WEEK 7 Friday Night Heroes.

Lutheran High NE quarterback, Shaka Taylor, one of the most exciting runners in the entire state.

The list gets longer every week with these outstanding performances. Just one more week to go in the regular season. This time next Saturday night we should have all the playoff brackets set. Where, oh where, has the season gone? Upset city last week in high school football and this week, with games on both Thursday and Friday, there may be more shockers as some teams give it one last gasp to be included in that playoff field.

*Clay Fisher-Millard North - 2nd Class A Running back to post back-to-back 300 yard rushing games this fall. Last Thursday the standout quarterback rushed for 313 yards on 39 carries and helped his Mustangs hand Omaha Westside it's first loss of the season, 42-35. Fisher, who has rushed for 641 yards the past 2 weeks, now has a season total of 1,315 yards. Millard North will need another huge rushing night from Fisher as the Mustangs tangle with Calvin Strong and Omaha North on Friday.

***1000 Yard Alert***

*Evan Neville-York - Powerful, hard running senior tore it up big time against GINW last week, Neville rushed for a mind boggling 355 yards on only 19 carries and scored on runs of 8, 91, 45, 83 and 46 yards in the Dukes 48-18 romp. The huge night puts Neville over the 1000 mark for the year at 1,136 yards. Evan will get to test his skills at Aurora in the Class B District 6 Championship Friday. I won't miss that baby.

*J.J. Oltmer-Humphrey St. Francis - 5-11, 195 pound battering ram punished "cross the street" rival Humphrey High with 154 yards on 20 carries. Oltmer, an all-stater last year as a sophomore, swelled his season rushing total to 881 in the Flyers 32-6 win. Question of the month: Where did HSF get the nickname Fryers? Years back they were the FRIERS, but when and why did they change that nickname? Dang it folks, these type of things keep me awake at night........draw your own conclusions.

*Wyatt Mazour and the entire Boone Central/Newman Grove team - The sure-fire all-state quarterback rushed for 153 yards on 20 carries and scored on runs of 1, 1 and 84 yards as the Cardinals battered number 3 (C-1) Columbus Lakeview 48-21. Love that new field and track, folks. This may be the most fundamentally sound football team I have seen this season, regardless of class. Wow. Props to coach Arnie Johnson and his marvelous staff.

*Jackson Love-Norfolk Catholic - Magnificent RB ran for a whopping 177 yards on 33 carries in a heartbreaking 22-21 loss to super-rival Pierce. Love's 2013 rushing total now stands at 1,260. Jackson Love is the best back in the state below Class A.......yessir.

***1000 Yard Alert***

Shaka Taylor-Lutheran High NE (Norfolk) - Shaka "The Shaker" Taylor had the shake and bake going full bore in a 20-6 win over Ponca Friday afternoon. The Eagles needed all of Taylor's 162 yards on 15 carries and then some great red zone defense to beat the tough Indians. Shaka topped the thousand yard mark in this contest and now has 1,051 for the season. Backfield mate Nick Stolz added 115 yds on 11 tries and increased his season rushing total to 817.

*Buzz Neiderklein-Adams Central - Neiderklein was unstoppable again against GICC. The senior torched the Crusaders with 249 yards on 32 carries and TD jaunts of 51, 6 and 6 yards. The Buzzer now has 1,428 yards and 20 touchdowns for the season. Patriots beat GICC 38-14.

*Brad Brazeal-Bellevue West - Chieftain quarterback, along with the help of receivers CJ Johnson and Malik Hlucheweckyj, pulled the upset on number 1 Omaha North. Brazeal was a deadeye on 24 of 32 for 382 big ones and 3 TDs in the 35-30 shocker. The jewel vaulted the Bellveue West senior into State leader status in the passing yards department. Brazeal has completed 146 of 237 passes for 2,073 yards and 25 TDs while only being picked off 5 times. You can bet the farm nobody wants to draw the short straw and play Bell. West in the first round of the playoffs.

