Howells-Dodge steamrolls Neligh-Oakdale at home

The Howells-Dodge Football team rolled at home Friday night, defeating Neligh-Oakdale 46-12.

Here is the scoring recap from the game:

First Quarter
Neligh-Oakdale 02:05 #6 Hunter Charf pass complete to #52 Jayden Arehart for 38 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #6 Hunter Charf to Team no good)

Second Quarter
Howells-Dodge 10:43 #4 Dax VanLengen pass complete to #1 Luke Rocheford for 22 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #28 Dylan Horejsi good)
Howells-Dodge 07:29 #4 Dax VanLengen pass complete to #1 Luke Rocheford for 22 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #28 Dylan Horejsi good)
Howells-Dodge 04:24 #4 Dax VanLengen pass complete to #23 Jordon Brichacek for 38 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #28 Dylan Horejsi good)

Third Quarter
Howells-Dodge 06:14 #23 Jordon Brichacek runs for 6 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #28 Dylan Horejsi good)
Neligh-Oakdale 05:58 Kickoff by #5 Connor Blum to the 21 yard line. #52 Jayden Arehart return for 79 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #6 Hunter Charf to Team no good)
Howells-Dodge 05:43 Kickoff by #33 Austin Rice to the 23 yard line. #1 Luke Rocheford return for 77 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #4 Dax VanLengen good)

Fourth Quarter
Howells-Dodge 4 10:42 #28 Dylan Horejsi runs for 23 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #23 Jordon Brichacek no good)

VanLengen was 6-12 passing for 159 yards and three touchdowns. Horesji added 141 yards rushing on 22 carries, and scored once.

Jon Yosten made 9 tackles while Connor Blum and Lane Hegemann notched 8 apiece.

The Jaguars had 346 yards of total offense, including 187 rushing.

This was a good, dominant win for Howells-Dodge. I think it's safe to say the Jaguars did what everyone expected them to.

In high school football on 107.9 The Bull Friday, it’s 0-5 Elgin Public/Pope John at 4-0 Howells-Dodge.

Head Coach Mike Speirs says team communication is always important. “The thing we always stress with our kids is just communication on both sides of the ball,” Speirs said. “If we’re talking to each other and everybody is on the same page, then we’re gonna be pretty tough to beat. And if we’re not, then we’re a very beatable team.”

Wolfpack head coach Randy Eisenhauer says the strong ground game of Howells-Dodge is concerning. “For us, we’re gonna have to stop their run game. They’re a very powerful team,” Eisenhauer said. “They love their sweeps right and left. So that’s something we’re really gonna have to work on. It’s what we’ve been working on in practice. It’ll be a tough match up for us.”

I look for the Jaguars to roll to a big win.

Howells-Dodge has to come out and play their best game still, but when things are all said and done, the Jaguars should come away with the W.

I think Howells-Dodge will finish the regular season undefeated, but I feel the Jaguars will be challenged in their last few regular season games after this one.

So what I'm getting at is Howells-Dodge has to be sharp Friday night and not take a chance of slipping up and losing a game.

The Jaguars have to play hard, smart, physical, and tough minded.

Howells-Dodge has to get up quickly and put Elgin Public/Pope John in the rearview mirror.

I think this game will be somewhat similar to the Omaha Nation game. I feel the Jaguars will roll to a big win, and continue to cement themselves as a top team in the state in D-1.

Howells-Dodge has to view every game as an opportunity to improve and grow, and it's important the Jaguars keep getting better if they want to have a chance at getting to Lincoln the last game of the season.

These last four regular season contests for Howells-Dodge are about more than just the regular season games themselves, in my opinion. The contests will have an affect on playoff positioning and seeding, and will dictate who the Jaguars see in the playoffs, and could impact how Howells-Dodge performs in the postseason as well.

Of course the Jaguars, like all teams, will probably raise their level of play come playoff time, but these next four games will help set the tone for the postseason for Howells-Dodge so to speak, I would say.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 in Howells, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:40. Listen live on 107.9 FM, online at www.kticradio.com, or on the free KTIC Radio app.

Stanton blown out at home by Lutheran High Northeast

The Stanton Football Team lost 49-6 at home to Lutheran High Northeast Friday night.

The Eagles led 14-0 after one, and outscored the Mustangs 14-6 in the second quarter to take a 28-6 lead into the locker room.

LHNE shutout Stanton 14-0 in the third quarter to go up 42-6 at the end of the third quarter.

The Eagles blanked the Mustangs 7-0 in the fourth quarter.

Marcus Spotanski was 5-11 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Beau Wilke hauled in one pass for 66 yards, which was a touchdown.

Sutton Pohlman registered 14 tackles while Gauge Erickson had 9. Wilke and Ashton Flood made 7 apiece.

Stanton totaled 182 yards of offense, 119 coming on the ground.

Really tough night out for the Mustangs. I'm sure losing in this way is not something Stanton is used to.

The Mustangs (2-3) host Crofton (3-2) Friday night.

The Warriors lost 42-0 at home to Ponca this past Friday night.

I feel Stanton has a shot in this game, and has a real opportunity to come away with a victory.

I view the Mustangs as the type of team that is capable of getting over tough losses quickly.

Stanton has to win out from here on out if they want to make the playoffs though.

The Mustangs can't lose another game of their playoff hopes are more than likely dashed.

Spotanski has to pass the ball well, and Stanton has to get their run game going against Crofton.

The Warriors are always known for their toughness and physicality, and I'm sure Crofton's defensive line will be stout.

The Mustangs have to come out and play smashmouth football, and take it to the Warriors for four quarters.

Stanton has to be flat out upset by what transpired last week, and has to do something about it.

The Mustangs can play better than they did against the Eagles, and I'm sure they know it.

Stanton's players have to be accountable for mistakes, and must correct them as quickly as possible.

The Mustangs have to be able to run the ball, put up more points on the board, and do a better job on defense if they hope to win Friday night.

Stanton has to come out and play with Stanton pride, and must show lots of resolve and moxie.

The Mustangs have to be ready to play a complete game for four quarters, and play with the heart of a champion.

Stanton is having a down year, sure, but so is Crofton, and so something has to give in this game.

The Mustangs have to simply believe and think "why not us?" when it comes to winning this game.

Stanton has to play with a chip on their shoulder as well as the drive, guts, glory, and determination to win.

The Mustangs have to think and dream big, and lay everything out on the line Friday night.

This is a pivotal and critical game for the playoffs and district race. It's do or die for Stanton.

Wisner-Pilger falls at home to Fremont Bergan

The Wisner-Pilger Football team lost 53-0 at home to Fremont Bergan Friday night.

Another very difficult game for the Gators.

Wisner-Pilger (0-5) travels to Oakland to battle Oakland-Craig (4-1) Friday night.

The Knights won 28-20 at home over BRLD this past Friday night.

Oakland-Craig has sort of scuffled and not been on top of their game the last couple of weeks so perhaps the Gators can go in there and find some success.

By that I mean put up a couple of touchdowns and hold the Knights under 50 points.

If Wisner-Pilger can be competitive, and keep the game from being a running clock at all times, I think that could be viewed as a moral victory.

The Gators need something to go their way....something positive to build off of.

It has been such a tough and trying season for Wisner-Pilger that you get to the point where you would like to see something positive go their way.

Perhaps the Gators can put up a couple of scores on offense. I think scoring any sort of points would be positive and encouraging for Wisner-Pilger.

Also holding Oakland-Craig to fewer points than what the Gators have been giving up lately would be good too I think.

Wisner-Pilger has to go out there and fight hard and give it their all Friday night.

The Knights are obviously a very good team, but the Gators have faced nothing but juggernauts so far this year.

Wisner-Pilger is better than what they showed against Fremont Bergan though, in my opinion.

The Gators didn't play that bad the first two games of the season, and are capable of getting back to that, in my opinion.

Wisner-Pilger just has to right the ship, and must continue to work hard, play hard, and have fun.

I know it's probably not easy to have fun when you're losing the way the Gators are, but if Wisner-Pilger can find a way to lighten the mood, it will be to their benefit.

The Gators have to keep pressing forward, growing, and improving.

