High School Tourney Time Part 3
Nebraska high school football is down and has been for several years. There might be a reason for that. When the switch to the West Coast Offence was made by Bill Callahan, I kind of expected this cause many Nebraska high school got their training at high school coaches camp taught by the Osborne/Solich era. So as a result the running game is entrenched in all the schools. Now that the West Coast Offence is starting to be put in place in Lincoln the bigger schools are slowly mixing in a passing game so their kids have a chance to make it to the U. Smaller schools are probably stuck with the run just because of numbers. There isn’t as big a talent pool to choose from so a talented passer probably isn’t out there. Also, the country boys are bred better for the run. Not to say that they don’t have a chance to play at the university but it will be less and less than we have seen in previous years.
All classes are in the semifinals and schools only have to win one more on Saturday to make the trip to Memorial Stadium for the chance to play for a state title. Let’s take a look at the classes:
Class A:
#1 Millard North vs. #4 Millard West
It was a high school football fans dream last Monday at Buell stadium in Millard when they had triple-header action with all 3 Millard schools in the quarterfinals and all having the same home-field (ala Secrest field hosting all the Lincoln schools). All drew home-field advantage for the game so they had games at 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm. Two of the three Millard schools survived, these two and Millard South fell to Lincoln Southwest. This should be a very good game with the established power Millard North and the up and comer Millard West. Millard West is no stranger to playoff football as they came up relatively quickly from their infancy as aschool and finally won t
he title in ‘01. Millard North is the exception to the rule that I stated above in that a lot of the big schools were putting in a passing game. Millard North has always been a running school since the days of Eric Crouch and until head coach Fred Petito retires, it won’t be any other way at MN. Just to show you how well of a running school they are, they have 3 1,000 yard rushers and had 684 yards on the ground in a game vs. Bellevue West. Millard North however will be without their best player as Paul Homer was ejected in the quarterfinals vs. Papillion LaVista and must sit out the semifinal game. Millard West is the only team to get the best of the Mustangs this year as they defeated them in the season opener 14-7. Millard West is very stout ondefence ranking 3rd in Class A. Millard North isn’t that far behind though. But it’s obvious that MN is a better offensive team so that will be enough for them to make their 4th straight title game.
#11 Omaha Burke vs. #2 Lincoln Southwest
Omaha Burke has a bunch of history riding on their backs as they enter the semis for the first time in over 15 years. Burke has never won a title, last finishing runner up in 1989. The hopes of the whole Omaha Public School system is riding on Burke too. A Omaha publicschoo l has not won the class A title since Omaha Central did it in 1984 and one hasn’t even made the title game since 1994. It’s almostinconceivable that the largest city in the state can’t produce a title team in 20 years. A few things going against OPS is the low poverty of many of theschools and the draw of Omaha Creighton Prep. A private school that has an established team and coach that is much more visible than the city schoo ls. Burke actually upset Prep in the quarterfinals in one of the most stunning upsets I can remember in recent memory in Nebraska state highschool football. But they simply are going to be over matched when they go up against Lincoln Southwest. Many people saw this Lincoln Southwest team as a team on the rise when they were freshman and many pegged this year astheir year to break through. Southwest is one of the top teams overall on offense and defense and should end Burkes dream run to the title game.
In what should be an epic title game pitting Millard North and Lincoln Southwest it will all come down to who’s defense gives up the least amount of yards on the ground as these two run heavy schools don’t have much game other than their run. Southwest is a little better in the air than Millard North. And MN has had a history of getting to the title game and when they fall behind their passing game isn’t up to snuff to make a comeback. But, I don’t see Millard North getting behind in this game as Southwest has never even won a game in the state playoffs before this year and jitters might be a problem for Lincoln Southwest. I’m picking Millard North.
Class B:
#1 Omaha Skutt vs. #3 Lincoln Pius X
Omaha Skutt has always been the bridesmaid and never the bride when it’s come to Class B football. Always have a good team but running into a juggernaut on the east side of the class B bracket. (Unlike the A bracket, the class B bracket is divided up into two sides East and West. Each side has 8 seeded teams.) This time OmahaSkutt has been the team to beat in the east all year. Coached by former Nebraska Cornhusker Matt Turman they are having their best season in school history never making it to the semifinals before this year. Skutt has been bolstered by their defence all year having the top defence in class B. Pius X is good, b
ut not as good as previous years. The defending state champs got a bit of a easy ride into the semis as they had to face the #7 team Gretna in the quarterfinals as Gretna upset #2 Ralston in the first round. I really don’t see Pius X matching up withSkutt, so I’m going with Skutt especially since they are the home team.