**1000 Yard Receiver Alert**

*Malik Hlucheweckyj and CJ Johnson-Bellevue West - Malik caught 6 of Brazeal's passes for 154 yards and 2 scores. One TD was a dazzling 90 yard reception and the other Hlucheweckyj was on the receiving end of a 35 yard hook and ladder play. State receiving leader Johnson grabbed 11 passes for 132 yards which raised his season receiving total to 1,102 with 15 TDs. Hlucheweckyj has 620 for the season thus far. Bell West meets Omaha Burke this week.

*Calvin Strong-Omaha North - You didn't think Bell West was going to hold Strong down even though his team lost, did you? Strong ran for 276 yards on 31 carries and scored 4 TDs on runs of 37, 9, 10 and 7 yards and swelled his season rushing to 1,960 yards. The Junior is only 40 yards away from hitting the 2000 mark in the regular season. Best back since Ahman Green.

*Trey Carr-Omaha Burke - In a 28-20 loss to Papillion LV, Carr rambled for 181 yards on only 13 touches from his QB slot. With the defense keying on 990 yard back Logan Gier, Carr had his best running game of season.

*Alec Ditoro-Papillion La Vista - Sharp shooter was lethal in the Papio's big 28-20 win over Burke. Ditoro hit on 21 of his 32 passes for 338 yards and TD tosses of 29, 26, 42 and 69 yards. Ditoro has now completed 132 of 217 passes for 1,925 yards and 21 TDs and 11 interceptions.

*Sean Van Briesen-Papillion LV - Efficient RB had an even 100 yards on 21 carries in that win over Burke. Sean has run for 805 yards in 2013.

***1000 Yard Alert***

*Logan Lewis and Chance Anglin - Sidney - Red Raider Rippers were at their best in a 54-28 win over Gering that featured THREE 1000 yard rushers. Lewis ran 34 times for 282 yards and scored on runs of 1, 81, 11, and 4 yards. Anglin had 18 carries for 182 yards and added an 11 TD run in the win. Lewis now has 1,471 yards and 13 TDs for the season and has carried the ball a mind boggling 253 times, (32 times a game). Anglin, who is a new 1000 yard man, is now at 1,101.

Lewis and Anglin are only the 3rd and 4th 1000 yard rushers in Sidney history. Jason Bartling (1,252) in 1993 and Scott Volkmer (1,088) in 1993 were the previous two. Red Raiders face the biggest game in years when they face Scottsbluff for the District title at home Friday. Can't get better than that.

***1000 Yard Alert***

*Gage Smith-Gering - Do it all player for Gering rushed for 129 yards on 23 carrries and scored touchdowns on 2 and 15 yards in the Sdiney loss. Smith eclipsed the thousand yard mark in the contest and has an unofficial 1,101 yards for the year.

***1000 Yard Alert***

*Jake Paulsen-Cozad - Exciting, fleet runner notched his Third 1000 Yard Season when he rushed for 213 yards on only 14 carries in a 48-7 win at Minden. Paulsen had three touchdowns in the win and raised his season total to 1,152 yards. Jake The Snake has run for 4,215 yards in his career on not very many carries. One of favorite running backs and athletes to be sure. Great kid.

*Grant Buschkoetter-Kearney Catholic - 5-8, 155 pound sophomore picked a great time to kick his first field goal ever. The left-footed Buschkoetter booted a 21 yarder to put the Stars ahead for good, then added a FG from 27 yards out, and yet another from 36 yards. Kearney Catholic needed Grant's 3 field goals and 2 point after kicks in a hard fought 23-14 win over Chase County. If you subtract his 11 points, Stars lose by two.

*Trevor Matson-McCook - 126 yards on 23 totes for Matson in a well balanced 17-7 win at Holdrege. Matson is headed for a 1000 yard season and sitting at 863 after 8 games. Watch out for the McCook, the Bison are gaining steam, man.

***1000 Yard Alert***

*Brandon Pick-Plattsmouth - The tough running Pick notched his 2nd 1000 yard season by running 28 times for 168 yards in a 49-14 trouncing of Waverly. Pick scored on runs of 23, 8 and 2 yards and raised his season rushing total to 1,011 yards.

