Class D-6 State Championship Game Preview
Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (11-0) vs. Hay Springs (8-3)

When: Friday, November 17 at 7:00 CST/6:00 MST
Where: Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field – Kearney
TV/Streaming: NewsChannel Nebraska (Streaming available on NFHS Network for $11.99/month)
NSAA Football Finals HQ
Live Stats

Sumner-Eddyville-Miller Mustangs (11-0)
State Championships: None
Head Coach: Shane Hrasky
Distance to Kearney: 34.1 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: No. 4
Offensive Average: 48.3 | Defensive Average: 13.2
Key Players: Ryan Arbuthnot (6’1/220, OL/DL); Bart Beattie (5’10/145, WR/DB); Chance Daake (6’3/150, QB/DB, Soph.); Maddox Jones (6’0/180, RB/LB); Clark Padrnos (5’8/160, QB/DB); Cohen Rohde (6’4/215, TE/DL, Jr.); Jace Rosentreader (6’0/150, WR/DB); Jordon Scoville (5’8/150, RB/LB, Frosh.); Colt Schroeder (5’10, WR/DB)

S-E-M
Making its first appearance in a state final since 1992 (Class D-2), Sumner-Eddyville-Miller’s only close contest this season came in a 28-22 win over Wilcox-Hildreth. S-E-M steamrolled the same Wilcox-Hildreth bunch 44-14 in the semifinals to advance to Kearney, which is a short 34-mile trip for the Mustangs. Clark Padrnos (607 passing, 11 TD’s) and Chance Daake (525 yards, 8 TD’s, 188 rushing, 4 TD’s) both have been productive at quarterback, while Maddox Jones (1,546 rushing yards, 27 TD’s) is the leader out of the backfield. Jace Rosentreader (499 receiving yards, 10 TD’s) is the leading receiver. Colt Schroeder (78 tackles, 13 TFL, 4 INT’s), Jones (69 tackles, 11 TFL, 5 INT’s), Ryan Arbuthnot (46 tackles, 19 TFL, 5 sacks) and Cohen Rohde (57 tackles, 23 TFL, 3 sacks) are amongst the defensive leaders for the Mustangs.

Hay Springs Hawks (8-3)
State Championships: None
Head Coach: Trevor Ginkens
Distance to Kearney: 293.7 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: NR
Offensive Average: 41.8 | Defensive Average: 32.8
Key Players: Jahrett Anderson (5’7/130, RB/DB); Jordyn Anderson (6’1/175, TE/DL); Tripp Buettner (5’8/150, RB/DB, Frosh.); Hunter McDonald (6’1/175, TE/DE/K); Gage Mintken (5’9/145, RB/LB); Dylan Raymer (6’0/175, RB/LB, Jr.); Cutter Scott (5’10/175, RB/DB, Jr.); Talan Smith (6’1/170, TE/DL, Jr.); Dylan Young (5’9/165, QB/DB, Jr.)

Hay Springs
For the second time in school history, Hay Springs advanced to the state championship game after doing so in 2018. Hay Springs making it to Kearney to play for it all is perhaps a surprise to many, but somebody forgot to tell Hay Springs. The Hawks were able to take an 80-7 loss to Arthur County and turn it into a 58-49 win over the same team in the playoffs, an incredible 82-point swing in 49 days. To say the Hawks got off to a rough start at 0-3 would be an understatement, so Hay Springs deserves some credit. After traveling 405 miles to pick up a semifinal win over Parkview Christian, the Hawks will travel just under 294 miles for the state title game. Dylan Young (655 passing yards, 10 TD’s) and Gage Mintken (1,280 rushing yards, 26 TD’s) lead the offense for the Hawks. Jordyn Anderson (115 tackles, 26 TFL, 4 sacks) and Young (104 tackles, 3 INT’s) are the most productive players on defense.

What to Expect
Entertaining football with plenty of points. If you have the ability to go to Kearney for the game, you should be encouraged to do so.

Playoff Results

Semifinals: Sumner-Eddyville-Miller 44, Wilcox-Hildreth 14; Hay Springs 65, Parkview Christian 41

Quarterfinals: S-E-M 28, Stuart 7; Wilcox-Hildreth 33, Pawnee City 14; Parkview Christian 51, Potter-Dix 0; Hay Springs 58, Arthur County 49

First Round: S-E-M  52, Paxton 0; Stuart 50, Southwest 33; Pawnee City 55, Sioux County 22; Wilcox-Hildreth 39. Garden County 21; Arthur County 60, Shelton 14; Hay Springs 66, Hampton 26; Potter-Dix 58, Red Cloud 14; Parkview Christian 40, Cody-Kilgore 8