Jevyon Ducker……..…..1,707….(2017) Soph. (still active)

Willie Miller…….……..1,603….(1995)

Jeff Souder……….….....1,319….(2004)

Tyler Smith……….…....1,230….(2005)

Tojo Biggs…………......1,156….(1988) Jr.

Tojo Biggs…………......1,046….(1989)

Andrew Johnson……….1,028….(2006)

Millard North-32

John McCardle………....2,355....(2002)

Isaac Aakre……...……...2,295….(2012) Sr.

Jeff Tarpinian……...……2,072….(2005)

Eric Crouch……...……...1,960….(1995)

Isaac Aakre……………...1,907….(2012) Jr.

Nick Failla……………….1,845….(2007)

Clay Fisher……………....1,709….(2013)

Seth Wolfe……………….1,678….(2006)

Corey Young……....……..1,628….(2005)

Judd Davies……………....1,498….(1998)

Mike McLaughlin………..1,494….(1999)

Jon Kimbrough…………..1,469….(2003)

Nick Argyle……………...1,445….(2006)

John McCardle……….......1,434….(2001) Jr.

Noah Mick…………….....1,405….(2016) Jr.

Jake Matthew.……...…….1,386….(2014) Jr.

Adam Shada……………...1,340….(2003)

Eric Crouch……………....1,288….(1996)

Cade Elwood…………......1,278….(2016) Jr.

Cade Elwood……………..1,271….(2017)

Connor Matthew………….1,266….(2012)

Terrell Rose………….……1,258….(1990)

Mike McLaughlin………....1,222….(2000)

Kyle Erickson………….….1,216….(2009)

Paul Homer………………..1,200….(2005)

Jake Behrens……………....1,118….(2004)

Nick Pearson……………....1,117….(1997)

Isaac Aakre………………..1,107….(2010) Soph.

Rob Pirnie….………..…....1,082….(2007)

Wes Russell…………….....1,056….(1993)

Todd Doxzon……………...1,032….(1992)

Millard South

Steve Mannino……………..1,166….(2002)

Lou Tran…………………...1,142….(1997)

Colin Schroeder…………....1,131….(2006)

Jordan Hale…………….…..1,129….(2008)

Trey Sacks………………....1,128….(2010)

Danny Marousek…………..1,001….(1993)

Millard West

Brody Belt……………..…..1,567….(2017)

Tyler Jones………..……….1,521….(2004)

Brody Belt……………..…..1,467….(2016) Jr.

Kohlman Adema-Schulte….1,436….(2008)

Vincenzo Guido…………...1,342….(2009)

Devin Reaves…………..….1,338….(2010)

Thomas Russell……….…...1,333….(2014)

Keith Hoff…………….…...1,302….(2001)

Mike Durand.……………...1,167….(2003)

Jake Dugger……………......1,072….(2002)

Brett Lindstrom….....……....1,065….(1998)

Tony Tarnick……....……….1,033….(1998)

Omaha Benson

Kenton Keith…………...….1,305....(1997)

Kenton Keith…………….....1,196....(1996) Jr.

Cleo Miller……………........1,188....(2009) Jr.

Cleo Miller…….………...…1,062....(2010)

Bobby Bass……….………...1,041….(1972) Soph.

Omaha Bryan

Brian Clark………………..1,657....(1994)

Adrian Kellogg…………....1,479....(1996)

Ray Monday……………....1,295....(1993)

Jeremy Wallace……....…...1,171.....(2007)

Kurt Dworak……………...1,111.....(1999)

Brian Black……………….1,110.....(1989)

Anthony White……....…...1,085…..(1998)

Mike Meyer……………....1,062…..(2000)

Joe Harris………….……...1,060…..(1990)

Johnny Gonzalez…….…....1,032…..(2006)

Ken Porter………………...1,020…..(1991)

Omaha Burke

James Burks………………..1,981….(2017) Jr. (still active)

Jordan Nelson……………...1,790….(2012)

Jimmie Forsythe…………...1,789….(2010)

Victor Breakfield…………..1,624….(1981)

Tim Wurth………………....1,427….(1975)

Carson Collins……………..1,324….(2011)

Rob DeBoer………………..1,252….(1989)

Jason Tierney………...…….1,192….(1996)

Pete Hill……...…………….1,173….(1979)

Elton Edmund……………...1,145….(1983)

Damon Ross………………..1,135….(1985)

Mike Stick………………….1,054….(1990)

Arnijae Ponder……………..1,051….(2016)

Travis Liechti……………....1,021….(2005)

Omaha Cathedral

John Howell………………..1,478….(1968)

Pat Findley………...……….1,435….(1980)

Scott Nelson………………..1,300….(1985)

Omaha Central-(27)

Calvin Jones………………..2,196….(1989)

Tre Sanders………………...1,848….(2014)

Bernard Jackson…………....1,818….(1984)

Leodis Flowers……………..1,765….(1985) Jr.

