Nebraska HS Football Rankings (Week 3)
Class A
1. Omaha Westside (3-0) 1
2. Millard South (3-0) 2
3. Millard West (2-1) 3
4. Omaha North (2-1) 4
5. Kearney (3-0) 6
6. Gretna (3-0) 7
7. Elkhorn South (2-1) 9
8. Bellevue West (2-2) 5
9. Lincoln East (2-1) NR
10. Papillion-La Vista (2-1) 8
Dropped Out
Papillion-La Vista South (2-2) 10
OLI
Grand Island (2-1)
Lincoln Southeast (1-2)
Norfolk (2-1)
Omaha Central (2-1)
Omaha Creighton Prep (1-3)
Note: South Sioux City is 3-0
Comments: Omaha Westside looks to be in its own tier after three weeks of play. Said this over the summer, but after watching the best high school football in Oklahoma for five years then a decade witnessing the top talent in Texas before coming back to Nebraska. If you put Omaha Westside in those states with like enrollments it hypothetically be very successful. Easy eye test. You could say the same for a number of schools in the metro. as the gap is not as large and many would think.
Millard South is worthy of its No. 2 ranking, having now defeated both Millard rivals. No. 3 Millard West’s brutal early schedule doesn’t get any easier this week as the Wildcats face 1-3 Creighton Prep. Prep lost to No. 6 Gretna 27-24 in double-overtime in Week 3. Consider’s Elkhorn South’s Week 2 loss a temporary blip. Bellevue West hangs on at No. 8, but just barely. There is too much talent on the roster to write off the Thunderbirds completely. Lincoln East debuts at No. 9 and could be the best team in Lincoln, while Papillion-La Vista falls to No. 10 after a road loss to Lincoln Southeast on Thursday. Continue.to keep an eye on Lincoln Southeast in what will be a parity filled District A-6 race that will involve Millard North. The Mustangs are not dead yet and have a lot to play for.
Friday Night Notes: In a 56-19 win over Millard South, sophomore quarterback Jett Thomalla threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow sophomore Amarion Jackson caught five passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns for the Patriots. Both prospects are sure-fire major college prospects, along with 2026 tight end Isaac Jensen. One of the things that separates the Patriots from most in the metro is its outstanding defensive line play. South Dakota State pledge JR Lecuona, Aidan Miller, and junior Adam Pugh are names to note up front. Senior leadership is provided by Division II commits Nolan Feller, Kaleb Panowicz, and Max Gray. The Patriots have people’s attention not only in 2023, but will into the future.
Congratulations to Elkhorn South head coach Guy Rosenberg on his 100th career win, a 52-14 triumph over Papillion-La Vista South.
Also a quick reminder, Omaha Westside elite level two-way athlete Caleb Benning is really good at football. It seems as if the brighter the lights shine, the more Benning’s name always seems to come up.
Class B
1. Bennington (3-0) 1
2. Elkhorn North (3-0) 2
3. Scottsbluff (3-0) 3
4. Omaha Skutt (2-1) 4
5. Waverly (3-0) 5
6. York (2-1) 6
7. Elkhorn (2-1) 8
8. Plattsmouth (2-1) 9
9. Omaha Gross (2-1) 7
10. Grand Island Northwest (1-2) NR
Dropped Out
Seward (2-1) 10
Comments: Bennington has won 29 straight and is chasing down the Class B record of 38 set by McCook (2002-04). Elkhorn North will definitely be in the state title discussion this season and is a comfortable No. 2. Scottsbluff remains unbeaten after wins over North Platte and Frederick (CO) recently. Grand Island Northwest returns to the Top 10 after a 13-7 win over Seward, who drops out this week. (Correction: Previously reported Hastings was ineligible for the postseason. Been notified that Hastings is mid-cycle eligible with its boys enrollment following to 33rd overall in the state. Ralston moved into the 32nd spot for enrollment. Apologies for being unaware of this loophole.)
