2025 NSAA Class D-1 State Championship Game
Sandy Creek (11-1) vs. Crofton (10-2)
When: Monday, November 24 at 10:15 am CT
Where: Memorial Stadium in Lincoln
TV/Stream: Nebraska Public Media
Radio: KEXL – Pierce, KHAS – Hastings, KNEN – Norfolk, KRFS – Superior, KTMX – York, KVHT – Vermillion (SD), KYNT – Yankton (SD), x-streamsports.com
NSAA Football Finals Headquarters
Class D-1 Playoff Bracket
Live Game Stats
Tickets

Sandy Creek Cougars (11-1)
Head Coach: Andrew Kuta
State Championships: 2024 (D-1)
Scoring Offense: 53.3 | Scoring Defense: 15.7
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rating: No. 3
One-Way to Memorial Stadium: 103.7 miles

Sandy Creek: Winners of 24 of its last 25 games, defending state champion Sandy Creek reloaded quickly. After winning its first state title in program history last season, Sandy Creek is looking for a repeat. The only blemish on the season for the Cougars came by eight points to top playoff seed Shelby-Rising City in Week 2. Since then, the results have been pretty one-sided in favor of the Cougars. 

Super sophomore Kam Sealey (3,300 total yards, 58 TD’s) has dazzled for the Cougars with tough cleats to fill heading into the season. It is safe to say he has passed the test with flying colors. Kaeden Schmidt (438 rushing yards, 9 TD’s, 7.7 yards per carry) is another option out of the backfield for Sandy Creek. There are plenty of targets in the passing game, led by junior Wes Biltoft (564 receiving yards, 9 TD’s). Junior Logan Tomky (505 receiving yards, 9 TD’s) and Schmidt (352 receiving yards, 8 TD’s) are huge contributors in Sandy Creek’s passing attack. Height at the receiver position is a problem for opposing defenses with the 6’6 Biltoft and 6’3 Tomky to contend with. Christian Shaw anchors the line for the Cougars.

On defense, Alston Clark (118 tackles, 6 TFL) is the leading tackler for Sandy Creek. Biltoft (98 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 INT’s), Shaw (90 tackles, 7 TFL) and junior Josh Spray (86 tackles, 12 TFL, 6 sacks) also help boost the defense. In the playoffs, the Cougars have given up just 12 points a game. Sandy Creek has held opponents to eight points or less four times this season.

Crofton (10-2)
Head Coach: Johnnie Ostermeyer
State Championships: None
Scoring Offense: 56.3 | Scoring Defense: 26.9
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rating: No. 5
One-Way to Memorial Stadium: 174.8 miles

Crofton: The two-time C-2 runner-up (2003, 2018) faced a brutal schedule and took two losses in the regular season before winning eight straight to find itself 48 minutes away from a first state championship in school history. A 78-76 four-overtime loss to Class D-2 finalist Wynot was one of the best games of the year in Nebraska high school football regardless of classification. Another blemish to Bloomfield game in Week 4 to drop Crofton to 2-2.

In the first two games of the playoffs, Crofton scored a total of 178 points. Sophomore quarterback Preston Foxhoven (1,768 total yards, 26 total TD’s) has been poised while operating the controls for Crofton. Bulldozing 210-pound running back Tyson Jackson (2,297 rushing yards, 50 TD’s) provides the bulk of the offensive production, while junior Trevor Allen (508 receiving yards, 6 TD’s) and Jace Panning (473 receiving yards, 8 TD’s) are the top most potent options in the passing game.

On defense, junior Grant Jordan (101 tackles, INT) is the leading tackler for Crofton. Other key contributors are Jackson (96 tackles, 10 TFL) along with Trace (80 tackles) and Trey Tramp (64 tackles, 8 TFL). Foxhoven is the leader in the secondary, swiping six passes this season for Crofton. In the semifinals, Crofton held No. 1 seed Shelby-Rising City to just eight points. 

Class D-1 State Playoffs

Semifinals
Crofton 28 Shelby-Rising City 8
Sandy Creek 53, Plainview 22

Quarterfinals
Shelby-Rising City 28, Pender 6
Crofton 60, Hemingford 12
Sandy Creek 45, Bridgeport 6
Plainview 64, Dundy County-Stratton 44

Second Round
Shelby-Rising City 54, Bloomfield 14
Pender 30, Lourdes Central Catholic 26
Crofton 88, Johnson-Brock 56
Hemingford 50, Stanton 26
Sandy Creek 51, Wisner-Pilger 6
Bridgeport 38, Wausa-Osmond 18
Plainview 51, Thayer Central 22
Dundy County-Stratton 52, McCool Junction 8

First Round
Shelby-Rising City 44, Boyd County 22
Bloomfield 34, Sutton 26
Pender 47, Mead 6
Lourdes Central Catholic 43, Guardian Angels Central Catholic 12
Crofton 90, Kimball 20
Johnson-Brock 57, North Platte St. Patrick’s 30
Hemingford 64, East Butler 14
Stanton 62 , Ravenna 44
Sandy Creek 60, Exeter-Milligan/Friend 14
Wisner-Pilger 38, Hartington-Newcastle 28
Wausa-Osmond 36, Summerland 6
Bridgeport 48, Clarkson/Leigh 26
Plainview 43, Alma 8
Thayer Central 47, Perkins County 6
McCool Junction 44, Arcadia-Loup City 42 (2 OT)
Dundy County-Stratton 49, Elkhorn Valley 6