2022 Nebraska HS Football Preview: District A-6 | Class A Preseason Top 10
Class A District Breakdown: District A-1 | District A-2 | District A-3 | District A-4 | District A-5
| W | L | Off | Def | ||
| 1 | Lincoln Southeast | 5 | 5 | 18.8 | 24.0 |
| 2 | Millard West | 3 | 6 | 27.2 | 31.7 |
| 3 | Millard North | 3 | 6 | 34.7 | 32.4 |
| 4 | Lincoln Southwest | 3 | 6 | 17.6 | 25.9 |
| 5 | South Sioux City | 4 | 5 | 24.4 | 33.3 |
| 6 | Omaha Bryan | 1 | 7 | 8.6 | 38.3 |
Team Capsules
1. Lincoln Southeast Knights
Head Coach: Ryan Gottula
2021 Record: 5-5 (Off. Avg: 18.8 | Def. Avg: 24.0)
State Champions: 1976, 1977, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2011 | State Runner-Up: 1988, 1989, 1993
2021 Postseason: Lost to Omaha Burke in Class A first round, 21-3.
Key Returnees: Pierre Allen Jr. (6’2/195, WR/DL, Soph.); Manny Appleget (6’0/180, WR/DB); Owen Baxter (QB/DB, Jr.); Carsten Bluhm (6’5/220, TE/DL); Cash Buttenback (5’11/185, RB/LB, Soph.); Max Buttenback (6’1/200 RB/LB); Sam Dorfmeyer :6’1/195, LB); Sam Gandara (6’0/160, WR/DB); Gunnar Gottula (6’6/285, OL/DL); Lance Hesselgesser (6’1/200, RB/LB); Will Jesske (6’0/190, RB/LB); Cooper Johnson (6’5/280, OL/DL, Jr.); Nate McCashland (5’10/170, K/P)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 vs. Elkhorn South; 09/02 @ Lincoln East; 09/09 @ Papillion-LaVista; 09/16 vs. Lincoln North Star; 09/22 vs. Millard North; 09/30 @ Lincoln Southwest; 10/07 @ Millard West; 10/14 vs. Omaha Bryan; 10/21 @ South Sioux City
Preview: Lincoln Southeast crashed out in the first round of the playoffs after winning a round the previous three seasons. A quarterback will need to emerge for the 10-time Class A state champion, but having RB Max Buttenback (913 rushing, 8 TD’s) to rely on out of the backfield should boost the Southeast offense. Up front, the Knights are led by Nebraska commit Gottula and emerging junior Johnson. A sophomore to watch is WR/DE Pierre Allen Jr. (6’2/195). Defensively, experience will be key. LB’s Jesske and Hesselgesser are coming off solid junior seasons for the Knights. Southeast should find itself in the preseason Top 10 and be in the playoff hunt once again in 2022.
2. Millard West Wildcats
Head Coach: Kirk Peterson
2021 Record: 3-6 (Off. Avg: 27.2 | Def. Avg: 31.7)
State Champions: 2001, 2008 | State Runner-Up: 1998, 1999, 2009, 2015
2021 Postseason: Has not qualified for the postseason since 2020.
Key Returnees: Brady Brau (6’1/195, DB); Zach Cross (6’5/285, OL/DL); Brody Peterson (6’1/190, QB, Jr.); Reid Hazen (6’2/200, LB); Kegan Mountain (5’9/170, WR/DB); Payton Strong (5’9/175, RB/DB); Jackson Williams (5’9/175, WR/DB); Barrett Van Deun (6’1/235, OL/DL)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 @ Millard South; 09/02 vs. Omaha North; 09/09 @ Omaha Burke; 09/15 @ Creighton Prep; 09/23 vs. South Sioux City; 09/30 @ Millard North; 10/07 vs. Lincoln Southeast; 10/13 @ Lincoln Southwest; 10/20 vs. Omaha Bryan
Preview: A successful program over the years, Millard West’s streak of consecutive playoff appearances was snapped at 14 in 2021 as the Wildcats limped to a 3-6 mark. It will not sit well with the players coming back as the seniors get things moving back in the right direction. Junior QB Peterson (954 passing, 7 TD’s) is back to lead the Wildcats on offense. OL Cross will anchor the offensive front for Millard West. The holdovers on defense are talented, including DL Van Deun, DB Brau, and DB Mountain performed well in the offseason and jumped onto college radars. Millard West has a more manageable schedule in 2022, which should pay off in the long run.
3. Millard North Mustangs
Head Coach: Fred Petito
2021 Record: 3-6 (Off. Avg: 34.7 | Def. Avg: 32.4)
State Champions: 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2015 | State Runner-Up: 2002, 2004, 2007
2o21 Postseason: Has not qualified for the postseason since 2020.
