Week Three Friday Night Lights Football Heroes - 8-Man, 6-Man.

*Gavin Geilenkirchen-Humphrey Archangels - Junior RB rambled for 216 yards on 29 carries with touchdown runs covering 39, 55 and 6 yards in #1 ranked Archangels exciting 36-30 overtime victory over then #4 Wynot.

*Kotner Koch, Devin Brummer-Wynot - Senior Kotner Koch had one of those “Are you kidding me, No way!” nights in Wynot’s 36-30 overtime loss to Humphrey Archangels. You see, Koch scored 28 out of Wynot’s 30 points in the loss. To begin with, super quarterback Devin Brummer completed 23 of 31 passes for 221 yards and 3 TDs. Koch caught 9 of those passes for 121 yards and TWO touchdowns covering 12 and six yards. Kotner also scored on a 3 yard rush and pulled off a 73 yard Pick 6 with 1:01 remaining in regulation which would eventually send the game into overtime. Koch’s statline for the evening; 2 receiving TDs, a rushing TD, a Pick 6, a pair of 2 point conversions and 285 All-Purpose yards. I'll bet he slept well last Friday night!

*Austin Sudbeck, Jason Heimes, Carter Kelly-Hartington Newcastle - Both QB Austin Sudbeck and RB Jason Heimes were on fire in Hartington-Newcastle's 58-22 victory over Lutheran High NE. Sudbeck completed 9 of 11 passes for 174 yards and 3 TDs in the game. Two of the scoring strikes (19, 30 yds) went to Carter Kelly, who caught 6 aerials in total for 98 yards. Heimes rushed 24 times for 163 yards while scoring on runs of 2, 4 and 5 yards. On defense both Sudbeck and Heimes had interceptions, Heimes ending up being a 31 yard Pick 6.

*Kayde Ramm, Drew Schmaderer Stuart - The Kayde Ramm to Drew Schmaderer pass/catch connection proved to be a lethal combination in the Broncos 41-19 win over Silver Lake. Ramm completed 9 or 14 passes for 148 yards and 4 TDs. Schmaderer caught all 4 touchdown passes while catching 6 aerials total for 88 yards. His scoring catches covered 10, 26, 5 and 33 yards. Schmader also rushed for 86 yards on 6 totes and another score. A banged up defending 6-Man State Champion #1 rated Stuart team will play Six-Man #4 Garden County at Elm Creek this Friday.

*Brock Jeannoutot, Max Smith-Bloomfield - Jeannoutot rambled for 228 yards on 13 carries with TD runs covering 28, 22 and 55 yards. Sophomore Max Smith also had a 58 yard punt return for a touchdown in the 64-0 win over Wakefield. Bloomfield is unbeaten and unscored upon after three games in 2025.

*Zander Welsh, Reese Heineman, Trevor Trimble-Pender - QB Zander Welsh completed 8 of 12 passes for 173 yards and 3 TDs in the Pendragons 42-8 conquest of Clarkson-Leigh. Reese Heinemann caught 5 passes for 140 yards and was on the receiving end of all of Welsh's scoring tosses. Trevor Trimble led the Pender ground attack with 11 carries for 118 yards and a TD.

*Luke Shoemaker Central Valley - Shifty junior RB rambled for 193 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries and made 10 tackles in the Cougars 36-6 win over Stanton.

*Hunter Luther, Chase Luther, Konner Bourek-Howells-Dodge - Two time All-Stater Hunter Luther rushed for 147 yards on 11 carries with a pair of TD runs covering 5 and 49 yards in the Jaguars 62-0 victory over Lyons-Decatur NE. In a shocking Howells-Dodge offensive football development, junior QB James Luther completed 3 of 5 passes for 56 yards, two of them going for touchdowns to Konnor Bourek, who caught all three passes. Are we going to have to start calling Howells-Dodge “Air Speirs”?

