Class C2 First-Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">First-Round Games:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#16 Valentine</em></strong> (5-4) at <strong><em>#1 Hastings St. Cecilia</em></strong> (9-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Hastings St. Cecilia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>The Bluehawks have been torching people through the air with a high-powered passing attack featuring Carson Kudlacek, [player_tooltip player_id='333694' first='Cooper' last='Butler'], and [player_tooltip player_id='982402' first='Jensen' last='Anderson'].</li><li>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. </li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> QB Carson Kudlacek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63595a913fb69","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12902891/633e14717bdd700ac8b8af1e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64f6a16325c5b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#9 Battle Creek</em></strong> (7-2) at <strong><em>#8 Gordon-Rushville</em></strong> (6-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Battle Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>This one should be a fight!</li><li>Battle Creek has one of the stingiest defenses in Class C2 with a tough front seven. </li><li>Gordon-Rushville comes into this matchup riding a 5 game-winning streak and fresh off a huge upset win over previously undefeated Mitchell.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='250337' first='Trent' last='Uhlir']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63595b333fb6a","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14438374/634ac4cca677050e9cb9dfbd' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64f6a16325c79"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#12 Cedar Catholic</em></strong> (6-3) at <strong><em>#5 Mitchell</em></strong> (8-1) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Mitchell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Mitchell has continued to prove itself week in and week out, even if the Tigers fell to Gordon-Rushville last week. </li><li>Cedar Catholic is a very solid team that floated around in the top 10 all year. </li><li>I give the edge to Mitchell, mostly to their physicality in the trenches.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB [player_tooltip player_id='400069' first='Hayden' last='Umble']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_635971c03fb6f","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16642318/63504434578d0b05243fd057' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64f6a16325c8e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#13 Archbishop Bergan</em></strong> (6-3) at <strong><em>#4 Malcolm</em></strong> (9-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Malcolm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>The reigning Class C2 champs, Archbishop Bergan, has been on the rise after a slow start. </li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='180279' first='Kade' last='McIntyre'] is a game wrecker that can do it all on the field. </li><li>QB [player_tooltip player_id='400062' first='Hayden' last='Frank'] has been outstanding all season long and should be able to push the Clippers past the reigning champs.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> QB [player_tooltip player_id='400062' first='Hayden' last='Frank']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_635971a03fb6e","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16642318/63504434578d0b05243fd057' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64f6a16325ca2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#14 Yutan</em></strong> (6-3) at <strong><em>#3 Norfolk Catholic</em></strong> (9-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Norfolk Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Norfolk Catholic has been the most dominant team in Class C2 and can now finish the job after being runner-up last year. </li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='239974' first='Karter' last='Kerkman'] is the truth! 1,313 rushing yards on 111 carries. Not sure about the touchdown total, but it is A LOT!</li><li>Yutan has been very tough since they started to get a little healthier. </li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB [player_tooltip player_id='239974' first='Karter' last='Kerkman']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_635971703fb6d","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12914072/633735e06655db0e1800afd7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64f6a16325cb5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#11 Lincoln Lutheran</em></strong> (6-3) at <strong><em>#6 Bishop Neumann</em></strong> (8-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Bishop Neumann</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>The Conor duo (QB [player_tooltip player_id='407610' first='Connor' last='Schutt'] &amp; 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.</li><li>LL QB [player_tooltip player_id='239989' first='Garret' last='Hoefs'] has two very good targets in [player_tooltip player_id='239985' first='Jonny' last='Puelz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='239990' first='Jameson' last='Pella']. Could give the Bishop Neumann secondary some serious trouble.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB Conor Booth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_635971513fb6c","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16054430/63489aceb3c99801302e92a6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64f6a16325cc7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#10 Fillmore Central</em></strong> (7-2) at <strong><em>#7 Oakland-Craig</em></strong> (7-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Oakland-Craig</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Very exciting matchup here with two very good, underrated teams.</li><li>Oakland-Craig has a strong running game and sophomore QB Braylon Anderson has been improving every week.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB LJ McNeil</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6359706d3fb6b","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13113015/635526daf327a40938c35d41' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-64f6a16325cda"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#15 Chase County</em></strong> (5-4) at <strong><em>#2 Ord</em></strong> (8-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Ord</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>RB Trent McCain has been running crazy in recent weeks with 3 200+ yard games in his last 4 outings.</li><li>I like the Ord DL to have a good game in this one. They do a great job applying pressure to QBs.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB Trent McCain </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Make sure to follow @PrepRedzoneNE on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all your Nebraska prep recruiting news.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->