Friday Night Notes: Scottsbluff senior kicker Tallon McDonald set a new Class B state record and tied the all-time mark with a 59-yard field goal (KNEB Sports) in a 51-28 win over Frederick (CO).
OLI
Blair (1-2)
Hastings (2-1)
Norris (2-2)
Class C-1
1. Boone Central (3-0) 1
2. Omaha Roncalli (3-0) 2
3. Wahoo (3-0) 3
4. Ashland-Greenwood (2-1) 4
5. Adams Central (3-0) 8
6. Minden (2-1) 9
7. Aurora (1-2) 5
8. Douglas County West (3-0) NR
9. Pierce (2-1) 10
10. Gothenburg (2-1) 6
Dropped Out
McCook (1-2) 7
OLI
Broken Bow (2-1)
Columbus Lakeview (1-2)
Columbus Scotus (2-1)
Sidney (3-0)
Syracuse (3-0)
Comments: Douglas County West returns at No. 8 and should have never been dumped out to begin with.
Friday Night Notes: Buried deep in the middle of his freshman tape, Nebraska City 2026 running back Markus Nelson stood out and showed flashes of what might be to come. In Week 3 of his sophomore campaign in a 34-31 win over Platteview, Nelson took another step towards becoming a name to take seriously in the recruiting world with 202 yards and three touchdowns. Nelson is the best running back in Nebraska nobody’s heard of. There is a long way to go and there are ways to get better, but Nelson is off to a good start.
Class C-2
1. Norfolk Catholic (3-0) 1
2. Wahoo Neumann (3-0) 2
3. Battle Creek (3-0) 3
4. Oakland-Craig (2-1) 4
5. Hastings St. Cecilia (3-0) 6
6. Fillmore Central (3-0) 9
7. Malcolm (2-1) 7
8. Yutan (2-1) 10
9. Ord (1-2) 5
10. Mitchell (3-0) NR
Dropped Out
Cedar Catholic (2-1) 8
Comments: Hastings St. Cecilia has been underrated by the other state polls all season long. Ord’s schedule has been brutal, so don’t write off the No. 9 Chanticleers just yet. Mitchell replaces Cedar Catholic after drubbing former Class C-1 ratings contender Chadron.
OLI
Amherst (2-1)
Kearney Catholic (2-1)
North Bend Central (3-0)
Ponca (3-0)
WIlber-Clatonia (2-1)
Class D-1
1. North Platte St. Patrick’s (3-0) 1
2. Stanton (3-0) 2
3. Cross County (3-0) 3
4. Elmwood-Murdock (3-0) 4
5. Hi-Line (2-1) 5
6. Thayer Central (3-0) 6
7. Crofton (3-0) 8
8. Sandy Creek (3-0) 9
9. EMF (2-1) 7
10. Clarkson-Leigh (2-1) NR
Dropped Out
Neligh-Oakdale (1-2) 10
OLI
Ravenna (3-0)
Shelby-Rising City (3-0)
Class D-2
1. South Loop (3-0) 2
2. Dundy County-Stratton (3-0) 3
3. Wynot (3-0) 4
4. BDS (3-0) 5
5. Howells-Dodge (2-1) 1
6. Ainsworth (3-0) 6
7. Central Valley (3-0) 7
8. Johnson-Brock (3-0) 9
9. Humphrey St. Francis (2-1) 10
10. Hyannis (3-0) NR
Dropped Out
Osceola (2-1) 8
OLI
Mullen (3-0)
Nebraska City Lourdes (3-0)
Niobrara/Verdigre (3-0)
Six Man Super Six
1. Arthur County (2-0)
2. Pawnee City (2-0)
3. Shelton (3-0)
4. Red Cloud (2-0)
5. Wilcox-Hildreth (2-0)
6. Potter-Dix (3-0)
– Still working towards getting a lot smarter on our eight man and six man activity.
Nebraska HS Football 