Week Ten Friday Night Lights Football Heroes - 11-Man

Grand Island Central Catholic seniors #11 Jack Alberts, #7 Grayson Sack and #1 Conner Haney have led the way all year long for the 9-1 Crusaders.

*Michael Knudsen, Henry Hildebrand, Max Brewer, Nathan Thiellen-Gretna High - Trailing by 10 points with less than a minute remaining in the game, sophomore Max Brewer nails a 32 yard field goal, Gretna then recovers an onside kick, Michael Knudsen then throws a 40 yard Hail Mary TD pass to Henry Hildebrand, then the same two hook up for an improbable 2 point conversion to lift the Dragons to 46-45 victory over Norris.

Knudsen finished the game of a lifetime by completing 28 of 42 passes for 356 yards and 3 TDs. Hildebrand caught 9 of those aerials for 121 yards plus that Hail Mary touchdown reception. Max Brewer went 5 on PAT attempts and of course the 32 yard field while freshman Nathan Thiellen helped matters earlier in the game by returning a kickoff 96 yards to the house.

*Jordan Williams, Hayden Nelson, Beau Wells, Howard Winklebauer-Ord - Good thing it was the last game of the season for Doniphan-Trumbull's football field because QB Jordan Williams tore it to shreds in Ord’s 63-30 win over the Cardinals. The junior sensation ran for 323 yards and 2 TDs on 26 carries, and completed 5 of 10 passes for 83 yards and another score in the win. Hayden Nelson added 118 yards and two TDs on 11 carries and caught two passes for 67 yards and an additional TD while Beau Wells chipped in 97 yards and 2 TDs on 20 carries, part of the Chanticleers massive 541 yards rushing on the night. Big Howard Winklebauer pulled off the dream of every lineman in the state by returning an interception 90 yards for a score.

*Caleb Fenner, Otto Henkel, Nathan Daniell-Yutan - Caleb Fenner rambled for a monster 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 30 carries in Yutan’s shocking 36-6 victory over defending state class C-2 champion Norfolk Catholic. Otto Henkel added 87 yards and a pair of TDs while Nathan Daniell wasn’t far behind with his 70 yards and a score on 18 carries.

*Kip Brigham, Harrison Krueger, Eli Shada-Wahoo - The spectacular Kip Brigham ripped the Milford defense for 251 yards on 16 carries and SIX touchdown runs covering 52, 15, 9, 56, 13 and 13 yards in the Warriors 69-14 playoff win over Milford. He also caught 3 passes for 26 yards which included a 6 yard TD catch. Krueger led the Wahoo “D” with 13 Tylenol-inducing tackles while Eli Shada made 11 stops (1 TFL, 1 sack), caused a fumble and blocked a punt.

For the season, Brigham has rushed for 2,183 yards on 161 carries (13.6/carry) and 38 TDs. His Career Rushing to date: 4,658 yards/81 TDs with all but 442 of those yards coming during this and last season. INCREDIBLE.

*Wyatt Pollett, Canon Allen, Collin Stolpe, Ryan Staher-Aurora - QB Wyatt Pollett was a shining star in the Huskies 42-21 victory over Central City. Pollett rushed for 212 yards and a TD on 23 carries and completed 5 of 6 passes for 142 yards and THREE more scores. Canon Allen caught 2 of Pollett’s passes for 84 yards and a touchdown while Collin Strope snared an 8 yard scoring pass and made 15 tackles to lead the defense. Ryan Staher also got in the scoring act with his 50 yard TD reception.

*Grayson Sack, Jack Alberts, Connor Haney, Jack Gangwish, Owen Price, Garrett Watson-Grand Island Central Catholic - Two-time All-Stater Grayson Sack Hit 10 of 14 passes for 230 yards and 3 TDs in GICC’s 49-14 opening round playoff victory over a fine West Point Beemer team. Jack Alberts rushed for 183 yards and 4 TDs on 22 carries. Connor Haney caught 3 of Sack’s passes for 102 yards with a pair of scores. Jack Gangwish led the defense with 14 tackles while sophomore Owen Price posted 8 tackles, 7 of which were solos. Freshman place kicker Garrett Watson was a perfect 7 of 7 on PAT attempts. Watson, by the way, has converted 52 of 57 PAT attempts while going 4 of 8 on field goal attempts with a long kick of 36 yards.

*Broxton Teply, Gavin McMillian, Nathan Axmann-Waverly - Teply completed 14 of 23 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings 35-13 victory over GI Northwest. McMillan caught 4 of those passes for 85 yards and a touchdown while Axmann led the rushing game with 91 yards and a pair of scores on just 10 carries.

*Chase Grow, Connor Sams, Seth Kragel-Gretna East - Grow completed 8 of 11 passes for 116 yards and a TD and added two more scores with 96 rushing yards on just 9 carries in Gretna East’s 41-15 victory over Lincoln Standing Bear. Sams led the ground attack with 169 yards and a pair of TDs on just 15 carries while Seth Kragel returned kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.

*Jett Thomalla, Nelsyn Wheeler, Teagan Urban-Millard South - The amazing Thomalla completed 14 of 22 passes for 295 yards and a pair of TDs in Millard South's 45-3 win over Omaha Westview. Nelsyn Wheeler led the ground game with 101 yards and 3 TDs on 13 carries while the defensive leader was Tegan Urban, who made 11 tackles (5 solos/5.5 TFL)

*Will Janssen, Mason Vintz, Brennan Schroeder, Quen Schutt-Syracuse - In a 43-20 playoff win over Omaha Gross: Janssen bolted for 185 yards and 2 TDs on 16 carries. Vintz added 155 yards and 2 TDs on 17 carries. Schroeder was 6 for 6 in the passing department with 80 yards and a pair of TDs, while Schutt returned a punt 65 yards for a TD.

