Class B, Class C-1, Class C-2 Week 1 Preview

Game of the Week

Class B No. 2 Omaha Skutt at Class B No. 4 Bennington
– Coming off 13 straight wins en route to the Class B state championship, No. 4 Bennington hosts No. 2 Omaha Skutt in a major headliner to open the season for both teams. The Skyhawks, state champions four times in the 2010’s, have an offense suitable for a run at another state title. Iowa State commit Wyatt Archer, St. Thomas (MN) pledge Brandt Pickrell, and Joe Connolly provide what could be a two-quarterback system led by junior Bennett Turman some options. Bennington signal caller Trey Bird is arguably the top returning quarterback in Class B and leads the Badgers. Bennington will also be solid up front with Weston Heinemann and Ethan Nguyen coming back.

Class A Week 1 Preview

Other Top Games

Class B No. 1 Scottsbluff at Class B No. 5 Lincoln Pius X – Preseason No. 1 Scottsbluff takes the almost 400-mile trek to the capital city to take on Lincoln Pius X, who are down to Class B from Class A after a 2-7 record. The Bearcats feature Nebraska verbal Brock Knudson at offensive tackle and junior running back Sebastien Boyle. Lincoln Pius X will have running back Matt Bohy as the focal point of the offense, with Barrett Walker (6’4/275) paving the way up front.

Class B No. 3 Elkhorn at Class B No. 9 Waverly – State champions in 2020, Elkhorn enters the season No. 3 in the Class B Preseason Top 10. The Antlers have a pair of Division II verbal commitments in tight end Tanner Hauck and defensive tackle Aidan Betz. Waverly’s strength could be on the defensive side of the football led by linebacker Cooper Skrobecki (6’2/215) and Kaleb Axmann.

Class B No. 7 Grand Island Northwest at Class C-1 No. 1 Aurora – Coming off a 5-5 season a year ago, North Dakota State defensive end commit Victor Isele and junior tight end Joseph Klein (6’5/225) lead the Vikings into the new campaign. State runner-up in Class B last season, Aurora is the Preseason No. 1in Class C-1 led by 2,000-yard rusher Carlos Collazo and college prospect Jack Allen (6’3/235).

Class C-1 No. 9 Wahoo at Class C-1 No. 2 Pierce – Defensive lineman Dominek Rohleder and quarterback Owen Hancock lead Wahoo into the season at No. 9 in the Preseason Top 10. Pierce, with Nebraska pledge Benjamin Brahmer and quarterback Abram Scholting, will most likely figure into the state championship race in Class C-1.

Class C-1 No. 6 Columbus Lakeview at Class C-1 No. 3 Ashland-Greenwood – Defending champions in Class C-1, Columbus Lakeview will need to have some newcomers step up quickly on what should be a very good team again in 2022. Ashland-Greenwood is led by junior quarterback Dane Jacobson, Division II commit Luke Lambert. and returning All-State offensive lineman Braxton Buck.

Class C-2 No. 3 Fremont Bergan at Class C-2 No. 4 Battle Creek – Battle Creek is used to having tough regular season games, as evident in its schedule in Class C-1 a year ago. A season-opening tilt against the defending state champions in Class C-2 will get Battle Creek’s attention. The Knights are led by Oklahoma commit Kade McIntyre, while quarterback Cooper Weitzel has big to shoes but is more than capable. Trent Uhlir and offensive lineman Elijah Hintz are the leaders for Battle Creek.

Class C-2 No. 7 Wilber-Clatonia at Class C-2 No. 5 Hastings St. Cecilia – Wilber-Clatonia quarterback Coy Rosentreader is in his third year as the starter for the Wolverines, who are coming off a run to the state semifinals in 2021. Hastings St. Cecilia has some weapons on offense, including quarterback Carson Kudlacek and wide receiver Cooper Butler.

Class B

Friday August 26
No. 10 Omaha Gross at Beatrice
No. 8 Plattsmouth at Blair
Hastings at Elkhorn North
Torrington (WY) at Gering
Crete at Mount Michael
Norris at Seward
Lincoln Northwest at Ralston
Lexington at No. 6 York
Omaha Westview (1-0) – forfeit win over Omaha Buena Vista

Class C-1

Thursday August 25
No. 8 Chadron 41, Gordon-Rushville 13
No. 7 Adams Central 28, Minden 7
Fairbury 35, Tri County 0

Friday August 26
Raymond Central at Arlington
Broken Bow at No. 4 Boone Central
No. 10 Auburn at Boys Town
No. 2 Ord at Central City
Alliance at Chase County
Columbus Scotus at David City Aquinas
Platteview at Falls City
Class C-2 No. 9 Lincoln Lutheran at Lincoln Christian
Syracuse at Louisville
Cozad at McCook
St. Paul at O’Neill
Gothenburg at Ogallala
Schuyler at Omaha Concordia
Wayne at No. 5 Omaha Roncalli
Holdrege at Sidney
Douglas County West at West Point-Beemer

Saturday August 27
Fort Calhoun at Nebraska City

Class C-2

Thursday August 25
Fairbury at Tri County

Friday August 26
North Bend at Centennial
Alliance at Chase County
No. 2 Ord at Central City
Columbus Scotus at David City Aquinas
David City at Fillmore Central
Chadron at Gordon-Rushville
Centura at Grand Island Central Catholic
Gibbon at Hershey
Doniphan-Trumbull at No 6 Kearney Catholic
Ponca at Logan View/Scribner-Snyder
Syracuse at Louisville
No. 8 Lincoln Lutheran at Lincoln Christian
No. 10 Yutan at Malcolm
Wahoo Neumann at Milford
Wheatland (WY) at Mitchell
No. 1 Norfolk Catholic at Oakland-Craig
No. 8 Hartington Cedar Catholic at Tekamah-Herman
West Holt at Valentine
Amherst at Wood River