Class D-1 State Championship Game
Neligh-Oakdale (11-1) vs. Clarkson/Leigh (11-1)
Monday November 21 at 2:45 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE
TV: Nebraska Public Media (Over-the-air: Check Local Listings)
Weather: Projected high of 54 in Lincoln on Tuesday

Neligh-Oakdale (11-1)
State Champions: None
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Cambridge, 70-22; Defeated Heartland, 34-22; Defeated Riverside, 40-28; Defeated North Platte St. Patrick’s, 50-28
Off Avg.. 53.5 | Def. Avg.: 29.2
– Neligh-Oakdale quarterback Aidan Kuester is Nebraska’s new all-time leader in total yards, breaking a 30-year old state record. On the season, Kuester has thrown for 2,846 yards and 27 touchdowns while running for a whopping 2,031 yards and 47 touchdowns. Junior Bryson Gadeken has 85 receptions for 1,197 yards and nine scores, while fellow junior Chase Furstenau has reeled in 10 touchdown passes this season. Kuester leads the defense with 183 tackles, 13 tackles for loss (TFL), and four interceptions.

Clarkson/Leigh Patriots (11-1)
State Champions: 1984 (D-1, Leigh) | Runner-Up: 2007 (D-1, Clarkson)
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Wisner-Pilger, 28-23; Defeated Crofton, 22-14; Defeated Weeping Water, 46-18; Defeated Stanton, 54-12
Off Avg.. 46.0 | Def. Avg.: 18.1
– A two-point loss to Cross County is the only blemish for a team that had to fight through difficult tests in the first two rounds before catching fire in the quarterfinals and semifinals in impressive victories. A team that throws it less than five times a game, Kyle Kasik is the leading rusher for the Patriots with 1,961 yards and 35 touchdowns. Quarterback Ryan Brichacek has accounted for 1,276 yards and 20 touchdowns. Drew Beeson leads the defense with 123 tackles.

Prediction: Neligh-Oakdale, 44-38

  • The Eight Man coverage will be better in 2023. In a first season back in Nebraska where you are just trying to get reacclimated to the state after 26 years away, it was difficult to include Eight Man due to time constraints.

Eight Man-2 State Championship Game
Howells-Dodge (12-0) vs. Hitchcock County (12-0)
Monday November 21 at 10:15 a.m.
Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE
TV: Nebraska Public Media (Over-the-air: Check Local Listings)
Weather: Projected high of 54 in Lincoln on Tuesday

Howells-Dodge Jaguars (12-0)
State Champions: 2021 (D-1)
(Howells: D1/2000, D1/2001, D1/2002, D1/2003, D1/2004, D1/2005, D1/2008, D1/2009, D2/2010 | Dodge: D1/1994, D1/1995, D1/1996, D2/1997, D2/1999, D2/2006)
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Creighton, 64-12; Defeated South Loup, 40-12; Dundy County-Stratton, 58-8; Defeated Central Valley, 50-12
Off Avg.. 50.2 | Def. Avg.: 10.0
– Coming off a season where it won its first combined state title after winning 15 total without each other, Howells-Dodge has ran the table once again. Howells won three straight titles between 2008 and 2010 before the two combined forces in 2012. A highlight tape of passing games from its offense were take just a few seconds as the Jaguars have put the ball in the air 30 times this season. Lance Brester leads the team with 2,180 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns. Jestin Bayer leads the Jaguars with 93 tackles, while junior Aandy Dominguez has 61 tackles, 15 TFL, and seven sacks.

Hitchcock County Falcons (12-0)
State Champions: None
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Maywood/Hayes Center, 78-0; Defeated Humphrey St. Francis, 52-0; Defeated Elm Creek, 58-6; Defeated Bloomfield, 48-0
Off Avg.: 57.8 | Def. Avg.: 5.2 (10 games)
– Defense wins championships, and Hitchcock County definitely has a championship-worthy defensive unit. In 10 games (with two forfeits considered), the Falcons have allowed 52 total points and have posted five shutouts. Absurd numbers for eight-man football. Quarterback Keynan Gaston has over 1,500 rushing yards this season and leads the offense. Andrew Scott is another productive option out of the backfield for Hitchcock County. Keegan Schuler is the defensive leader with 137 tackles and 16 TFL for the Falcons.

Prediction: Howells-Dodge, 22-14