2022 Nebraska HS Football Preview: District B-1

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

Class B District Breakdowns: District B-2 | District B-3 | District B-4 | District B-5

		W	L	Off	Def
1	Elkhorn	10	2	27.8	16.8
2	Bennington	13	0	44.4	16.0
3	Blair	1	8	18.2	28.2
4	Elkhorn North	1	8	22.6	34.1
5	Mount Michael	1	8	13.6	35.9
6	Omaha Westview	–	–	–	–

Top Players
Jaxson Andrews | Bennington | 5’11/175 | TE/LB – 83 tackles, 3 TFL
Aidan Betz | Elkhorn | 6’3/280 | OL/DL – 2021 Class B All-State (OWH); Committed to Minnesota State-Mankato
Trey Bird | Bennington | 6’1/165 | QB – 2,181 passing, 24 TD’s; 331 rushing, 5 TD’s
Wyatt Brewster | Mount Michael | 6’1/165 | QB – 1,210 passing, 8 TD’s
Conor Connealy | Mount Michael | 6’3/225 | OL/DL – 35 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Owen Douglas | Bennington | 5’11/150 | WR/DB – 43 tackles, 3 INT’s
Cooper Fedde | Elkhorn | 5’11/205 | LB – One of the top holdovers on what should be a solid Elkhorn defense
Weston Heinemann | Bennington | 6’4/200 | DL – 41 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks
Tanner Houck | Elkhorn | 6’4/215 | TE – Committed to Wayne State (NE); Huge target in the passing game for the Antlers
Dane Larsen | Blair | 5’9/175 | RB/LB – 431 rushing, TD; 60 tackles, 11.5 TFL
Ethan Nguyen | Bennington | 6’4/230 | DL – 32 tackles, 6 TFL
Seagan Packett-Trisdale | Blair | 6’2/300 | OL/DL
Cole Sharar | Elkhorn North | 6’4/305 | OL/DL – Experience gained in year two of the program should be a benefit
Bode Soukup | Blair | 6’1/175 | QB (Jr.) – 1,290 passing, 14 total TD’s
J’Shawn Unger | Blair | 6’4/205 | WR/LB (Jr.) – Nebraska baseball commit; 342 receiving, 4 TD’s

Team Capsules

1. Elkhorn Antlers
Head Coach: Dan Feickert
2021 Record: 10-2 (Off. Avg: 27.8 | Def. Avg: 16.8)
Postseason: Lost to Bennington in Class B semifinals, 28-7
2022 Schedule: 8/26 @ Waverly; 9/1 vs. Norris; 9/8 @ Omaha Gross Catholic; 9/16 vs. Omaha Skutt Catholic; 9/23 @ Bennington; 9/30 vs. Elkhorn North; 10/7 @ Blair; 10/13 vs. Mount Michael; 10/21 @ Omaha Westview
Preview: After winning the whole thing in 2020, six-time Class B state champion Elkhorn fell short after losing twice during the season to eventual state champion Bennington. OL/DL Aidan Betz (6’3/280) is the top prospect for the Antlers after his Class B All-State performance (Omaha World-Herald) as a junior. TE/LB Tanner Houck, OL/DL Jackson Ninete, DL Aiden Mountain, and LB Cooper Fedde are prospects to watch for the Antlers. Betz and Houck enter their senior seasons committed to Division II programs. Elkhorn will be in the thick of the race for another state title if the newcomers can elevate their game in a hurry.

2. Bennington Badgers
Head Coach: Kam Lenhart
2021 Record: 13-0 (Off. Avg: 44.4 | Def. Avg: 16.0)
Postseason: Defeated Aurora to win Class B state championship, 42-14.
2022 Schedule: 8/26 vs. Omaha Skutt Catholic; 9/2 @ Plattsmouth; 9/9 vs. York; 9/16 @ Lincoln Pius X
9/23 vs. Elkhorn; 9/30 @ Blair; 10/7 vs. Omaha Westview; 10/14 @ Elkhorn North; 10/20 @ Mount Michael
Preview: Averaging 476.0 yards per game with a 3,000-yard rusher and a 2,000-yard passer, Bennington steamrolled to the Class B state championship while playing better as the season wore on.
QB Trey Bird (2,181 passing, 24 TD’s) is back to lead the Badgers. Expect Jaxson Andrews and Alex Foltz to anchor the defense from their LB positions. Up front, Weston Heinemann and Ethan Nguyen will be the top holdovers. Having to replace a number of All-State players will be difficult, but Bennington should manage.

