NSAA 11-Man State Championship Previews
(Lincoln, NE) - The 50th NSAA football playoffs come to an end at Memorial Stadium on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26 with the four 11-man state championship games, concluding Tuesday evening with the Class B game between Bennington and Omaha Skutt Catholic.
Traditional powers take the stage over the two days and nights including Omaha Westside making their sixth consecutive appearance in the Class A game, Bennington goes for a fourth straight Class B title and Norfolk Catholic makes their 21st state championship game appearance. And, there is a little bit of new as well, with Central City making their first ever state finals appearance in the Class C-1 game against Wahoo.
The championship games will be streamed on Nebraska Public Media and televised live on Nebraska Public Television.
Below is a preview of each contest.
Class A: Best Ever? Powers Westside and Millard South ready for title game
KICKOFF: 7:15 PM | Memorial Stadium at University of Nebraska
Omaha Westside (12-0) vs. Millard South (11-1)
The game that most thought would happen finally comes to fruition on Monday evening when top-seeded Omaha Westside faces second-seeded Millard South in the Class A state championship game.
The Warriors are appearing in their sixth straight state championship game and playing for a fourth title in the stretch, and third consecutive. Last season, in what many called one of the greatest ever teams in Class A, Omaha Westside outscored their four playoff opponents 200-6.
Things have not changed this year, said Millard South head coach Ty Wisdom.
“They are elite defensively. Just so very, very good,” he said. “They will do what they do and we will have to be ready for any new little wrinkles they might throw at us.”
Westside shutout Omaha Westview and Papillion-LaVista to open the playoffs before topping Omaha North 47-21 in the semifinals. Their counterpart Patriots have been just as impressive, scoring 56, 49 and 49 in three playoff outings while not yet giving up 20 points.
The Patriots high-powered passing attack is led by junior quarterback Jett Thomalla, who enters the state championship game with 3,444 yards passing, 44 touchdowns and just two interceptions on the season. He has already set playoff records for passing yards in a game (411 v. Kearney), a series and touchdown passes in a series. Senior Chase Lofton leads a balance receiver group with 54 receptions for 811 yards and 12 scores.
Westside counters offensively with sophomore playmakers Braylen Warren at quarterback and running back TayTay Jenkins. Warren has thrown for 2,053 yards on the season and 30 touchdowns, while Jenkins has rushed for 1,879 yards and accounted for 25 scores.
“The first key to stopping Westside, is you have to bottle up (Jenkins),” Wisdom said. “He is really good. And, then you just have to do your best after that to make them uncomfortable.”
Millard South lost an opening season game to Arizona power Basha High School, but has not lost to Nebraska competition. What still rings for the Patriots, however, is last year’s semifinal loss to Elkhorn South.
“Losing that game last year really hurt,” Wisdom said. “I didn’t prepare our kids well enough and we have had that in our memory for a long time.”
Westside is on a Class A record 32-game winning streak. Something has to give.
SLOWDOWN OR NO: In 24 combined games, the two teams have been held under 40 points just three times. Millard South in their loss to Basha, and Omaha Westside twice in their first three games (22-7 win over Omaha North and a 34-12 win over Millard West). Will there be stops or will this one go up and down the field.
DEFENDERS: While the offenses surely get most of the headlines, both defenses have allowed 20 points just a combined five times. Westside’s Christian Jones is a Nebraska commit and Under Armour All-American with 86 tackles on the season, while Reid McIntrye leads the Warriors with 96 stops. For Millard South, 10 players have 30+ tackles with Teagan Urban leading the way with 69.
Class C2: Where It Started – Norfolk Catholic, Bishop Neumann in Week One Rematch
KICKOFF: 10:15 AM | Memorial Stadium; University of Nebraska
Norfolk Catholic (12-0) vs. Bishop Neumann (11-1)
Norfolk Catholic and Bishop Neumann’s week one showdown turned out to be one with two teams good enough to meet in the final game of the year as well. Norfolk Catholic prevailed in that game 28-21 over the Cavaliers.
Since then, both teams have quietly gone about their business.
Norfolk Catholic allowed 20 points just one other time, against a high-powered Oakland-Craig offense while scoring 40 points per contest. Bishop Neumann, which has survived two one-score playoff wins, is averaging just over 44 points/game.
As has been the usual under long-time head coach Jeff Bellar, Norfolk Catholic comes to Lincoln with a balanced attack in looking for their third straight Class C-2 championship. Quarterback Callen Marshall has 1,462 yards passing with 21 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Running back Trevin Soukup has 1,133 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns.
Do-everything player Max Hammond has 638 yards rushing and 425 receiving on the season. He also has made 53-of-57 PATs for the Knights.
Bishop Neumann runs their offense around Nebraska football commit Conor Booth, who is third in the nation in rushing. He has carried 251 times for 2,906 yards and 49 touchdowns for the Cavaliers this season. Defensively, junior linebacker Jack Van Slyke has 144 tackles from his linebacker position.
TRADITION RICH: Norfolk Catholic is making their 21st state finals appearance. A 13th state championship would add to their all-class record of football titles. Bishop Neumann is making their 10th state championship game appearance and seeks a fourth state championship in school history.
Class C1: Bison’s dream run reaches final against Wahoo
KICKOFF: 2:45 PM | Memorial Stadium; University of Nebraska
Wahoo (12-0) vs. Central City (11-1)
Central City’s dream season has reached the pinnacle of Class C-1 football. A year removed from a 4-5 season, the Bison’s playoff run in 2024 culminates in the state championship game with a battle against season-long No. 1 Wahoo.
