Class C-2 State Championship Game Preview
Norfolk Catholic (12-0) vs. Ord (10-2)

When: Tuesday, November 21 at 2:45 pm
Where: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)
TV/Stream: Nebraska Public Media
Last Meeting: Week 2, 2023 (Norfolk Catholic, 31-14)
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Norfolk Catholic Knights (12-0)
State Championships: 1983, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017 (C-1), 2022 (C-2)
Runner-Up: 1984, 1987 (C-2), 1993, 1996 (C-2), 2009, 2015 (C-1), 2018, 2021 (C-2)
Head Coach: Jeff Bellar
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 121.5 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: No. 1
Offensive Average: 44.3 | Defensive Average: 11.1
Key Players: Clayton Carney (WR/DB); Shaun Clinch (OL/DL, Jr.); Nolan Fennessy (6’4/250, OL/DL); Max Hammond (6’0/185, RB/DB, Jr.); Javier Hernandez; Carter Janssen (6’1/175, QB/DB); Sam Johnson (Jr.); Hayden Kelley (Jr.); Brandon Kollars (5’11/200, RB/LB); Aiden Kosch (6’3/170, WR/DB); Tyson Risinger (5’10/200, Jr.); Sam Speidel (6’2/175); Trevin Sukup (5’10/160, WR/DB, Jr.); Nathan Timmerman (6’0/175, RB/DB, Soph.); Mason Weidner (6’2/200)

Norfolk Catholic
Norfolk Catholic head coach Jeff Bellar holds the Nebraska state record with 405 wins and has led the Knights to 10 of their state record 11 state championships in football. Heading in to the 2023 state title game with Ord, the defending champions have won 25 straight games and 36 of its last 37. Norfolk Catholic has defeated Ord four straight times dating to the regular season of 2020. Last season, the Knights swept Ord in two games to include the Class C-2 semifinals.

The Knights average 302.9 yards per game on the ground this season, led by quarterback Carter Janssen (1,091 passing yards, 12 TD’s; 937 rushing yards, 10.5/carry, 14 TD’s) and Brandon Kollars (1,003 rushing yards, 20 TD’s). Both are proven commodities and are capable of busting big plays in the running game, while Trevin Sukup (425 rushing, 6 TD’s) and sophomore Nathan Timmerman (491 rushing, 11 TD’s) are heavy contributors. Sam Speidel (17 receptions, 265 yards, 2 TD’s and Clayton Carney (194 receiving yards, 4 TD’s) lead a deep receiving corps when the Knights decide to throw it, while Nebraska walk-on pledge Nolan Fennessy leads the offensive front for the Knights.

On a defense that allows 197.3 yards per game, Kollars (91 tackles), Fennessy (81 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 sacks), and Shaun Clinch (79 tackles, 2 TFL, sack) are considered the top playmakers on defense. Junior Max Hammond (71 tackles, 4 TFL), Hayden Kelley (63 tackles, 7 INT’s), and Sukup (60 tackles, 4 INT’s) patrol the secondary for the Knights, who posted a pair of shutouts this season. Norfolk Catholic’s defense has allowed less than 100 rushing yards per game during its unbeaten regular season.

Ord Chanticleers (10-2)
State Championships: 2020 (C-2)
Runner-Up: 2018 (C-1)
Head Coach: Nathan Wells
Distance to Memorial Stadium: 158.7 miles
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rank: No. 4
Offensive Average: 38.6 | Defensive Average: 15.2
Key Players: Jed Boettcher (6’1/285, OL/DL, Jr.); Talan Bruha (6’3/205, TE/LB); Jace Geiser (6’0/195, WR/DB); Blake Hinrichs (6’3/185, WR/DB); Dylan Hurlburt (5’7/180, QB/LB); Tad Kovarik (5’7/125, WR/DB); Trent McCain (6’0/180, RB/DB); Colt Meyer (5’11/225, OL/DL, Soph.); Aidan Ryschon (5’10/155, RB/DB); Easton Ryschon (WR/DB, Soph.); Will Skibinski (OL/DL, 250), Colton Thompson (6’0/165, WR/DB, Soph.); Jacob Thompson (OL/DL); Jordan Williams (WR/DB, Frosh.)

Ord
In its trek to winning the 2020 state championship, Ord actually did not get the opportunity to play in Memorial Stadium due to COVID-19. The Chanticleers took down Fremont Bergan at Heedum Field in Fremont. Ord’s only trip to Lincoln to play for all the marbles came in 2018 as it fell to Aurora in the Class C-1 final. This season, the Chanticleers got off to a 1-2 start before winning nine straight to reach its third final in six seasons.

Ord averages 272.6 yards per game on the ground, led by dual-threat quarterback Dylan Hurlburt (2,503 total yards, 37 TD’s). Hurburt’s return from an injury as a junior has been a huge boost for the Chanticleers. Trent McCain (1,495 rushing yards, 18 TD’s) is one of the top rushers in Class C-2 over the past two seasons, while Blake Hinrichs (439 receiving yards, 22 yards per catch, 7 TD’s) and Talan Bruha (256 yards, TD) are two of the top options in the passing game. Junior Jed Boettcher and Will Skibinski provide the beef up front for the Chanticleers.

Boettcher (61 tackles, 9 TFL) leads the front line, while McCain (115 tackles, 15 TFL, 6 sacks), Hurlburt (98 tackles, 10 TFL, and Bruha (57 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 INT’s) are also active on defense for Ord. Colton Thompson (26 tackles, 2 INT’s) is one of the leaders in the secondary.

What to Expect
This appears to be a different Ord team than the one that lost this contest 31-14 in Week 2. Norfolk Catholic will try to do what Norfolk Catholic does, which is patiently run the football while sprinkling in a pass for a big play on occasion. Ord will need Hurlburt and McCain to be in peak form to pull off a surprise in the final.

2023 Class C-2 NSAA Football Playoffs

Semifinals: Norfolk Catholic 42, Fillmore Central 14; Ord 35, Yutan 7

Quarterfinals: Norfolk Catholic 55, Kearney Catholic 7; Fillmore Central 30, Malcolm 20; Yutan 28, Oakland-Craig 6; Ord 47, Mitchell 13

First Round: Norfolk Catholic 42, David City Aquinas 12; Kearney Catholic 31, Battle Creek 15; Fillmore Central 16, Wilber-Clatonia 6; Malcolm 20, Chase County 12; Oakland-Craig  37, Amherst (5-5) 6; Yutan 42, Hastings St. Cecilia 6; Ord  18, Cedar Catholic 13; Mitchell 58, Wahoo Neumann 20