3. Blair Bears
Head Coach: Bryan Soukup
2021 Record: 1-8 (Off. Avg: 18.2 | Def. Avg: 28.2)
Postseason: Has not qualified for postseason since 2020
2022 Schedule: 8/26 vs. Plattsmouth; 9/9 @ Ralston; 9/16 vs. Omaha Gross Catholic; 9/23 @ Mount Michael; 9/30 vs. Bennington; 10/7 vs. Elkhorn; 10/14 @ Omaha Westview; 10/21 vs. Elkhorn North
Preview: Blair missed the postseason after dropping its final seven games, four of them coming by seven points or less. Junior QB Bode Soukup (1,290 passing, 14 total TD’s) returns for the Bears to lead the offense, while experience with RB/LB Dane Larsen, WR Shea Wendt, and junior prospect J’shawn Unger (6’4/205) should boost expectations. If the group up front gels, the Bears could find themselves in the playoff hunt. Consider its one-win season from a year ago a one-off. A lot of people around the state like Blair entering the 2022 season, and for good reason. Expect a much better campaign from the Bears.

4. Elkhorn North Wolves
Head Coach: Sam Stanley
2021 Record: 1-8 (Off. Avg: 22.6 | Def. Avg: 34.1)
Postseason: Has not qualified for postseason
2022 Schedule: 8/26 vs. Hastings; 9/2 @ Lincoln Northwest; 9/9 vs. Crete; 9/16 @ GI Northwest; 9/22 vs. Omaha Westview; 9/30 @ Elkhorn; 10/7 @ Mount Michael; 10/14 vs. Bennington; 10/21 @ Blair
Preview: Elkhorn North has taken its lumps in the first two seasons of the program, but the future appears to be bright. OL/DL Cole Sharar (6’4/300) and OL/DL Brock Marler are the top players to watch for the Wolves, while sophomore WR Chase Loftin (6’4/185) has to put together impressive pre-varsity tape and appears to be a prospect to monitor. This is a team that could catch fire early and make a run at the postseason if things fall into place for the Wolves.

5. Mount Michael Knights
Head Coach: Greg Wunderlich
2021 Record: 1-8 (Off. Avg: 13.6 | Def. Avg: 35.9)
Postseason: Has not qualified for postseason since 2019.
2022 Schedule: 8/26 vs. Crete; 9/2 @ Ralston; 9/9 @ Waverly; 9/16 vs. Plattsmouth; 9/23 vs. Blair; 9/29 @ Omaha Westview; 10/7 vs. Elkhorn North; 10/13 @ Elkhorn; 10/20 vs. Bennington
Preview: Mount Michael is coming off a season where it won one game and is hoping for an improved performance with so many questions within District B-1. QB Wyatt Brewster is back to lead the Knights on offense. Players to watch up front are OL/DL Conor Connealy (6’3/225) and John Batch. If you look at the schedule, there is reason for plenty of optimism for a turnaround in 2022.

6. Omaha Westview Wolverines
Head Coach: Ben Ryan
2021 Record: First-year varsity program
Postseason: N/A
2022 Schedule: 8/25 @ Omaha Buena Vista; 9/2 @ Omaha Gross Catholic; 9/8 vs. Omaha Benson; 9/16 vs. Ralston; 9/22 @ Elkhorn North; 9/29 vs. Mount Michael; 10/7 @ Bennington; 10/14 vs. Blair; 10/21 vs. Elkhorn
Preview: It will be about gaining experience and establishing a culture in year one for Westview out of Omaha. The Wolverines have very few players on the roster that have experience at varsity level at their previous schools. A learning curve is imminent for the Wolverines, who see their toughest games at the back end of the schedule.