Class D-1 State Championship Game Preview
Stanton (12-0) vs. Exeter-Milligan/Friend (11-1)

When: Monday, November 20 at 10:15 am
Where: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)
TV/Stream: Nebraska Public Media
Last Meeting: 2020 NSAA Playoffs First Round (Stanton, 81-28)
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State Championship Game Previews: Class A | Class B | Class C-1 | Class C-2 | Class D-1 | Class D-2

Stanton Mustangs (12-0)
State Championships: None
Runner-Up: 2004 (C-2)
Head Coach: David Stoddard
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 108.4 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: No. 2
Offensive Average: 60.1 | Defensive Average: 20.6
Key Players: Jaron Blum (5’9/150, DB, Jr.); Ren Brown (6’5/260, OL/DL, Jr.); Jordan Claussen (5’8/155, DB, Jr.); Gatlin Davidson (5’10/215, OL/DL); Keyfer Fernau (5’10/180, TE/DL); Garrett Hansen (6’0/205, OL/DL); Mitchell Hupp (6’2/175, TE/LB); Kaden Kment (5’4/145, RB, Soph.); Jai Milton (5’6/150, DB, Soph.); Becker Pohlman (6’0/190, ATH/DB, Jr.); Hunter Robinette (5’8/145, DB, Soph.); Parker Wiedeman (5’9/190, RB/LB); Barrett Wilke (6’0/205, QB/DB, Jr.)

Stanton
Stanton’s one trip to the state championship game in 2004 came up empty-handed with a loss in the C-2 final. Many fans of eight man football across the state have been talking about the junior class at Stanton for awhile. The Mustangs steamrolled their way to an average of 60.1 points per game this season. Barrett Wilke (1,157 passing yards, 21 TD’s; 1,890 rushing, 30 TD’s) and Becker Pohlman (1,942 total yards, 37 TD’s) are two of the main focal points on offense. In the passing game, senior Mitchell Hupp (22 receptions, 741 yards, 33.7/catch, 15 TD’s) needs to be monitored at all times. Junior offensive lineman Ren Brown is considered a college prospect. On defense, Pohlman (123 tackles), Wilke (111 tackles), Hupp (90 tackles, 6 sacks) and Garrett Hansen (97 tackles) are amongst the leaders.

Exeter-Milligan/Friend Bobcats (11-1)
State Championships: 2013 (D-1), 2014 (D-2) – both as Exeter-Milligan
Runner-Up: 2012 (D-1)
Head Coach: Kory Kahlandt
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 54.8 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: No. 6
Offensive Average: 50.0 | Defensive Average: 22.7
Key Players: Mikey Bartu (RB/LB, Jr.); Tyler Due (QB/DB); Spencer Eberspacher (6’2/180, WR/DL); Jacob Klooz (Jr.); Truman Milton (6’2/175, TE/DL, Frosh.); Draven Payne (5’9/180, RB/DB); Breckan Schluter (6’1/205, RB/LB); Zach Spohn (OL/DL); Hunter Svehla (RB, Soph.); Aidan Vavra (QB/LB, Jr.); Jacob Weber (LB)

Exeter-Milligan/Friend
Its only blemish of the campaign in a top-heavy Class D-1 field came by two points to semifinalist Sandy Creek, 64-62, in Week 3. The Bobcats navigated an extremely difficult regular season schedule and path in the playoffs to make it to Lincoln for the fourth time in school history after making three straight trips as Exeter-Milligan from 2012-2014. The main man on offense is without question Breckan Schulter (2,746 rushing yards, 52 TD’s). Tyler Due (767 total yards, 9 TD’s) is the quarterback, while Spencer Eberspacher (245 yards, 22.3/catch, TD) is capable of a big play or two in the passing game. Defensively, Jacob Weber (86 tackles, 9 TFL), Aidan Vavra (73 tackles, 3 TFL), Schulter (69 tackles, 11 TFL), Eberspacher (56 tackles, 13 TFL), and Jacob Klooz (52 tackles, 15 TFL) are the leaders for the Bobcats.

What to Expect
Offensive firepower. Stanton has weapons all over the place, hence its 60 points per game average. Expect to see a lot of Schulter, who is one of the top five rushers in Nebraska eight man football history.

2023 NSAA Class D-1 Playoff Results

Semifinals: Stanton 48, Sandy Creek 36; Exeter-Milligan/Friend 46, Crofton 32

Quarterfinals: Stanton 58, Arapahoe 28; Sandy Creek 44, Cross County 24; EMF 44. North Platte St. Patrick’s 28; Crofton 64, Elkhorn Valley 24

Second Round: Stanton  60, Summerland 30; Arapahoe 12, Ravenna 6; Cross County 58, Perkins County 6; Sandy Creek 22, Weeping Water 20; North Platte St. Patrick’s 39, Clarkson/Leigh 0; EMF 26, Shelby-Rising City 0; Crofton 72, Bridgeport 34; Elkhorn Valley 36, Plainview 8

First Round
West – NPSP 65, Sutton 28; Birdgeport 70, Alma 20; Ravenna 56, Neligh-Oakdale 28; Arapahoe 52, Hemingford 22; Summerland 52, Hi-Line 46 (OT); Elkhorn Valley 50, Riverside 20; Perkins County 58, Cambridge 6; Sandy Creek 62, Maxwell 22
East – Stanton 78, Mead 6; Clarkson-Leigh 38, Johnson County Central 34; Exeter-Milligan/Friend 40, Pender 14; Plainview 49, Hartington-Newcastle 40; Cross County 52, Wisner-Pilger 22; Shelby-Rising City 58, Elmwood-Murdock 0; Weeping Water 34, Thayer Central 28; Crofton 60, Tri County Northeast 8