Nebraska high school football Class A preview

The top 10 teams and a look at each district

Westside’s first two football championships came in back-to-back fashion back in 1981 and 1982. With arguably the best roster in the state ready to take the field later this month, the Warriors are an easy pick for No. 1. 

Every level of the offense and defense has at least one player, in most cases multiple, that has either made a Division I commitment, will soon make that decision, or, at the least, will almost certainly be playing at the FCS or Division II level. 

Also in the metro, Bellevue West has made a lot of noise in the offseason due to three teammates headed to play for Matt Rhule in Lincoln. Those two are the popular pick to finish the year at Memorial Stadium the week of Thanksgiving, but the likes of Elkhorn South, Omaha North, Gretna, Grand Island and Kearney will have a say in the matter. Papillion-La Vista looks like the potential Cinderella. 

Photos by Samuel Mfinanga

Westside QB Anthony Rezac 

1. Westside (Last Year 12-1, State Champion)

Until another program proves it, Westside is the standard in Nebraska high school football. The Warriors have played in each of the last four title games and won two out of the last three. They haven’t received the same kind of recruiting hype over the summer, as a school to the south, but Westside has its own impressive level of star power. Quarterback Anthony Rezac and wide receiver/safety Caleb Benning have their options for major college football while Teddy Rezac is a Notre Dame commit. And while Westside can match talent with anyone, it’s how that talent comes together as the best team, top to bottom, that separates the Warriors.

2. Bellevue West (Last Year 7-4, State Semifinals)

There seems to be more football star power than ever in Nebraska high school football, and Bellevue West likely has the most noteworthy in quarterback Daniel Kaelin and wide receivers Isaiah McMorris and Dae’Vonn Hall, who will each be Husker teammates next year. Bell West lost to the two teams that played in last year’s state title game and dropped two other contests by a combined four points. Can the defense take a step this fall and allow better than the 26 points-per-game average given up last year? It seems even a slight improvement on that side of the ball, plus a high-caliber offense could make the T-Birds unstoppable.

3. Elkhorn South (Last Year 10-1, State Quarterfinals)

The Storm have won at least one playoff game every year since 2015 and played for the 2020 state title. But 2020 was the only season of the last eight, and one of just five since joining Class A, in which Elkhorn South advanced further than the quarterfinals. Beating the big boys has been the roadblock. The program is 0-6 against the likes of Westside and Bellevue West since moving up from Class B and has been eliminated once each by those two plus other traditional powers such as Gretna and Creighton Prep. The Storm were guided by a defense that gave up just 100 yards rushing three times in 11 games. Ben Gustafson, Cole Makie and Austin Stroh will have a chance to open up holes and provide protection for quarterback Carson Rauner. Rauner threw for over 1,600 yards last year.

4. Omaha North (6-4, State Playoffs)

North was one of the better stories of 2021, digging out of an 0-5 hole for a run to the state semifinals. The Vikings had similar adversity last fall, but not until the end of the schedule, and North never quite found the solution. A 6-1 start went downhill fast to a three-game skid that included two losses in three weeks to Grand Island. That will no doubt be a motivating factor for a squad that brings back seven on offense and defense. The strength is up front where Husker recruit, and two-time unbeaten state wrestling champion, Tyson Terry headlines a front with 290-pound teammate Deandre Harper and 265-pound fellow lineman Jordan Vasquez-Shaw. Quarterback Sebastian Circo is starting to garner some next-level attention. He has experience playmakers in the backfield and out on the edges.

Gretna finished 12-1 last fall. 

5. Gretna (Last Year 12-1, State Runner-Up)

The Dragons have had one of the more magical, memorable runs of recent memory. Although Gretna is essentially part of the Omaha Metro, the Dragons were just the fifth non-Omaha or Lincoln champ since the turn of the century when they won it all in 2021. An instant classic punctuated by the Westside kicker denied Gretna a repeat last November. Now the unity of the Gretna community is split with the opening of Gretna East. The Dragons will maintain their upperclassmen, and the effects of a new school might not be felt for another year, but there’s no doubt 2023 comes with uncertainty. Alex Runge and Alex Wilcoxson give Gretna a good combo in the secondary. Kalvin Janssen and Bennett Stock provide some experience and quality on the O-Line.

6. Grand Island (9-3, State Semifinals)

Grand Island didn’t have the talent to match Westside in a pair of losses last season but beat fellow playoff teams Kearney (twice) and North Platte then took down Millard South in the quarterfinals. The Islanders have won nine or more games in three of the past five seasons, but there are a lot of new faces. Eight of the top skill players plus nine of the 11 leading tacklers graduated in May. At least defensively, that’s not a big concern with middle linebacker Justyce Hostetler and his 103 tackles. Caleb Richardson ran for nearly 800 yards and scored seven times as one of the options in the backfield. In front of him, Reid Kelly remains as an option to run behind at 6-4, 250 pounds. Four teams from this list give GISH one of the toughest schedules in the state.

7. Millard West (6-4, State Playoffs)

The Wildcats climbed out of a 1-3 hole and looked like a possible dark horse for the playoffs until a rematch with Southwest went awry. Millard West won the matchup between the two in Week 8 when it came back from two separate 10-point deficits and took the lead on a 69-yard touchdown pass with 1:13 remaining on fourth down. Two weeks later, the offense never got out of the gates and a three-touchdown hole was too much to overcome. The Wildcats had more wins last season that the combined total for the previous two. Back to keep the momentum rolling are the likes of future North Dakota pass catcher Jackson Williams, two 270-pounders up front in Tyler Thaden and Wyatt Goodlett. Jon Ferguson made 80 tackles and broke up eight passes on the other side of the ball.