All Wisner-Pilger can do is press on, and do the best they can the rest of the season.

The Gators have to throw the kitchen sink at Oakland-Craig because at this point what do they have to lose honestly?

Logan View tops Tekamah-Herman

The Logan View Football team won 42-20 at Tekamah-Herman Friday night.

Not as big a win as the Raiders were hoping for I'm sure, but still a very good win.

Logan View (4-1) takes on Fremont Bergan (3-2) on the road Friday night.

The Knights won 53-0 at Wisner-Pilger this past Friday night.

This figures to be a very good, compelling, and entertaining contest.

If the Raiders want to take that next step in their program and win a district title, then this game is a must win.

If Logan View can win these next two games then they are most likely district champs.

I really think the Raiders have a good chance to win too.

Logan View has played about as well as anyone the last three weeks, and I look for the Raiders to play well again Friday night.

This is Logan View's chance to knock off a big dog. A team that has had so much success over the years.

To go into Bergan's house and win would be such a big deal, but it won't be easy.

You can bet the Knights will come ready to play knowing they probably need to beat either Logan View or Oakland-Craig to make the playoffs.

This is an absolutely gigantic and huge district game, and is the type of game you work and live for if you are either team.

This is why these players play the game. To have a shot at winning games like these.

All the hard work the Raiders put in during the offseason, and have put up to this point in their football careers, is all for this moment.

It's a chance for Logan View to be great, and do extraordinary things.

It's not everyday the Raiders have a chance to beat Fremont Bergan in Football. Yet here Logan View is...a chance to make history and be one step closer to winning a district title.

The Raiders have to come out and play loose, hard, smart, physical, and most importantly must have fun.

Logan View also has to play with anger and aggression, and must hit hard.

The Raiders have to come out fired up and ready to go, and must be ready to play a complete four quarter game and take it to the Knights for 48 minutes.

You can bet Head Coach Dustin Sealey will have his boys amped for this one. Should be a great game.

Tekamah-Herman competes well against, but loses to Logan View

The Tekamah-Herman Football team played better, but lost 42-20 at home to Logan View Friday night.

Matt Hawkins was 3-14 passing for 137 yards and two touchdowns while Cole Freidel rushed for 106 yards on 13 attempts, and scored once.

The Tigers racked up 320 yards of offense, including 173 rushing.

I thought Tekamah-Herman played well in this game despite the outcome. It looks like trying some new players worked out well for the Tigers. I think Tekamah-Herman has to be encouraged by the way they played offensively.

The Tigers (1-4) travel to BRLD (1-4) to take on the Wolverines Friday night.

BRLD lost 28-20 at Oakland-Craig this past Friday night.

The Wolverines' lone win is by forfeit over Omaha Brownell-Talbot.

I'm sure Tekamah-Herman doesn't want to be BRLD's first real win of the year, and the Tigers have to come out and do everything they can to pick up win number 2 on the season.

I think Tekamah-Herman has figured things out on offense, now it's a matter of finding a successful formula on defense.

I'd say slowing down Will Gatzemeyer and the Wolverines' run game will be critical for the Tigers.

This is a winnable game for Tekamah-Herman, but the Tigers have to play better defense than what they played against the Raiders.

Tekamah-Herman has to match BRLD's physicality, and must tackle well in space.

The Tigers have to limit the big play, and force the Wolverines to drive the length of the field.

Tekamah-Herman also has to sustain drives on offense, and use clock.

The more time the Tigers' offense spends on the field, the better off Tekamah-Herman will be.

The Tigers have to come into this game with a lot of confidence, and must feel they have a shot to win, because they definitely do.

I would feel more confident in Tekamah-Herman if they were at home, but there's no better feeling than going into someone's house and coming away with a win.

I'm sure it would be an ultra sweet feeling for the Tigers to go into Lyons or wherever the game is being played, and come away with the win.

Tekamah-Herman has to come into this game optimistic and fired up, and must believe they can win, because certainly anything can happen.

The Tigers have to play with mental and physical toughness, tenacity, grit, fire, passion, anger, and aggressiveness.

Tekamah-Herman has to come in with the attitude that they are going to win, and must expect to win as opposed to just hoping to win.

In other words, the Tigers can't play not to lose.

Oakland-Craig edges BRLD

Oakland-The Oakland-Craig Football team bounced back from last week's loss at Ponca by beating BRLD 28-20 at home Friday night in High School Football action on 107.9 the Bull.

The Knights struck first as Senior Quarterback Evan Reinert hit Garrett Seagren with a 20-yard TD pass to put Oakland-Craig up 6-0 at about the 7:00 mark of the 1st quarter.

The Wolverines tied the game with just under a minute left in the first quarter as Sophomore Quarterback Will Gatzemeyer ran one in from a yard out to tie the game at 6.

Seagren housed a punt return with 11:05 remaining in the second quarter to give the Knights a 14-6 advantage.

Gatzemeyer then ran one in from 30 yards out with 34 seconds remaining until halftime to pull BRLD within 2 at 14-12.

Reinert scored a rushing touchdown with just 8 seconds left in the third quarter, and Oakland-Craig went up 20-12.

Senior Running Back Ben Smith then got into the scoring act for the Knights at the 8:27 mark of the fourth quarter, scoring from 12 yards out, and the Knights led 28-12.

The Wolverines scored the final touchdown of the game as Gatzemeyer scored on a 4-yard run with 24 seconds left in the game.

Reinert was 6-19 passing for 121 yards with a touchdown for Oakland-Craig (4-1). He also carried the ball 13 times for 88 yards, and scored once.

Robby Mayberry was 1-1 with 65 yards passing.

Garrett Seagren hauled in 5 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Wyatt Uhing made 10 tackles while Seagren had 9. Daniel Sechler and Ian Lundquist notched 8 apiece.

The Knights totaled 321 yards of offense, including 175 passing, while the Wolverines tallied 355 yards of offense, 209 coming through the air.

Head Coach Joe Anderson says his team's preparation has to be better than it has been. "I thought we did one good day of practice, but our intensity isn't there. We can't just show up and expect to win. Just show up without putting in time in practice. And I knew this was going to be a dog fight. It's kind of a rivalry game. And I think this is the first night that they had most all their guys back. I know they've been missing some guys the first 3 or 4 games. And Coach Maresh does a great job with those guys. They're big up front. They got some big boys. And they do some really nice things to keep you busy, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But proud of our guys that they made plays. Down the second half when we needed guys to step up and make plays."

Anderson says the Wolverines' record is deceiving given the schedule they've played so far. "Oh absolutely. I knew that. And they played us tough last year, and we had a good team, it's kind of similar. But they lose to Ponca, and they moved the ball on Ponca. And they played Hartington CC who's No. 2 or 3, and I don't think Hartington CC had a first down the first quarter and-a-half. They showed flashes, they just didn't have some of the depth that some of those teams did, and maybe wore out a little bit early in the year. But like I said they're a good football team, and they're going to win a lot of football games yet. They're not going to end with one win, I know that. So like I said those guys do a great job with them over there, and I wish them the best of luck."

Oakland-Craig hosts winless Wisner-Pilger (0-5) Friday night.

The Gators lost 53-0 at home to Fremont Bergan this past Friday night, and have had a very difficult season.

Wisner-Pilger is a very young team, and the Knights need to come out and lay the smackdown early on.

Oakland-Craig has to refocus, and come out and shutdown the Gators the same way other teams have all season long.

There's no reason why Oakland-Craig can't join the likes of West Point-Beemer, Hartington Cedar Catholic, and Fremont Bergan in winning 50+ to nothing.

Oakland-Craig should roll in this game, and have a running clock by the start of the second half.

This is a game the Knights need to win big and rest starters with Logan View coming up next week.

The big thing is win big and come out of the game injury free.

This might also be a game to rest players who might be fighting nagging injuries.

When it's all said and done I look for Oakland-Craig to get a lot of players valuable varsity experience and win going away.

It should be one of the more dominant performances of the season for the Knights although I don't know if Oakland-Craig can be more dominant than they were against Crofton.

The Knights have to get back to that though. I feel Oakland-Craig took a step back against Ponca, and didn't exactly win easily last week.

