2022 Nebraska HS Football Preview: District A-2 | Preseason Class A Top 10
Class A District Previews: District A-1 | District A-3 | District A-4 | District A-5 | District A-6
| W | L | Off | Def | ||
| 1 | Gretna | 12 | 1 | 29.4 | 13.6 |
| 2 | Bellevue West | 10 | 2 | 50.0 | 17.9 |
| 3 | Papillion-LaVista South | 4 | 6 | 23.9 | 29.1 |
| 4 | Bellevue East | 2 | 7 | 12.2 | 42.0 |
| 5 | Omaha South | 1 | 8 | 18.9 | 44.0 |
Team Capsules
1. Gretna Dragons
Head Coach: Mike Kayl
2021 Record: 12-1 (Off Avg: 29.4 | Def Avg: 13.6)
2021 Postseason: Won Class A state championship game over Omaha Westside, 7-3 (Title vacated by NSAA due to ineligible player)
Key Players: Tyson Boganowski (5’10/170, WR/DB); Korver Demma (6’2/225, LB); Zane Flores (6’3/190, QB); Mason Goldman (6’5/250, OL/DL); Blayke Moore (6’2/200, DB); Joe Roll (5’10/170, WR/DB); Caleb Schnell (6’3/200, WR); Ethan Stuhr (6’2/200, LB); Joey Vieth (6’3/175, DB, Jr.); Harrison Weber (6’1/215, RB); Isaiah Weber (5’7/170, RB/DB, Jr.)
2022 Schedule: 08/25 @ Omaha Burke; 09/02 vs. Omaha Central; 09/09 vs. Creighton Prep; 09/15 @ Millard South; 09/23 @ Bellevue East; 09/30 vs. Bellevue West; 10/06 @ Papillion-LaVista South; 10/14 vs. Omaha South; 10/21 vs. Lincoln East
Preview: What transpired after last season is old news. Gretna will find itself in position to make another run at a state title in 2022. Oklahoma State QB commit Flores (2,885 passing, 26 TD’s; 10 rushing TD’s) returns to operate the controls with Roll (877 receiving, 8 TD’s) and Schnell (529 receiving, 2 TD’s) also back. OL Goldman has received plenty of FBS interest during the offseason. On defense that allowed just 10 total points in the last three games of the season, Stuhr (67 tackles, 4 TFL), Moore (74 tackles, 5 INT’s) and Demma (54 tackles, 7 sacks) are the leaders for the Dragons. 
2. Bellevue West Thunderbirds
Head Coach: Michael Huffman
2021 Record: 10-2 (Off Avg: 50.0 | Def. Avg: 17.9)
State Champions: 2016, 2019
2021 Postseason: Lost to Omaha Westside in Class A semifinals, 41-28.
Key Players: T.K. Barnett (5’9/165, WR/DB); Jydn Bullion (6’0/245, RB/LB); Gio Contreras (5’10/180, RB); Cayden Echternach (6’4/240, TE); Jackson Frill (5’9/165, DB); Dae’Vonn Hall (6’2/175, WR, Jr.); Caleb Jacobmeyer (6’1/205, LB); Asher Jenkins (6’1/175, DB, Jr.); Kyrell Jordan (5’9/160, WR); Daniel Kaelin (6’2/195, QB, Jr.); Alex Nichols (5’11/175, LB); Jackson Remmert (6’4/275, OL/DL); Bennett Schroeder (6’2/260, OL/DL); Kellen Stueben (6’2/270, OL); David Waller |6’0/290, OL/DL); Donovan Whitfield (6’3/185, WR/DB);
2022 Schedule: 08/19 @ Creighton Prep; 08/26 @ Omaha North; 09/02 vs. Omaha Burke; 09/09 @ Omaha Westside; 09/15 vs. Kearney; 09/23 vs. Omaha South; 09/30 @ Gretna; 10/07 vs. Bellevue East; 10/21 @ Papillion-LaVista South
Preview: Bellevue West is 67-9 over the past six seasons while winning Class A state championships in 2016 and 2019, making the playoffs in every season since 2002. QB Kaelin is a Power 5 prospect with plenty of firepower on offense, including fellow Power 5 prospect in WR Hall (592 receiving, 9 TD’s). Barnett (484 receiving, 6 TD’s), Jordan (476 receiving, 3 TD’s), and TE Echternach will give Kaelin plenty of options. LB Nichols (52 tackles, 3 TFL) is expected to be the leader on defense that will be boosted by transfer LB Bullion, but expect talent to step up in the secondary. Bellevue West will be a threat to win Class A in 2022 and will push Gretna in District A-2.
