Class D1 Second-Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Second-Round Games:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#16 Sandy Creek</em></strong> (6-3) at<strong><em> #1 North Platte St. Patrick's</em></strong> (8-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner: </em></strong>North Platte St. Patrick's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>NP St. Pat's is still battling some injuries but still looked good in their 56-24 victory over Elkhorn Valley.</li><li>I called the Sandy Creek upset last week, and they delivered with a 24-18 win over Sandhills Valley.</li><li>I think NPSP will win this game, but again do NOT count out this Sandy Creek team. I'm not saying anything, but I'm just saying.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB Brecken Erickson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6359a6352f56b","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14876698/631a674702b1f00bb4b09e6e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6512808d243c2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#9 Hi-Line </em></strong>(7-1) at <strong><em>#8 Elmwood-Murdock</em></strong> (7-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Elmwood-Murdock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>QB Reid Fletcher had an outstanding game in the Knight's 59-26 round 1 win. Fletcher threw for 198 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 203 rushing yards, and 5 rushing touchdowns.</li><li>Hi-Line rushed for 258 rushing yards en route to a 52-16 win over Arapahoe.</li><li>This is a toss-up game for me. Both teams can score tons of points, play great defense, and run the ball very well. </li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> QB Reid Fletcher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ChrisBasnettLJS/status/1583249449823805441?s=20u0026t=RgwMMjViCx4EFHdGruWFsQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ChrisBasnettLJS/status/1583249449823805441?s=20&amp;t=RgwMMjViCx4EFHdGruWFsQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#12 Heartland</em></strong> (6-2) at <strong><em>#5 Neligh-Oakdale</em></strong> (7-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Neligh-Oakdale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Neligh-Oakdale's offense has been one of the most explosive in class D1.</li><li>QB Aiden Kuester continues his march toward the all-time yardage record.</li><li>Heartland is another high-seed that could do some damage in these playoffs.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> QB Aiden Kuester</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NorfolkSports/status/1580711818900959232?s=20u0026t=RgwMMjViCx4EFHdGruWFsQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NorfolkSports/status/1580711818900959232?s=20&amp;t=RgwMMjViCx4EFHdGruWFsQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#13 Summerland </em></strong>(5-3) at <strong><em>#4 Riverside</em></strong> (7-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Riverside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Riverside is a deep sleeper in Class D1 and is coming off a great 55-12 win over Maxwell.</li><li>Summerland got a tough draw in the first round, having to battle Bridgeport, but pulled out the 28-14 victory.</li><li>I like Riverside here, mostly because of how well the offense has been rolling. Riverside also won in the week 1 meeting between these two teams, 27-26.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> QB Drew Carraher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6359a5d62f56a","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17056761/6352e80ca018ca0ba41729a1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6512808d243fd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#14 Ravenna</em></strong> (6-2) at <strong><em>#3 Stanton</em></strong> (8-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Stanton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>The Mustangs are riding high, coming off big wins over Pender in two consecutive weeks. Stanton won their first-round matchup 79-20.</li><li>The sophomore duo of [player_tooltip player_id='414922' first='Becker' last='Pohlman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='414786' first='Barrett' last='Wilke'] is dangerous on the ground. They both rushed for over 100 yards and 5 combined rushing touchdowns (4, Pohlman; 1 Wilke).</li><li>Ravenna looked solid as the #10 seed with a 42-18 win over Perkins County.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB [player_tooltip player_id='414922' first='Becker' last='Pohlman']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6359a5b92f569","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15835370/6355e8310dcaf80bf09f97fb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6512808d24416"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#11 Nebraska Christian</em></strong> (6-2) at <strong><em>#6 Thayer Central</em></strong> (7-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Thayer Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Thayer Central came out firing last week in their 44-0 shutout victory over Shelby-Rising City.</li><li>[player_tooltip player_id='1014411' first='Will' last='Heitmann'] had himself a day going 4/8, 131 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns. Jordan Mariska rushed for 133 rushing yards.</li><li>Nebraska Christian narrowly beat out Alma in a close 38-36 victory.</li><li>11 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions for the Nebraska Christian defense last week. Could match up well with the Thayer Central offense.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB Jordan Mariska</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6359a5992f568","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14698192/6352b861d225d0069c50b0aa' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6512808d2442f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#10 Crofton</em></strong> (5-3) at <strong><em>#7 Clarkson/Leigh</em></strong> (7-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> Clarkson/Leigh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>Clarkson/Leigh squeaked past a tough Wisner-Pilger squad, eventually pulling off the 28-23 victory.</li><li>Kyle Kasik rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns last week. I expect the Patriots to ride heavily with Kasik on the ground.</li><li>Crofton looked impressive against a solid Freeman team. This could be a really close game.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> RB Kyle Kasik</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6359a57c2f567","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9906395/634bf4b306622b046426aecb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6512808d24448"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>#15 Weeping Water </em></strong>(4-4) at <strong><em>#2 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge</em></strong> (8-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Projected Winner:</em></strong> LCC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><li>LCC handled business against #16 seeded Mead last week, while #14 Weeping Water pulled off the upset of R1 with a win over #3 Cross County.</li><li>Weeping Water is a legit team, and [player_tooltip player_id='396728' first='Keegan' last='McDonald'] is a baller that can go off at a moment's notice.</li><li>I give the edge to LCC, but again this will be a hard-fought game.</li></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Player of the Game:</em></strong> QB Dylan Taylor</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6359a5632f566","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13587718/632b788dc123ee0f3833103d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview","anchor":"acf-block-6512808d24460"} /--> <!-- 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 -->