2022 Nebraska HS Football Preview: District A-1

2022 Nebraska HS Football Preview: District A-1 | Class A Preseason Top 10

Class A District Previews: District A-2 | District A-3 | District A-4 | District A-5 | District A-6

		W	L	Off	Def
1	Millard South	9	1	48.8	16.7
2	Lincoln East	6	4	38.8	25.9
3	Columbus	7	3	30.7	29.0
4	Lincoln High	4	5	20.1	20.8
5	Lincoln North Star	1	8	12.6	33.3

Team Capsules

1. Millard South Patriots
Head Coach: Ty Wisdom
2021 Record: 9-1 (Off. Avg: 48.8 | Def. Avg: 16.7)
State Championships: 1995, 2009 | Runners-Up: 1996, 2008, 2010
Postseason: Lost to Omaha North in Class A first round, 49-42.
Key Players: Brock Dyer (5’11/200, OC); Zach Flegal (5’9/215, OL); Camden Kozeal (5’11/195, QB/WR/LB); JR Lecuona (6’3/225, DL, Jr.); Barrett Luce (6’4/280, OL/DL); Brock Murtaugh (6’3/205, WR/DB); ; Gavin Nunnelly (6’1/185, WR/CB); Grant Renken (6’1/200, TE/LB); Lance Rucker (6’3/205, TE/DL); Keaton Valdez (6’3/260, OL/DL, Soph.); Bryson Zimmerman (5’11/210, DL)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 vs. Millard West; 09/02 @ Elkhorn South; 09/09 vs. Millard North; 09/15 vs. Gretna; 09/23 @ Lincoln North Star; 09/29 vs. Lincoln East; 10/06 vs. Columbus; 10/13 @ Omaha Westside; 10/21 @ Lincoln High
Preview: After rolling to an unbeaten regular season in 2021, Millard South was thwarted by an upstart Omaha North team in the first round of the playoffs and enters the season with unfinished business. Insert the athletic Kozeal (13 total TD’s) at QB, which is encouraging for new head coach Ty Wisdom. WR/DB Murtaugh (290 receiving, 3 TD’s; 51 tackles, 4 TFL, INT) could have a huge season in the passing game as well as being an impact player on defense. North Dakota commit Rucker, Zimmerman, and Lecuona combined for 10 sacks to give the Patriots one of the top defensive fronts in the state. The secondary features Nunnelly, who has received college interest with his solid performances in camps. Millard South is 36-7 over the last four seasons and is a program that reloads rather than rebuilds. The schedule early on will test the Patriots.


2. Lincoln East Spartans
Head Coach: John Gingery
2021 Record: 6-4 (Off. Avg: 38.8 | Def. Avg: 25.9)
State Championships: 1975, 1979
2021 Postseason: Lost to Gretna in Class A first round, 59-42.
Key Returnees: Dash Bauman (6’2/180, RB/LB, Jr.); Treyson Bott (6’0/200, RB/LB); Sam Cappos (6’1/260, OL/DL); Malachi Coleman (6’5/190, WR/DL); Ethan Harris (5’8/195, RB/LB); Jackson Neal (6’4/275, OL/DL); Kamdyn Roebke (6’1/195, WR/DB); A.J. Seisys (5’8/130, WR/DB); Carter Templemeyer (6’2/185, WR/DB); Jacob Utecht (5’10/210, OL/DL); Andres Zuniga (5’10/190, OL/DL)
2022 Schedule: 08/25 vs. Kearney; 09/02 vs. Lincoln Southeast; 09/09 @ Lincoln Southwest; 09/15 vs. Lincoln Northeast; 09/23 @ Columbus; 09/29 @ Millard South; 10/07 vs. Lincoln High; 10/14 vs. Lincoln North Star; 10/21 @ Gretna
Preview: A new quarterback will need to emerge for an offense that averaged 38.8 points per game in 2021. Thankfully, Lincoln East can rely on WR/DL Coleman (581 receiving, 33 ypc, 10 TD’s; 57 tackles, 7.5 sacks), who is a can’t miss prospect with Power 5 attention. There are plenty of holdovers on defense for the Spartans. Cappos (68 tackles) is the leader up front and is considered a potential college prospect. LB’s Bauman (99 tackles, INT) and Bott will also boost the defense. Lincoln East will find itself in the playoff race once again in 2022.