The Knights need to be ready to go for Logan View if they hope to win another district title so this week has to be refocus and play well week for Oakland-Craig.

The Knights have to use this game as a game to get back on track and fine tune some things that need fine tuning.

Oakland-Craig has to cleanup any mistakes they've made the past couple of weeks, and get ready for the final regular season stretch run.

It's nearly crunch time for the Knights, and Oakland-Craig must figure themselves out completely Friday night.

The Knights have to be ready to go by the time October 6th rolls around, and I fully expect them to be.

BRLD loses close game to Oakland-Craig

The BRLD Football Team lost 28-20  at Oakland-Craig Friday night in High School Football action on 107.9 the Bull.

The Knights struck first as Senior Quarterback Evan Reinert hit Garrett Seagren with a 20-yard TD pass to put Oakland-Craig up 6-0 at about the 7:00 mark of the 1st quarter.

The Wolverines tied the game with just under a minute left in the first quarter as Sophomore Quarterback Will Gatzemeyer ran one in from a yard out to tie the game at 6.

Seagren housed a punt return with 11:05 remaining in the second quarter to give the Knights a 14-6 advantage.

Gatzemeyer then ran one in from 30 yards out with 34 seconds remaining until halftime to pull BRLD within 2 at 14-12.

Reinert scored a rushing touchdown with just 8 seconds left in the third quarter, and Oakland-Craig went up 20-12.

Senior Running Back Ben Smith then got into the scoring act for the Knights at the 8:27 mark of the fourth quarter, scoring from 12 yards out, and the Knights led 28-12.

The Wolverines scored the final touchdown of the game as Gatzemeyer scored on a 4-yard run with 24 seconds left in the game.

Gatzemeyer was 10-20 passing for 160 yards with two interceptions for BRLD (1-4). Tyler Kroger made 4 catches for 73 yards.

Gatzemeyer added 96 yards rushing on 19 carries, including three scores.

Kobe Lyons made 9 tackles while Gatzemeyer notched 7.

The Wolverines tallied 355 yards of offense, 209 coming through the air while the Knights totaled 321 yards of offense, including 175 passing.

Head Coach Dan Maresh feels the way his team played against the Knights is going to lead to success the rest of the season. "Yeah I hope so. I hope the kids come back and can really look at what they did here tonight and build from it. Again we use that word confidence, and I hope that they grew some tonight, and can look at the next games. And I don't want to take anything away from those teams, but I feel that if we come out and take care of business we'll be okay."

BRLD hosts Tekamah-Herman (1-4) Friday night.

The Tigers lost 42-20 at home to Logan View this past Friday night.

Maresh says his team is getting better. "Yeah I agree. It's fun watching those kids get some confidence. You see as the game goes on they kind of feel things out, and through this tough season they haven't gotten to feel what an actual when feels like, but they're getting real close. And they're turning into some pretty good football players before our eyes."

I feel the Wolverines are getting closer to becoming a very good team, and Tekamah-Herman played very tough last week as well.

This should be a competitive contest, but I have BRLD in this one.

I feel the Wolverines have made more strides over the course of the regular season than the Tigers have so far.

I think this BRLD team is getting better every week, and I look for the Wolverines to put it all together Friday night.

BRLD's offense has gotten better every game, and I look for the Wolverines to have their highest scoring output of the season so far come Friday.

I also feel BRLD has a good chance to have success on defense, although I still see Tekamah-Herman putting up some yards and scoring some points.

I don't think the Wolverines are going to exactly dominate the Tigers in every facet of the game, but I think a 2-3 touchdown win is a very likely reality.

BRLD has to play the way they did against Oakland-Craig if not better if they hope to pick up their first real win of the season, in my opinion.

The Wolverines' lone win of the year came via forfeit against Omaha Brownell-Talbot, and I'm sure BRLD is anxious to pick up their first real win of the season.

I look for Gatzemeyer to have another big game for the Wolverines, and lead this team to victory.

He is a very impressive sophomore that will only get better as the season goes along, in my opinion.

I really feel BRLD has a shot to win every one of their remaining games.

Fremont Bergan and Logan View figure to be really tough, but this Wolverine team is tough and battle tested themselves.

So you can bet BRLD will put up a great and tremendous fight throughout the rest of the season.

West Point-Beemer stays unbeaten with win over O'Neill

The West Point-Beemer Football team stayed undefeated with a 41-21 home win over defending Class C-1 State Champion O'Neill Friday night.

The Cadets trailed 14-7 after one, and 21-14 at halftime after both teams scored 7 points in the second quarter.

West Point-Beemer blanked the Eagles 13-0 in the third quarter to go up 27-21 at the end of three.

The Cadets shutout O'Neill 14-0 in the fourth quarter.

Hunter Pilakowski had 127 yards rushing on 18 carries, and two touchdowns.

West Point-Beemer had 170 yards rushing while the defense gave up 302 yards, including 159 on the ground.

Great second half performance by the Cadets. West Point-Beemer is definitely for real.

The Cadets (5-0) travel to Madison (0-5) to take on the Dragons Friday night.

Madison lost 48-6 at Wayne this past Friday night.

This should be a very easy win for West Point-Beemer.

This is a game the Cadets need to build a big lead in to rest starters for the last three games of the season.

This is West Point-Beemer's last gimme game of the season so the Cadets need to come out and play well and be sharp.

A win over the Dragons might also be good enough for West Point-Beemer to secure a playoff berth.

I think this Cadet team probably has their sights set on more things than just making the playoffs though.

I would say beating Wayne, Pierce, and Norfolk Catholic, and winning a district title and having an undefeated regular season are all priorities and realistic dreams at this point.

I don't know if I'm ready to put West Point-Beemer in the same conversation with the Knights, but I think the Cadets have a good shot to knock off both the Blue Devils and Bluejays.

The fact that West Point-Beemer is doing so well and having the success they're having has to make everyone with ties to the school very proud.

The Cadets haven't competed at this high of a level in a very long time if ever, and the fact that West Point-Beemer is doing as well as they are is very impressive.

Championship teams take care of business against the teams they're supposed to roll, and the Cadets have to do that against Madison Friday night.

West Point-Beemer has to jump out to a big, early lead, and have the clock running by the start of the second half.

The Cadets have to be sharp and get their starters some good reps, but also rest them and get younger players valuable varsity experience.

West Point-Beemer has to continue to enjoy the great success they've been having, and play hard, loose, smart, and have fun Friday night.

Scribner-Snyder loses at Fullerton

The Scribner-Snyder Football team lost 54-6 at Fullerton Friday night.

The Warriors held a 8-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and blanked the Trojans 22-0 in the second quarter to take a 30-0 lead into the locker room.

Fullerton shutout Scribner-Snyder 8-0 in the third quarter to go up 38-0 at the end of three. The Warriors outscored the Trojans 16-6 in the fourth quarter.

Austin Peters had 81 yards rushing on 16 carries, including a touchdown. Sebastian Arnold added 77 yards on 22 carries while Josh McMillen totaled 51 yards rushing on 8 attempts.

McMillen had a team-high 10 tackles.

Scribner-Snyder engineered 213 yards of total offense, including 209 rushing.

I thought the Trojans did a really nice job running the ball and getting more than one player involved in the offense. I think that's something Scribner-Snyder can build off of.

The Trojans (0-5) take on Humphrey St. Francis (4-0) on the road Friday night.

The Flyers won 54-0 at Emerson-Hubbard last time out.

I think Scribner-Snyder should focus on running the ball well and controlling the clock in this game.

Perhaps running the play clock down to 1 every snap and shortening the game would allow the Trojans to be more competitive on the scoreboard than they were against the Warriors.

This is going to be an extremely difficult game for Scribner-Snyder, there's no doubt about it.

The fact that Humphrey St. Francis has had a week off to prepare for the Trojans just adds insult to injury.

Scribner-Snyder has to go out there and compete to the best of their ability though.

I've been impressed with the Trojans in that they haven't quit or thrown in the towel this season.

Scribner-Snyder is working hard every week and giving it their all, and that's all you can ask for.

The Trojans have a good run game, but their passing game has been nonexistent.

