Week Six Friday Night Lights football Heroes - Part 1

Mullen RB Labe Edis (No. 33) went over the 3,000 yard career rushing mark last Thursday against Crawford. *(photo courtesy of Mullen Bronco football)

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert - Second Time Around***

*Lane Edis (RB/CB) - Mullen - The Bronco flash ran for 356 yards on 22 carries and 8 TDs in a wild and wooly 86-56 win over Crawford last Thursday. Edis scored on TD jaunts of 26, 4, 30, 59, 74, 53 and 23 yards. Lane also caught a 25 yard touchdown pass from Brady Gracey. Edis said the offensive explosion (1,151 combined yards by both teams) took 4 hours to complete.

The big night elevates Lane’s rushing 2017 rushing total to 1,288 yards, but also lifts his career rushing yards to 3,068 big ones.

I have to remind prep football fans that Lane’s Dad is Wade Edis, who still holds the single season rushing record of 2,728 yards for Mullen, set back in 1990 when the Broncos won a state championship. Bloodlines here.

The 170 pound Edis is averaging nearly 12 yards a carry and is also a dangerous receiver out of that Bronco backfield, already catching 6 passes for 143 yards. Four of those 6 receptions have gone for TDs. He also has 28 tackles on defense and 4 interceptions for the Broncos, currently rated No. 6 in rugged Class D-2.

*James Burks (RB) - Omaha Burke - The No. 1 Bulldogs put the weight on the 5-9, 170 pound junior’s shoulders in the Thursday night showdown with Omaha Westside and he came through with shining colors.

The elusive Burks toted the football 40 times for 247 yards in the Bulldogs 35-28 win over the Warriors and reached the end zone on runs covering 3, 5 and 58 yards. Burks was so efficient that classmate Tyler Chadwick only had threw the football 15 times, completing 10 of those for 153 yards and a touchdown. Husker recruit Chris Hickman, another junior, hauled in the 27 yard scoring pass and made 7 solo tackles (one for a loss) on defense. Nebraska commit Nick Henrich had 8 stops on defense, 5 of which were solos, including two tackles for losses.

James Burks now has 845 yards a 17 TDs in 6 games for Burke and has scored at least two rushing TDs in each of those six outings.

*Dylan Plautz (QB) - Omaha Westside - Connected on 25 of 46 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Omaha Burke. Plautz was 14 of 19 in the first quarter alone for the Warriors. All-State WR Caleb Schweigart was on the receiving end of both Plautz touchdown throws, covering 8 and 26 yards.

For the year, Plautz has hit 64% of his 160 tosses for 1,504 yards and 16 TDs. Schweigart, incidentally, had 8 catches for 111 yards in the Burke loss, raising his 6 game total to 34 receptions, 403 yards and 5 TDs.

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert - Third Time Around***

*Jacob Johnson (RB/LB) - Fairbury - Joined very elite company via his 232 yards on 15 carries in the Jeffs 69-8 win over Ashland-Greenwood. The sensational senior, who scored on runs of 14, 8 and 63 yards, plus caught a 8 yard TD pass, eclipsed the 1000 yard rushing mark for the third consecutive season. Johnson raised his 2017 rushing total to 1,052 yards (14 TDs) and his Career rushing total to 4,308 yards (52 TDs). Johnson also has 51 receptions for 938 yards in his career with 9 receiving scores.

Thus far in his 33 game career, the amazing Johnson has accounted for 5,256 total yards. On defense, he is equally impressive, having recorded 162 solo tackles and 70 assists for 232 total stops. He has also picked off 5 passes, recovered 6 fumbles, had 29.5 tackles for losses, recorded 4.5 sacks and has taken a punt to the house and returned a fumble for a score.

You cannot ask much more from a football player in 33 games.

*Adam Wasserman (QB/CB) - Fairbury - 6-0, 195 pound dynamo joined in the fun in that Jeffs 69-8 win over Ashland-Greenwood. Wasserman completed 13 of 20 passes for 315 yards and 3 TDs and added 2 interceptions on defense, one a Pick 6. He also rushed 6 times for 52 yards and another score.

Thus far in 2017, Wasserman has hit 55 of 80 passes for 1,078 yards with 11 TDs and only 2 INTs. He has rushed 54 times for 489 yards and 12 TDs, made 12 solo tackles, picked off 4 passes, averaged 50.8 on kickoffs, putting 8 of 30 in the end zone for touchbacks.

The amazing senior has also booted 35 of 45 PATs and has scored special teams touchdowns on a Pick 6 and punt return. So far, Wasserman has racked up 119 points.

So, for Wasserman’s career numbers; 3,376 passing yards (44 TDs), 1,634 rushing yards (28 TDs), accumulating 5,010 Total Yards. On defense, Adam has 71 tackles, 7 INTs and a fumble recovery.

