*2025 Bobby Mills 1000 Yard Club Returnees (Part Two of Three)

Bennington RB Will Gutz (#10, next to me) appears to be headed for a huge junior season for the Badgers.

Here we go with Part 2 of our returning 1000 Yard Rushers from 2024 headed up by none other than the outstanding Bennington Badger junior, Will Gutz.

*Will Gutz- Bennington - 1,308, Junior

264 carries-1,308 yds (5.0 ypc), 11 TDs. 14 rec for 77 yards (5.5), 0 TDs.

It was a baptism by fire for this youngster who became juggernaut Bennington’s featured running back as a Sophomore. When you are following in the footsteps of guys like Nick Colvert (1,751 yds/2022), Quenton Archer (1,804 yds/2023) and the G.O.A.T. Dylan Mostek, who ran for a State Record 3,089 yards in 2021, you HAVE to be good and Will Gutz improved game by game after I saw him at GINW last September 20th (and he was terrific then). He will be even better in 2025. Remember, he’s just a JUNIOR.

*Carson McDonald McCool Junction - 1,297 Senior

Passing: 61 of 99 (61.1%) for 903 yards, 13 TDs/2 INTs, Rushing: 142 carries for 1,297 yards, 9.1 ypc, 22 TDs. DEFENSE: 30 solo/33 assists-63 Total tackles, 1 INT, 1 FR.

Very heady QB who can make instant decisions on whether to run or throw the football. McDonald is a gifted multi-sport athlete, especially basketball, but is a definite standout on the football field. The star QB just missed being a 1,000/1000 yard guy last season. Carson has great speed and subtle cuts, enabling him to spring long gains. Very intelligent football player.

*Gavin Geilenkirchen-Humphrey Archangels - 1,292, Junior

149 carries-1,292 yds (9.2 ypc), 20 TDs.

Geilenkirchen has speed to burn (:11.1/:22.5) and uses it to the max. The Junior-to-be is a prototypical Humphrey St. Francis (Archangels) RB, exceptionally strong, fast and knows what to do with a football in his hands. It also never hurts to have Eric Kessler for a head coach, one of the best in Nebraska 8-Man football history. You’ll see big things from young Mr. Gielenkirchen this Fall.

*Ethan Latta Dundy County-Stratton - 1,272, Senior

2024 stats;167 carries-1,272 yds (7.6 ypc), 20 TDs. 24 rec for 507 yards (21.1), 9 TDs. DEFENSE: 39 solo/30 assists-69 Total tackles, 7 INTs. CAREER (30 games): Rushing: 430 carries for 3,579 yards (8.3 ypc) with 57 TDs, 100+ games-19. Receiving; 60 rec for 1,214 yards (20.2), 18 TDs DEFENSE: 94 solo/84 assists-178 Total tackles, 26 INTs.

Latta is one of the best overall athletes in the state of Nebraska, regardless of class. Ran for over 2000 yards as a sophomore, is poised to break the career interception record in 8-Man football (has 26, needs 30) and has a shot at Chad Geiger’s (Milford) once considered untouchable all-class recordof 30 picks. Ethan is a standout on the track, posting a :22.1 two hundred, :51,4 four hundred and sailing 6’6” in the high jump. The outstanding Tiger senior is a cinch to crack the 5000 yard career rushing mark if he stays healthy. Just a remarkable athlete!

**Wyatt Frey Lawrence Nelson - 1,258, Junior**

Passing: 75 of 132 (56.8%) for 937 yards, 12 TDs/8 INTs, Rushing: 165 carries for 1,258 yards, 7.6 ypc, 19 TDs. DEFENSE: 44 solo/48 assists-92 Total tackles, 6 INTs with TWO Pick-Sixes.

How good is 8-Man football Lawrence-Nelson’s 6-5, 215 QB/DB Wyatt Frey? Well, Big 10 Conference NORTHWESTERN must think he’s pretty good, offering him a full ride recently. Strangely enough, Frey has played every form of football in Nebraska EXCEPT 11- Man before his junior season, having played for 6-Man Red Cloud as a Freshman before transferring to 8-Man Lawrence-Nelson last season.

I’m here to tell you right now this young man is an extraordinary, SPECIAL football talent. I saw him take a direct snap in the gun on his own 24 yard line and drop that baby right in his receiver’s hands 9 yards DEEP in his team's end zone! That’s dropping a dime bullseye throwing a football SIXTY SIX yards in the air. GOOD LORD!

The other mind-boggling thing about Wyatt is how free and easy he moves despite his 6-5, 215 pound frame. The other thing is his arm strength and pinpoint accuracy he fires a throw. Remarkable for a kid who never played 11-Man football.

Now, in a season ending 22-20 loss to High Plains, Frey took off on a long touchdown run that saw six Storm tacklers have a shot at him and all fell off like water off a duck's back. On defense, he sometimes throws ball carriers to the ground like rag dolls.

I've preached this for years my friends. Football is Football. It doesn’t matter if you're playing 6-Man, 8 man, 9-Man or 11-Man. It's all about blocking, tackling and running. Wyatt Frey is a shining example of this. This young man could be a standout in any Class of Nebraska high school football and he’s just a Junior. You think I’m not going to take those country road shortcuts to Lawrence opening night to watch Wyatt Frey go up against the mighty Howells-Dodge? Oh yeah!

Nate Kelly-Scottsbluff - 1,245, Senior

Passing: 39 of 61 (64%) for 719 yards, 10 TDs/2 INTs, Rushing: 125 carries for 1,245 yards, 10.0 ypc, 213 TDs. DEFENSE: 22 solo/40 assists-62 Total tackles, 4 INTs.

