DISTRICT A-3

Everything associated with content on nebhsfb.com will always be FREE or it will not be. If there are ads, it’s not coming from this site.

2022 STANDINGSOVRDIST
1OMAHA WESTSIDE12-13-1
2KEARNEY7-33-1
3NORTH PLATTE6-43-1
4NORFOLK5-41-3
5LINCOLN NORTHEAST0-90-4

2022 SUMMER SNAPSHOT

KEARNEY BEARCATS (7-3)
WHAT WE THINK WE MIGHT KNOW: Last season, Kearney opened eyes around the state when it went to the metro and took down Bellevue West. Last year’s slight of Kearney by this outfit will not happen again. Expect the Bearcats to reload in 2023 with a particularly intriguing 2025 class. At QB, a battle between Lincoln Phillips and junior Griffin Novacek will be sorted out in the fall. One of the top receiving units in Class A, Kearney brings back Zander Reuling (643 receiving, 8 TD’s) and Karter Lee (540 receiving, 8 TD’s) with junior speedster Zaire LeGrone-Miller a name to keep an eye on. Another junior on offense to watch is OL Turner Bertrand (6’6/240). Junior LB Sawyer Schilke (6’3/230; 48 tackles, 5 TFL) and Baker Bertrand (38 tackles) are the leading returnees on defense There are a host of others who will be mentioned as the season draws closer. Kearney’s success over the years has earned them the right to be almost an automatic inclusion in the preseason Top 10, a lesson learned the hard way a year ago. Kearney definitely has potential.
SEASON OPENER: August 25 vs. Lincoln East (Seacrest)

LINCOLN NORTHEAST ROCKETS (0-9)
WHAT WE THINK WE MIGHT KNOW: Year one under new head coach Javonta Boyd was used to develop younger players as the Rockets were building for the future. 2023 is where you will start to see some of the lumps the Rockets took a year ago start to pay off. Not having its QB in Landon Hoff healthy was a huge factor to derail the season before it ever got started in 2022. Hoff has some talent with his presence alone improving the offense in 2023. One of the top prospects in the 2025 class in the capital city is WR/DB Dupree Pleasant (6’4/190; 113 receiving, TD’; 49 tackles, 5 TFL). Ethan Covington (6’3/270) will lead the offensive line. A player to watch up front on defense for the Rockets is DL Lazlo Woodhead (32 tackles, 2 TFL), while junior TE/LB Levi Sherman (6’3/195) is another to keep an eye on. Expect the Rockets to be much improved in 2023 with some wins available on its schedule.
SEASON OPENER: August 25 vs. Bellevue East (Stadium TBD)

NORFOLK PANTHERS (5-4)
WHAT WE THINK WE MIGHT KNOW: Armed with an up-tempo offense, Norfolk was one of the bigger surprises during the regular season in 2022,. Senior leadership was a major reason why the Panthers came out of nowhere and nearly missed the playoffs. The focal point offensively for the Panthers in 2023 will be ATH Rowdy Bauer (696 total yards, 6 TD’s). Getting the ball in Bauer’s hands any way possible could be a major theme for Norfolk in 2023. Expect Hudson Waldow to also add a boost to Norfolk’s offense. OL/DL Alan Diaz (5’9/285) will provide senior leadership up front with the Panthers. Defensively, Tanner Eisenhauer(42 tackles, 6 TFL), Waldow, and CJ Hoffman to among the leaders on defense. The vibe around the Panthers is similar to where it was before 2022, which bodes well for Norfolk.
SEASON OPENER: August 25 vs. Columbus

NORTH PLATTE BULLDOGS (6-4)
WHAT WE THINK WE MIGHT KNOW: North Platte’s win over eventual state champion Omaha Westside was one of the headlines statewide in 2022, causing what would have been a three-way tie for the district title in a state where district standing mattered. Having an experienced quarterback to run North Platte’s complicated offense will be crucial as Caleb Joneson (431 passing, 4 TD’s; 311 rushing, TD) returns. A prospect to watch out of the backfield with big shoes to fill may be Xavier Albertson (155 career tackles, 6 TFL).Names to watch on defense are DL Jaxon Halverson and sophomore LB Treyton Jay Burke. Leaders on defense will include Jordan Yonkers (53 tackles, 3.5 TFL) and junior Eli Broman (40 tackles). After losing All-State caliber players to graduation, North Platte’s newcomers will need to step into new roles quickly.
SEASON OPENER: August 18 vs. Papillion-La Vista South

OMAHA WESTSIDE (12-1)
WHAT WE THINK WE MIGHT KNOW: Even though Westside was somewhat emphatic on its way to winning the Class A state championship last season, you could argue the team tasked to repeat as champions might even be a little better. Experienced Nebraska HS Football Elite 33 Player of the Year quarterback Anthony Rezac (3,357 total yards, 38 TD’s) is a major reason why Westside can expect to be back in the fold yet again. The quarterback position is actually one of about 20 reasons. RB Jahmez Ross (687 rushing, 10 TD’s) returns as one of the top rushers in the Metro. WR Preston Okafor, junior ATH Keynan Cotton, and TE Trevor Spady (227 receiving, 2 TD’s) will be crucial offensively. Elite level ATH Caleb Benning (335 career receiving, 3 TD’s; 6 career INT’s) will also add a spark on offense while being one of the most highly coveted cornerbacks in the region. Broc Regner (6’5/285) is one of the top linemen in the metro and will lead the front. One of the top defensive lines in the state will be led by R.J. Eckhardt, JQ Osler and junior Cameron Bell (6’0/285). Not to mention elite level junior LB Christian Jones (60 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, INT), Notre Dame commit Teddy Rezac (414 receiving yards, 4 TD’s; 47 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 INT’s), highly productive LB Beau Ryan ( 98 tackles, 15 TFL, 5 sacks), and Division II DB prospect Jordon Hurst. This could be one of the best teams the state of Nebraska has ever seen if everything goes to plan. But in Omaha, it will not be easy.
SEASON OPENER: August 25 vs. Omaha Creighton Prep

2023 SUMMER SNAPSHOTS: District A-1 | District A-2 | District A-3 | District A-4 | District A-5 | District A-6