Week Four Friday Night Lights football Heroes - Part 2

Maxwell RB Will Huffman ran for 437 yards on 26 carries and 9 TDs against Eustis-Farnam last week. *(photo courtesy of Ryan Smith/Maxwell high school)

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert***

*Will Huffman - Maxwell (RB) - Better be sitting down for this one. The Maxwell flyer rushed 26 times for 437 yards and 9 touchdowns in Maxwell’s 71-44 win over Eustis-Farnam last Friday. Huffman’s touchdown runs covered 10, 71, 56, 48, 15, 11, 42 and 47 yards. He also caught a 36 yard scoring pass from Jacob Gholson and had an interception on defense.

For the year, Will Huffman has rushed for 1,249 yards and 21 TDs in just 4 games. Coach Ryan Jones Wildcats have a bye week this week so Huffman can rest his wheels.

Huffman is a 5-10, 165 pound senior whose season was cut short last year after just 4 games. But in those four outings, Huffman had games of 129, 147, 224 and 314 yards with 12 touchdowns. On defense, 39 tackles.

It appears that Mr. Huffman loves to get to the outside and use his football speed, which reminds me of another Maxwell RB, Jaylon Sturdivant, who ran for a mind-boggling 2,823 yards in 2014.

So, where was Sturdivant after 4 games three years ago? 829 yards, but if you recall, Maxwell reached the D-2 semifinals in 2014, so Sturdivant had 12 games that year to reach his ungodly rushing total. Hey, that was then and this is now, and what we do know is that Will Huffman has 1,239 yards and is currently leading the nation in the 8-Man football rushing catagory, according to Maxpreps.

*Cole Hanafan (QB) - Elkhorn South - 6-5, 240 pound monster QB completed 9 of 11 first half passes for 200 yards and 5 TDs in the Storm’s 61-2 win at Ralston. All of Hanafan’s stats came in the opening half.

Cole connected with Jake Knott (16 TD), Jason Carlos (10 yards) and Drew Reetz (9 yards) in the 1st quarter, then hit Will Reetz (31 yards), Jason Carlos (33 yards), Mick Williams (18 yards) in the 2nd quarter before calling it a night with Elkhorn South up 55-0.

After 4 games, big Cole has completed 61% of his 57 passes for 743 yards and 12 TDs with only one pick. Hanafan actually has a nice, quick release after his 3 step drop. The big dude can scramble in the pocket too.

Can Cole Hanafan run? 19 carries for 141 yards and a score thus far in 2017 and who wants to tackle a runaway freight train chugging full speed down the football field?

*Dalton Lewis (RB) - Blair - He did it again. Lewis went crazy in the Bears 76-7 win over Nebraska City. Lewis took off for 282 yards on 19 totes and 5 TDs. Dalton hit paydirt from 10, 13, 34, 42 and 59 yards away, averaging 14.8 yards every time he touched the football. The only touchdown the Blair senior scored after halftime was the 59 yarder on the Bears first possession of the 3rd quarter.

For the season, Dalton Lewis has 782 yards and 9 TDs. Playing on defense, he has 24 tackles in 3 games including 12 against powerful Gretna.

*Dylan Gentrup (QB/ATH) - Boone Central/Newman Grove - Oh Mama can this guy play the game of football. Gentrup is simply one of the finest football talents in Nebraska prep 11-Man football, no doubt about it.

In that 48-35 loss to #1 Norfolk Catholic, Gentrup did everything he could to keep the Cardinals in that football game. The Dual Threat quarterback completed 19 of 35 passes for 281 yards/4 TDs and rushed 20 times 141 yards and a 12 yard scoring dash. On defense, Gentrup blocked a punt and made a big tackle when it counted.

For the year, Dylan has 741 passing yards (8 TDs) and 434 ground yards and 6 scores for the 2-2 Boone Central/NG Cardinals. At 6-2, 195 pounds, this dude could be a small college football standout for somebody. He has all the tools.

*Michael Koch (QB) - Columbus - The amazing Koch punished Norris last week in the Discoverers 35-21 win. The blazing senior completed 9 of 12 aerials for 152 yards and a couple of scores and ran 18 times for the exact same 152 yards and TD jaunts of 6 and 33 yards.

Koch’s stride looks just like a gazelle gliding through the African prairies. Sweet steps, man

How dangerous is this Columbus football team in a Class B field that is stacked with the likes of Elkhorn South, McCook, Omaha Skutt, Gretna, etc? With Koch and a very good supporting cast, this team may just surprise when the playoff season rolls around.

The Discoverers may know where they stack up in Class B when the maroon and white meet Skutt in two weeks on the road.

*Alex Horky (RB) - Twin Loup - Gee whiz, this young man is a terrific football talent. Wow. Horky, who nearly ran for 2,000 yards a year ago for Mike Kozeal’s Class D-2 runner-up squad, lit up North Central for 429 yards on 32 carries and 8 touchdowns in the 56-26 win. He also made 18 tackles on defense.

The 5-9, 170 pound Horky already is nearing the 1000 yard rushing plateau with his 991 yards and 20 touchdowns. Alex could be an All-State selection on either side of the ball, as witnessed with his 71 tackles in 4 games this season. Throw in the fact he is one of the most feared return men in all of 8-Man football and you have the entire package here.

Career stats for Alex Horky? 3,884 rushing yards with 69 TDs, 503 receiving yards with a score, 4,387 Total Yards (Rushing/Passing/ Receiving), 6,040 All-Purpose Yards (includes kick and punt returns).

