Class B Top 10 Power Rankings (Spring Edition)
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In continuation with my class power rankings, here are my top 10 returning squads for 2022. My criteria for this list rely on; players lost, returning players, and how the team finished their season. I didn’t factor in schedules because it is still early, and I want to focus on “player power.” After watching which players stand out in camps and which players begin to rise the recruiting ranks, I will revisit these power rankings before the start of summer and then again before the season starts.
I encourage all feedback, which prompts some (friendly) discourse and builds up some hype for football season.
1. Elkhorn Antlers
The seniors on this squad were sophomores when the Antlers went on their state championship run in 2020 and stepped into bigger roles on last year’s team that made it to the semi-finals before running into the eventual state champion Bennington. Once again, they lose a lot of key players like Hayden Stec Hayden Stec 6'1" | 205 lbs | DB Elkhorn | 2022 State NE , Mikey Hart, Hank Kroger, etc., but the returning group is full of outstanding players. The biggest name coming back is star DL/OL Aidan Betz, who should dominate in the trenches for the Antlers. QB Conor Hunt also comes back with a pretty impressive skill set as a dual-threat QB and will be able to continue his chemistry with up-and-coming C Ben Reynolds Ben Reynolds 6'0" | 240 lbs | OL Elkhorn | 2023 State NE . Keep an eye out for Cole and Tanner Houck to make an impact as well, who are both lengthy athletes that are versatile. Cooper Fedde and Jackson Roberts will also be huge contributors next year. Overall, there may be a few struggles here and there as they get acclimated in some spots, but the Antlers coaches should have these guys fired up in week 1.
2. Scottsbluff Bearcats
This is a team that you I am watching closely going into 2022 considering Bearcats were one of the toughest teams to play in 2021. Although they lose EDGE beast Chance Symons Chance Symons 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Scottsbluff | 2022 State NE and other great starters, they have several key returners at many important positions. The backfield of dual-threat QB Braeden Stull Braeden Stull 6'2" | 170 lbs | QB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE and RB Sebastien Boyle Sebastien Boyle 5'11" | 210 lbs | RB Scottsbluff | 2024 State NE will be quite the rushing duo to defend. They also bring back a very strong core of defensive players with Jayce Wilkinson Jayce Wilkinson 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , Josiah Mobley Josiah Mobley 6'0" | 175 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , Michael Thrash Michael Thrash 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , Cord Symons Cord Symons 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2024 State NE , and Tyson Klein Tyson Klein 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE to name a few. They did lose a few starters on the offensive line, but have patched that up in a big way with the addition of transfer OT Brock Knutson Brock Knutson 6'7" | 270 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE , who is currently a 3-star OL prospect. Trey May Trey May 6'1" | 210 lbs | OL Scottsbluff | 2023 State NE should continue to develop as a center and so will other players on the OL. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bearcats as one of the last two teams standing in Lincoln.
3. Bennington Badgers
This seems really low for a team that just steamrolled their way through their Class B schedule on their way to their first Class B football championship since 1989. However, when looking at the amount of departures, it’s hard to put them ahead of teams with more established starters at key positions. The loss of record-shattering RB Dylan Mostek Dylan Mostek 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Bennington | 2022 State NE is huge, add in all 5 of their starting OL, 1,000 yard receiver Cayden Bluhm Cayden Bluhm 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Bennington | 2022 State NE , LB trio of Luke MacDonald Luke MacDonald 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Bennington | 2022 State NE , Connor Brecht Connor Brecht 5'10" | 170 lbs | LB Bennington | 2022 State NE & Austin Holtz Austin Holtz 5'10" | 150 lbs | LB Bennington | 2022 State NE , and talented two-way athletes like Mitch Anderson and Seth Wempen Seth Wempen 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB Bennington | 2022 NE … it could look a little overwhelming. However, I’m not pulling the panic alarm just yet because they still have a ton of players that should step up. Starting QB Trey Bird Trey Bird 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Bennington | 2023 State NE is a baller and will continue being a highly-efficient passer. They also have a ton of versatile players like Nick Colvert Nick Colvert 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Bennington | 2023 State NE , Vaughn Anderson Vaughn Anderson 5'9" | 135 lbs | K Bennington | 2023 State NE , Isaac Conner Isaac Conner 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Bennington | 2023 State NE , Owen Douglas Owen Douglas 5'11" | 150 lbs | DB Bennington | 2023 State NE , and Gunnar Lym Gunnar Lym 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Bennington | 2024 State NE that will help move the sticks, or prevent them from being moved. As mentioned before, the OL is taking its biggest loss, but I’ve seen picture of the Bennington weight room and I think who ever they put up front will probably be big and mean. Don’t overlook a repeat!
