Class C-1 State Championship Game
Aurora (12-0) vs. Pierce (12-0)
Tuesday, November 22 at 2:45 p.m.
Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE
NSAA Home Football Final Headquarters
TV: Nebraska Public Media (Over-the-air: Check Local Listings)
Weather: Projected high of 55 in Lincoln on Tuesday

Aurora Huskies (12-0)
NEBHSFB Rank: 1
State Champions: 2008, 2009 (B), 2018 (C-1)
Top 10 Wins: Grand Island Northwest, Boone Central (x2), Ashland-Greenwood, Adams Central, Lincoln Christian
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Columbus Scotus, 43-13; Defeated Lincoln Christian, 48-28; Defeated Boone Central, 40-19
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 73.3 miles
Off Avg. 47.5 | Def. Avg: 15.0
– Powered by 2,000-yard rusher Carlos Collazo, Aurora has ran the table against stiff competition after dropping from a state title game appearance a year ago in Class B. Collazo was a major part in helping the Huskies achieve great things a year ago and has elevated his game, putting up 306 yards and five touchdowns in a comfortable win over Minden. Quarterback Drew Knust has over 1,000 total yards, but sophomore Booker Scheierman could figure into the game plan as another option for the Huskies. Aurora doesn’t throw it often, but Carsen Staehr is the leading receiver on the team by far when they do. Jack Allen joins Damien Stanley and Knust among the leaders on a defense that allows most of its points when the outcome has already been decided.

Pierce Bluejays (12-0)
NEBHSFB Rank: 2
State Champions: 1978, 2007, 2008, 2020 (C-1)
Top 10 Wins: Wahoo, Omaha Roncalli, Boone Central, Columbus Lakeview, Adams Central
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Central City, 49-8; Defeated Columbus Lakeview, 33-23; Defeated Adams Central, 45-26
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 135.5 miles
Off Avg. 50.4 | Def. Avg: 18.9
– On a mission after losing the state final to Columbus Lakeview last season, the highest scoring offense in 11-man football in Nebraska, Pierce’s explosive attack is led by quarterback Abram Scholting and Nebraska verbal Ben Brahmer. Scholting has thrown for 2,079 yards and 39 touchdowns to go along with 659 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season for the Bluejays, while Brahmer has caught 69 passes for 1,274 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Huskers perhaps ought to look at leaving Brahmer at wide receiver rather than moving him to his projected position of tight end. Junior running back Keenan Valverde has rushed for 1,805 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns to give Pierce an above average option out of the backfield. Junior Korvin Fritz leads the Bluejays with 132 tackles and 11 tackles for loss (TFL), while Colby Anderson has intercepted six passes.

Prediction: Aurora, 28-27
– This is probably going to be the best of all the six games at Memorial Stadium over the two days. It is really a matchup that could go either way, as not much separates the teams.

Class C-2 State Championship Game
Hartington Cedar Catholic (9-3) vs. Norfolk Catholic (12-0)
Tuesday, November 22 at 10:15 a.m.
Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE
TV: Nebraska Public Media (Over-the-air: Check Local Listings)
NSAA Home Football Final Headquarters
Last Meeting: October 21, 2022 (Norfolk Catholic, 14-0)
Weather: Projected high of 55 in Lincoln on Tuesday

Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans (9-3)
NEBHSFB Rank: 9
State Champions: None | Runner-Up: 2001, 2009, 2014 (C-2)
Top 10 Wins: Yutan, Malcolm, Battle Creek
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Mitchell, 44-14; Defeated, Malcolm 10-9 (OT); Defeated Battle Creek, 6-0
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 157.1 miles
Off Avg: 29.4 | Def. Avg: 9.1
– Hartington Cedar Catholic’s defense has stepped up, allowing just 23 points in three games and an overtime this postseason in its run to the state finals. The Trojans will be 32 days removed from 14-0 loss to Norfolk Catholic in Week 9, which is about the best anybody has fared against the wire-to-wire No. 1 in Class C-2. A long road trip paid off in a win over a Mitchell team that entered the season with one loss in the opening round of the playoffs to set up Cedar Catholic’s run to the final. Andrew Jones was the quarterback during the regular season but has been used primarily out of the backfield in the playoffs, coming through with three straight 100-yard games. Sophomore Braeden Reifenrath has done a solid job in the postseason as the signal caller. Grant Arens, who was an All-State honoree in 2021, leads the defense.Keep track of a hold your program to keep track of players with the last name Arens, as Carson Arens will also be a factor. Jay Steffen is the leader up front for the Trojans.

Norfolk Catholic Knights (12-0)
NEBHSFB Rank: 1
State Champions: 1983, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017 (C-1) | Runner-Up (C-1 Unless Noted): 1984, 1987 (C-2), 1993, 1996 (C-2), 2009, 2015, 2018 (C-2), 2021 (C-2)
Top 10 Wins: Oakland-Craig, Ord (x2), Battle Creek, Hartington Cedar Catholic, Lincoln Lutheran
Road to Lincoln: Defeated Yutan, 28-14; Defeated Lincoln Lutheran, 62-42; Defeated Ord, 38-6
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 121.5 miles
Off Avg. 41.8 | Def. Avg: 11.7 (11 games with forfeit)
– Ten-time state champion Norfolk Catholic ran through the gauntlet known as northeast Nebraska C-2 football unscathed and is hoping to win for the first time in C-2 in five tries, oddly enough. The Knights are 10-4 in C-1 finals and 0-4 in C-2 finals. Norfolk Catholic fans could probably time the drive to Memorial Stadium to the minute. After losing in the title game to Fremont Bergan last season, the Knights have been on a mission led by Karter Kerkman, a sure fire All-State running back in Class C-2 and is one of the best running backs in the state regardless of classification. Junior quarterback Carter Janssen is capable of making big plays in his own right and gives the Knights a very steady and capable hand. Lineman Kade Pieper is committed to Iowa, while junior Nolan Fennessey could be the next FBS recruit from Norfolk Catholic. The defense has allowed seven points or less six times in 11 games.

Prediction: Norfolk Catholic, 21-7
– Cedar Catholic will do its best to hang in with Norfolk Catholic again, but it will not be enough as Norfolk Catholic wins an 11th state championship in football. Don’t judge this game on the regular season result. Cedar Catholic is a different animal than a month ago with some alterations to its offense. Will it pay off?