Not many teams have TWO players that have amassed over 5,000 total career yards. That is Fairbury Jeffs football, friends.

*Evan Johnson (QB), Leif Spady (WR) - Adams Central - This sophomore connection hooked up 6 times for 161 yards and 54 yard TD in the Patriots 35-7 win over GICC late Friday afternoon. Johnson burned the winless Crusaders with a 15-25 passing performance, good for 344 yards (22.9/reception) and 2 TDs. Caleb Ackles reeled in the other TD pass that covered 48 yards.

Young Johnson, who took over the quarterback reins last year as a freshman, one quarter into game one, has now thrown for 1,120 yards, 13 TDs with only 1 pick in 2017. I just 14 varsity games, Evan has passed for 2,623 yards and 14 scores, averaging a fat 24.9 yards a completion.

Spady, who catches anything close to him, has 17 receptions for 294 yards (3 TDs) thus far and some of the finest hands I’ve seen this season. Caleb Ackles leads the Patriots receivers with 387 yards and 5 TDs.

This is a very, very young Adams Central football team with a huge upside. The current squad will be force to be reckoned with the next two years with a strong 8th grade and freshman class following after that. Head coach Shawn Mulligan, a fine talent in his own right, is licking his chops.

*Baylor Schierman (QB), Cal Narber (RB) - Aurora - Scheierman, the slender 155 pound basketball standout, does exceptionally well in pads too. In a 56-27 win over Crete, the Huskie QB threw for 233 yards and 4 TDs. The junior signal caller hit Rylan Willis with scoring passes of 13 and 61 yards in the win. He also connected with Cade Reichardt for a 46 yard scoring strike and Narber with an 11 yarder.

Narber, the veteran RB, punished the Crete defense with 234 yards rushing and 3 scores.

Aurora’s stats are a game behind, but I can tell you that Scheierman’s unofficial 5 game passing yardage total is 1,276 yards, while Cal Narber’s rushing yardage total stands at 633. We’ll correct this is, if need be, as the week progresses.

The Huskies, who are currently 4-2, are doing remarkably well for being in a “rebuilding” mode. The young offensive line protects Scheierman so well he is rarely touched back there in the pocket. That, coupled with his quick release, make Aurora a dangerous passing team.

The Huskies will find out where they stand this Friday when powerful York comes to town.

*David Aquinas Defense - Held David City to 137 total yards (30 rushing) in a 40-0 victory last week. On offense, the Monarchs churned out 354 yards rushing as 15 different players carried the football. 12 of the 15 had at least 10 yards.

Michael Coufal led the Aquinas “D” with 6 tackles (2.5 TFL). WB Kyle Petree leads Ron Mimick’s offense on the ground with 642 yards rushing and 7 TDs thus far in 2017.

Norfolk Catholic and Aquinas are on a collision course folks.

*Dalton Bohac (QB) - East Butler - 5-10, 150 pound QB did it all in a 50-28 trouncing of Nebraska (Waco) Lutheran. Bohac (pronounced BO-hach), completed 11 of 13 passes for 202 yards (2 TDs) and rushed for another 131 yards on 12 touches and 3 more scores.

Dalton’s TD runs covered 63, 1 and 40 yards, while his 3 touchdown tosses were handled by Camden Robley (25, 18 yards) and All-State Trevor Havlovic (pronunced HOV-low-vits) grabbed a 60 yarder. Havlovic had 3 receptions for 109 yards in the Tigers win. Robley followed with 84 yards on 6 catches and also made a monster 16 stops on defense, while Havlovic wasn’t far off the pace with 14 tackles.

East Butler remains No. 1 in Class D-1 in this week’s Omaha World-Herald ratings. This is a very tough football team.

Ryan Lawrence (RB), Will Reel (QB), Isiah Harris (RB) - Millard South - In a monumental 38-17 win over Grand Island, Lawrence ran for 140 yards on 22 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 60 and 14 yards. Patriots quarterback Will Reel completed 12 of 15 aerials for 165 yards and Isiah Harris scooted for 72 yards on 12 totes with two touchdowns, coming on runs of 32 and 23 yards.

This surging Millard South machine scored 21 final quarter points to put game away against a traditionally strong Grand Island defense. Head Coach Andy Means has this group believing in themselves, so consider this Patriot squad a dangerous football team the rest of the way.

Grand Island WR Will Nordhues did have 4 catches for 114 yards and an 80 yard TD reception in the Islander loss.

*Rhett Jordan (QB) - Waverly - Rallied his Vikings to a 28-27 win over Mark Wortman’s Elkhorn team. Jordan hit Trent Weatherwax with a touchdown pass with only 53 seconds showing on the clock. Waverly trailed the Antlers 27-14 with 6 minutes left in the game.

Jordan, a 5-9, 155 pound junior, completed 6-12 passes for 87 yards in the game and 2 TDs. He also ran the football 16 times for 76 yards for the 4-2 Vikings.