3. Papillion-LaVista South Titans
Head Coach: Tim Clemenger
2021 Record: 4-6 (Off. Avg: 23.9 | Def. Avg: 29.1)
Postseason: Lost to Omaha Westside in Class A first round, 49-0.
Key Players: Broden Bahl (6’1/185, LB); Ayden Barnby (6’3/225, DL); Kylan Connor (5’8/150, RB/DB); Brady Fitzpatrick (6’0/160, QB); Devyn Jones (6’0/210, RB/LB); Trace Marco (5’10/190, LB); Henri Supenski (6’3/270, OL/DL); Matthew Thompson (6’2/220, DL)
2022 Schedule: 08/19 vs. North Platte; 08/26 @ Fremont; 09/02 vs. Papillion-LaVista; 09/08 @ Elkhorn South; 09/16 vs. Omaha Burke; 09/30 @ Omaha South; 10/06 vs. Gretna; 10/13 @ Bellevue East; 10/21 vs. Bellevue West
Preview: A solid program that has qualified for the postseason in eight of the last nine seasons, Papio South searching for the first playoff victory since 2015. There are plenty of pieces in place to make a run at another playoff appearance, led by RB Jones (874 rushing yards, 11 TD’s) and experience at with QB Fitzpatrick (1,105 passing yards, 11 TD’s). LB Marco (59 tackles, 5 TFL) and DL Barnby (41 tackles, 4 sacks) are expected to be the leaders up on defense for the Titans. A playoff push is not out of the question once again for Papio South. 
4. Bellevue East
Head Coach: Aaron Thurmann
2021 Record: 2-7 (Off. Avg: 12.2 | Def. Avg: 42.0)
Postseason: Last qualified for postseason in 2020.
Key Players: Cesar Agraz (6’2/255, OL/DL); Adin Carerra (5’9/170, RB/DB); Marshal Chandler (5’11/180, WR/LB); Mason Chandler (6’0/200, RB/LB, Jr.); Mikey Gow (6’1/170, QB, Soph.); Branson Grieb (RB/LB); Jacob Schuck (5’8/165, WR/DB)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 vs. Lincoln Northeast; 09/02 @ Norfolk; 09/09 vs. Omaha Bryan; 09/16 @ Omaha Northwest; 09/23 vs. Gretna; 09/30 vs. Omaha Benson; 10/07 @ Bellevue West; 10/13 vs. Papillion-LaVista South; 10/21 @ Omaha South
Preview: Hard work in the offseason will start to pay off in 2022 for Bellevue East. Thurmann takes over the program, coming to Bellevue East from Schuyler. After making viral headlines in the offseason, QB Gow will settle in to run the offense. Expect to see vast improvement for a team searching for its first playoff victory since 2004. Watch out for RB/LB Mason Chandler. If Bellevue East can figure some things out up front, a huge step forward is possible for the program. 
5. Omaha South Packers
Head Coach: James Patterson
2021 Record: 1-8 (Off. Avg: 18.9 | Def. Avg: 44.0)
Postseason: Last qualified for the postseason in 2004.
Key Players: Jaedon Baker (5’11/200, RB/LB); Jesus Estrada (6’3/295, OL/DL, Jr.); Mohamad Sangale (5’11/165, RB/DB); Dylan Sheard (6’2/215, RB/LB, Jr.); Aric Thomas (6’3/200, WR/DB); Daeshawn Tolbert (6’1/235, QB/LB)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 vs. Omaha Bryan; 09/02 vs. @ CB Thomas Jefferson (IA); 09/09 vs. Omaha Buena Vista; 09/16 @ South Sioux City; 09/23 @ Bellevue West; 09/30 vs. Papillion-LaVista South; 10/06 vs. Omaha Northwest; 10/14 @ Gretna; 10/21 vs. Bellevue East
Preview: Omaha South has not had a lot of success on the gridiron over the years but has more than made up for it with state title success on the hardwood. The Packers have never won a playoff game and have not made the bracket since 2004. If you look at the slate in 2022, you could foresee the Packers getting on an early roll with winnable games in the first four. There are things to like about South’s offense. QB Tolbert (1,397 passing yards, 13 TD’s) and WR Thomas (51 receptions, 825 yards, 7 TD’s) make a solid combo on offense. Junior RB/LB Sheard is a prospect to watch. A huge improvement could be imminent for the Packers.
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