2022 Nebraska HS Preview: Class B Preseason Top 10 | Preseason Class B All-State
The Top 10
1. Scottsbluff | 8-3 (Off. Avg. 40.0 | Def. Avg. 19.1) – On paper, the stars appear to be aligning for the Bearcats. A four-time Class B runner-up, Scottsbluff is still searching for its elusive state title in football. Having two of its most productive players back from an offense that averaged 436 yards per game is a huge boost, led by QB Braeden Stull and junior RB Sebastien Boyle. Nebraska OL commit Brock Knudson is expected to anchor the offensive line. On defense, a handful of playmakers are back including the LB trio of Josiah Mobley, Jace Wilkinson, and Michael Thrash along with DB Tyson Klein joining them. This might be the year for Scottsbluff.
2. Omaha Skutt | 7-4 (32.2 | 27.9) – Five-time state champion Skutt Catholic is looking for its first triumph since 2019. It is highly possible junior QB Bennett Turman settles into the signal calling role with the Skyhawks, which has a high potential for success. The Skyhawks are deeper than a normal Class B school, which is another benefit. TE/DL Brandt Pickrell is the top overall prospect for Skutt, but Iowa State WR/DB pledge Wyatt Archer is another threat with the ball in his hands and a leader on defense for the Skyhawks. Skutt will be involved with the Class B race again. As you were.
3. Elkhorn | 9-2 (30.4 | 18.3) – Elkhorn’s state title in 2020 was the sixth in school history. Last season, district foe Bennington handed the Antlers both losses on the season en route to the state title. TE/LB Tanner Houck and OL/DL Aidan Betz are the top players for the Antlers, both committed to Division II schools. Like clockwork, the Elkhorn program will fill the holes created by graduation. There is a chance the Antlers could regain stranglehold of the district from Bennington.
4. Bennington | 13-0 (44.4 | 16.1) – An offensive juggernaut en route to the state championship in Class B, Bennington averaged 476 yards per game during its unblemished season a year. The Badgers will need to replace a 3,000-yard rusher, but return talented passer Trey Bird at QB. RB Nick Colvert and WR Issac Conner will boost the offensive attack for Bennington. Weston Heinemann and Ethan Nguyen will anchor the front for the Badgers. A repeat performance is not out of the equation for the Badgers.
5. Lincoln Pius X | 2-7 in Class A (20.3 | 30.1) – Winners in Class B on six occasions, Lincoln Pius X drops from Class A after qualifying of the playoffs in five out of six seasons. Pius X was extremely competitive last season, losing to five playoff teams. RB/LB Matt Bohy was an All-City honoree as a junior, while OL/DL Barrett Walker will lead the effort up from for the Thunderbolts. This is a team that has a high ceiling and can get on a roll.
6. York | 5-5 (13.6 | 21.5) – If the Dukes can get the offense moving in the right direction, there is a chance York could be a team to fear in November. York is especially talented up front on both sides of the football, with LB Dalton Snodgrass emerging as the leader. OL/DL Kadence Velde will anchor the lines along with Jude Collingham. Watch out for sophomore WR/LB Leyton Snodgrass (6’5/190). If its offensive production increases from a year ago, watch out. 
7. Grand Island Northwest | 5-5 (32.5 | 29.7) – A team that saw some success on offense a year ago has some holes to fill, but the defense should be improved with North Dakota State DL commit Victor Isele leading the effort for the Vikings. OL/DL Owen Harb should be a boost up front for the Vikings, who have qualified for the playoffs for seven straight seasons. Watch out for junior TE/DL Joseph Stein (6’5/225).
8. Plattsmouth | 10-1 (35.3 | 12.7) – The Blue Devils will need to replace a 2,000-yard rusher, but have some experience coming back in junior RB Ethan Walker. Watch out for OL/DL Dylan Eby, who has outstanding sophomore tape and is one of the top linemen in Class B. Plattsmouth has a lot of motivation after winning its first 10 games before falling out of the playoffs last season and have been on an upward trajectory for a few seasons.
