Nebraska HS Football: Class A State Quarterfinal Preview
NSAA Quarterfinals, All-Nations 9A Championship Game STREAMING LINKS

Class A

Papillion-LaVista (7-3) at Omaha Westside (10-0)
Stream: Warrior Television
Last Meeting: Omaha Westside 42, Papillion-La Vista 12 (October 24, 2024)

Papillion-LaVista Monarchs (7-3)

  • Papillion-La Vista navigated the toughest district in Class A to qualify for the playoffs.
  • Junior Cam Leggett leads the team in passing with 1,701 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.
  • Tight end Kale Johnson leads the Monarchs with 39 receptions for 512 yards and four touchdowns and is a leader on defense with 86 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks.
  • Texas Tech verbal commit Garin Maley leads the offensive line, while junior Logan Holtmeyer recorded 61 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks from his defensive line position.

Omaha Westside Warriors (10-0)

  • Omaha Westside has won a Class A state record 30 straight games and the last two state championships.
  • Super Sophomores: Braylen Warren has 1,832 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in his first season as a starter while running back Tay Tay Jenkins leads Class A with 1,460 rushing yards and 18 scores.
  • Division I prospect Keynan Cotton leads a deep receiving corps for the Warriors with 33 receptions for 632 yards and nine touchdowns.
  • Nebraska commit and All-American Bowl honoree Christian Jones has 75 tackles and four tackles for loss as one of the leaders on defense.

Omaha North (8-2) at Elkhorn South (9-1)
Stream: Elkhorn South Striv
Last Meeting: Elkhorn South 10, Omaha North 0 (October 20, 2023)

Omaha North Vikings (8-2)

  • Quarterback Mikey Gow has performed well after his return to Nebraska, throwing for 1,452 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 268 yards and two rushing scores.
  • Junior running back Jaron Cannon picked off where he left off after a stellar sophomore season with 1,066 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
  • Darion Jones, a junior, has 30 receptions for 589 yards and nine touchdowns while also leading the team with six interceptions.
  • Max Clark leads the defense with 101 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks.

Elkhorn South Storm (9-1)

  • Last season’s Class A runner-up Elkhorn South is led by Madden Riggs and his 1,579 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.
  • Running back Gavin Shanahan has 1,193 yards rushing with 17 touchdowns while Landon Tate leads the Storm in receiving with 32 receptions for 644 yards and seven scores.
  • Devin Meyer is a two-way player who has made a huge impact with 10 receptions for 283 yards and four touchdowns while leading the Storm with 79 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks.
  • McCorter Goeser has recorded 72 tackles and three tackles for loss as part of a talented linebacking corps.

Millard North (6-4) at Millard South (9-1)
Stream: Millard South Media
Last Meeting: Millard South 63, Millard North 21 (September 20, 2024)

Millard North Mustangs (6-4)

  • Five-time state champion Millard North is looking to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2016.
  • Junior quarterback Zion Rush has thrown for 1,418 yards and 16 scores while leading receiver and Nebraska commit Pierce Mooberry will not be available.
  • Nebraska pledge Caden VerMaas has 14 catches for 400 yards and five scores while adding 837 rushing yards and nine scores for the Mustangs.
  • Junior Division I prospect Araf Evans Jr. has recorded 64 tackles and four tackles for loss.

Millard South Patriots (9-1)

  • Millard South’s offensive juggernaut leads Class A in scoring at 53.7 points per game.
  • Junior quarterback Jett Thomalla leads Class A in passing with 2,750 yards and 35 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions.
  • Florida State commit Chase Loftin leads the Patriots with 41 receptions for 649 yards and nine touchdowns while junior Amarion Jackson has 39 receptions for 618 yards and six scores. Juniors DaShawn Prince and junior elite level tight end Isaac Jensen are also players to watch in the receiving corps.
  • Teegan Urban leads the Patriots with 60 tackles and 15 tackles for loss while Solomon Baker has recorded six sacks to boost the defense.

Bellevue West (7-3) at Kearney (9-1)
Stream: Kearney Striv Channel
Last Meeting: Kearney 16, Bellevue West 14 (September 15, 2023)

Bellevue West Thunderbirds (7-3)

  • Bellevue West is looking to get to the Class A semifinals for the seventh time since 2015 and have won two state titles (2016 and 2019) in that stretch.
  • Junior Will Anderson leads the Thunderbirds with 1,786 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.
  • Jermaine Green leads the team with 710 receiving yards and nine touchdowns while senior T.J. Whaley has 526 yards and six touchdowns on 45 catches.
  • Kaprice Keith leads the defense with three interceptions and has returned two punts for a touchdown this season.

Kearney Bearcats (9-1)

  • Kearney snapped a three-season losing streak in the first round of the state playoffs.
  • Baseball prospect Griffin Novacek leads the Bearcats with 1,202 passing yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 553 rushing yards and five scores.
  • Offensive tackle Turner Bertrand (6’7/290) recently picked up his first FBS offer coming from Washington State.
  • Kansas State pledge Sawyer Schilke leads the team with 94 tackles to go along with 13 tackles for loss, and six sacks.