3. Columbus Discoverers
Head Coach: Craig Williams
2021 Record: 7-3 (Off. Avg: 30.7 | Def. Avg: 29.0)
2021 Postseason: Lost to North Platte in Class A first round, 24-17.
Key Returnees: Liam Blaser (6’0/205, RB/LB); Dylan Crumley (5’10/150, WR/DB, Jr.); Adoriyan Daniels (5’8/150, WR/DB); Tanner Esch (6’0/160, WR/DB, Jr.); Carter Fedde (6’1/230, OL/DL, Jr.); Santos Gonzalez (6’2/290, OL/DL); Joel Thomas (OL/DL, 6’3/270; Jr.); Braylon Vancura (6’1/160, QB, Jr.)
2022 Schedule: 08/19 @ Fremont; 08/26 vs. Norfolk; 09/01 at Lincoln Southwest; 09/08 @ Omaha North; 09/16 @ North Platte; 09/23 vs. Lincoln East; 10/06 @ Millard South; 10/14 vs. Lincoln High; 10/20 @ Lincoln North Star
Preview: Columbus is searching for its third consecutive playoff appearance in Class A. RB/LB Blaser (727 rushing yards, 10 TD’s; 94 tackles, 8 TFL; 4 INT’s) will provide senior leadership on both sides of the football. The Discoverers are inexperienced in some positions, but will be boosted by a strong junior class. Thomas and Fedde should emerge to give Columbus solid units up front. Columbus will be in the playoff discussion yet again out of District A-1.


4. Lincoln High Links
Head Coach: Mark Macke
2021 Record: 4-5 (Off. Avg: 20.1 | Def. Avg: 20.8)
State Runner-Up: 1992
2021 Postseason: Have not qualified for postseason since 2020.
Key Players: Connor Alley (5’11/190, RB/LB, Jr.); Julian Babahanov (5’10/190, QB/LB); Hoonchga Cleveland (6’3/255, OL/DL); Donald Defrand Jr. (6’1/170, WR/CB, Jr.); Regiel Gaines (5’7/200, RB/DL); Trequan Henley (5’10/300, OL/DL); Adonis Hutchinson (6’1/175, WR/DB); Javon Leuty (5’10/160, WR/DB): Dane Mentore (5’7/200, FB/LB); Beni Ngoyi (6’4/190, WR/DB); Omarion Weaver (6’0/230, OL/DL)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 @ Lincoln Southwest; 09/02 vs. Omaha Northwest; 09/09 vs. Omaha Central ; 09/16 vs. Grand Island; 09/23 @ Lincoln Northeast; 09/30 vs. Lincoln North Star; 10/07 @ Lincoln East; 10/14 @ Columbus; 10/21 vs. Millard South
Preview: Lincoln High is searching for its first playoff victory since making a run to the Class A final back in 1992. A program with some upside heading into the 2022 season, the Links have difference makers on offense. Iowa State pledge Ngoyi (467 receiving, 6 TD’s), Leuty (289 receiving, 4 TD’s), and Hutchinson provide big play threats, while Hutchinson may end up at QB. OL Henley was an All-City performer as a junior, with junior DB DeFrand Jr. holding a Power 5 offer coming into the season. If the Links can answer some questions up front and at quarterback, the future could be bright.


5. Lincoln North Star Navigators
Head Coach: James Thompson
2021 Record: 1-8 (Off. Avg: 12.6 | Def. Avg: 33.3)
2021 Postseason: Missed Playoffs
Key Returnees: Dylan Hallett (5’10/160, WR); Daniel Johnson (5’10/205, RB/LB, Jr.); Thomas Davis (5’11/185, WR, Jr.); Jayden Potter (6’6/305, OL/DL, Jr.); Kade Seip (6’3/235, LB); Braeden Sunken (6’3/180, QB, Jr.); Xavier Von Busch (6’3/285, OL/DL, Jr.)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 @ Omaha Benson; 09/01 @ Lincoln Northeast; 09/08 vs. Kearney; 09/16 @ Lincoln Southeast; 09/23 at Millard South; 09/30 @ Lincoln High; 10/07 vs. Norfolk; 10/14 @ Lincoln East; 10/20 vs. Columbus
Preview: With one playoff win in school history (2018), North Star is a program searching to find its way. There is plenty of reason for optimism with a new head coach in place for the Navigators. On offense, the running game should improve with OL Potter up front. Seip (71 tackles, 10 TFL) is expected to be the leader on defense after his All-City performance as a junior. North Star can hang its hat on a talented junior class, which should see them improve in 2022. North Star is a team to keep an eye on.