*Zach Heitkamp-Syracuse - How 'bout those Rockets! In a 42-21 win over unbeaten Lincoln Christian, the 6-1, 210 pound Heitkamp rambled for 116 yards on 14 touches and hit pay dirt from 12, 44 and 23 yards. Hietkamp now has rushed for 952 yards and Class C-1 had better be aware of this football team. Another unwelcome first round playoff draw.

***1000 Yard Alert***

*Arlie Myers-Omaha Brownell-Talbot - The 140 pound Myers blasted his way for 226 yards on 29 carries and scored 3 TDs in B-T's 35-20 over an excellent Elmwood-Murdock squad. Myers now has 1,169 yards and has led his team to a current 7-0 record this fall. Could it be those new lights?

*Brock Reichardt-Aurora - 159 yards on 20 totes buoyed his Huskies to a come from behind 35-18 win over stubborn Columbus. Reichardt scored on a 15 yard run and was a beast in the 2nd half from his LB slot. By the way, don't ask Aurora's players about the "Help Me" drill coach Randy Huebert had them do before the 2nd Half started when they trailed 18-7. Trust me, ya just DO NOT want to know how that drill works. Needless to say, the red faced Huskie fellas got the message loud and clear.

***1000 Yard Alert***

*Jordan Slough-Doniphan-Trumbull - Not even a squirrel in a transformer box knocking out a bank of lights and causing a 45 minute delay could stop Slough. The shifty senior rushed for 216 yards on 41 "lean on me" carries and scored an 8 yard TD in the Cards 14-3 win against tough Hastings St. Cecilia. Jordan now has 1,337 yards for the season and 4,351 yards for his 3 year career. The big win gave D-T the C-2, District 7 Championship and preserved their #1, Class C-2 rating.

*Garrett Poppen-Giltner - Division one prospect romped for 124 yards on 13 carries in the Hornets 58-24 win over Spalding/Spalding Academy. Poppen scored 3 TDs and raised his season rushing mark to 954 yards. These Hornets are getting better every week. I'd lay down if Poppen came barrelling through the line at me.

*Colton Kuhnel-Osceola - Nimble, shifty back ran for 200 yds on only 10 carries in a 66-22 blasting of Hampton. Kuhnel scored 5 Tds in the romp and raised his 2013 total to 691 yards.

*Keegan Jewell-Nebraska Christian - Rushed for 157 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in an 86-6 win over Cross County.

*Keithen Drury-Blue Hill - Only had 4 carries in a 57-13 win over Superior, but scored twice (68, 2 runs) raising his season rushing total to 968 yards. 10 different BH running backs had carries in the game.

*Gunnar Garner-Ashland-Greenwood - 5-10, 165 pound quarterback ran for 134 yards on a limited 7 touches and scored on a 14 yard run in a 61-17 win over Lincoln Lutheran. Say his name 10 times in rapid succession.

*Colton Brdicko-Fremont Bergan - Rugged, bruising back rushed for 155 yards and scored on TD jaunts of 6, 15 and 7 yards in the Knights 54-27 romp over North Bend Central. P.A announcer pronounces his name "Bird-ee-ko", but I'll bet Gramma or the polka musicians around there prounounce it "Ber-Ditch-Ko". Either way, this young man is the real deal.

*Gaige Marshall-Hershey - 170 pound junior star ran for 138 yards on 12 totes in a 36-6 win over Cambridge. Marshall raised his season rushing total to 904 yards and you can bet he and his buddies will be ready for the huge regular season finale against North Platte St. Pats.

*Jesse Windham-David City - 165 pound senior ran 35 times for 193 yards in a 20-17 loss to Wayne.

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*"Couldn't pass this up" Department*

*Ben Wellman-Neola-Tri Center, Iowa - I know it's not Nebraska, but this is worth mentioning. The 5-11, 200 pound senior rushed for an incredible 484 yards on 43 carries and broke a 59 year old Single Game 11-Man Rushing Record. More amazing thing is Wellman's team lost the game 38-27 to Panorama high and finished the season 2-6, failing to make the playoffs. Nice way to conclude a career but I'm betting Wellman would take a playoff berth over his record night.