It's unfortunate because if this team could throw the ball they would probably be tougher than they currently are.

The defense has really struggled too so it will be key for Scribner-Snyder to tackle well and get off the field when they have the chance.

The Trojans have to be in good physical game shape, and must stay fresh as often as possible Friday night.

Tough to do when you only have 15 kids out for Football, but Scribner-Snyder has to find a way to compete as tough as they can and perform as well as possible given the circumstances.

The Trojans have had a tough schedule so far, and being on the road as often as they have doesn't help, but Scribner-Snyder gets an off week before two home games to round out the regular season so that's something the Trojans have to be looking forward to.

With that said, Scribner-Snyder has to go out there and compete as well as they can against the Flyers, and see what comes of the game.

Emerson-Hubbard falls at home to Wausa

The Emerson-Hubbard Football team lost 48-22 at home to Wausa Friday night.

The Pirates gave up 374 yards of total offense, 256 coming on the ground.

I thought Emerson-Hubbard would keep things much closer in this game than they did. Tough break for the Pirates.

Emerson-Hubbard (1-3) takes on Winside (2-2) on the road Friday night.

The Wildcats lost 44-14 at home to Randolph last time out.

Winside is a much improved team, and better than they were last year, in my opinion.

The Wildcats beat Scribner-Snyder 56-34 while the Pirates downed the Trojans 39-0.

I look for Emerson-Hubbard to win this game, but I don't think it's going to be easy.

The Pirates have to come ready to play, and must play better than they did against the Vikings.

Emerson-Hubbard has to raise their level of play and be better than they have been.

The Pirates must win at least a couple more games to make the playoffs, but even that might not be enough.

Regardless, this is a must win game for Emerson-Hubbard.

If the Pirates don't win this game I don't see there being any way they make the playoffs.

It's going to be a struggle just to make the postseason at this point, but that's not to say it can't happen.

Emerson-Hubbard has to find a way to make plays and create their own momentum Friday night.

The Pirates have to come out ready to hit hard and take it to the Wildcats for four quarters.

Emerson-Hubbard has to forget about what happened in the Wausa game. The Pirates have to be over that loss by now.

Emerson-Hubbard just has to be ready to go the rest of the way. The Pirates haven't had the usual success this year that they've been accustomed to in recent years, but the season is only halfway over.

If Emerson-Hubbard can start 1-3 perhaps they can finish 3-1.

The Pirates' backs are against the wall right now so we will see how Emerson-Hubbard responds, and how they fare in this contest.

Clarkson/Leigh loses home game to East Butler

The Clarkson/Leigh Football team lost 28-8 at home to East Butler Friday night.

The Patriots led 8-6 after one before the Tigers shutout Clarkson/Leigh 8-0 in the second quarter to take a 14-8 lead into the locker room.

East Butler blanked the Patriots 14-0 in the third quarter to make up the final score as neither team scored in the 4th quarter.

Anthony Bruhn had 59 yards rushing on 14 carries, and scored once.

Tommy McEvoy made 17 tackles to lead all players while Jacob Gall and Hector Mendoza notched 13 and 12, respectively. Dillan Knapp registered 10 while Held and Bruhn totaled 9 and 8, respectively.

Clarkson/Leigh totaled 139 yards of offense, 88 coming on the ground. The defense gave up 355 yards of total offense, including 192 passing.

I thought the Patriots did a great job of competing. Clarkson/Leigh is leaps and bounds ahead of where they were to start the season.

The Patriots (1-3) take on Neligh-Oakdale (1-3) on the road Friday night.

The Warriors lost 46-12 at Howells-Dodge this past Friday night.

The two teams have a common opponent in Omaha Nation, who Clarkson/Leigh beat 53-6 and Neligh-Oakdale handled 70-30.

I think this game will be close, but I look for the Patriots to find a way to pull it out.

The game could very well be decided by 7 points or less, but I think Clarkson/Leigh will get the job done.

The Patriots need this one if they want to make the playoffs. Right now, Clarkson/Leigh is on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs, and has some ground to make up.

The Patriots have to play good, sound, fundamental football Friday night, and must do it with a sense of urgency and purpose.

Clarkson/Leigh has to get off to a fast start like they did against East Butler, except find ways to score throughout the game.

The Warriors don't have the strongest defense around so the Patriots should be able to score points.

Clarkson/Leigh isn't exactly the '85 Bears themselves, but I think the Patriots will play well and do enough on the defensive side of the ball to win the game.

These next three games are critical for Clarkson/Leigh. I think the Patriots might need 4 wins to get into the playoffs this year.

I feel Clarkson/Leigh is in a good position to make that happen though. The Patriots have played well over the last couple of weeks, and appear to be starting to figure some things out.

Clarkson/Leigh's offense has to get back on track, but that should happen given the nature of Neligh-Oakdale's defense.

I look for it to be a successful night of football for the Patriots, and a jolly ride home.

I really think Clarkson/Leigh will be .500 heading into the Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family game on October 13th.

Pender outlasts Homer in a shootout

The Pender Football team defeated Homer 46-40 at home Friday night.

The Knights jumped out to a 19-12 lead at the end of the first quarter, and won the second quarter 15-14 to take a 34-26 lead into the locker room.

The Pendragons shutout Homer 6-0 in the third quarter to make it a 34-32 game at the end of three.

Pender outscored the Knights 14-6 in the fourth quarter.

Brady Oliver was 17-31 passing for 155 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Tyler Nelson hauled in 6 passes for 78 yards, and scored two touchdowns.

Jared Tyrell carried the ball 12 times for 112 yards, and scored twice. Korbin Hardenbrook ran the ball 11 times for 66 yards with a score.

Hardenbrook led the way with 15 tackles while Oliver and Jaydon Jump totaled 9 and 8, respectively. Layne Heese made 7.

The Pendragons amassed 383 yards of total offense, 228 coming on the ground. The defense surrendered 368 yards of total offense, including 229 rushing.

Pender played well defensively in the second half and did a nice job picking up the win, but this game was closer than it should have been.

The Pendragons (2-2) travel to Winnebago (0-4) to take on the Indians Friday night.

The Indians lost 28-6 at Hartington-Newcastle last Friday night.

Winnebago is coming off three straight road games and hasn't been home in over a month so you can bet the Indians will be fired up and ready to go for this one.

Pender's defense has to be much better than it was against Homer.

The Pendragons are too talented and good to lose this game, yet based on the way both teams have played lately it could be a very close contest.

Pender has to come out flat out angry and upset, and must stuff Winnebago's run game and defend the passing game well too.

The Pendragons have to hit hard and tackle well.

Pender must make the Indians drive the length of the field and not give up big chunk plays.

The Pendragons have to do what they did offensively last week too, which is having really good balance.

Limiting turnovers and penalties will also be key, in my opinion.

There's no reason why Pender shouldn't be able to play a complete, four quarter game in this one.

This is a big one for the Pendragons with Neligh-Oakdale coming up next week.

It's a must win for Pender if you ask me. The Pendragons absolutely must have this game if they want to be able to host a first round playoff game.

Pender has to get back to playing the type of football they were when they played Clarkson/Leigh. I don't think the Pendragons have been the same type of team since that game.

Perhaps the solid defense displayed in the second half of last week's game will allow this Pender team to play a complete game and get back on track.

When it's all said and done, I look for the Pendragons to find a way to pull one out against Winnebago.

Winnebago falls at Hartington-Newcastle

The Winnebago Football team lost 28-6 at Hartington-Newcastle last Friday night.

The Indians trailed 6-0, and were shutout 8-0 in the second quarter and trailed 14-0 at halftime.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, and Winnebago still trailed 14-0 at the end of three.

The Wildcats outscored the Indians 14-6 in the fourth quarter.

Winnebago gave up 305 yards of offense, including 258 on the ground.

I thought the Indians played well on defense and closed the gap. The offense struggled, but I thought Winnebago did a nice job competing.

The Indians (0-4) take on Pender (2-2) at home Friday night.

The Pendragons won 46-40 at home over Homer this past Friday night.

This is a game I feel Winnebago can compete in and win given how they did against Hartington-Newcastle.

