2022 Team Previews: Elkhorn South
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Team Overview: One of the more interesting teams in Class A is Elkhorn South. Elkhorn South has a solid group of senior leaders committed to continuing their winning ways. Among them is Husker commit and two-way starter, DL/OL Maverick Noonan…
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Continue ReadingTeam Overview: One of the more interesting teams in Class A is Elkhorn South. Elkhorn South has a solid group of senior leaders committed to continuing their winning ways. Among them is Husker commit and two-way starter, DL/OL Maverick Noonan Maverick Noonan 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE , who enters the season as one of the top players in the state. RB/S Cole Ballard Cole Ballard 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE is another experienced varsity starter that has emerged as one of the more prolific runners in the state. The rotation of Noah Bustard Noah Bustard 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE , Henry Prochazka Henry Prochazka 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE , Ashton Murphy Ashton Murphy 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE , and Cole Mackie Cole Mackie 6'6" | 240 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE should make the Storm defensive line one of the stingiest in the state. A few players that could breakout in a big way are seniors Josh McWilliams Josh McWilliams 6'0" | 190 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2023 NE , Jackson Moeller Swan Jackson Moeller Swan 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE , and Kory Salanoa Kory Salanoa 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2023 NE who will be major contributors as pass catchers and in the secondary. Seniors Carter Jorth Carter Jorth 5'11" | 240 lbs | OL Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE and Koen Tomsen will step into the vacant OL spots left from last year’s group. Carson Rauner Carson Rauner 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE ‘s development over the offseason could push him over the top for the QB1 spot. Despite having to fill in some holes left from a talented 2022 class, this is a team that is not limited on talent and is deep with players hungry to step up into those roles. Don’t count out the Storm making a nice run in the playoffs if all the pieces fall into place.
Head Coach: Coach Guy Rosenberg
2021 Record: 9-2 (Lost in Playoff Quarterfinals)
2022 Team Record:
Week 1 – @ Lincoln Southeast
Week 2 – Millard South
Week 3 – Papillion-La Vista South
Week 4 – @ Omaha Central
Week 5 – Omaha Northwest
Week 6 – @ Fremont
Week 7 – @ Grand Island
Week 8 – Omaha Burke
Week 9 – Omaha North
Players to watch:
Maverick Noonan Maverick Noonan 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE (2023) | DL/EDGE | 6’4″ 230 lbs | Husker Commit
The strength of the Storm will be their big, tough, physical defensive line that will feature one of the best overall players in the state, DE/EDGE rusher Maverick Noonan Maverick Noonan 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE . Maverick is looking to pick up where he left off last year and that was blowing up RBs and sacking quarterbacks. Noonan is an absolute menace in the trenches with a well-rounded bag of pass rush moves. He plays with vicious hands and can turn the dial from power to speed rush in a flash. Noonan may receive several double teams but even that might not be enough to hold back a bigger, stronger, hungrier Maverick.
Cole Ballard Cole Ballard 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE (2023) | RB/DB | 6’0″ 190 lbs
The running back spot will continue to be in good hands with one of the most consistent backs in the state, Cole Ballard Cole Ballard 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE . Cole will be back as a third year starter for the Storm and will be looking to build on his 1,200+ yard and 23 touchdown season. Ballard is a gamer that can produce wherever and however you use him. He is a shifty runner with exceptional vision and balance. Cole is also a sneaky threat in the passing game as a receiving back out of the backfield. Along with his offensive prowess, Ballard will be a pivotal player in the Elkhorn South secondary at safety. Personally, I think Cole is being underrecruited at the moment, but another monster season should put him over the top in recruiting circles.
Noah Bustard Noah Bustard 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE (2023) | DL/LB | 6’2″ 225 lbs
DL/LB Noah Bustard Noah Bustard 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE is a major candidate for breakout of the year. Bustard is a versatile defender that can be played virtually anywhere along the front seven. He is primarily used on the defensive line, but can also move to inside or outside linebacker. Noah is quick and agile in the trenches with lots of power in his punch. He is a player that has experienced a lot of growth in the offseason and looked disruptive at the practice I attended. Noah should see a nice increase in production now that he’ll hold a bigger role.
Henry Prochazka Henry Prochazka 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE (2024) | DL/EDGE | 6’4″ 210 lbs
The Storm is just pumping out game-wreckers at defensive line and the next man up is junior Henry Prochazka Henry Prochazka 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE . Prochazka started to make some noise last year as part of the defensive line rotation, but should be one of the key contributors on that unit this year. Henry’s motor and tenacity on the field pops right off the screen when you watch his tape and even more so in person. He is explosive off the snap and has great field speed for someone his size. Henry’s ability to match his quickness with his violent hands have made him one of the better block-shedders in his class.
Carson Rauner Carson Rauner 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE (2024) | QB | 6’3″ 190 lbs
The QB position is still unsettled for the Storm, however junior Carson Rauner Carson Rauner 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE has begun to emerge as the frontrunner after a busy summer. Carson was all over the place this offseason with camps at Northern Iowa, Wyoming, Princeton, Northwestern, Harvard, Stanford, and Colorado. Carson definitely has all the tools to step into the QB1 spot and dominate. He is an accurate passer, stands tall in the pocket, and can fit the tight windows. Carson has huge upside and could put Class A on notice this season.
Ashton Murphy Ashton Murphy 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE (2024) | DL/OL | 6’5″ 225 lbs
Another member of Elkhorn South’s insane DL rotation is junior Ashton Murphy Ashton Murphy 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE who has continued to make strides in the offseason and should be a big contributor this season. Murphy’s size and athleticism is what immediately grabs your attention when you see him. He has a lenghty frame with long arms that he uses to create separation at the line of scrimmage. At the practice I attended, he looked very quick off the snap but also had lots of power to his game as well. This defensive line could finish among the best in the state.
Other players to watch:
Carter Jorth Carter Jorth 5'11" | 240 lbs | OL Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE (2023) | OL/DL | 5’11” 240 lbs
Josh McWilliams Josh McWilliams 6'0" | 190 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2023 NE (2023) | WR/DB | 6’0″ 190 lbs
Kory Salanoa Kory Salanoa 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2023 NE (2023) | WR | 5’11” 165 lbs
Jackson Moeller Swan Jackson Moeller Swan 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Elkhorn South | 2023 State NE (2023) | WR/CB | 6’1″ 185 lbs
Koen Thomsen Koen Thomsen 6'0" | 240 lbs | OL Elkhorn South | 2023 NE (2023) | OL | 6’0″ 240 lbs
Mason Cain Mason Cain 5'9" | 180 lbs | LB Elkhorn South | 2023 NE (2023) | OLB/RB | 5’9″ 180 lbs
Cole Mackie Cole Mackie 6'6" | 240 lbs | DL Elkhorn South | 2024 State NE (2024) | OL/DL | 6’6″ 240 lbs
Landon Tate Landon Tate 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE (2025) | ATH | 5’10” 170 lbs
Madden Riggs Madden Riggs 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE (2025) | QB | 6’2″ 165 lbs
Gavin Shanahan Gavin Shanahan 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE (2025) | RB/LB | 5’9″ 175 lbs
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