Nebraska HS Football (nebhsfb.com) Final Regular Season Top 10
Class A
1. Omaha Westside (13-0) 1
2. Elkhorn South (11-2) 3
3. Millard South (10-2) 2
4. Millard West (9-3) 8
5. Omaha North (8-3) 5
6. Grand Island (6-5) NR
7. Kearney (8-2) 4
8. Bellevue West (7-4) 6
9. Gretna (7-3) 7
10. Lincoln East (7-4) 10
Outside Looking In
Lincoln Southeast (6-4) NR
Papillion-La Vista (8-2) 9
Comments: Going wire-to-wire in the top spot, Omaha Westside outscored its opponents 643-46 during the 2023 season en route to its second straight Class A state championship. In the midst of a dynasty, Omaha Westside will be ready to reload in 2023 with a very different lineup. Expect Millard South, Bellevue West, Omaha North, and Kearney to be the main challengers to Westside’s title run. The trick became what to do with Kearney. After initially leaning towards putting the Bearcats much higher due to the entire body of work over the course of the season, it was hard to justify putting Kearney ahead of Grand Island. Kearney and Grand Island split with the Islanders winning in the playoffs and technically on aggregate. Grand Island lost four games to teams that finished in the Top 5. Gretna finishes in the Top 10 at No. 9 and is projected to head down to Class B over the next “realignment” cycle. Papillion-La Vista, unfortunately, is left out due to Lincoln East winning a playoff game and its regular season loss to Lincoln Southeast.
Class B
1, Bennington (13-0) 1
2. Omaha Skutt (11-2) 2
3. Waverly (11-1) 3
4. Elkhorn North (10-2) 4
5. Norris (7-4) 9
6. Blair (6-5) 10
7. Hastings (7-4) NR
8. Scottsbluff (6-5) NR
9. Plattsmouth (7-3) 5
10. York (7-3) 6
Outside Looking In
Grand Island Northwest (5-5) 7
Seward (6-4) 8
Comments: A wire-to-wire No. 1, Bennington has won 39 straight games and the last three Class B state championships. The top four is unchanged from the final regular season ratings. After Elkhorn North at No. 4, it had been a jumble the entire season. Norris and Blair were rewarded for winning a playoff game with the TItans finishing No. 5 due to a head-to-head win over Blair. Hastings makes its first appearance of the season and finishes No. 7 after making outstanding progress in 2023. Scottsbluff gets back into the Top 10 at No. 8 thanks to its playoff victory.
Class C-1
1. Boone Central (13-0) 1
2. Wahoo (12-1) 2
3. Ashland-Greenwood (10-2) 3
4. Sidney (10-2) NR
5. Pierce (8-3) 4
6. Adams Central (9-2) 7
7. Auburn (8-3) 9
8. Broken Bow (7-4) NR
9. Omaha Roncalli (7-3) 5
10. Douglas County West (7-3) 6
Outside Looking In
Aurora (6-4) 8
Ogallala (7-3) 10
Comments: A wire-to-wire No. 1 in Class C-1, Boone Central runs the table to finish unbeaten. Wahoo will be considered one of the favorites in the 2024 preseason, finishing at No. 2. Sidney deserves its spot at No. 4 after impressing in the state playoffs. Broken Bow jumps into the No. 8 spot thanks to a playoff win.
Class C-2
1. Norfolk Catholic (13-0) 1
2. Ord (10-3) 4
3. Fillmore Central (11-1) 5
4. Yutan (9-3) 9
5. Oakland-Craig (9-2) 3
6. Malcolm (9-2) 6
7. Kearney Catholic (8-3) 8
8. Battle Creek (8-2) 2
9. Mitchell (8-3) NR
10. Wahoo Neumann (7-3) 7
Outside Looking In
Chase County (7-3) NR
Hastings St. Cecilia (7-3) 10
Comments: Norfolk Catholic was the only 11-man state champion not to start the season as the preseason No. 1. The Knights worked quickly to disprove its No. 3 ranking and was in the top spot by Week 3. Norfolk Catholic has won 26 straight games and will be in good shape again in 2024 for a potential run at a state record 13th state title. Mitchell
Class D-1
1. Stanton (12-0) 2
2. Exeter-Milligan/Friend (11-2) 6
3. North Platte St. Patrick’s (10-1) 1
4. Crofton (11-1) 4
5. Sandy Creek (11-1) 5
6. Cross County (10-1) 3
7. Arapahoe (9-2) 8
8. Elkhorn Valley (8-3) NR
9. Plainview (9-1) 7
10. Ravenna (9-1) 9
Outside Looking In
Shelby-Rising City (8-2) 10
Comments: Stanton ran the table towards its first state championship in program history. A top-notch junior class will ensure the Mustangs will be in the discussion yet again in 2024. Full marks to Exeter-Milligan/Friend running back Breckan Schluter, who rushed for more than 3,000 yards in 2023. Preseason favorite North Platte St. Patrick’s, featuring Jackson Roberts and Brecken Erickson, were perhaps deserving of more. Cross County, who has college prospects all over the place on its roster including Illinois pledge Tanner Hollinger, could only get to the quarterfinals. It was a loaded D-1 race in 2023.
Class D-2
1. Sandhills/Thedford (12-1) 9
2. Wynot (12-1) 2
3. South Loup (11-1) 1
4. Howells-Dodge (9-3) 8
5. Dundy County-Stratton (10-1) 3
6. Central Valley (10-1) 5
7. Johnson-Brock (10-1) 6
8. Ainsworth (9-1) 4
9. Humphrey St. Francis (9-2) 7
10. Nebraska City Lourdes (8-2) 10
Comments: In leading Sandhills/Thedford to its first state championship in program history, junior Kyle Cox had 215 carries for 1,436 yards and 26 touchdowns over five playoff games. Cox’s playoff outlay produced the most rushing yards over the entirety of the playoffs in Class D-2 history. With seven one-loss teams, coming up with a final product was difficult. Carter Nelson’s Ainsworth finishes at No. 8. A team to watch for the future is Humphrey St. Francis, who will be one of the top teams in whichever class it ends up after realignment.
Class D-6
1. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller (12-0) 4
2. Hay Springs (8-4) NR
3. Arthur County (9-1) 1
4. Wilcox-Hildreth (9-2) 5
5. Pawnee City (9-1) 2
6. Parkview Christian (8-3) 6
Outside Looking In
Potter-Dix (9-1) 3
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