Nate Kelly is one of my very favorite players in 11-Man football. As a QB Kelly is a Master of Trickery with a football in his hands. Kelly, who is such an awesome two-way player for super coach Judd Hall, is simply a magical Bluffs dazzler who averages 10 yards a carry and completes 64% of his passes on offense. Kelly is also a standout on defense. Nate rarely takes a play off and wouldn’t have it any other way. He is also one of the finest basketball players in the state in Class B.

Calvin Carraher-Franklin - 1,228, Junior

Passing: 58 of 158 (36.7%) for 962 yards, 10 TDs/6 INTs, Rushing: 151 carries for 1,258 yards, 8.1 ypc, 23 TDs. DEFENSE: 46 solo/33 assists-79 Total tackles, 2 INTs.

A really good player for a team that only won two games a year ago. The 160 pound Carraher is a very patient quarterback who is a very skilled open field runner and has good lateral movement on defense. With a better surrounding cast, this young man could produce some needed wins for a program that has experienced some hard times recently. Only a Junior.

Kreyton Wiese-Wauneta-Palisade - 1,209, Junior

Passing: 8 for 15 for 217 yards with 3 TDs/1 INT. Rushing; 172 carries-1,209 (7.0 ypc), 23 TDs. Receiving; 6 rec for 63 yds (10.5/catch), 1 TD. (Also had a KR for a TD). Defense; 22 solos/7 assists/29 total, 4 sacks, 5 recovered fumbles with 1 TD. Kicking; 8-13 PATS (Remember, kicked PATS are worth 2 points in 6-Man FB)

Another shining star on a 3-6 team. Wiese is a big kid, checking in at 6-2, 205 last season for Wa-Pa. The big Junior just has the size in the 6-Man game that makes him a load to bring to the ground and his speed (:11.7) is also a plus when he gets steam rolling down the field.

*Kyler-Boyles-Superior - 1,207, Senior

203 carries, 5.9 ypc, 14 TDs {100+ rushing games-8}. 6 rec for 62 yards (10.3), 2 TDs.

Boyles is built like a small Sherman tank (5-9, 200) and was held under a hundred yards rushing just one time in 9 games last year (66 vs GICC) for a team that finished 4-5. This young man has a quick burst at the line of scrimmage and bowls over defenders like duck pins. The dude has to be incredibly strong and had a Tommy Frazier/Florida game type scoring run a year ago that took your breath away. Boyles yards after contact has to be through the roof. Not many high school kids want to meet this guy head on.

‘*Gage Ely Red Cloud - 1,168, Senior

Passing: 16 of 28 (57.1%) for 243 yards, 2 TDs/1 INT, Rushing: 98 carries for 1,168 yards, 11.9 ypc, 21 TDs. Special Teams; 2 KR and 2 PR for TDs.

Ely is a very versatile 6 man football player who also returned 2 punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns for a Red Cloud team that nobody came within 31 points of during the 2024 regular season. Red Cloud then suffered a heartbreaking 22-20 playoff loss to Garden County which will make them hungry in 2025 and if Ely has any help, he will be a shining star.

*Cael Smith-Ashland-Greenwood - 1,134, Senior

192 carries, (5.9 ypc), 15 TDs. 13 rec for 175 yards (13.5), 4 TDs.

Smith, although steady the entire year, came on with a rush in A-G’s final three contests, bolting for 479 yards and 7 TDs. Top notch speed and great hands make him a dangerous receiver out of that Bluejays backfield.

*Derek Jones-Papillion LaVista South - 1,121, Senior

194 carries, (5.8 ypc), 13 TDs. 17 rec for 71 yards (4.2), 2 TDs.

An extraordinary combination of speed (:10.8), power (315 bench) and vision, Derek Jones has the whole package. A Bonafide Class A stud. Jones has very quick feet and has the ability to change directions in a heartbeat. The Titan standout can get from Point A to Point B lickety split which means not very many players at the Class A level are going to run this guy down in the open field. Once he gets in the clear………..He Gone!

*Ashtin Johns-Wallace - 1,115, Junior

155 carries, 7.2 ypc, 15 TDs. 21 rec for 451 yards (21.5), 4 TDs. Defense; 30 solos/67 assists/97 total tackles.

Johns is a big dude at 185 pounds in 6-Man football. Fine speed and toughness make him a standout with two more years to haunt those Western Nebraska 6-Man squads. Also a lethal pass receiving weapon out of that Wallace backfield.

*Nathan Axmann-Waverly - 1,103, Senior

198 carries, 5.6 ypc, 8 TDs. 14 rec for 131 yards (9.4), 0 TDs.

Tough, rugged football talent with remarkable lower body leg strength illustrated by his ability to run through and shed would-be tacklers. You could see Axmann’s leg strength (as well as speed) during his 5th place finish in the Long Jump (22’6”) at State. Nate had an Act I and Act II to his 2024 season carrying the football and it went like this..

Axmann carried the ball in only eight games a year ago, amassing 1,103 yards with 8 TDs. During the first 4 contests, the Viking tough guy gained 304 yards on 62 carries and 3 scores as Waverly went 2-2. In Nate’s final four outings, he rambled for 799 yards on a brutal 136 carries (34/game) and 4 TDs as Waverly went 3-1.

As a ball carrier, Axmann has sneaky, ghostly-like cuts that freeze defenders as he continues his journey downfield, dragging guys for a ton of yards-after-contact when needed. Also an excellent pass receiver who knows the drill after he makes a catch.