Head coach Troy Huebert said his team has saved their best football for the stretch run and all the “football coachspeak” has applied to his team.
“We coaches always say we want to be playing our best football in November,” he said. “That is very true for us, we are playing as well as we have all season. And, then the old ‘defense wins championships’ has certainly applied to us as well.”
The Bison, in their first state championship game in school history, have played excellent defense in the playoff series after starting slow in the regular season. They gave up 56 in their only loss – double overtime to Cozad, 56-55 – and four weeks later hung on to beat playoff qualifier Lincoln Christian 52-50.
But, in the playoffs, the Bison have given up just 14, 7 and 12 points. Last week in the state semifinal game against Sidney, they forced six Raider turnovers.
“I think what has been the best thing for us, has been simplifying things for our kids,” Huebert said. “I think, as coaches, we had them thinking a little too much and now we have just kind of turned them loose and they are playing with confidence.”
While the defense continues to improve and will be needed most they have a stable of playmakers on offense as well. Quarterback Parker Zikmund has thrown for 2,546 yards and 36 touchdowns while running back Corbin Kyes has rushed for 1,998 yards and 27 touchdowns.
They face a Wahoo team that returned nearly all of their production from last year’s team that lost to Boone Central 12-0 in the state championship game. The Warriors have allowed two scores just three times this year and scored 50 points in each playoff game.
Junior running back Kip Brigham has rushed for 1,900 yards on just 141 carries for a 13.5 yards per carry average. Quarterback Jase Kaminski has thrown for 1,490 yards. Senior Braylon Iverson leads the Wahoo defense with 93 tackles.
GAINING STEAM: Wahoo has not missed the playoffs since 2014 and will make their third finals appearance under coach Chad Fox on Tuesday. The Warriors defeated Pierce in the 2019 state final, 38-0 that completed a playoff series where they outscored four playoff opponents 166-14.
NEW HISTORY: Central City, as noted, plays in their first state title game in school history. They had just five playoff wins in school history prior to the start of the playoffs. Huebert said it’s been a great few weeks for the community. “We got a police escort into town after we beat Lakeview,” he said, “and then we had a full bus come out with us to Sidney. The people in Central City have just been awesome.”
Class B: Bennington goes for four in rematch with Skutt
KICKOFF: 7:15 PM | Memorial Stadium; University of Nebraska
Bennington (11-1) vs. Omaha Skutt Catholic (11-1)
Bennington and Skutt. Skutt and Bennington.
Class B’s two current leaders in many ways will end the football championships on Tuesday night. They played in the finals a season ago with Bennington pulling off a 21-0 win, while handing Skutt their only two losses of the 2023 campaign.
But, in the regular season Skutt finally cracked the Badgers with a 38-30 win that ended Bennington’s 46-game winning streak that is the Class B all-time record. The Badgers fell behind 21-0, came back for a 30-21 lead only to see Skutt answer.
“That game certainly exposed some weaknesses that we had,” Bennington coach Kam Lenhart said. “But, I loved how our kids responded and showed up with the humility to get better. We had to bounce back quickly against Elkhorn North the next week and we have gotten better each week (since the loss).”
Skutt features one of the top players in the class and state in wide receiver/defensive back/kicker Joe Kolega. He has 1,449 yards receiving on the season and 19 touchdowns. He has also connected on 57-of-61 PATs and three field goals. On defense, he has 57 tackles and six interceptions.
In the regular season game, Kolega was a nightmare for the Badgers. He had two touchdown receptions, kicked the go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter and on Bennington’s last possession, his pick-six sealed the victory.
“What Skutt is so good at is getting him in 1-on-1 positions and letting him make plays,” Lenhart said. “He’s got a strong body and can win jump balls, but what makes them even harder to defend is the quarterback (Dylan VanDyke) can really extend plays.”
VanDyke has thrown for 3,077 yards and 39 touchdowns on the season against just three interceptions.
Bennington, which returned eight starters on defense, has relied on that unit all season. Led by ringleader Kyler Lauridsen the Badgers have allowed more than ten points just twice during the year. For his part, Lauridsen – a three-time state wrestling champion – has 100 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks and two blocked kicks on the year.
“It’s one of the best communicating defenses that I have ever been around,” Lenhart said.
Quarterback Houston Hill has thrown for 1,450 yards and sophomore running back William Gutz has rushed for 1,205 yards and 11 touchdowns for Bennington.
PASSING THE TIME: Both coaches may find it a bit easier passing the time prior to their late kickoff on Tuesday by watching their alma maters in state championship games. Skutt coach Matt Turman played for his father, Tim at Bishop Neumann in the mid-90s before playing at Nebraska. Lenhart will keep an eye on Central City prior to the Class B game as well. “I am so happy for their kids and coaches,” he said. “And, it will be nice to have something to watch a little bit to pass the time on Tuesday.”
MORE STREAKS: Omaha Skutt has not missed the playoffs since 2010 and has won at least one game in the playoffs every year but two in that streak. They played in seven straight state finals from 2013-2019.
POPULATION SHIFT: Prior to their current run of success in Class B, Bennington’s last state championship came in 1989 in Class C-1. In that state final game, they defeated Sutton, which is now playing 8-man football while it’s possible that Bennington will move to Class A in the next scheduling cycle.
Tony Chapman is a freelance writer based in Grand Island. He has written for multiple Nebraska daily and weekly newspapers. His weekly Harvest Sports Newsletter covers a wide variety of Nebraska prep sports.