#1 McCook vs. #2 Beatrice
If not for a last second touchdown pass by Lincoln Pius X in last years title game, McCook would be the three time defending state champ on a quest for what no class B team has ever done, win 4 titles in a row. McCook has been the exception to the rule that I’ve stated in previous high school tournament previews in that western teams don’t fare well on the big stage because of the lack of competition out west. The past 4 years, McCook has proved that it can be done out west. Beatrice will be no match for McCook’s top rated offence. I’ll go with McCook especially since they are at home and Beatrice has to go all the way across the state to play the game. Usually the teams that have to travel the long distances don’t fare well in the playoffs.
In what should be another great game in Memorial Stadium in what will be the #1 defense vs. the #1 defense, I like McCook. Being their before and losing in the last seconds last year should be motivation enough for McCook to make it 3 titles in 4 years.
Class C-1
#1 Boys Town vs. #1 Norfolk Catholic
Unlike classes A and B, classes C1, C2, D1, and D2 have 4 sub-districts of 8 teams apiece. Now that they are in the final 4 you have #1 seeds going against each other here. Boys Town has never played for the championship and Norfolk Catholic is a tourney veteran. I like Boys Town to make their first trip to the title game.
#1 Aquinas vs. #6 Chase County
Chase County was last years state runner up in C1 and their #6 seed is a bit of misnomer. I like Aquinas to make their first trip back to the finals since 1997.
I’ll pick Boys Town to take home their first ever title in football over Aquinas.
Class C-2
#2 Scribner-Snyder vs. #2 Plainview
I’ll take undefeated Scribner-Snyder over Plainview.
#2 Thayer Central vs. #3 Cambridge
Cambridge is the established power in Class C-2 with 7 total titles. Being the home team only gives Cambridge a much more decided advantage. I like them to move on.
Like I said above Cambridge is the established power and Scribner-Snyder is relatively new to going this deep in the playoffs. I’ll take Cambridge over Scribner-Snyder.
Class D-1
#1 Howells vs. #1 Humphrey St. Francis
Howells had their first loss this year in almost 3 years losing to this very same Humphrey St. Francis team. Look for the 4 time defending champion Howells to exact revenge and win. Howells has yet to allow a point in their 3 state tournament games.
#1 Axtell vs. #1 Crawford
I think Axtell has a more high powered offense than Crawford as they have scored over 60 in their last two state tourney games. Neither school has ever been to the title game but I like Axtell to make their first trip.
Again, Howells is the 4 time defending champ and their toughest game should be their semifinal vs. Humphrey St. Francis. I’m picking Howells
Class D-2
#2 Bruning-Davenport vs. #7 Wynot
Wynot is on a bit of a dream run through the playoffs. Finishing the regular season 4-4 they have knocked off two undefeated teams in the first round and in the quarterfinals.Bruning -Davenport is finally rid of the team that knocked them out of the playoffs the past three years, Lindsay Holy Family. Wi
th them out of the way,Bruning-Davenport will end Wynots run through the playoffs.
#2 Sargent vs. #2 Stapleton
Stapleton got a gift in the quarterfinals as they faced a Hayes Center making their own dream run through the tourney. Sargent is undefeated and I like them to move on over Stapleton.
I’ll pick Bruning-Davenport over Sargent in the title game.
There you have it. My picks are Millard North, McCook, Boys Town, Cambridge, Howells, and Bruning-Davenport.
The next state tourney is the basketball tourneys in March.
The Comments
Steve November 13, 2005 at 7:33pm
I’ll take Skutt in B and Axtell in D-1 but other than that I agree with your picks. I can’t decide which Class A team I dislike more so I can’t be objective in picking that game.
D.M.B. November 20, 2005 at 12:01am
The finals have completed. Here are your winners.
Class A: Millard North
Class B: Omaha Skutt
Class C1: Norfolk Catholic
Class C2: Plainview
Class D1: Howells
Class D2: Bruning-Davenport
I pick 8 of the 12 finals participants but only got 3 of the 6 state champs correct. C-1 I got completely wrong.
That’s it for the fall HS season. BB state tourneys are in March.