Class D1 State Championship - Clarkson/Leigh vs. Neligh/Oakdale

The Class D1 state championship saw two surging teams meet up for the title. Workhorse RB Kyle Kasik and the Clarkson/Leigh Patriots battled with the most prolific 8-man player in history, Aiden Kuester, and the Neligh/Oakdale Warriors.   The game started as good as it could start for the Warriors, as they started 14-0 in the first quarter. 2024 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='408746' first='Bryson' last='Gadeken'] opened the scoring on a short run. A fumble on the kickoff gave the ball right back to Neligh-Oakdale, the Warriors capitalized with an Aiden Kuester touchdown run. It looked like nerves got the best of Clarkson/Leigh early with some mishaps and turnovers. However, they were able to settle down and play their type of football. A heavy dose of Kyle Kasik and his five consecutive rushing touchdowns blew the game open for the Patriots. The Warriors were able to tack on one more rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. CL's Kyle Kasik scored his sixth and final touchdown late in the fourth to seal the 48-20 win. Clarkson/Leigh finished the season 12-1 and won their first football state championship in school history.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>   Game MVP:   Kyle Kasik | 2023 | RB | Clarkson/Leigh | 6'0" 180 lbs   Clarkson/Leigh RB Kyle Kasik came into the game on a hot streak. The two weeks prior he had rushed for 204 yards and 5 touchdowns and then 294 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the semi-finals. Kyle somehow managed to top both performances with 320-rushing yards and six touchdowns (with 6 2-pt conv.) at Memorial stadium. Kasik was a true workhorse with 40 carries on the day, grinding away nice chunk plays through the middle of the defense. Kyle was also crucial on the defensive side of the ball with 5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and an interception. He's not a "big" back size-wise, but he plays like one and can rock defenders when he lowers his pads. Kasik does a great job keeping his legs pumping through contact and has nice balance. Kyle's tough running led him to the record books and led Clarkson/Leigh to their first state championship in school history.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NebPublicMedia/status/1594829667940409366?s=20&t=xDJ3FEY6zHZvLmE3KLM2iQ </div></figure>   Clarkson/Leigh Standouts:   [player_tooltip player_id='330962' first='Drew' last='Beeson'] | 2023 | LB | 5'11" 190 lbs   Talk about a battering ram. Clarkson/Leigh's LB [player_tooltip player_id='330962' first='Drew' last='Beeson'] was chopping some serious wood in last Monday's game. Beeson was the Patriot's leader in tackles with 12 and was a dominant overall presence on the field. Drew was also a valuable lead blocker at fullback/tight end and helped clear the edge for Kasik to run through. Beeson is a tough, football player that loves get in ball-carrier's faces and delivering brutal hits. Someone needing a bruising 'backer would be lucky to scoop this guy up.   Korbin Lemburg | 2025 | DL/OL | 6'3" 280 lbs   One young prospect that caught my eye during this game was CL's Korbin Lemburg. Korbin was a menace in the trenches and helped slow down this explosive Neligh-Oakdale offense. Korbin used his big frame to clog up running lanes and would collapse the pocket from the inside, keeping the offense uncomfortable. I also liked how Lemburg looked as a blocker. He is a mean lineman that did a great job following through with his blocks and opened up some huge lanes. Only a sophomore?? Wow!   Neligh/Oakdale Standouts:   Aiden Kuester | 2023 | QB | 6'0" 185 lbs   The all-time national 8-man leader in yardage put up a valiant last effort to his prolific career. For the umpteenth time in Kuester's career, he threw for over 100 yards and rushed for over 100 yards, ending with 107 passing yards and 111 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns. When you watch Aiden play, you just know you're watching a special athlete. He is a very smart player with great instincts and feel for the game. He gets the ball to his playmakers quickly and is quick to take off on his legs when he sees an opening. Tough, overall player that refuses to go down without a fight, always falling forward for extra yards. His 21 tackles was the most by any player on either side. Despite falling short, Aiden and the Warriors played a great game and had an incredible run.   [player_tooltip player_id='408746' first='Bryson' last='Gadeken'] | 2024 | WR/ATH | 6'2" 190 lbs   Neligh/Oakdale WR [player_tooltip player_id='408746' first='Bryson' last='Gadeken'] is an interesting receiver prospect in the '24 class. Gadeken is a lengthy, athletic receiver that has become a reliable target for QB Kuester. Gadeken hauled in 5 receptions for 82 rushing yards and added 40 rushing yards and the opening score for the Warriors. Gadeken is extremely versatile and played a huge role on offense and defense. Gadeken's range was on full display with his 13 tackles as he seemed to be everywhere. Keep an eye out for this guy next year!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>   Make sure to follow @PrepRedzoneNE on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all your Nebraska prep recruiting news.

The Class D1 state championship saw two surging teams meet up for the title. Workhorse RB Kyle Kasik and the Clarkson/Leigh Patriots battled with the most prolific 8-man player in history, Aiden Kuester, and the Neligh/Oakdale Warriors.