8. Kearney (7-3, State Playoffs)

The Bearcats had a good season end abruptly after earning a home playoff game, but there’s a ton of help left to take the next step. Kearney earning a playoff spot would have been seen as a surprise before the season due to the team’s youth. Now all that youth should be wiser, bigger, faster and stronger. Unfortunately, quarterback Treyven Beckman set school records in passing yards, all-purpose yards, touchdowns and quarterback rating, and he graduated in May. Solid starters remain up front to ease the next guy into the role as signal caller, and he’ll have receivers Zander Reuling and Karter Lee for targets. That pair combined for over 1,100 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.

9. Creighton Prep (Last Year 8-4, State Semifinals)

The easy analysis for Prep is to have a better start than 2022. But even at 1-3, the Junior Jays found their way to the semifinals. Sure, another tough start awaits including Bell West in Week 0, but a better indicator of success would be to find a consistent quarterback. Based on the opponent and situation, Prep had two seniors play in every game. But the Junior Jays also had another senior make seven appearances, a junior lead the team in pass attempts and a sophomore lead the team in passing yards. The graduation of the top four rushers, and top two receivers, only puts more pressure on the guy under center. Iowa tight end commit Michael Burt is the best weapon on offense while defensive back Zac McLeay (69 tackles, 2.5 TFL) is the top playmaker on the other side of the ball.

10. Papillion-La Vista (4-6, State Playoffs)

The Monarchs have been a regular postseason qualifier over the past decade by earning a wildcard spot. Unfortunately, that has meant a tough first-round matchup. Papio hasn’t finished above .500 since 2013. There’s big hopes for a turnaround this fall after losing three one-possession games in 2022. Payton Prestito averaged over seven yards per carry and has blockers Dallas Hamilton (6-1, 220 pounds) and Garin Maley (6-6, 260) back up front to create more creases. On defense, Pitt commit Eric Ingwerson (51 tackles, 11TFL, 4.5 sacks) is a force opposing offensive coordinators will have to make part of the gameplan. The Monarchs may be the favorite in every game they play this season and sit as the district favorite.

District Forecast

A-1: Columbus, Lincoln East, Lincoln High, Lincoln North Star, Millard South

Winner: Millard South, Runner-Up: Lincoln East

The Patriots will be working on developing offensive threats, but they should be a handful on defense. Junior Lecuona is headed to South Dakota State following a season that included 77 tackles, 11 TFLs and 2 and ½ sacks. Aidan Miller and Adam Pugh join him on the DL and combined for over 60 tackles. East has a similar profile with its strength on defense and playmakers Dash Bauman, Caden Cetak and Noah Pederson.

A-2: Bellevue East, Bellevue West, Gretna, Omaha South, Papillion-La Vista South

Winner: Bellevue West, Runner-Up: Gretna

Gretna and Papio are good teams, but neither has the firepower to keep up with Bell West. Perhaps a non-district schedule that includes Prep, North, Westside and Kearney could take a toll on the Thunderbirds, but even so, the only real challenger looks to be Gretna. Two losses to the Dragons last year will have the T-Birds intent on some payback. Papio South had its highest win total in six years but again has a gauntlet that includes four top-10 teams on the schedule.

A-3: Kearney, Lincoln Northeast, Norfolk, North Platte, Westside

Winner: Westside, Runner-Up: Kearney

Kearney was the only team to hand Westside a loss last season and will almost certainly return to the playoffs despite the graduation of Beckman. North Platte doesn’t utilize the kind of high-flying offense as its metro counterparts but has an identity that gives it a chance thanks to discipline and attention to detail. The Bulldogs figure to be one of the last teams into or out of the playoffs once the brackets are released.

A-4: Creighton Prep, Benson, Burke, Central, Papillion-La Vista

Winner: Prep, Runner-Up: Papio, Wild Card: Central

One of the most competitive districts in the state is there for the taking and should produce one of the wild card invites to the postseason. Prep’s uncertainty at QB plus the graduation of several contributors opens the door for a Papio program that seems to have all the ingredients to not just make the playoffs but capture its first playoff win in 12 years. Centra’s Caleb Pyfrom, the top O-Line target in Nebraska, plus teammate Bryor Sherman up front, D-Lineman Alijah Wayne and wide receiver/cornerback DJ Sterling make Central intriguing as well.

A-5: Elkhorn South, Fremont, Grand Island, North, Northwest

Winner: Elkhorn South, Runner-Up: Omaha North, Wild Card: Grand Island

A returning starter at quarterback, three protectors and road graders up front plus a Husker commit on the defensive front make Elkhorn South the favorite to take the crown. North will be hungry to make up for a slide at the end of last year. The Vikings get a slight edge over the Islanders for the final automatic bid to the playoffs because of a defense that welcomes back Nebraska safety commit Donovan Jones and a linebacker committee that includes Nolan Venner, Tayzhon Johnson and BJ Louis. That trio combined for 124 tackles and 11.5 TFLs.

A-6: Southeast, Southwest, Millard North, Millard West, Bryan, South Sioux City

Winner: Millard West, Runner-Up: Southwest, Wild Card: Southeast, Millard North

Millard West is the favorite because it has the best offensive line in the district, but behind the Wildcats a case could be made for the Knights, Silver Hawks or Mustangs to take the second spot and earn the automatic bid. The separation between Southeast and Millard North is extremely slim, and that could be one of the best games of the season with a lot on the line. Southeast gets the nod in August because of experience in quarterback Owen Baxter.