4. Skutt Catholic Sky Hawks
Skutt Catholic is a team that is always a threat to win the state championship. As a matter of fact, they were one game away from making it back to the championship game. The biggest question for the Sky Hawks would be at the QB position, with star QB Caden Becker Caden Becker 6'4" | 225 lbs | QB Skutt Catholic | 2022 State NE headed to Wyoming. It’s looking like it could be Bennett Turman, but youngster Dylan Van Dyke Dylan Van Dyke 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Skutt Catholic | 2025 State NE will also be looking to challenge for the QB1 spot. Skutt brings back a stable of running backs that should form one of the best rushing teams in class B. Maccoy Holtam Maccoy Holtam 6'2" | 185 lbs | RB Skutt Catholic | 2023 State NE , Colin Pike Colin Pike 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Skutt Catholic | 2024 State NE , and Anthony Heithoff Anthony Heithoff 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Skutt Catholic | 2024 State NE is a very impressive group of runners. Brandt Pickrell Brandt Pickrell 6'3" | 225 lbs | TE Skutt Catholic | 2023 State NE will be an excellent security valve over the middle for whichever QB lines up under center, while Joe Connelly and Wyatt Archer Wyatt Archer 5'9" | 170 lbs | ATH Skutt Catholic | 2023 State NE provide outside targets for the . Defensively, Joshua Buck looked impressive as an OLB/DE type role, and Sam Brummund looks like he will turn into a thumper for the Sky Hawks. Lots of talent on this team.
5. Plattsmouth Blue Devils
Plattsmouth fielded an elite team in 2021 with an explosive running offense and a hard-hitting opportunistic defense. Meneses’ 2,000+ rushing yards will be severely missed, but sophomore Ethan Walker Ethan Walker 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB Plattsmouth | 2024 State NE is looking like he is ready to step right up to the plate. The defense also lost a good amount of talent with the departures of Owen Prince Owen Prince 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Plattsmouth | 2022 State NE , Clyde Hinton Clyde Hinton 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Plattsmouth | 2022 State NE , Dalton Baumgart Dalton Baumgart 5'11" | 175 lbs | LB Plattsmouth | 2022 State NE , and Cameron Aughenbaugh who were all highly productive. Caleb Adkins Caleb Adkins 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Plattsmouth | 2024 State NE and TJ Fitzpatrick TJ Fitzpatrick 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Plattsmouth | 2023 State NE will be the cornerstones of the defense with several great rotational players stepping into bigger roles. Kevin Sohl looks like a promising LB and should ease the loss of older brother Austin Sohl Austin Sohl 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Plattsmouth | 2022 State NE .
6. Waverly Vikings
Waverly seems to always be right in the thick of the Class B playoff picture. 2022 should be no different as the Vikings bring back a strong 2023 class and many hungry youngsters. QB Trey Jackson Trey Jackson 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Waverly | 2023 State NE showed tons of promise in his starts while senior Murray was out. Jackson will have some impressive targets with AJ Heffelfinger AJ Heffelfinger 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Waverly | 2023 NE and Samuel Schernikau, who are both on the brink of breaking out. One of the most interesting players is Cooper Skrobecki Cooper Skrobecki 6'2" | 205 lbs | ATH Waverly | 2023 State NE , a TE/LB with strong hands, physical, and very gritty. He’ll be joined by fellow linebackers Caleb Axmann and Austin Neddenriep, who could be a sleeper. Preston Harms, Evan Kastens, and Cody Johnson will make a tough running trio to stop. The Vikings always play hard and physical, and I expect them to come out the gate angry after a bitter end to their season.