Key Returnees:Michael Begley (6’1/215, LB); Christian Coffman (6’2/240, OL/DL, Jr.); Chris Frazier Jr. (6’1/280, OL/DL); Will Granger (6’3/190, RB/DB); Max Hogan (6’3/275, OL/DL); Pierce Mooberry (6’3/195, DL, Soph.); Brian Petry (5’7/190, RB/LB); Charlie Quaintance (6’4/200, QB); Caden Vermass (6’0/175, RB/DB, Soph.)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 @ Papillion-LaVista; 09/01 vs. Creighton Prep; 09/09 @ Millard South; 09/16 vs. Omaha Westside; 09/22 @ Lincoln Southeast; 09/30 vs. Millard West; 10/07 @ Omaha Bryan; 10/13 vs. South Sioux City; 10/21 vs. Lincoln Southwest
Preview: Despite an offense that averaged 34.7 points per game, 5-time Class A champion Millard North missed out on the playoffs for the second time in four seasons. QB Quaintance (1,275 total yards, 19 TD’s) has the potential to vault the Mustangs back into the postseason picture. RB Petry (884 rushing yards, 5 TD’s) is another threat out of the backfield for Millard North’s old-school offense. Up front, the Mustangs have a great nucleus led by the likes of All-Metro honoree Frazier Jr. and Hogan. Defensively, Millard North will need to improve after allowing 34.2 points per game a year ago. Expect LB Begley to emerge as the defensive leader. Millard North is absolutely a playoff threat in 2022.
4. Lincoln Southwest Silver Hawks
Head Coach: Andrew Sherman
2021 Record: 3-6 (Off. Avg: 17.6 | Def. Avg: 25.9)
State Runner-Up: 2005
2021 Postseason: Has not qualified for postseason since 2020
Key Returnees: Jack Baptista (5’8/175, WR/DB); Grant Berry (6’4/230, TE/DL); Jackson Carpenter (6’1/175, WR/DB, Soph.); Cole Erickson (6’2/200, TE/DL, Soph.); Kaalo Evans (6’0/190, RB/LB); Collin Fritton (5’11/170, QB); Cooper Jackson (5’11/185, RB/LB); Brogan Ling (6’3/205, WR/LB); Cole Luedtke (6’3/245, OL/DL); Connor Munn (6’0/210, OL/DL); Cal Newell (6’0/195, RB/DB); Tairen Rahe (6’0/170, DB); Trenton Sander (6’2/200, WR/LB)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 vs. Lincoln High; 09/01 @ Columbus; 09/09 vs. Lincoln East; 09/15 @ Papillion-LaVista; 09/22 vs. Omaha Bryan; 9/30 vs. Lincoln Southeast; 10/07 @ South Sioux City; 10/13 vs Millard West; 10/21 @ Millard North
Preview: Lincoln Southwest has an intriguing roster heading into 2022. After qualifying for the playoffs in five straight seasons, the Silver Hawks missed out on the postseason a year ago. Experience will be key for Southwest. On offense, QB Fritton, RB Newell (658 rushing yards, 6 TD’s), and All-City WR Baptista all return after seeing some success as juniors. On defense, Northern Iowa commit Ling, LB Jackson (83 tackles, 7 TFL, 3 sacks), DE Berry (49 tackles, 9 TFL, 3 sacks), and All-City DB Rahe lead what could be an impressive unit. Expect Lincoln Southwest to get back into the postseason discussion in 2022. This is a team that could get on a roll.
5. South Sioux City Cardinals
Head Coach: Jackson Dickerson
2021 Record: 4-5 (Off. Avg: 24.4 | Def. Avg: 33.7)
2021 Postseason: Has not qualified for postseason since 2012.
Key Returnees: Palmer Antonio (5’9/160, RB/DB, Soph.); Darrius Helms (6’0/195, QB/DB, Soph.); Mwamba Ngeleka (5’11/250, OL/DL); Richard Stewart (5’10/160, WR/DB, Jr.)
2022 Schedule: 08/25 vs. Sioux City North (IA); 09/01 @ Sioux City West (IA); 09/09 @ Omaha Northwest; 09/16 vs. Omaha South; 09/23 @ Millard West; 09/30 @ Omaha Bryan; 10/07 vs. Lincoln Southwest; 10/13 @ Millard North; 10/21 vs, Lincoln Southeast
Preview: With QB Helms operating the controls, South Sioux City has a bona fide playmaker on offense. The Cardinals went 2-0 against Class A competition last season while in Class B, including a win over district foe Omaha Bryan. DL Ngeleka (29 tackles, 6 TFL) will be expected to lead the defensive unit. Don’t be surprised to see South Sioux City perform well in 2022.
6. Omaha Bryan Bears
Head Coach: Ryan Hanson
2021 Record: 1-7 (Off. Avg: 8.6 | Def. Avg: 38.3)
Postseason: Has not qualified for postseason since 2007.
Key Returnees: Josiah Aldridge (6’1/200, TE/LB); Jeremiah Gorham (5’11/175, QB/DB); Elijah McCollough (6’0/175, WR/CB); Cole Rickley (6’1/195, WR/LB); Braylon Rogers (6’0/190, RB/LB); Montana Thompson (6’3/185, WR/DB, Jr.); Mi’Khel Thomas (5’10/175, LB, Jr.)
2022 Schedule: 08/26 @ Omaha South; 09/01 vs. Omaha Benson; 09/09 @ Bellevue East; 09/16 vs. Omaha Buena Vista; 09/22 @ Lincoln Southwest; 09/30 vs. South Sioux City; 10/07 vs. Millard North; 10/14 @ Lincoln Southeast; 10/20 @ Millard West
Preview: With one playoff win in school history coming in 2000 and having not qualified for the playoffs since 2007, Omaha Bryan has been putting in serious work to right the ship. There are winnable games on the schedule, especially towards the beginning of the season which could see the Bears get on a roll. RB/LB Rickley (76 tackles, 8 TFL) has All-State potential for Omaha Bryan. The Bears will need to perform better up front to get its offense moving in the right direction. There are reasons for optimism for the Bears entering the 2022 season.
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