Pender has struggled ever since their season opening win over Clarkson/Leigh, and the Indians are getting better every week, in my opinion.

Winnebago really has nothing to lose in this game, and should be able to give the Pendragons a game.

The Indians just need to have their offense and defense clicking at the same time for four quarters.

I feel this game could be an offensive shootout, and if that's the case, Winnebago could very well win.

The Indians have to play good defense like they did against Hartington-Newcastle though.

I think the key to ensuring a win is playing well on defense.

The offense has been up and down too though so the Winnebago offense has to play well too.

I think it's a matter of both the offense and defense becoming consistent.

It's kind of like the Huskers. One side of the ball has been good through the first 4 games, the other hasn't.

And like what Nebraska needs to do, the Indians have to get their offense and defense to be consistent and on the same page.

If Winnebago can get a complete game performance on both sides of the ball it could make all the difference for the Indians.

Winnebago really has nothing to lose in this game so the Indians have to come out and play loose and care free.

All the pressure figures to be on the Pendragons with hosting a home playoff game on the line for them.

Winnebago has nothing to play for but pride so there's really nothing to be nervous about. The Indians just have to go out there and play their game, and let it rip and all hang out.

Winnebago has to leave everything they've got on the field, and do their very best to win the game.

North Bend Central beats Madison in rain shortened game

The North Bend Central Football team won 25-0 at Madison last Friday night in a game that was called at halftime due to inclement weather in the area.

Here is the scoring recap from the game:

First Quarter

NB- 35 yd pass from Austin Endorf to John Emanuel PAT No Good
NB- Brock Ray 1 yd run PAT No Good
NB- Joel Hines 4 yd run Conversion Failed

Second Quarter

NB- Peter Emanuel 95-yard punt return Brock Ray PAT Kick GOOD

Third Quarter
Game Called due to Lightning

Austin Endorf went 4-5 passing for 114 yards with a touchdown.

The Tigers had 170 yards of total offense, including 114 through the air. The defense gave up 104 yards, including 79 passing.

Head Coach Ryan Stieren says his team did some good things, but could of been better in some areas too. "To begin, it was an odd night. Started off really warm and windy, the wind died down and then lightning came and shortened our game to only a half. We did some good things and at times, we were sloppy. Defensively, we played a lot of guys so that might have been part of us looking sluggish on that side of the ball. But, I feel that we tackled really well and kept them from ever really threatening to score. Offensively, we were efficient both in the run game and the pass game. We just weren't as explosive as I thought we would be coming into the game. Nevertheless, a win is a win and I am excited for the kids."

North Bend Central (2-2) takes on Wahoo (4-1) at home Friday night.

The Warriors blasted David City 63-0 at home this past Friday night.

Wahoo is very good, and has had the Tigers' number over the years, but I think North Bend Central will be more competitive in this game than they have been in the past.

I'm not suggesting the Tigers are going to win because that would be very tough, but I fully expect North Bend Central to compete at a high level and play the Warriors closer than they have in the past.

This is a chance for the Tigers to make a statement and show that they are a team on the rise. North Bend Central has had an extra week to prepare for Wahoo so that should be to their advantage.

I think it's really important for the Tigers to be physical and tackle well.

North Bend Central has to force the Warriors to drive the length of the field. The Tigers have to limit big plays as much as possible.

I thought North Bend Central did a better job getting their run game going last week, and I think that's something the Tigers can build on this week.

It's going to take a lot of offensive balance for North Bend Central to keep this game close, in my opinion.

Wahoo has shutout 4 out of their 5 opponents this year so scoring could be at a premium for the Tigers.

The Warriors beat Louisville 55-0. The same Louisville team that North Bend Central lost to.

I don't think it's any secret the Tigers are going to need to play well defensively and have the game of their lives.

These next three games are going to be really difficult for North Bend Central, but there's no doubt the Tigers can compete well and close the gap against all three.

David City Aquinas could very well be the toughest game of the 3, and that one's on the road and could be a blowout, but North Bend Central gets Wahoo and Bishop Neumann at home so I think the Tigers could really give both those teams a more competitive game than in the past.

North Bend Central just has to come out motivated, pumped up, and flat out angry Friday night.

The Tigers have to be ready to hit hard, and cannot back down from the Warriors whatsoever.

North Bend Central has to be ready to play a complete, four quarter game regardless of the score outcome.

Oakland-Craig suffers first loss of the season to Ponca

The Oakland-Craig Football Team lost their first game of the year Friday night, falling 28-20 at Ponca.

The Indians led 14-6 after one, and 14-12 at halftime after the Knights shutout Ponca 6-0 in the second quarter.

Oakland-Craig blanked the Indians 8-0 in the third quarter to go up 20-14 after three.

The Indians shutout the Knights 14-0 in the fourth quarter to make up the final score.

Evan Reinert was 10-22 passing for 76 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions.

Garrett Seagren had 66 yards receiving on 7 receptions.

Ian Lundquist made 9 tackles to lead the team.

Oakland-Craig registered 229 yards of offense, including 132 on the ground.

I thought the difference in the game was turnovers, and the play of Reinert, Seagren, and Benne. Those three didn't have their typical performances.

107.9 The Bull’s coverage of high school football continues on Friday, with 3-1 Oakland-Craig hosting 1-3 Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur in C-2 action.

The Wolverines defeated Omaha Brownell-Talbot by forfeit last week.

Head Coach Joe Anderson says the Knights will have to deal with a tough physical presence from BRLD. “I think it starts up front with them. They’re big, they’re physical. I think they do a nice job getting off the ball,” Anderson said. “They run a little different scheme than we’re used to. You’re gonna see a true zone scheme where you really have to be disciplined. So we worked hard at practice being disciplined and being gap-sound. If you’re not, they’re gonna hurt you.”

Oakland-Craig is used to big, physical teams by now having faced Battle Creek, Crofton, and Ponca.

The Knights need Reinert, Seagren, and Benne to all have bounce back and rebound performances, but Oakland-Craig also has to have someone break out in the run game.

Ben Smith has been decent this year, but no one has stepped up and been the gamebreaker that Hoss Smith was.

Reinert, Seagren, and Benne have stepped up, but when those three have tough games someone has to step up in the run game.

So the Knights just need more production from their ground game to be a complete team, in my opinion.

Oakland-Craig can't always rely on the pass...the Knights need to be stronger in the run game.

I look for the Wolverines to compete with and give Oakland-Craig a good game, but I think the Knights will be too much in the end.

It's the start of district play, and this is a game Oakland-Craig needs to avoid getting off on the wrong foot in district action.

With Logan View surging and Fremont Bergan a tough out Oakland-Craig can ill afford to drop a district game against someone else.

Pregame coverage begins at 6:40 with kickoff at 7:00 on 107.9 the Bull. The game can also be heard at www.kticradio.com or on the free KTIC Radio App.

BRLD wins over Omaha Brownell-Talbot by forfeit

The BRLD Football team won their first game of the season Friday night, beating Omaha Brownell-Talbot by forfeit.

Not the way the Wolverines envisioned picking up their first win I'm sure, but it's a win nonetheless.

BRLD (1-3) travels to Oakland to take on Oakland-Craig (3-1) Friday night in action on 107.9 the Bull.

The Knights lost 28-20 at Ponca last time out.

Head Coach Dan Maresh says the Wolverines will need production from their ground game in order to be successful. “For us, controlling the ball, protecting it and trying to get our running game going,” Maresh said. “We’ve been a little sporadic when it comes to getting yardage on the ground, and it would be nice to just get some nice, steady runs and be able to lean on that.”

I think this game has a chance to be fairly close given how both teams did against the Indians.

BRLD lost 34-14 at home to Ponca the last actual game they played, and have had a couple of weeks to get ready for Oakland-Craig, so I'm looking for the Wolverines to have a good showing and play well in this contest.

I think BRLD is capable of playing well, competing with, and giving the Knights a game.

The Wolverines have to be physical at the point of attack, and establish the run game as well as slow down Oakland-Craig's passing game.

BRLD has to limit Evan Reinert, Garrett Seagren, and Kobe Benne as much as possible.