*Kam Sealy, West Billtoft, Kaden Schmidt, Logan Tomkey Sandy Creek - Sophomore QB Kam Sealy looks like he may have decided to try out his throwing arm and it appears to me it probably passed the test with flying colors in that 68-26 win over Alma. Young Sealy completed 15 of 20 aerials for 345 yards and 5 TDs in the win. Kaden Schmidt was his biggest target, catching 7 passes for 110 yards with a touchdown. Logan Tomkey caught 4 passes for 90 yards and 3 scores while Wes Biltoft hauled in a pair of passes for 47 yards.

Don’t worry, Kam Sealy didn't abandon the ground game altogether, gaining 108 yards on 11 carries with a pair of rushing scores.

*Tyson Jackson Crofton - Fabulous Crofton back rushed 29 times for 174 yards and 4 TDs in the Warriors (then #8) 38-26 victory over then #5 Plainview in a battle of ranked teams.

*Matthew Schindler, Max Carlson Wausa-Osmond - Schindler, one of only 13 freshmen in Nebraska prepfootball history to rush for over 1000 yards, is finally healthy after missing his sophomore season. Matthew rushed for 154 yards and 3 TDs on 18 carries in Wausa-Osmond's 54-14 win over Homer. Classmate Max Carlson added 118 yards on 10 carries with a pair of touchdowns and also recorded a 54 yard Pick 6 in the win.

*Connor Hiinrichs Sutton - Bolted for 223 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 11 carries and made six tackles in the Mustangs 70-28 victory over Southern Valley. Hinrichs already has 639 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns just 3 games deep into the season for Sutton.

*Gran Grint-Twin Loup - Sophomore rushed 16 times for 134 yards, made 10 tackles (with a sack), and pirated a pass in Twin Loup’s 35-18 win over Pleasanton.

*Wyatt Kempf-BDS - Escaped for 223 yards on 19 carries in the BDS 28-20 win over Kenesaw.

*Dane Duryea-Anselmo-Merna - 6-4, 200 lb junior QB Dane Duryea wins the IRON MAN award by a country mile in the Coyotes crazy 48-46 win over Loomis. Duryea completed 16 of 24 passes for 127 yards and a TD PLUS carrying the pigskin a staggering 40 times for 191 yards and 5 scores in the exciting win. HOLD on,we’re not finished yet.

On defense he had 8 tackles 2 (TFL), an interception and a kick return covering 38 yards on special teams. After three games the amazing Duryea has 611 yards rushing with 12 TDs and 250 yards through the air with another 3 scores. What a player!

*Graham Trompke, Jace Schukar, Tyson Freeman-Loomis - Junior QB Graham Trompke, who threw for 1,328 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago, completed 11 of 19 passes for 301 yards and 4 TDs in a gut-wrenching 48-46 loss to Anselmo-Merna. Trompke also ran for 104 yards on 13 touches with another TD. Tyson Freeman grabbed 7 of those Trompke passes for 174 yards and 3 TDs while Jace Schukar caught 4 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown. By the way, Dual Threat QB Graham Trompke has 481 yards passing and 287 yards rushing after just 3 games this season.

*Braxton Line, Jordan Scoville, Preston Beattie-SEM - In a 41-20 over Shelton; QB Braxton Line (He’s a Freshman!) completed 5 of 8 passes for 127 yards and 3 touchdowns. Preston Beatty caught 3 of Line’s passes for 99 yards and 2 scores. Jordan Scoville rushed 17 times for 141 yards with a pair of touchdowns while making 9 tackles and posting an interception defensively.

*Gage Ely, Mason Bolin, Jake Shipman-Red Cloud - Where does tiny 6-Man football power Red Cloud come up with these terrific quarterbacks (previously Wyatt Frey)? Current junior signal caller Gage Ely was a monster in Red Cloud’s 60 to 14 victory over Diller-Odell. Ely completed 3 of 3 passes for 57 yards, all touchdowns, rushed 11 times for 162 yards and two more scores and made six tackles on defense. Meanwhile, Mason Bolin recorded a 32 yard Pick 6, made 5 of eight 8 PAT attempts (worth 2 points in 6-Man FB), made 7 tackles, and had two pass receptions for 47 yards (both of which were TDs). Jake Shipman also had a Pick 6 (22 yds) and made three tackles for the Warriors.