Keith Jones………………....1,710….(1983

Ja'Maine Billups…………....1,623….(1999)

Ahman Green………....…….1,591….(1994)

Terry Evans……….………...1,587….(1980)

Jackie Davis…….…………..1,579….(2012)

Damion Morrow….………...1,516….(1992) Soph.

Jackie Davis……….………..1,486….(2011) Jr.

Robert Wesley…….………..1,476….(2004)

David Horne……….…….....1,467….(2001)

David Horne……….……….1,461….(2000) Jr.

Calvin Jones……….…...…..1,451….(1988) Jr.

Damion Morrow…....………1,326….(1994)

Ronnell Grixby……………..1,307….(2007)

DeAntae Grixby…………….1,240….(1996) Jr.

Leodis Flowers……………...1,203….(1986)

Ahman Green……….……....1,202….(1993) Jr.

Tre Sanders………………….1,125….(2013)

Gale Sayers………………….1,112….(1960)

DeAntae Grixby……………..1,102….(1997)

Ronnie Barfield……………...1,093….(1987)

Damion Morrow……………..1,088….(1993)

Lornell McPherson………......1,043….(1999)

Ronnell Grixby……………....1,005….(2005) Soph.

Omaha Creighton Prep

Jeff Wellwood……………….2,085….(1997)

Steve Hicks………………….1,818….(2001)

Shane McClanahan………….1,715….(1987)

Richard Wynne Jr…………...1,639….(2010)

Mike Comer…………...…….1,561….(1996)

Micah Rensch.……………….1,515….(2014)

Tim O'Doherty……………….1,507….(1975)

Ryan Fisicaro………………...1,391….(2005)

Nick Mizaur………………….1,347….(2008) Jr.

George Achola……………….1,334….(1985)

Alan Robinson….…………....1,267….(1989)

Tim Rogers…………………..1,245….(1977)

Steve Hicks…………………..1,220….(2000) Jr.

Nick Mizaur………………….1,210….(2009)

Dion Losole……………….....1,186….(1992)

Nate Reiner.......................1,138....(2016)

Jeff Hardick………………….1,127….(1982)

Jason Williams……………....1,102….(1989)

Brad Heldt…………………...1,059….(2007)

Dion Losole………………….1,030….(1993)

Jeff Sobetski………………....1,024….(2003)

George Achola……………….1,015….(1986)

Luke Sims…………………....1,005….(2017) Jr. (still active)

Omaha Gross

Justin Vodicka…………..…...1,641….(1996)

Pat Almgren………………….1,335….(1995)

CJ Zimmerer…………...…….1,325….(2008)

Matt Neesen………………….1,240….(2002)

Brandon Winkleman……...….1,203….(2007)

Anthony Vigneri……………..1,159….(2012)

Jason Sterba………………….1,030….(1999)

Ben Coenen………………….1,020….(2009)

Jason Sterba……………....….1,016….(1998)

Omaha Holy Name

Tim Mallory…………...…….1,049….(1976)

Omaha North

Calvin Strong Jr……………...3,008….(2013) Jr.

Calvin Strong Jr……………...1,892….(2012) Soph

Calvin Strong Jr……………...2,358….(2014)

Milton Sargbah……….….......2,355….(2017)

Milton Sargbah……………....1,807….(2016) Jr.

Zander Gray………………....1,707….(2017) Jr. (still active)

Bryant Giles………………….1,693….(2008)

Jordan Strong………………...1,538….(2015)

Clinton Childs………………..1,495….(1991)

Zander Gray………………....1,469….(2016) Soph.

Richard Wynne……………....1,435….(1987)

Clinton Childs………………..1,401….(1990) Jr.