If the Wolverines can slow down those three then they should put themselves in a good position to win the game.

You can bet the Knights will be upset and fired up given what happened to them last week so BRLD has to be ready for the energy and passion Oakland-Craig may come out with and throw at them early on.

The Wolverines have to start fast in this game, or at least keep things close at the start to have a chance, in my opinion. If BRLD can be in a scoreless game for a while or take like a 14-0 lead they give themselves a legit shot to win the game, in my opinion.

But if the Knights start fast and get up like 14-0 quickly it could be a long night for the Wolverines.

Pregame coverage begins at 6:40 with kickoff at 7:00 on 107.9 the Bull. The game can also be heard at www.kticradio.com or on the free KTIC Radio App.

Emerson-Hubbard falls at home to Humphrey St. Francis

The Emerson-Hubbard Football team lost 54-0 at home to Humphrey St. Francis Friday night.

Difficult game for the Pirates, but the Flyers are a very, very good team.

Emerson-Hubbard (1-2) hosts Wausa (2-1) Friday night.

The Vikings lost 52-12 at home to Fullerton this past Friday night.

Wausa isn't a bad team, and this game figures to be very compelling and entertaining.

It's one the Pirates have to have though with a surging Winside, Wynot, Allen, and Randolph to end the regular season.

This is a contest I feel Emerson-Hubbard needs to win to avoid finishing the regular season below .500.

That's not to say the Pirates can't beat the likes of Wynot and Randolph, but it won't be easy with both those teams on the road.

Emerson-Hubbard has to come out and play much better football than they did against Humphrey St. Francis.

A lot of teams falter to the Flyers, but how the Pirates bounce back will be key, in my opinion.

Emerson-Hubbard has to be positive and upbeat, and has to be over the Humphrey St. Francis loss.

I'm not thinking the loss to the Flyers really stung or is that devastating, but it's still a loss, and the Pirates have to be upset about losing.

Emerson-Hubbard can't accept losing and failure...the Pirates need to have the drive and determination to be successful and win.

Emerson-Hubbard has to be physically and mentally tough come Friday night.

The Pirates need to come ready to play, and must get off to a fast start and play four complete quarters of football.

Emerson-Hubbard has to get back to playing the type of defense they did against Scribner-Snyder.

The Pirates also need to get their offense on track, and break out.

Emerson-Hubbard really just has to be lights out on both sides of the ball to pick up a win.

If the Pirates play the way they did against the Trojans then they can definitely win. But if it's like last week or the opener against Hartington-Newcastle then Wausa very well might get Emerson-Hubbard and hand the Pirates their third loss of the season.

Scribner-Snyder falls at home to Winside

The Scribner-Snyder Football team lost 56-34 at home to Winside Friday night.

The Trojans trailed 22-6 at the end of one, and the Wildcats won the second quarter 20-14 to take a 42-20 lead into the locker room.

Both teams scored 8 points in the third quarter, and the score was 50-28 after three.

Both teams scored 6 fourth quarter points to make up the final score.

Sebastian Arnold carried the ball 26 times for 162 yards, and scored twice. Austin Peters had 127 yards rushing on 16 carries, and two scores of his own.

Hunter Adams led the way with 14 tackles while Josh McMillen and Ryon Leffel recorded 7 apiece.

Scribner-Snyder had 348 yards rushing. The defense gave up 402 yards of offense, including 210 passing.

So the Trojans definitely held their own from an offensive standpoint Friday night, but a sluggish start and the defense really let Scribner-Snyder down, in my opinion.

The Trojans (0-4) take on Fullerton (4-0) on the road Friday night.

The Warriors won 52-12 at Wausa this past Friday night.

This is going to be a really difficult game for Scribner-Snyder I'm afraid. The Trojans had their best shot at a win against Winside, and now take on Fullerton and Humphrey St. Francis on the road in back-to-back weeks.

Scribner-Snyder just needs to use these next two games as stepping stones for their last two regular season home games.

The Trojans will have a bye week prior to facing Osceola at home, and by that time Scribner-Snyder will have some things figured out perhaps.

These next two weeks' games figure to be very daunting and challenging, but the only way you get better is by playing tough teams.

The Trojans have to come out and try and compete against both teams the best they can.

I don't know a lot about Fullerton, but I do know they are a very good team.

The Warriors have been very good on both sides of the ball this season so if anything Scribner-Snyder will see what they need to do to become that way too.

The Trojans have to come out and play hard. It's easy to run away and hide when things get tough, but the great ones always fight and battle to the best of their ability no matter what.

Scribner-Snyder has to play with tremendous heart and pride Friday night.

The Trojans have to give it their all, and fight hard until the very end.

Scribner-Snyder may not win the game, but there will no doubt be things to take away from the game that can be used for the Humphrey St. Francis game.

The Trojans can't throw in the towel. There cannot be any quit or give up with this team whatsoever.

I know Scribner-Snyder is low on numbers and doesn't have a lot of depth, but the players have to compete at the highest level possible, and give 110% on every play.

The Trojans can rest after the season is over, but until then it has to be a all hands on deck effort from Scribner-Snyder.

These kids have to want and be willing to learn and grow. Their character and skill at the game of football will definitely be developed by what takes place in these next two games I would say given how good both the Warriors and Flyers are.

Pender loses at Wakefield

The Pender Football team lost 46-16 at Wakefield Friday night.

Senior Quarterback Brady Oliver was 11-29 passing for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Jaydon Jump racked up 15 tackles while Jesse Thompson made 12. Korbin Hardenbrook notched 8 while Tyler Nelson totaled 7.

The Pendragons had 183 yards of total offense, including 100 rushing.

Tough loss to swallow for Pender. I'm sure the Pendragons feel they should of been and were hoping to be much more competitive than they were.

Pender (1-2) hosts Homer (1-2) Friday night.

The Knights won 39-26 at home over Laurel-Concord-Coleridge this past Friday night.

Homer lost 44-21 at home to Wakefield earlier in the season.

So based on the scores of both teams' games against the Trojans, this could be a very good contest.

The Knights have to come into this game with a lot of confidence, there's no doubt about it.

With that said, the game is in Pender, and I fully expect the Pendragons to take care of business.

If Pender can get past this game, the Pendragons should be win out until GACC comes calling in October.

I have to admit though I expected more out of Pender against Wakefield, especially considering the Pendragons were coming off a bye week.

Perhaps just simply playing a game again will allow Pender to be on track for this week, but this is a game the Pendragons must have.

If Pender loses to Homer, their chances of hosting a first round playoff game could be very slim.

I think the Trojans are playing better now than they were when they beat the Knights, but still Homer has to have the Pendragons' attention.

Pender has to come out and light a fire under themselves, and be physical, hit hard, and play with mental and physical toughness, tenacity, grit, fire, passion, and pride.

The Pendragons have to come out upset and be ready to take it to the Knights for four quarters.

Nothing good comes from losing big to a rival, and so Pender has to take all their frustrations of losing to Wakefield out on Homer.

The Pendragons can still go out and have a very fine season, they just need to simply regroup.

Pender has to start over and pretend as if they are 0-0.

The Pendragons are a very good team, in my opinion, they just need to get back on track.

Everyone has to perform a little bit better than they have the last couple weeks for this thing to get going again.

The Pendragons have to simply be better on both sides of the ball. An explosive offense and shutdown defense will get Pender a lot of places so if the Pendragons can have both of those things Friday night they should roll.

Clarkson/Leigh spanks Omaha Nation

The Clarkson/Leigh Football team won 53-6 at home over Omaha Nation Friday night.

Lance Paprocki had 8 carries for 83 yards, and scored twice. Anthony Bruhn had 2 carries for 54 yards, both for touchdowns.

Travis Stanley made 8 tackles.

The Patriots had 261 yards of total offense, all on the ground.

Great team win for Clarkson/Leigh. Just what the doctor ordered, in my opinion.

The Patriots (1-2) host East Butler (2-1) Friday night.

The Tigers won 48-26 at home over Johnson-Brock this past Friday night.

East Butler is a very good team as they have all starters back from last season, but Clarkson/Leigh appears to have gotten healed up and back on track with the bye week and the win over the Chiefs.

