2025 NSAA Class C-2 State Championship Game
Bishop Neumann (11-1) vs. Grand Island Central Catholic (11-1)
When: Tuesday, November 25 at 2:45 pm CT
Where: Memorial Stadium in Lincoln
TV/Stream: Nebraska Public Media
Radio: KFMT – Fremont, KNTK – Lincoln, KRGI – Grand Island, Spirit Catholic Radio, Wahoo Sports Online 
Class C-2 Playoff Bracket
NSAA Football Finals Headquarters
Live Game Stats
Tickets

Bishop Neumann Cavaliers (11-1)
Head Coach: Joe Pavlik
State Championships: 1977, 2002, 2003 (C-1)
Scoring Offense: 32.3 | Scoring Defense: 14.4
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rating: No. 4
One-Way to Memorial Stadium: 31.0 miles

Bishop Neumann: In his first season after coming over from Syracuse, Joe Pavlik has Bishop Neumann back in the state final game for the second straight season. The Cavaliers have not won a state championship since claiming the C-1 crown in 2003, something that Pavlik and Bishop Neumann hope will change in 2025. It has not been an easy path to Lincoln, but the Cavaliers are battle-tested and proven to be resilient. 

Beau Fujan (1,334 total yards, 13 TD’s) operates the controls for Bishop Neumann in an offense that averages 264.8 rushing yards per game and features two 1,000-yard rushers. Jack Van Slyke (1,150 rushing yards, 20 TD’s) and Landon Sund (1,058 rushing yards, 8 TD’s) lead the ground attack. Alex Barry (471 receiving yards, 7 TD’s) is the top option in the passing game for the Cavaliers. Northwest Missouri State commit Matt Thulin (6’5/275) anchors the offensive line.

Van Slyke (139 tackles, 10 TFL), sophomore Henry Woita (116 tackles, 4 TFL), and junior Quin Schutt (101 tackles, 2 INT’s) are the team leaders on defense. Barry (4 INT’s) is has been the most productive player in the secondary. Brecken Pentico (35/36 PAT; 1/2 FG) is the kicker for Bishop Neumann, while Van Slyke handles the punting duties.

Grand Island Central Catholic Crusaders (11-1)
Head Coach: Jeff Ashby
State Championships: None
Scoring Offense: 38.3 | Scoring Defense: 7.5
Final NEBHSFB.com Regular Season Rating: No. 8
One-Way to Memorial Stadium: 98.2 miles

Grand Island Central Catholic: Not only has Central Catholic never won a state championship in football, the Crusaders have not been to a state final since 1983 back when the Nebraska “Scoring Explosion” was a thing. GICC has been to three finals, losing in 1975, 1979, and then again in 1983. The Crusaders earned their stripes in 2025, avenging a regular season loss to Ord to move on to the state title game while riding an explosive offense and an elite defense. Head coach Jeff Ashby has won a state title in his career, leading Giltner to the D-2 championship in 2012. 

Experienced quarterback Grayson Sack (2,625 total yards, 30 TD’s) leads an offense that averages 379 yards per game. Jack Alberts (991 rushing yards, 17 TD’s) is the top option out of the backfield for the Crusaders, while Connor Haney (937 receiving yards, 12 TD’s) and Graham Stava (536 receiving yards, 5 TD’s) are the top options for Sack in the passing game. Junior Will Maser (6’3/275) anchors the offensive line for GICC.

Leading a defense that allows 7.5 points per game and has posted five shutouts is sophomore Jackson Gangwish (131 tackles, 20 TFL), sophomore Owen Price (92 tackles, 22 TFL, 6 sacks), Alberts (87 tackles, 12 TFL), and Haney (80 tackles, 4 TFL, 4 INT’s). In the secondary, juniors Mason Vasquez and Braylon Wolfe both have three interceptions this season. Freshman Garrett Watson (58/63 PAT; 6/11 FG – 36 Long) handles the kicking duties, while Sack is the punter for the Crusaders. 

2025 Class C-2 State Playoffs

Semifinals
Grand Island Central Catholic 23, Ord 13
Bishop Neumann 34, Kearney Catholic 0

Quarterfinals
Ord 27, Cedar Catholic 21
Grand Island Central Catholic 31, Bergan Catholic 14
Kearney Catholic 23, Malcolm 20
Bishop Neumann 30, Yutan 26

First Round
Cedar Catholic 48, Hershey 0
Ord 63, Doniphan-Trumbull 30
Bergan Catholic 61, Wood River 0
Grand Island Central Catholic 49, West Point-Beemer 14
Kearney Catholic 28, Boone Central 14
Malcolm 28, Lincoln Lutheran 24
Yutan 36, Norfolk Catholic 8
Bishop Neumann 34, Arlington 8