9. Waverly | 7-4 (33.2 | 21.9)- Waverly made a run to the state semifinals a year ago and have some solid pieces coming back, including RB/DB Preston Harms, LB Cooper Skrobecki, QB/DB Trey Jackson, and LB Kaleb Axmann.
10. Omaha Gross | 4-6 (28.4 | 29.8) – This is probably a little low for a team that won three in a row to make the playoffs before losing by six to then-unbeaten Plattsmouth in the first round. Jake Garcia is a returning 1,000-yard rusher for the Cougars. Carson Almgren and Salvatore Nacarelli will be a huge boost for Omaha Gross up front.
District Breakdowns: District B-1 | District B-2 | District B-3 | District B-4 | District B-5
Teams to Watch:
Beatrice | 6-4 (29.9 | 31.6) – Beatrice has a solid roster coming back from a playoff team from a year ago, led by returning 1,000-yard rusher Deegan Nelson, WR/DB Luke Feist, TE/DL Tucker Timmerman, and OL/DL Mason Leonard.
Norris | 4-6 (31.1 | 24.6) – There are some questions heading into the season for the Titans, but Norris has a chance to reload quickly and make a push for the postseason.
Seward | 8-3 (27.5 | 23.4) – With its roster depleted due to graduation, Seward will need to reload but have Preseason All-State WR Micah Hackbart available.
Link: Class B Schedules
Returning Class B Stat Leaders (Possibly Inaccurate)
| PASSING | Team | CMP | ATT | PCT | YDS | TD’S | INT’S |
| T. Bird | Bennington | 117 | 184 | .636 | 2181 | 24 | 3 |
| B. Soukup (Jr.) | Blair | 98 | 189 | .519 | 1290 | 11 | 11 |
| W. Brewster | Mount Michael | 106 | 226 | .469 | 1210 | 8 | 13 |
| T. Petsche | Pius X | 89 | 186 | .478 | 1125 | 10 | 8 |
| B. Stull | Scottsbluff | 54 | 101 | .535 | 963 | 7 | 4 |
| RUSHING | Team | CARR | YDS | AVG | TD’s |
| S. Boyle | Scottsbluff | 210 | 1774 | 8.5 | 25 |
| J. Garcia | Omaha Gross | 155 | 1185 | 7.6 | 12 |
| D. Nelson | Beatrice | 168 | 1097 | 6.5 | 14 |
| B. Stull | Scottsbluff | 138 | 1089 | 7.9 | 20 |
| M. Bohy | Pius X | 197 | 900 | 4.7 | 11 |
| RECEIVING | Team | REC | YDS | AVG | TD’s |
| J. Carpenter | Lexington | 32 | 556 | 17.4 | 4 |
| M. Hackbart | Seward | 33 | 452 | 13.7 | 9 |
| J. Connolly | Omaha Skutt | 17 | 441 | 25.9 | 5 |
| T. Harring | GI Northwest | 31 | 417 | 13.5 | 6 |
| N. Colvert | Bennington | 20 | 364 | 18.2 | 1 |
2021 Class B Playoff Results
First Round
Bennington 51, McCook 13
Waverly 59, Northwest 13
Seward 21, Omaha Roncalli Catholic 19
Elkhorn 36, York 0
Plattsmouth 19, Omaha Gross Catholic 13
Omaha Skutt Catholic 31, Norris 10
Scottsbluff 54, Beatrice 21
Aurora 49, Lexington 7
Quarterfinals
Bennington 41, Waverly 0
Elkhorn 35, Seward 20
Omaha Skutt Catholic 20, Plattsmouth 10
Aurora 34, Scottsbluff 14
Semifinals
Bennington 28, Elkhorn 7
Aurora 21, Omaha Skutt Catholic 17
Championship Final
Bennington 42, Aurora 14
Nebraska HS Football 