I would say the Patriots are re-energized and ready to give East Butler their best shot.

The game being at home helps Clarkson/Leigh out quite a bit, in my opinion.

I look for Bruhn and Paprocki to have good games again for the Patriots.

Clarkson/Leigh's offense and defense was great against Omaha Nation, but especially the defense.

Giving up just 6 points is a big difference compared to the 46 and 62 given up the first two weeks.

The Patriots appeared to have figured some things out over the last couple of weeks, and you can bet Head Coach Jim Clarkson will have a good game plan come Friday night.

I look for Clarkson/Leigh to be prepared and ready for the Tigers. I think fans will see a very focused and determined, but loose Patriots team on the field Friday night.

Clarkson/Leigh really has nothing to lose in this game so the Patriots just have to go out there and play hard and let it rip.

I feel a few wins are coming the Patriots' way the next few weeks after this week so a good, strong performance Friday night would reassure that notion and thought for sure.

Clarkson/Leigh may not upset East Butler, but I feel this game will be closer than if the Patriots played the Tigers the first or second weeks of the season.

I feel this is a different Clarkson/Leigh team than what they were early in the season, and I really think the Patriots will go out there and compete at a high level Friday night.

Depth could certainly factor into this game late, but if Clarkson/Leigh can get out to a big lead, they may be able to hold on in the end and pull off the upset.

A fast start is critical for the Patriots, in my opinion. Clarkson/Leigh can't get off to a slow start and fall behind early. That could spell doom for the Patriots given how good a team East Butler is.

With that said, I think Clarkson/Leigh has to be feeling confident and upbeat heading into this game. I feel the Patriots have a real chance to compete well in this game.

GACC pulls one out at Nebraska City Lourdes

The GACC Football team avoided disaster at Nebraska City Lourdes Friday night, rallying in the 4th quarter to win win 28-22.

The Bluejays trailed 8-0 at the end of one, and 14-0 at halftime after the Knights shutout GACC 6-0 in the second quarter.

Both teams scored 8 third quarter points, and Nebraska City Lourdes led 22-8 after three.

The Bluejays blanked the Knights 20-0 in the final frame.

Jared Minnick ran the ball 30 times for 166 yards and a touchdown. Derek Petz was 8-16 passing for 105 yards with three interceptions.

Jadyn Smeal made 4 catches for 75 yards.

Jacob Yosten made a team-high 11 tackles while Smeal totaled 9.

GACC racked up 349 yards of total offense, including 244 on the ground.

The Bluejays did a nice job rallying in the fourth quarter, but they got lucky, in my opinion. GACC needs to play with that same sense of urgency all the time I would say.

The Bluejays (4-0) host Omaha Nation (1-3) Friday night.

The Chiefs lost 53-6 at home to Clarkson/Leigh this past Friday night.

GACC has to be focused, determined, sharp, and ready for Omaha Nation, but the Bluejays should be able to roll the Chiefs regardless.

GACC beat Clarkson/Leigh 62-18 if that tells you anything.

I think Omaha Nation is a perfect opponent for the Bluejays to have at this time.

GACC has been a little sluggish until it's mattered the last couple of games I would say, and needs to refocus and get back on track and take care of business.

The Bluejays need to come out and play a complete four quarter game against the Chiefs.

GACC has to build a big, insurmountable lead early and never look back and get up by enough to have a running clock.

I feel the Bluejays are a better team than what they've showed the last couple of weeks, and can definitely play better than they did for much of the time against Plainview and Nebraska City Lourdes.

GACC may be able to get through the regular season not playing their greatest, or at least have no troubles until Pender, but these sluggish starts will cost the Bluejays in the playoffs, in my opinion.

So GACC has to treat the rest of the regular season like it's the playoffs.

The Bluejays have to pretend that every game could be their last game of the season because that's what it's going to be like in the playoffs.

If GACC can simulate that playoff style of play, that atmosphere...then they could very well be on their way to big and great things.

But if the Bluejays continue to wait three quarters to wake up then it could be something like a second round playoff exit for GACC.

The Bluejays don't want that so that's why getting back on track and playing four quarters of football is so important.

Every week counts and is super critical to a team's season so GACC has to come up big throughout the rest of the season.

No more messing around. The Bluejays have to get down to business from here on out.

Wisner-Pilger falls at home to Hartington Cedar Catholic

Wisner-Hartington Cedar Catholic had no trouble with Wisner-Pilger Friday night, routing the Gators 56-0 on the road in High School Football on 107.9 the Bull.

The Trojans' Jacob Keiser got the scoring started, rumbling 29 yards for a TD to make it 7-0 Hartington Cedar Catholic with 8:55 left to go in the 1st quarter.

Jackson Eickhoff then took one in from 7 yards out at the 4:29 mark of the first quarter to give the Trojans a 14-0 edge.

Keiser found pay dirt for a second time in the second quarter, running one in from 17 yards out to put Hartington Cedar Catholic up 21-0 5 seconds into the quarter.

Eickhoff got into the act again about 3 minutes later, scoring again to give the Trojans a 28-0 advantage.

Keiser then ran one in from 6 yards out with 6:11 left go to until halftime, scoring his third TD of the game, to give Hartington Cedar Catholic a 35-0 cushion.

Keiser scored his 4th rushing touchdown of the half with 52 seconds left until halftime, and the Trojans led 42-0 at the break.

Eickhoff scored his 3rd rushing touchdown of the game with 5:44 remaining in the third quarter, and Hartington Cedar Catholic went up 49-0.

Connor Vlach scored the final touchdown of the game for the Trojans from 7 yards out to make up the final score.

Keiser finished with 158 yards rushing on 12 carries with four touchdowns for Hartington Cedar Catholic (4-0) while Eickhoff carried the ball 13 times for 105 yards, scoring three touchdowns.

The Trojans racked up 450 yards of total offense, including 388 on the ground while the Gators (0-4) had just 6 yards of offense.

Wisner-Pilger hosts Fremont Bergan (2-2) Friday night.

The Knights were shutout 27-0 at Battle Creek this past Friday night.

Fremont Bergan will most likely win this game, but I feel the game has a chance to be closer and more competitive than the last two weeks have been for the Gators.

Wisner-Pilger has been outscored 110-0 in their last two games, and simply have to be better.

The Gators competed fairly well in their first two games, but the last two weeks have been games to forget.

Wisner-Pilger hit rock bottom last week I would say, so it can only go up from here.

The Gators have to find a way to put points on the board, and gain more yards on offense.

6 yards of offense against the Trojans. I know Hartington Cedar Catholic is good, but wow.

Wisner-Pilger is very young, and brighter days are ahead I'm sure, but the Gators have to come out angry and upset against Fremont Bergan.

Wisner-Pilger has to want to play better than they have the last couple of weeks and this season as a whole for that matter.

Perhaps the Gators will put up double digits in points. That would be a positive step in the right direction for Wisner-Pilger I would say.

The Gators also have to be tougher and better on defense. Wisner-Pilger has to do a better job of being physical at the line of scrimmage and tackling.

It just has to be a better week overall for the Gators. Wisner-Pilger needs to see growth and improvement in all areas of the game for progress to be made.

The Gators have to be positive and be ready to play better than they did last week.

Wisner-Pilger has to play at a higher level than they have been. There's no other way to put it. At the end of the day youth and inexperience is an excuse.

The Gators have to come out and play smashmouth football Friday night.

Stanton loses big at Logan View

It was a tough night for the Stanton Football Team Friday night as the Mustangs lost 43-14 at Logan View.

The Raiders led 15-0 after one, and blanked the Mustangs 12-0 in the second quarter to take a 27-0 halftime lead.

Logan View shutout Stanton 10-0 in the third quarter to go up 37-0 after three.

The Mustangs outscored the Raiders 14-6 in the fourth quarter.

Kadyn Fernau had 65 yards rushing on 7 carries, including a score.

Gauge Erickson and Beau Wilke led the way with 9 tackles while Ashton Flood had 8. Sutton Pohlman and Ben Wilke totaled 7 apiece.

Stanton rolled up 131 yards of total offense, including 101 on the ground.