On defense; 121 solo tackles, 277 assists for 398 total tackles, 16 tackles for losses, 4 sacks, 6 interceptions (1 Pick 6) and 6 recovered fumbles.

Special teams; 1,116 kick return yards, 422 Punt return yards ( 2 TDs).

Points; 454 points on 73 total touchdowns with 16 double PAT conversion runs.

Think this dude may be the best player in 8-Man football? It’s between he and Chambers/Wheeler Central/Ewing’s (CWCE) Daniel Libolt, IMO..

*Hunter Pilakowski (RB) - West Point/Beemer - Ran for 148 yards on 17 carries and three TDs in the Cadets 41-22 victory over Fort Calhoun, their 4th straight to start the 2017 season. Hunter also made 5 stops defensively.

So, on the year Pilakowski has 714 yards on only 67 carries (10.7) and 9 TDs. But the much bigger news is that West Point-Beemer is 4-0 this season. When is the last time that’s happened? As West Point-Beemer, it’s never happened. Last season, they won three straight following the 41-0 loss to Arlington in the season opener. Prior to that, it was 2007 when the same thing occurred following 26-0 loss to Boys Town in the curtain raiser.

Anyway, hats off to Hunter Pilakowski and West Point-Beemer, who is knocking on the Class C-1 ratings door.

*Jacob Johnson (RB), Adam Wasserman (QB) - Fairbury - Already a two time 1000 yard rusher, Johnson rushed for 177 yards on 26 carries and scored from 8 and 3 yards out in the Jeffs 38-20 win over Auburn. Jacob also caught 2 passes for 53 yards, made 7 solo tackles, two for losses and picked off an Auburn pass in the game. Johnson has now rambled for 678 yards this season for the 4-0 Jeffs.

Adam Wasserman played his usual high level game, throwing for 137 yards and a 20 yard yard strike to Cayman DeBoer. Adam also hit the end zone on runs of 4, 6 yards, brought a punt back 92 yards for a TD and booted 4 PATs. 507 passing yards and 370 yards rushing after 4 games isn’t too bad either.

The Jeffs, who have never won a playoff game, are looking to change that this season. They have a very good shot at completing the regular season with a spotless record. Here’s to hoping those wild card points pile up for the Jeffs.

*Omaha Skutt “D” - Plugged up that C-Gap against Elkhorn last week and held the Antler’s freshman RB, Aiden Young to 21 yards on 10 carries, enroute to a resounding 45-3 victory over Mark Wortman’s Elkhorn forces.

RB/LB Jarod Epperson fielded an errant punt snap and took it 3 yards for a defensive TD for in the game for the SkyHawks. He also carried the ball only one time in the game, making it count with a 65 yard scoring scamper.

*Beau Bowers (QB) - Wayne - Threw a perfect game with an 11 of 11 passing performance for 166 yards and two TDs in the Blue Devils 47-7 win over David City. All of Bowers passes came in the opening half.

Don’t look now but Wayne is sitting at 4-0.

*Cameron Downey (RB) - Anselmo-Merna - Yeah, they lost to Central Valley 36-20, but Downey still did his thing by rushing 30 times for 193 yards and 2 TDs. Downey had scoring runs of 1 and 5 yards before halftime, then caught 21 yard touchdown pass from Jace Liebhart in the 3rd quarter. He also made 7 tackles in the game.

For the season, Downey’s rushing yardage stands at 569 yards.

*Spencer Hays (RB) - Douglas County West - Hays had a huge night in DC West’s 58-20 spanking of Conestoga. The 5-10, 170 pound Hays bolted for 204 yards on just 12 carries and 3 touchdowns, one of which was a sparkling 80 yarder to the house. Hayes also had a pass reception for 21 yards, made 4 tackles on defense and returned an interception 75 yards for a Pick 6 in the Falcons victory.

Spencer Hays has now rushed for 491 yards and 6 touchdowns for 2-2 DC West, caught 11 passes for 159 yards and three more scores, plus made 21 tackles on defense. By the way, Spencer has a twin brother on the team, Caden Hays, who is an identical 5-10, 170 pounds at last check. Cool, double trouble.

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Who are the Top 10 Gunslingers in Nebraska High School Football?

(Key)..Yards-Completions-Attempts-Percentage-TDs-INTs

1 - Matt Masker-Kearney Catholic………………..1,399...82 of 177 (69% (11-1)

2 - Cedric Case-Lincoln High………………..…....1,320...79 of 101 (78%) (18-1)

3 - Joe Dolincheck-Bellevue West……………..….1,203...81 of 124 (65%) (20-4)

4 - Joseph Krause-Seward (Jr)…………………….1,071...66 of 112 (59%) (11-1)

5 - Carter Terry-Grand Island Northwest (Jr)……..1,071...66 of 103 (64%) (15-5)

6 - Austin Endorf-North Bend...(Soph).......................977...64 of 108 (59%) (10-1)

7 - Wyatt Ehlers-Centennial (Jr).................................936...66 of 112 (59%) (14-0)

8 - Riley Harms-Fremont…………………………....888...75 of 102 (74%) (11-0)

9 - Alex Goracke-Giltner…………………………….886...56 of 99..(57%) (12-1)

10-Cole Fossenbarger-Johnson-Brock (Jr)..................860...56 of 101 (55%) (8-1)