GameDayMike Sautter

Football Finals Primer

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Seven game. Seven sites. Seven champions.

The last time we did this, the internet had barely been invented. So this new experiment today should be fun.

It will be a hectic day of football in Nebraska as the state is fortunate enough to crown champions in their final fall sport today in a season that many believed would not be completed. Yet, here we are.

Here is what is going down, in chronological order. The work that NET and the NSAA went through to make all of this happen is nothing short of amazing.

When the games go LIVE this will be your hub to watch. And, if you need a primer, our Playoff Preview Show, presented by Piezone’s Pizzeria should also do the trick.

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3:00: NET (live link) will broadcast the Class C-2 championship game between Ord and Fremont Bergan. Here’s two really good teams, folks and you can lock in on them with no interruptions for two hours or so, likely into the fourth quarter we hope. Have your eyes on Ord quarterback Zach Smith and running back Tommy Stevens. For Fremont Bergan, quarterback speedster Koa McIntyre who is will eclipse 3,200 yards of total offense today.

Old School: Also, if you like a good radio broadcast you can’t go wrong with hometown radio. KHUB in Fremont. KNLV in Ord.

Socially Distant: Our Mike Sautter will be at the game with in-game video highlights and coverage. As will our videographer Ben Mohorn.

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EASTON’S WAY: BDS running back Easton Weber looks for yards in the first round of the Class D-2 playoffs (nebpreps photo / Taylor Siebert)

5:00: Both of the 8-man games will kick off and they should be doozies, as all four teams are undefeated. The Class D-1 game in Burwell will feature a 2019 semifinal rematch between the host Longhorns and Dundy County-Stratton (Burwell 28-10 last year). NET webstream

Burwell is playing in their fifth title game in six seasons, but is just 1-3 in their previous four attempts, while DCS makes history in their first title game in school history. Lots of rushers in this one. Burwell’s Caleb Busch has 2,189 yards and 45 touchdowns while DCS counters with Serbando Diaz and Quade Myers who have combined for nearly 3,200 yards and  46 scores.

In Shickley, a place where football has been good for a long time, heavyweight Bruning-Davenport/Shickley hosts “newcomer” Sandhills/Thedford who is playing in their first title game in program history. The Eagles are playing in their fourth final since 2014, but first since 2017. This one should be fantastic, especially the S/T power offense with the running of Dane Pokorny and the physical defense of BDS with bruising tacklers Kyle Ardissono and Easton Weber. NET Webstream

Old School: Some radio links — King FM (Burwell); 105.3 FM (DCS); KBBN (Sandhills/Thedford); Old Red (BDS); 104.9 FM (BDS)

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5:30: The Class C-1 game features unbeaten Pierce against 10-2 Adams Central in a game that is also a rematch from the 2019 semifinals. The Patriots are to the finals as the 8th seed, topping Wayne, overall No. 1 seed Ashland-Greenwood and then avenging a regular season loss to Kearney Catholic in last week’s semifinals.

Pierce is playing in their seventh title game under coach Mark Brahmer has four backs over 300 yards on the season and quarterback Abram Scholting is closing in on 1,400 yards passing. AC has quarterback Cam Foster over 1,400 yards passing and running back Hyatt Collins over 1,400 yards rushing. NET Webstream

Old School: KHAS (Adams Central); 94 Rock (Pierce)

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BIG MAC: Aurora running back/linebacker Mack Owens will be a key piece for the Huskies tonight when they face Elkhorn (nepbreps photo / Brandon Mowinkel)

6:00: The topsy-turvy Class B football season comes to an end in Elkhorn to tonight as the third-seeded Antlers host fifth-seeded Aurora. That these teams have five combined losses is about part for the course in a bracket where no one entered undefeated and anyone down to the 10-seed appeared a legitimate title contender.

Grant Gutschow has passed for 1,700 yards and Nebraska walk-on commit Aiden Young has ran for over 1,300 yards to lead the balanced Antlers. The Huskies have a true dual threat in quarterback Ethan Shaw, who is over 1,000 yards rushing and 1,800 yards passing. Running back Mack Owens is over 1,100 yards rushing on the season as well. NET Webstream

Old School: 97.3 The Wolf (Aurora)

Socially Distant: Mike Sautter hit this game after Bergan, Ord before he transtions over to Elkhorn South and Westside. Caleb Badura will have live updates from this game all night for our nebpreps Twitter account.

WESTSIDE STORY: Omaha Westside’s Cole Payton operates a prolific Warrior offense tonight against Elkhorn South in the Class A final. (nebpreps photo / Taylor Siebert)

7:00: Big and small kick off to end the night in Omaha and Kearney as Omaha Westside and Elkhorn South face off for the Class A title, while McCool Junction and Sterling collide for the 6-man championship at Foster Field on the campus of Nebraska-Kearney.

The Class A game will be on television via NET, while the Six-Man game can be viewed on News Channel Nebraska.

The Class A game will be a game of speed and power, with great athletes on both sides. Quarterback Cole Payton leads a prolific Westside offense with nearly 1,500 yards passing and 900 yards rushing, while backfield mate Dominic Rezac is near 1,300 yards rushing. Elkhorn South would prefer a grind-you-out, physical game that features the running of sophomore back Cole Ballard and plenty of defense. Also, the unique “family affair” angle in this one.

Socially Distant: More Mike Sautter here, as he’ll have post-game interviews and a live show following the finals on all of this social media channels.

THOROUGHBREDS: Chase Wilkinson (15) and his McCool Junction teammates are rolling through six-man after a 2019 finals appearance. (nebpreps photo / Tony Chapman)

Out in Kearney they will be running all over the place as top-ranked McCool Junction faces second-ranked Sterling for the Six-Man title. The Mustangs advanced to this game last year, but lost to Harvard 50-33. With a year of experience, they could have an advantage. Mustang do-everything man Owen McDonald will be a key stop for the Jets, who have two rushers — Sam Boldt and Derek Buss — over 800 yards.

Old School: B103 (Sterling); KOOL-FM (McCool Junction)

It should be a fun night, as our team plus Striv Sports and Striv Education will have crews at every game and bring you pictures on social media, tomorrow’s newsletter with recaps and much more!

Family Affair in Class A Title Game

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