*Kole Fornander, Luke Gardner-Garden County - Fornander completed 3 of 4 passes for 59 yards and a pair of touchdowns and rushed 5 times for 105 yards and an additional 3 scores in the Eagles 73 to 6 romp over Medicine Valley. Luke Gardner also returned to fumble 49 yards for a scoop and score in the big win

*Houston Billiter-Southwest (Bartley) - Talented QB completed 14 of 25 passes for 288 yards and 4 TDs in a 42-18 win over Arthur County. Billiter also made a dozen tackles on defense, 10 of which were solos and made an interception in the 6-Man game.

*Ashton Johns, Tyson Sullivan-Wallace - The Wildcats two-headed rushing monster was too much for South Platte, resulting in a 66-32 Wallace win. 5-10,180 lb junior Ashtin Johns led the way with 250 yards and 4 TDs on 17 carries. He also booted 3 PAT’s. 5-10,130 lb junior Tyson Sullivan was not far behind in rushing yardage with 229 yards and 5 TDs on just nine carries. Johns also had 10 tackles on defense while Sullivan added 13 stops, For the season Johns has 518 rushing yards with 8 TDs. Sullivan is at 415 yards rushing while also scoring 8 TDs.

*Alec Watchhorn, Isaac Rhodes-Leyton - Warriors QB Alec Watchorn was a busy man in Leyton's 85-38 victory over Crawford in six man football action. Watchhorn completed 4 of 5 passes for 126 yards with all 4 completions going touchdowns. He also rushed 8 times for 129 yards with 3 more scores, made 4 tackles and picked off a pass for a 15 yard pick six. Isaac Rhodes got in the scoring column by returning a kickoff 64 yards for a touchdown. Three players got in on the passing act for Leyton where 7 of 9 passes were completed. ALL 7 COMPLETIONS resulted in touchdowns!

…..and I saved the best for last.

*Gage Hedstrom-O’Neill-St. Mary's - Cardinals star rushed for 168 yards and 5 TDs on 14 carries in St. Mary's 50-12 win over Boyd County. Hedstrom was also 5 of 7 passing for 66 yards and a touchdown while making 9 tackles on defense. For the year, Gage has 302 yards passing and 340 yards rushing.

Now it's time to salute Gage Hedstrom’s 30 game Career Stats to date:

OFFENSE-Rushing-2,854 yards/54 TDs, Passing-311 of 566 passes (55%) for 4,331 yds and 69TDs/20 INTs.

DEFENSE-425 tackles (178 solo/247 assists) with 10 Interceptions, 10 recovered fumbles.

SPECIAL TEAMS-Punts-52 for 36 yard average. Kick Returns-37 for 1,095 yds. Punt Returns-20 for 469 yds.

SCORING-390 points (65 TDs). Touchdowns-69 Passing, 54 Rushing, 1 Interception Return, 3 punt returns, 7 Kickoff Returns.

Total + All-Purpose Yards-Pass-4,331 yds, Rush-2,854 yds, Receiving-12 yds, Kick Returns-1,095 yds, Punt Returns-469 yds, INT Returns-127 yds - Grand Total - 8,888 Yards. Incredible!

OFFENSE-Rushing-2,854 yards/54 TDs, Passing-311 of 566 passes (55%) for 4,331 yds and 69TDs/20 INTs.

DEFENSE-425 tackles (178 solo/247 assists) with 10 Interceptions, 10 recovered fumbles.

SPECIAL TEAMS-Punts-52 for 36 yard average. Kick Returns-37 for 1,095 yds. Punt Returns-20 for 469 yds.

SCORING-390 points (65 TDs). Touchdowns-69 Passing, 54 Rushing, 1 Interception Return, 3 punt returns, 7 Kickoff Returns.

Total + All-Purpose Yards-Pass-4,331 yds, Rush-2,854 yds, Receiving-12 yds, Kick Returns-1,095 yds, Punt Returns-469 yds, INT Returns-127 yds - Grand Total - 8,888 Yards. Incredible!