Week Eleven Friday Night Lights Football Heroes - 11-Man

GICC QB/DB Grayson Sack is having a terrific senior season, helping lead the Crusaders to the Class C-2 semifinals.

*Michael Knudsen, Bryce Lakers, Nathan Thiellen-Gretna High - Knudsen completed 19 of 32 passes for 356 yards and 4 TDs in Gretna High's 35-21 win over York. Bryce Lakers caught six passes for 108 yards and a TD, Joe Sullivan also caught six aerials for 86 yards and a touchdown while freshman Nate Thiellen led the Dragon’s defense with 10 tackles (8 solos) and also reeled in an 80 yard touchdown reception.

*Jordan Williams, Colton Thompson, Landon Critel-Ord - Brilliant junior QB Jordan Williams completed 7 of 12 passes for 205 yards and a pair of TDs and rushed for another 130 yards on 28 totes with a touchdown in Ord’s comeback win over C-2 top seed Hartington Cedar Catholic. Colton Thompson grabbed 5 receptions for 102 yards with a 79 yard scoring catch while Landon Critel hauled in the winning 48 yard touchdown catch with just 38 seconds remaining in the quarterfinal matchup.

*Jase Kaminski, Kip Brigham-Wahoo - Warriors QB Jace Kaminski completed 12 of 13 passes for 242 yards and a pair of TDs in Wahoo's 53-14 victory over Elkhorn Mt. Michael. He also rushed 3 times for 27 yards, two of those resulting in touchdowns. State rushing leader Kip Brigham went for 134 yards and 3 TDS on 12 carries and caught 3 passes for an additional 80 yards in the big win. Brigham’s season rushing total swells to 2,318 yards with an amazing 41 touchdowns while the fabulous senior edges closer to the 5000 yards career rushing mark with his 4,793 yards to date.

*Grayson Sack, Connor Haney, Jackson Gangwish, Garrett Watson-GICC -Sack completed 8 of 16 throws for 131 yards with a touchdown and rushed 15 times for 112 yards with an additional pair of TD runs covering 32 and 4 yards in the Crusaders 31-14 Class C-2 quarterfinal win over Archbishop Bergan. Big, rugged Connor Haney caught 4 passes for 95 yards with a 36 yard TD catch. Leading tackler, sophomore Jackson Gangwish led the GICC defense with 9 stops while freshman place kicker Garrett Watson was 4 of 4 on PAT attempts and 1 for 1 in field goal tries, nailing a 32 yarder in the game. If the name “Gangwish” rings a bell, Jackson’s dad, Matt Gangwish was one of the greatest football players in Shelton gridiron history, rushing for 1,013 yards in 1991 and 1,441 in ‘92. Mattie was also one of the most feared defensive players in the state, issuing Excedrin headaches with every crunching hit. Ask former Husker and Fullerton great Brian Schuster about one of those hits in 1992.

Tay Tay Jenkins, Brayloi Warren, Bryson Williams-Omaha Westside - Jenkins had his usual day at the office, exploding for 202 yards and 3 TDs on 18 carries in the Warriors 35-7 win over Kearney in the Class A quarterfinals. QB Braylon Warren completed 9 of 15 passes for 195 yards and two scores. WR Bryson Williams caught 3 passes for 101 yards with two of those going for TDs.

*Logan Arch-Papillion LaVista South - 6-0, 185 lb senior had the game of his life in the Titans 36-26 win over Millard North, rushing for 281 yards and 4 TDS on 25 carries. After running for just 137 yards through his first 6 games, Arch has bolted for 406 yards the past 2 games.

*Nathan Axmann-Waverly - Powered his way 229 yards and 3 TDs on 42 carries in the Vikings 30-24 win over Seward. Axmann has rushed for 1,524 yards and 23 TDs thus far this season.

*Connor Sams, Chase Grow-Gretna East - Sams rushed for 213 yards and 3 TDs on 24 carries in the Griffons 42-21 victory over Omaha Skutt. Quarterback Chase Grow added 105 yards on just nine carries, three of which were touchdown runs. Sams has rushed for 1,893 yards and 23 touchdowns thus far in 2025.

