Class B State Championship Game Preview
Bennington (12-0) vs. Omaha Skutt Catholic (11-1)

When: Monday, November 20 at 7:15 pm
Where: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)
TV/Stream: Nebraska Public Media
Last Meeting: Week 1, 2023 (Bennington, 14-13 – Link WOWT 6 Highlights)
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Bennington Badgers (12-0)
State Championships: 1989 (C-1), 2021, 2022 (B)
Head Coach: Kam Lenhart
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 63.5 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: No. 1
Offensive Average: 36.9 | Defensive Average: 7.8
Key Players: Elliot Andersen (6’0/165, WR/DB, Jr.); Quinton Archer (5’7/185); Layne Boever (5’10/180, LB, Jr.); Jaxon Dumont (5’8/165, RB/DB); Tysen Fleischman (6’3/190, DL, Jr.); Hudson Foreman (5’10/170, DL, Jr.); Ben Gilliland (6’0/195, LB); Jack Jansen (6’1/235, OL/DL); Ben Jorgensen (5’11/160, WR/LB); Kale Kaufmann (5’11/280, OL/DL); Gage Koso (6’2/230, OL/DL); Kyler Lauridsen (5’11/170, LB, Jr.); Gunnar Lym (6’0/180, DB/PR); Jimmy Miller (6’1/240, OL/DL, Jr.); Gavin Olson (6’0/150, DB, Jr.); Ethan Roop (5’10/175, TE/LB,); Kawiyou Taffa Jr. (5’9/155, WR/DB), Peyton Sanmann (6’0/185, QB); Evan Utech (6’0/190, LB/K);

Bennington
In the semifinals, two-time defending champion Bennington tied the Class B state record with 38 consecutive wins. If it can figure out a way to beat Omaha Skutt for the second time this season, Bennington will own the record outright (currently tied with McCook, who won 38 in a row from 2002-2004). Much to the chagrin of the rest of Class B, Bennington has steadily improved as the season rolled along. Your best shot at these Badgers probably came before Week 4. When the state championship game kicks off, Bennington will not have lost a football game for 1,109 days.

A balanced offensive attack led by quarterback Peyton Sanmann (1,495 passing yards, 16 TD’s; 327 rushing, 4 TD’s) has Quinton Archer (1,686 rushing yards, 18 TD’s; 242 receiving yards, 3 TD’s) getting the bulk of the workload out of the backfield. When Sanmann has success in the passing game, big plays are possible. The receiving corps is led by junior Elliot Anderson (339 receiving yards, 6 TD’s) and Ben Jorgensen (309 receiving yards, 3 TD’s). Junior Jack Jansen has emerged up front for the Badgers. Bennington’s offense has continued to improve throughout the season and put up some serious points in the regular season finale and the first round of the playoffs.

If you like undersized performers who have ice in their veins when the lights shine bright on Friday nights, Bennington is for you. On defense, junior Kyler Lauridsen (97 tackles, 18 TFL, 3 INT’s) has been a highly impactful player for the Badgers for the second straight campaign. Linebacker Ben Gilliland (97 tackles, 11 TFL) and North Dakota commit Gunnar Lym (47 tackles, 3 INT’s) provide senior leadership on defense with Lym providing a boost in the return game (we warned you). Junior Gage Olson (29 tackles, 6 INT’s) has had an outstanding campaign in the secondary. The Badgers allowed seven points or less nine times over the season, including three shutouts.

Omaha Skutt Catholic Skyhawks (11-1)
State Championships: 2005, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 (B)
Runner-Up: 2009, 2016, 2017 (B)
Head Coach: Matt Turman
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 49.5 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: No. 2
Offensive Average: 42.1 | Defensive Average: 11.8
Key Players: Jake Astuto (6’0/190, WR/DL); Sam Brummund (6’2/220, DL/LB); Maxwell Chandler (6’2/225, RB/LB); Morgan Finkenbinder (5’10/180, WR/DB); Anthony Heithoff (5’11/200, RB/LB); Michael Jiron (5’10/210, OL/DL); Danny Johnson (5’11/180, WR/DB); Joseph Kolega (5’11/165, WR/DB, Jr.); Colin Pike (5’11/185, RB/LB); Wes Scott (6’2/195, DL); Kyler Seaman (5’11/180, WR/DB); Bennett Turman (6’1/165, QB); Dylan Van Dyke (6’1/185, QB/DB, Jr.); Luke Van Dyke (6’1/210, TE/LB); Sam Ward (6’3/275, OL/DL); Justin Witcofski (6’1/245, OL/DL)

Omaha Skutt
Head coach Matt Turman has won five state championships at Omaha Skutt and is looking for their first Class B state title since 2019. In order to reach the state final, Omaha Skutt’s offense caught fire in the second half in a 38-26 victory over previously unbeaten Waverly. In the quarterfinal, Omaha Skutt erased a 28-6 first quarter deficit and won 30-28 to keep its season alive. Resiliency makes this particular Omaha Skutt team intriguing. The Skyhawks have instilled a lot of pride in their program, evident by their Class B dynasty in the 2010’s.

An explosive offense that averaged 42.1 points per game is led by Bennett Turman, while junior Dylan Van Dyke is capable of taking snaps on occasion. Turman’s steady hands control the tempo on offense with his abilities in the passing game making him dangerous. The backfield is strong in particular for the Skyhawks, led by both Colin Pike and Anthony Heithoff. Heithoff rushed for 164 second half yards on eight carries in the semifinal victory over Waverly with Pike shelved with an ankle issue. The receiving corps is deep and all capable of performing well in clutch time. Sam Ward and Justin Witcofski are two of the offensive line standouts for Skutt Catholic.

Defensively, linebacker Sam Brummund, Heithoff, and Pike all are counted on to provide senior leadership. At one point over four games this season, the Skyhawks allowed six total points to include three shutouts. Maxwell Chandler and defensive back Joseph Kolega are two other Skyhawks who will be heavily relied upon in the final. There are seniors filling the lineup on the defensive side of football, therefore experience is not an issue.

What to Expect
Omaha Skutt was a hair’s breath away from ending Bennington’s winning streak in the season opener. Sanmann scored the winning touchdown on a 2-yard run followed by Anderson’s extra point with two seconds remaining to win it for Bennington. Expect the same sort of fireworks in the state final. This is perhaps the best matchup of any seven of the state championship games. It appears a potential rain issue for the Monday morning game will not be an issue that evening.

2023 NSAA Class B Playoffs

Semifinals: Bennington 30, Elkhorn North 6; Omaha Skutt 38, Waverly 26

Quarterfinals: Bennington 23, Norris 20; Elkhorn North 35. Scottsbluff 16; Waverly 45, Hastings 20; Omaha Skutt 30, Blair 28

First Round: Bennington 65, Crete 7; Norris 50, Grand Island Northwest 14; Scottsbluff  14. York 0; Eklhorn North 31, Elkhorn 21; Waverly 42, Ralston 0; Hastings 35, Seward 6; Omaha Skutt 42, Omaha Gross 14; Blair 21, Plattsmouth 14