Ronnell Coleman……...….….1,350….(2009)

Dick Davis…………………...1,230….(1963)

Luther Starks……….………..1,196….(1996)

Frank Taylor…………………1,173….(1975)

Jarvis Young………………....1,145….(1994)

Luther Starks………………....1,088….(1995)

Eddie Sherrod………………...1,051….(1998)

Rogers Tucker………………..1,025….(2004)

Ahman Green………………...1,017….(1992) (Soph) (played junior and senior seasons @ Omaha Central)

Omaha Northwest

Damon Benning……………...1,584….(1991)

Antaries Daniels……………...1,161….(2009)

TJ Phipps……………………..1,154….(2016)

Dwayne Johnson……………..1,147….(1978)

Michael Brown…………….....1,103….(1989)

Tajuan Phillips………………..1,050….(2014) Soph.

Mark Perry………………...….1,003….(1984)

Gerald Kellogg………………..1,001….(1981)

Omaha Roncalli

Phil Higgins…………………..1,414….(1984)

Matt Lawson………………….1,355….(2002)

DeQuan Bell……….…...…….1,336….(2011) Jr.

Jason Huck…………………...1,266….(2003)

Coley O'Doherty……………..1,224….(1987)

Colin Mulcahy……………….1,197….(2008)

Alex Rogers………………….1,116….(2017)

Carson Collins……………….1,077….(2010)

Todd Schmaderer…………….1,046….(1989)

Omaha Skutt Catholic

Hunter Smith………………....1,652….(2014)

Ryan Patera…………………..1,262….(2005)

Curt Randall………………….1,178….(2016)

Christian Dudzik……………..1,125….(2009)

Ryan McKeever……………...1,102….(2011) Jr.

Christian Dudzik……………..1,070….(2008) Jr.

Casey Carbullido……....…….1,076….(2005)

Ian Urban…………………….1,043….(2015)

Omaha South

Mike Burton………………….1,533….(1973)

Jerry Adams……….…….…...1,347….(1996)

Vershan Jackson….……….....1,278….(1992)

Jerry Swain…………....……..1,140….(1991)

Jerry Swain…………………..1,091….(1990) Jr.

Tristin Anderson……………..1,065….(2015) Jr.

Tristin Anderson……………..1,041….(2016)

Coley Kallhoff……………….1,014….(1998)

Omaha Tech

Ray Nelson…………………..1,110….(1981)

Johnny Rogers……………….1,100….(1968)

Russ Harrison Om. Tech…….1,025….(1966)

David Austin………………...1,021….(1983)

Omaha Westside

Collins Okafor……………….1,865….(2006) Jr.

Nate Wurth…………………..1,779….(2001)

Logan Duyree………………..1,657….(2015)

Lane Yates…………………...1,549….(2012) Jr.

Collins Okafor……………….1,525….(2007)

Ira Cooper…………………....1,515….(1998)

Craig Johnson………………..1,362….(1976)

Tiras Bolton………………….1,232….(2010)

David Fehr…………………...1,327….(1990)

Willie Metoyer……………….1,255….(2008)

Bob Billinger………...……….1,176….(1975)

Nate Wurth…………………...1,113….(2000) Jr.

Jordan Kohls………………….1,101….(2017) Soph. (still active)

Mike Cooper………………….1,034….(1991)

Eddie Poe……………………..1,010….(2004)

Papillion LaVista

Tyler Davies…………………..2,338….(1997)

Paul Hunt……………………...1,857….(1996)

Josh Sikes……………………..1,718….(1995)

Kenny Onatolu………………..1,517 (2000)

Ben Syas……………………....1,486….(1999

Scott Kaskie…………………...1,438….(2003)

Duke Vair……………………..1,327….(1977)

Jon Contreras………………….1,317 (2001)

Josh Lopez…………………….1,241….(2008)

Gary Payne…………………....1,239….(1990)

Matt Conlan…………………...1,223….(1991)

Jerome Barnes………………....1,204….(2017)

Jerome Barnes………………....1,159 (2016) Jr.

Lenzie Williams……………….1,147….(1998)

Justin Weiser…………………..1,145….(2004)

Tyler Davies…………………...1,127….(1998)

Bob Gordon…………………....1,024….(1985)

Papillion LaVista South

Drew Klein............................2,165....(2013)

Finest Hampton………………..1,810….(2016)

Michael Burris………...……….1,826….(2008)

Triston Fairchild……………….1,540….(2014) Jr.

Triston Fairchild……………….1,300….(2015)

Tim Holtmeyer………………...1,168….(2010)

Chandler Cotton………....…….1,070….(2017) Jr. (still active)

Wes Williams………….……....1,065….(2005)

Michael Burrus………….……..1,029….(2007)