Week Zero's Outstanding Performers

Hastings Derek Fast stretching for yards.

High School football fans in Nebraska received a real treat last week when the season started a week earlier than normal. Several key match-ups dotted the schedules, especially in Class A. The Class B pre-seasons rating were absolutely turned upside down and inside out with upsets, so there will be some new faces, as well as familiar names in our initial 2012 salute to the players whp earned a mention in our Outstanding Performers.

*Nate Rogers-South Sioux City - Broke the school record for reception yardage by catching 12 passes for a whopping 310 yards, but strangly enough.....no touchdowns. I doubt Rogers was overly concerned with that one, but he had all but 12 yards of the Cardinals receiving total dished out by quarterback Scott Manley, who was 12 of 20 for 322 yds.

*Isaac Aakre-Millard North - Picked up right where he left off a year ago by running for 158 yards on 31 carries in a 10-6 opening night win over Millard South on a rain soaked Buell field.

*Josh Bandaras-Lincoln SW - Husker recruit blasted through North Star's defense for 144 yards on only 12 carries, fighting cramps all evening on a misty, humid night at Seacrest field in Lincoln. The 6-2, 225 RB/LB is well on his to a 1000 yards plus in 2012, carrying tacklers for extra yardage in the process.

*Lane Yates-Omaha Westside - The 5-8, 190 junior ran for 134 yards on 34 totes in the Warriors win over Omaha Central. If you haven't heard of him before.....you have now.

*James Guzman-Gering - Rambled for 139 big ones as the Bulldogs doubled the score (40-20) on Holdrege. Guaman had TD runs of 69 and 7 yards.

*Easton Stick-Creighton Prep - Junior Quarterback rallied his team from a 28-3 halftime deficit to a 31-28 overtime victory over defending runner-up Omaha Burke. Easton, who was a starter last season until being injured in the 3rd game, threw 26 times, completing 12 of them for 291 yards. 210 of those passing yards came in the 2nd half. His favorite target...R.J. Uzendowski, who snagged 5 of those for 156 yards and TDS of 32 and 78 yds.

*Dalton Hegeholz-Lincoln NE- Rocket QB rushed for 155-29 and a score in Northeast's 34-31 loss to Grand Island.

*Andrew Rojas-Grand Island - Burst on the scene by running for 132-20 and 4 touchdowns in that Islander win over Lincoln Northeast. Rojas scored from 8, 6, 3, and 1 yards in the thriller.

*Tanner Fate-High Plains Community - The State's returning leading rusher (2,012 yards) ran for 162 yards on 17 carries from his quarterback slot in the Storm's 57-12 romp over Palmer.

*Blake Slizoski-Boone Central/Newman Grove - Rushed for 135 yards and 3 scores in Boone's 40-0 win over West Point-Beemer.

*Chet Hinton-South Loup - The Sargent/Loup County back ran for 144 yards on 25 carries and 2 scores in a 40-27 win over Cahmbers/Wheeler Central.

*Isaac Wallace-Ralston - The junior back rushed for 148 yards on 21 touches in the Rams shocking 33-7 win over Crete. Wallace started to assert himself toward the end of his sophomore season and is now a real threat to break loose every game.

*James Kruger-Norris - Class B's premier running back smoked York for 217-24 and 3 touchdowns while leading his Titans to a 28-7 "W". Kruger gained 205 of those yards in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to make things more amazing. He had scoring runs of 3,61 and 5 yards out of Norris' Maryland-I formation.

*Derek Fast-Hastings High - Now that is a fitting name for a running back, wouldn't you agree? Fast took the fast track to the tune of 181 yards on 26 carries in the Tiger's wild 48-41 triple OT win over Seward Friday night.

*Derek Hildebrandt-South Loup - The Arnold/Callaway sparkler shredded the Anselmo-Merna defense for 287-29 and scored on runs of 52, 76, and 4 yards in the 32-12 win. Hildebrandt is a dandy and deserves watching this Fall.

*Tanner Rupprecht-Red Cloud - 1000 yard rusher scooted for 217 yards and scored on runs of 40, 3, 57 yards and ran a 45 yard punt back for a score in a 48-34 loss to Wilcox-Hildreth. And speaking of Wil-Hil, Ivan Damit-Og rushed for 164 yards on 19 carries in that game for the Falcons......exchange student?

*Jackson Love-Norfolk Catholic - The Knights inleashed a new runner as the junior came through big time in Catholic's come from behind 30-20 win over Columbus Lakeview. Love rushed for 120-20 carries and scored on short runs of 1 and 2 yards.

*Matt Stankowski-Columbus High - Talking about unleashing a new back....Stamkowski, filling in for the injured Tommy Ernst, rambles for 194 yards and scored runs of 10 and 15 yards and snared a 24 yard pass for another score in the Discoverers 28-17 win over Schuyler.

*Omar Rodriquez-Schuyler - The junior dazzler ran through the Columbus line for 185 yards on 27 carries and broke away for a 63 yard TD jaunt in that loss. Last season, Rodriquez nearly gained a 1000 yards (842) for a winless Schuyler squad as a sophomore.

*Tyler Kavan-Wahoo - The powerful back, who is probably the best of all in Class C-1, blasted through Douglas Co. West for 287-19 carries and scored on runs of 2, 9, and 42 yards and caught a scoring pass of 15 yards in the Warriors 42-0 romp. Last season Kavan ran for 1,895 yards, 3rd among all 11-Man backs.

*Mason Tyrrel-Lincoln East - Sprinted for 178 yards on 17 touches in last Thursday's 48-12 win over Fremont.

*Trey Scott-Boys Town - So what's new...another Boys Town rambler. Scott rushed 180 yards and 275 all-purpose yards in the Cowboy's 61-27 dismantling of a good Lincoln Christian team.

*Matt Klein-Scottsbluff - 1000 yard rusher opened the 2012 season by running for 147 yards on 20 carries, which included a 21 yard TD run. Teammate Luke Worden added 95 yards on only 9 carries and a 50 yard TD run in the 'Cats 28-0 win over Lexington.

*Hayden Johnson-Norfolk - Seemed to appear out of nowhere to rush for 136 yards on 22 carries against North Platte as the Panthers won 27-6. Actually, Johnson was Norfolk's leading runner a year ago as a sophomore. He's not very big at 5-10 and 165 pounds, but he is dangerous around the corners.

*Tyson Howard-Ansley/Litchfield - This big bruiser has been a starter the past three seasons at Litchfield. Now he has the added blocking of those tough Ansley kids and it showed as his new team scared the daylights out of highly regarded Burwell before falling 36-34. The 6-0, 245 pound quarterback rushed for 113 yards and scored on 11 and 17 yard runs. Howard also completed 11 of 17 passes, good for 135 yards. Get that freight train going full boar and there aren't too many defensive folks that would care to get in Howard's way. Hit him low fellas, and take your pain.