*Jett Thomalla, Nelyson Wheeler, Isaac Jensen, Dallas Gaius-Anyaegbu -Millard South - Thomalla completed 22 of 37 passes for 301 yards and 3 TDs in Millard South's 48-3 win over Elkhorn South. Nelsyn Wheeler carried the ball 5 times for 60 yards, two going for touchdowns. Isaac Jensen caught 5 passes for 88 yards and a score and Dallas Gaius-Anyaegbu caught half a dozen passes with a TD catch in the quarterfinal victory.

*Will Janssen-Syracuse - Rushed for 140 yards and 2 TDs on 23 carries in the Rockets season ending 56-16 loss to Ashland-Greenwood. The brilliant Janssen ended the year with 1,974 yards rushing on 182 carries (10.8/pop) with 25 TDs and was never held to under a hundred yards in any game this season. BALLER!

*Ty Bouaphakeo, Jack Russell-Bennington - Junior QB Ty Bouaphakeo was an absolute monster in Bennington’s 42-7 victory over Elkhorn North. Bouaphakeo rushed for 116 yards and 3 scores on 19 carries and completed 20 of 31 passes for 310 yards and three more touchdowns in the big quarterfinal win. Jack Russell caught four of those aerials for 113 yards and TD. Through 11 games, Ty Bouaphakeo has thrown for 2,135 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 5 INTs. On the ground he's sprinted for 863 yards with 11 TDs. Solid!

*Kayson Salyer, Sam Sagehorn, Peyton Else-Seward - Bluejays QB Kayson Salyer had himself quite a game in Seward’s 30-24 loss to Waverly in a Class B quarterfinal game. Salyer completed 11 of 20 passes for 163 yards and a TD and also added 30 yards on the ground with two more touchdowns on 11 carries. Sam Sagehorn was the leading Bluejays receiver with 7 receptions for 134 yards which included a 65 yard touchdown catch. RB Payton Else led the ground game with one 127 yards on 21 carries, finishing the season with a fine 1,601 yards rushing (15 TDs).

*Caleb Fenner-Yutan - Sophomore RB galloped 136 yards on 24 carries and TD in Yutan’s 30-26 loss to Bishop Neumann. The amazing Fenner ended the season with 1,490 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns.

*1000 Yard Rusher Alert*

*Beau Fujan, Jack Van Slyke, Alex Barry-Wahoo Neumann - RB Beau Fujan cracked the 1000 yard rushing plateau in Bishop Neumann's 30-26 Class C-2 quarterfinal victory over Yutan. Fujan scooted for 123 yards on 10 carries, lifting his season total to 1,005 yards (17 TDs). Jack Van Slyke added 106 yards and touchdown on 16 carries, made 11 tackles and punted the ball 4 times for an amazing average of 42.5 per boot. Alex Berry led the receiving department with two catches for 74 yards, both going for touchdowns coming from 49 and 25 yards away. By the way the Cavaliers have another running back in Landon Sund who is closing in on that 1000 yard mark, having rushed for 983 yards thus far.

*Derek Tonjes, Cael Smith-Ashland Greenwood - QB Derek Tonjes hit 11 of 20 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the Bluejays 56-16 win over previously undefeated Syracuse. Cael Smith led the A-G ground attack with 194 yards on just 15 carries and 4 scores in the big C-1 quarterfinal win.

*Alek Doty, Rhys Dorcy, Keian Kaiser, Zech Roggasch-Sidney - QB Alek Doty completed 13 of 18 passes for 137 big ones and three TDs in Sidney's 46-16 drubbing of Fort Calhoun. Rhys Dorcy led the ground attack with 101 yards and three scores on 15 carries while Keian Kaiser was the leading receiver, gathering in 5 receptions for 73 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Zech Roggasch led the defense with 6 tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery.