2022 CLASS D-1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Clarkson/Leigh (12-1) 48, Neligh-Oakdale (11-2) 20
NEBHSFB State Championship page

Class D-1 Final12 3 4F
Clarkson/Leigh (12-1)0248 1648
Neligh-Oakdale (11-2)1400 620

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
NO – Bryson Gadeken 3 run (Carson Whitesel run)
NO – Aiden Kuester 7 run (run failed)

Second Quarter
CL – Kyle Kasik 5 run (Kasik run)
CL – Kasik 40 run (Kasik run)
CL – Kasik 20 run (Kasik run)

Third Quarter
CL – Kasik 6 run (Kasik run)

Fourth Quarter
CL – Kasik 12 run (Kasik run)
NO – Kuester 1 run (pass failed)
CL – Kasik 36 run (Kasik run)

Official Game Stats

Clarkson/Leigh (12-1) 48, Neligh-Oakdale (11-2) 20

It was the Kyle Kasik show in the Class D-1 state championship game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln as the senior rushed for 320 yards on.45 carries and six touchdowns while adding six two-point conversions tries at Clarkson-Leigh won its first state championship with a 48-20 victory over Neligh-Oakdale.

Kasik entered the game with 39 touchdowns and 44 conversions on the season and was coming off back-to-back 200-yard games, including 294 yards and six touchdowns in a 54-12 win over Stanton in the state semifinals.

Clarkson/Leigh did not attempt a pass in the victory. The only time either Clarkson or Leigh had seen success in football game in 1984 when Leigh had won a D-1 state championship, while the best finish for Clarkson was a runner-up finish in 2007.

Neligh-Oakdale fired out of the gates with a pair of touchdowns in the first seven minutes of the game to take a 14-0 lead, including a 7-yard run by Nebraska all-time total yardage leader Aiden Kuester. Kuester signed off his stellar career with 218 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Clarkson/Leigh responded in emphatic fashion in the third quarter with three touchdown runs at three two-point conversions by Kasik, who rushed for more than 150 yards in the first half.

Kasik tacked on another touchdown and two-point conversion in the third quarter to make it 32-14 with 7:09 left. About a minute later, Kasik picked off Kuester to keep the momentum firmly on the side of the Patriots.

Drew Beeson was a major reason why Kuester had a difficult time getting the offense moving in the game and was the leader on defense for the Patriots with 12 tackles, while Kasik had 2.5 tackles for loss to go along with his interception. Korbin Lemburg, a 6’3/280 sophomore, was a big factor in helping spring Kasik loose in the victory.