Class C2 First-Round Preview
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First-Round Games: #16 Valentine (5-4) at #1 Hastings St. Cecilia (9-0) Projected Winner: Hastings St. Cecilia The Bluehawks have been torching people through the air with a high-powered passing attack featuring Carson Kudlacek, Cooper Butler Cooper Butler 5'10" | WR…
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Continue ReadingFirst-Round Games:
#16 Valentine (5-4) at #1 Hastings St. Cecilia (9-0)
Projected Winner: Hastings St. Cecilia
- The Bluehawks have been torching people through the air with a high-powered passing attack featuring Carson Kudlacek, Cooper Butler Cooper Butler 5'10" | WR St. Cecilia | 2023 State NE , and Jensen Anderson Jensen Anderson WR Hastings St. Cecilia | 2024 NE .
- HSC is a team that lives behind the line of scrimmage, with 38 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. They also create turnovers with 11 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries.
Player of the Game: QB Carson Kudlacek
#9 Battle Creek (7-2) at #8 Gordon-Rushville (6-3)
Projected Winner: Battle Creek
- This one should be a fight!
- Battle Creek has one of the stingiest defenses in Class C2 with a tough front seven.
- Gordon-Rushville comes into this matchup riding a 5 game-winning streak and fresh off a huge upset win over previously undefeated Mitchell.
Player of the Game: RB/LB Trent Uhlir Trent Uhlir 6'1" | 230 lbs | ATH Battle Creek | 2024 State NE
#12 Cedar Catholic (6-3) at #5 Mitchell (8-1)
Projected Winner: Mitchell
- Mitchell has continued to prove itself week in and week out, even if the Tigers fell to Gordon-Rushville last week.
- Cedar Catholic is a very solid team that floated around in the top 10 all year.
- I give the edge to Mitchell, mostly to their physicality in the trenches.
Player of the Game: RB Hayden Umble Hayden Umble 5'11" | 200 lbs | ATH Mitchell | 2023 State NE
#13 Archbishop Bergan (6-3) at #4 Malcolm (9-0)
Projected Winner: Malcolm
- The reigning Class C2 champs, Archbishop Bergan, has been on the rise after a slow start.
- Kade McIntyre Kade McIntyre 6'4" | 195 lbs | ATH Archbishop Bergan | 2023 State NE is a game wrecker that can do it all on the field.
- QB Hayden Frank Hayden Frank 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Malcolm | 2023 State NE has been outstanding all season long and should be able to push the Clippers past the reigning champs.
Player of the Game: QB Hayden Frank Hayden Frank 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Malcolm | 2023 State NE
#14 Yutan (6-3) at #3 Norfolk Catholic (9-0)
Projected Winner: Norfolk Catholic
- Norfolk Catholic has been the most dominant team in Class C2 and can now finish the job after being runner-up last year.
- Karter Kerkman Karter Kerkman 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Norfolk Catholic | 2023 State NE is the truth! 1,313 rushing yards on 111 carries. Not sure about the touchdown total, but it is A LOT!
- Yutan has been very tough since they started to get a little healthier.
Player of the Game: RB Karter Kerkman Karter Kerkman 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Norfolk Catholic | 2023 State NE
#11 Lincoln Lutheran (6-3) at #6 Bishop Neumann (8-1)
Projected Winner: Bishop Neumann
- The Conor duo (QB Connor Schutt Connor Schutt 6'5" | 185 lbs | QB Bishop Neumann | 2024 State NE & RB Conor Booth) have been one of the better QB-RB duos in Class C2. Booth is good for 100+ rushing yards a game and Schutt can get it done with his arm or legs.
- LL QB Garret Hoefs Garret Hoefs 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Lincoln Lutheran | 2023 State NE has two very good targets in Jonny Puelz Jonny Puelz 6'4" | 195 lbs | TE Lincoln Lutheran | 2023 State NE and Jameson Pella Jameson Pella ATH Lincoln Lutheran | 2023 State NE . Could give the Bishop Neumann secondary some serious trouble.
Player of the Game: RB Conor Booth
#10 Fillmore Central (7-2) at #7 Oakland-Craig (7-2)
Projected Winner: Oakland-Craig
- Very exciting matchup here with two very good, underrated teams.
- Oakland-Craig has a strong running game and sophomore QB Braylon Anderson has been improving every week.
Player of the Game: RB LJ McNeil
#15 Chase County (5-4) at #2 Ord (8-1)
Projected Winner: Ord
- RB Trent McCain has been running crazy in recent weeks with 3 200+ yard games in his last 4 outings.
- I like the Ord DL to have a good game in this one. They do a great job applying pressure to QBs.
Player of the Game: RB Trent McCain
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