*Angelo Walker-Creighton Prep - Walker recorded his biggest rushing night of the season by bolting for 203 yards and 3 TDs on 22 carries in Prep’s 31-3 playoff victory over Lincoln SE.

*Ty Bouaphakeo, Jack Russell, Brayden Kloster-Bennington - Bouaphakeo had a night to remember in the Badgers 48-0 win over Plattsmouth. He completed 9 of 12 passes for 231 yards and 4 TDs and rushed 12 times for 43 yards and an additional THREE scores. Jack Russell hauled in five passes for 129 yards, good for 2 TDs. Brayden Kloster caught 3 passes for 89 yards with a pair of scores.

*1000 Yard Rusher Alert*

*Robbie Brennan-Omaha Gross Catholic - Talented Cougar RB ran 11 times for 75 yards and a TD in the Cougar’s 46-14 regular season finale loss to Ashland-Greenwood. That elevated Robbie’s regular season rushing total to 1,007 yards.

*Jaron Cannon-Omaha North - Fabulous Viking RB jetted for 196 yards and a TD on 20 carries in Omaha North’s heartbreaking 30-29 season-ending loss to Millard North. Cannon finishes the year with 1,626 yards on the ground with 22 TDs.

*Derek Tonjes Logan Fangmeyer Sam Mundt, Landon Mohs, Cael Smith, Grayson Nolan Ashland Greenwood - QB Derek Tonjes had an afternoon to remember in the Bluejays 47-13 win over Chadron. The senior sharpshooter completed 11 of 16 aerials for 365 yards and SIX TDs in the opening round playoff win. Logan Fangmeyer caught 4 of those passes for 120 yards and a pair of scores while also recording an interception defensively. Sam Mohs had 2 catches for 112 yards with a pair of TDs while Landon Mohs also caught just one pass. but it was a 66 yard scoring catch. Cael Smith also caught a single pass, an 11 yard scoring strike and also had an interception defensively. Sophomore Grayson Nolan led the ground attack with 79 yards on 9 tries.

*Austin McMurtry, Jace Reynolds- Elkhorn North - Junior quarterback Austin McMurtry came in when starter Ethan Beachy went down (just 4 minutes deep into the game) and completed 17 of 28 passes for 178 yards and a score in Elkhorn North’s 32-0 win over Lincoln Pius X. Jace Reynolds led the defense with a 10 yard Pick 6 while defenders Barry Fries and Charlie Riesselman also recorded interceptions in the win.

*Gavin Little, Preston Kucera Malcolm - Little completed 16 of 24 aerials for 241 yards and a pair of TDs while Kucera latched on to 6 of those completions for 88 yards and both receiving scores in the Clippers 28-24 playoff win over Lincoln Lutheran. Kucera’s 10 yard scoring catch, by the way, came in the final 30 seconds of the contest.

*Austin Schueler, Trent Mlnarek, Cale Sheets, Gavin Baker-Archbishop Bergan - Dead Eye Knights quarterback Austin Schueler bullseyed 14 of 18 passes for a monster 296 yards and FOUR TDs in Bergan's 61-0 whitewashing of Wood River. Cale Sheets had 3 catches for 124 yards with a 65 yard scoring reception while Gavin Baker had 4 catches for 67 yards and a pair of TDs. Trent Mlnarek led the ground attack with 114 yards on nine carries and 3 TDs.

*Tristan Campbell, Bison O-Line-McCook - The great Tristan Campbell closed out his illustrious high school football career as a McCook Bison by roaring for 174 yards on 33 touches and 2 TDs (5, 28 runs) in McCook’s 35-12 playoff loss to Seward. Campbell ends this season with 1,522 yards with 26 TDs. AND, the men up front that helped make those yards possible; #45 TE Gabe Roberts (6-1, 215, Sr), #64 OT Simon Garcia (6-0, 200, Sr), #78 OG Eidos Klein (6-2, 295, Sr), #55 C Trey Tiller (6-2, 200, Sr), #53 OG Cole Walter (6-0, 205, Sr), #67 OT Isaac Sonnenberg (6-6, 225, Sr) and #42 TE Kooper Rakes (6-1, 225, Jr).

*Parker Volk, Jack Poppe-Doniphan-Trumbull - 6’4” Basketball stars hooked up for some serious pass/catch yardage despite Doniphan-Trumbull's 63-30 loss to Ord in the 1st Round of the Class C-2 playoffs. Volk completed 28 of 49 passes for 293 yards and a TD but also suffered two interceptions. Jack Poppe, one of the state's top athletes regardless of class, caught 17 of those passes for a massive 213 yards and a 71 yard TD reception.. Poppe also returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score and scooped up a fumble, returning that 67 yards for an additional TD.

Poppe ended his senior season with 94 receptions for 1,193 yards and 16 touchdowns. For his illustrious career he caught 228 passes for 2,878 yards with 39 TDs. He also recorded 200 tackles,149 of which were solo stops.

*Rhys Dorcy, Kyle Jaggers-Sidney - Dorcy scooted for 161 yards and a pair of TDs on 22 carries and Kyle Jaggers pulled off a scoop and score in the Red Raiders 21-14 victory over Pierce.

*Adam Elofsen, Eli Tinkham-Ft. Calhoun - QB Elofson completed 18 of 23 passes for 201 yards and TD and added 55 yards on 5 rushes with an additional score in Fort Calhoun's 20-13 victory over Gothenburg. Eli Tinkham caught 6 passes for 72 yards and the scoring pass in the 1st Round playoff win.