7. York Dukes
York is another team that can play physical, downhill football. RB Seth Erickson and unique prospect Dalton Snodgrass Dalton Snodgrass 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB York | 2023 State NE should continue the Duke ground and pound attack. York does have some very impressive big men with Jude Collingham, Kadence Velde Kadence Velde 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL York | 2023 State NE , Carter, Culotta, and Samson Broumley all being fearless on both side of the trenches. One interesting prospect to keep an eye on is Leyton Snodgrass, the 6’5″ freshman who could see more varsity time in his sophomore year and could open see a huge rise in his stock. Carter Stenger, Clayton Pinneo, and Garrett Ivey look like great up-and-coming players.
8. McCook Bison
McCook returns a really good 2023 class that saw several players take over starting roles during their junior seasons. For starters they return their QB1, RB1, and WR1, from last year in Adam Dugger Adam Dugger 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB McCook | 2023 State NE , Jacob Gomez-Wilson Jacob Gomez-Wilson 5'7" | 145 lbs | RB McCook | 2023 State NE , and Lucas Gomez-Wilson Lucas Gomez-Wilson 5'8" | 170 lbs | ATH McCook | 2023 State NE , respectively. Dugger’s ability to make plays on his legs will be an additional wrinkle to the Bison offense. Eli Kehler Eli Kehler 5'11" | 240 lbs | OL McCook | 2023 State NE is OL/DL to watch this year, and so will tackle Tucker Martinez-Conroy, who has great size and a mean streak. The Bison also return 2 of their top 3 tacklers from last year in Alex Anthony and Garrett Kaps, who will continue to be as destructive in 2022. Eloy Carbajal and Layton Bortner will also step into bigger roles and deliver breakout seasons. The Bison have the making of a dark-horse team in Class B.
9. Gross Catholic
Gross Catholic’s team from last year seems to have laid the foundation for the 2022 team, which I think will be a force. Jake Garcia Jake Garcia 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Gross Catholic | 2023 State NE who is one of the most underrated backs in the 2023 class, will be back as RB1 for the Cougars. He will have the luxury of running behind a beefed-up O-line featuring maulers Salvatore Nacarelli Salvatore Nacarelli 6'1" | 270 lbs | OL Gross Catholic | 2023 State NE and Carson Almgren Carson Almgren 6'1" | 270 lbs | OL Gross Catholic | 2023 State NE , and will see Daniel Wilson, Sam Canova, and Ryan Weiss all in position to step up on the OL. QB Colby Duncan will have Jackson Drake and Ben Rice as receiving targets. Ethan Le, Owen Brennan, and Thomas Gilbert are all smart, rangy players that will be x-factors for the Cougar’s defense.
10. Grand Island Northwest Vikings
Class B is difficult to navigate because of how many quality teams there are and how hard all these teams seem to play. Northwest is a great example of this because they always field a bruising physical squad. The 2022 team looks like it might involve some fireworks in the passing game. Presumed starter Austin Payne Austin Payne 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Grand Island Northwest | 2023 State NE has quite the arm on him, and he has speedy receiver Travin Harring and Tyler Douglass to launch the ball to. Defensively, the Vikings return a good chunk of their production, including the pass-rush machine Victor Isele Victor Isele 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Northwest | 2023 State NE who had 19 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2021. He will be joined on the DL by Cooper Garrett and Owen Harb. Tegan Lemkau Tegan Lemkau 5'10" | 150 lbs | ATH Grand Island Northwest | 2023 State NE , EJ Arends EJ Arends 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Grand Island Northwest | 2023 State NE , Alex Korte, and Nick Carkoski are a formidable group in the secondary. Having a talented and experienced core group of players like this will greatly benefit the Vikings.
Just Missed the Cut:
Norris
- Lots of great returning players, but had to say farewell to a very talented 2022 class. Cooper Cerny Cooper Cerny 6'3" | 180 lbs | TE Norris | 2023 State NE and Hunter Davis Hunter Davis 6'6" | 320 lbs | DL Norris | 2023 State NE are going to be two big names to watch.
Beatrice
- Similar to Norris, they lose a great group of 2022 players. Deegan Nelson Deegan Nelson 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Beatrice | 2023 State NE is a beast and will continue to run rampant next year.
Seward
- New QB under center, but he will have plenty of weapons around him.
Lexington
- Maybe this is a little hometown bias, but maybe the Minutemen finished the season playing some tough defense. Very young team. Jackson Konrad and Jase Carpenter Jase Carpenter ATH Lexington | 2023 NE are going to be names to look out for.