Difficult game for the Mustangs. Stanton has to put it behind them quickly with District play starting this week.

The Mustangs (2-2) host Lutheran High Northeast (3-1) Friday night.

The Eagles lost 55-40 at home to Lincoln Lutheran this past Friday night.

LHNE can score, and beat Cross County in their opener 65-20.

Stanton has to watch out for Wisner-Pilger transfer Korrell Koehlmoos, who had a big game last week from what I understand.

The Mustangs have to be better on offense and defense than they were against Logan View.

I must say I'm surprised Stanton has struggled on offense the way they have.

The Mustangs need to get things figured out in a hurry though because the schedule is brutal the rest of the way.

All of Stanton's remaining five games are very difficult.

The Mustangs could very well lose the rest of their games this season, but if there's a team that can find a way to rally and do something it's Stanton.

The Mustangs have to regroup, and gear up and get ready for this game with the Eagles.

LHNE got Stanton last year so I'm sure the Mustangs would love nothing more than to return the favor.

I'm not so sure Stanton is as good as they have been in the past though, and the Eagles appear to be stronger this year than they were last year.

Still though the game is in Stanton, and the Mustangs have to come out ready to defend their home field.

Stanton has to get ready to be physical and hit because this district is full of absolute juggernauts.

The Mustangs have to be ready to bring the sledge hammer because you can bet the Eagles will hit as hard as anyone Stanton has played so far this season.

Play time is over. The Mustangs have to man up, and buckle up their chin straps and be ready for a four quarter game Friday night.

Stanton has played two complete four quarter games, in my opinion, but the slow starts and non strong finishes will cost the Mustangs the rest of the way if they're not strong throughout.

Logan View routs Stanton

The Logan View Football team had their way with Stanton Friday night, winning 43-14 at home.

The Raiders led 15-0 after one, and blanked the Mustangs 12-0 in the second quarter to take a 27-0 halftime lead.

Logan View shutout Stanton 10-0 in the third quarter to go up 37-0 after three.

The Mustangs outscored the Raiders 14-6 in the fourth quarter.

What a great win for Logan View. The Raiders played an absolute masterful game, in my opinion.

Logan View (3-1) travels to Tekamah-Herman (1-3) to take on the Tigers Friday night.

Tekamah-Herman is coming off a 56-14 loss at Doniphan-Trumbull this past Friday night.

It has been a rough last few weeks for the Tigers, the last two especially though.

The Raiders, on the other hand, have played great Football the last couple of weeks.

Quite honestly Logan View has played about as well as one could of hoped for in picking up wins over Yutan and Stanton.

With that said, it's a new season with the start of district play.

The Raiders have to be thinking District Title, and it could certainly happen if Logan View keeps playing the way they have.

The Raiders have to be focused on beating the Tigers though. Tekamah-Herman is the only team Logan View should be focused on right now.

The Raiders will get their shot at Fremont Bergan and Oakland-Craig the next two weeks, but Logan View has to be ready to go and prepared to take care of business against Tekamah-Herman.

You can bet the Tigers will come out and play inspired, and give the Raiders their best shot.

Logan View has to be ready to receive Tekamah-Herman's best, and can't assume the Tigers will come out flat and uninspired.

Tekamah-Herman had a really tough first half in their last game, but I'm willing to bet the Tigers put that behind them and are looking to build off the momentum they gained from the second half of the Doniphan-Trumbull game.

What I'm trying to say is upsets happen all the time, and the Raiders have to be ready to play their best Friday night.

Logan View can't get caught looking ahead to Bergan and Oakland-Craig. The Raiders have to come out and put Tekamah-Herman away early, and leave no doubt as to who the better and more superior team is.

Logan View has something special going here, and has to keep the mojo going.

Tekamah-Herman drops game at Doniphan-Trumbull

It was tough sledding for the Tekamah-Herman Football team again Friday night as the Tigers lost 56-14 at Doniphan-Trumbull.

The Cardinals led 21-0 at the end of one and blanked Tekamah-Herman 28-0 in the second quarter to take a 49-0 lead into the locker room.

The Tigers won the third quarter 8-7, and the score after three was 56-8 in favor of Doniphan-Trumbull.

Tekamah-Herman blanked the Cardinals 6-0 in the 4th quarter.

Very tough first half for the Tigers, but I think the progress and heart Tekamah-Herman played with and showed in the second half has to be something encouraging and something they can build off of.

The Tigers (1-3) host Logan View (3-1) Friday night.

The Raiders won 43-14 at home against Stanton this past Friday night.

Logan View is on a roll right now and is playing very good football at the moment.

If Tekamah-Herman can play the way they did the whole second half for the entire game against the Raiders though then this could be an interesting contest.

The Tigers just can't have a first half like they did against Doniphan-Trumbull.

Tekamah-Herman has to play with confidence and a belief that they can spring the upset over Logan View.

The Tigers have to hope that the Raiders are in over their head, overconfident, and cocky in this one to have a real chance, in my opinion.

Knowing how well coached and disciplined Logan View is though that is not likely to happen.

Tekamah-Herman has to show up and put up a good fight though. The Tigers have to come out ready to work, play hard, and hit.

Tekamah-Herman has to play with a lot of heart and pride, and do everything they can to keep things close and pick up the win.

You only get four years of high school football, and the Tigers have to play with school pride Friday night.

Tekamah-Herman has to play like their season is on the line because it is in terms of making the playoffs.

The Tigers have to be proud to dawn the Purple and Vegas Gold, and be proud to wear a Tekamah-Herman uniform and play for Tekamah-Herman.

The Tigers are playing for more than just themselves....they're playing for their teammates, family, friends, the coaches, the school, and the two communities involved.

So Tekamah-Herman has to play with a sense of pride and purpose Friday night if they are to be successful, in my opinion.

West Point-Beemer runs past Fort Calhoun

The West Point-Beemer Football team continued their winning ways last week, winning 41-22 at Fort Calhoun Friday night.

The Cadets led 7-0 after one and won the second quarter 13-8 to go up 20-8 at halftime.

West Point-Beemer doubled up the Pioneers 14-7 in the third quarter, and led 34-15 at the end of three.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the 4th quarter.

Hunter Pilakowski ran the ball 17 times for 148 yards, and scored three touchdowns.

Kade Hughes racked up a team-high 9 tackles.

The Cadets totaled 219 yards of offense, 208 coming on the ground.

The defense gave up 343 yards of total offense, including 215 through the air.

Solid win for West Point-Beemer. The Cadets probably could of played better defense, but a good win nonetheless.

West Point-Beemer (4-0) hosts O'Neill 2-2) Friday night.

The Eagles lost 28-17 at Columbus Lakeview last time out.

The same Vikings team that beat Fort Calhoun 42-6.

It should be a really good and close game Friday night. I feel things can go either way.

If the Cadets can get this one they should be 6-0 heading into the Wayne game, and could very well secure a playoff berth.

This game with O'Neill is super critical as is every other game West Point-Beemer plays this season.

The Cadets would just assume win this week against the Eagles, and next week against Madison to all but secure themselves a berth in the playoffs.

Right now West Point-Beemer is sitting 4th in power points, and would be the No. 4 seed in C-1 if the playoffs started today.

The way the Cadets are playing right now has to put them in the conversation with Pierce and Norfolk Catholic.

West Point-Beemer has those two teams at home to round out the regular season, and I think the Cadets can compete with both.

There hasn't been this kind of quality football played at West Point-Beemer in quite some time, and the Cadets have to be excited about where they're at right now.

With that said, O'Neill is a very good, tough team being the defending C-1 State Champs and all.

It will be an interesting game to say the least, but a game I feel West Point-Beemer can definitely win.

The defense has to be tough and stout the way they were against Arlington and Wisner-Pilger, and the offense has to keep piling it on the way they have.

More specifically, Pilakowski has to run the ball as effectively as he has all season.

I would say he is the MVP of this team so far this season, and without him, the Cadets wouldn't be where they are.

Exciting times at West Point-Beemer, but the Cadets have to stay focused and can't be complacent or get caught up in the moment.

West Point-Beemer has to remain humble and hungry, and must be ready to take it to the Eagles for 4 quarters.