Several area football teams involved in playoffs

The football season is nearing its end as the first round of playoff games begin Thursday night.

Southwest starts the Class C-2 west games off with 6-2 Burwell.

The Roughriders will defend their home field at 3:30 p.m., in Bartley against Burwell. Both teams square off for the first time.

Southwest has had a great season, going into the playoffs with a 6-2 record.

The Roughriders are ranked 12th offensively and 17th defensively in the Huskerland Prep report.

Three players contributing to the team's winning abilities, are Brandon Malleck, Ryan Timmerman and Nick O'Dea.

Malleck is ranked No. 2 in Class C-2 in rushing, No. 4 in scoring and 17th in tackles. O'Dea ranks No. 21 in rushing, No. 31 in scoring and No. 26 in tackles. Timmerman is No. 22 in interceptions.

Gates open at Bartley at 2:30 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Cambridge, 3-5, will take on 8-0 Blue Hill. Cambridge has struggled this season and has a record of 3-5. Cambridge is ranked No. 31 in offense and No. 19 in defense.

The Trojans host several ranked players this season including Lance Shifflet, who leads the team in rushing as No. 19.

Bo Cribelli takes the No. 30 spot in passing and Jared Sewell comes in No. 18 in punts and Andrew Carpenter is No. 36 in receiving.

Two more teams in the C-2 west pair up Thursday. Both Perkins County and Amherst are 5-3 and will take the field in Grant.

Perkins County has two ranked players and comes in No. 22 in offense and No. 29 in offense.

Southern Valley travels to Hastings Adams Central. The Eagles will take their 5-3 record against Hastings 6-2 in the C-1 west playoffs.

Chase County boasts a stellar record this season going 8-0 so far.

The Longhorns are second in offense and No. 19 in defense.

Matt May leads the team as No. 12 in rushing and sixth in scoring. He is also No. 14 in interceptions.

Darrin Schultz takes the No. 12 spot in interceptions and Taylor Wentz is No. 1 in punting and No. 13 in interceptions.

Sean Munger follows Wentz in punting as No. 2. Chase County plays 4-4 Gothenburg in the C-1 west.

Arapahoe, 8-0, and 6-2 Wauneta-Palisade battle it out in the Class D-1.

Arapahoe is 10th in offense and 19th in defense.

Tyler Hamel leads the Warriors and is ranked fifth in rushing and fourth in scoring. Teammate Adam Snyder is sixteenth in passing and Jordan Spaulding is 12th in receiving. Ryan Frick is eighth in punting.

The Broncos also have several ranked players on their side. Andrew Isom is ninth in punting and Cody Fanning is 13th in tackles.

Russell Ridlen first in receiving. Russell Ridlen takes the second spot in passing.

Hayes Center has had a big year, going 8-0 so far. The Cardinals host 5-3 Shelton.

Hayes Center takes the fifteenth spot in offense, behind number twelve Wauneta-Palisade.

Levi Tyan paves the way in rushing as No. 4 and takes the eighth spot in scoring. Luke Clifford is 17th in passing and teammates Matt Gohl and Jake Rowley are ranked in receiving. Gohl also ranked No. 2 in tackles.

Eustis-Farnam plays equals with Bertrand. Both teams are 4-4 going into the eight-man II Class D-2 playoffs.

The Knights are ranked 19th in defense and 18th in offense. Ben McNally leads the team as No. 11 in rushing.

Area teams from Kansas also play their regular season games on Thursday night.

Rawlins County travels to No. 5-ranked St. Francis. Both teams are 7-1.

Cheylin, 1-7, goes to 4-4 Golden Plains and 2-6 Hoxie is at 8-0 Oakley. Oberlin, 3-5, hosts 6-2 Norton.