NE Playoffs Round 2 Top Performers – Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round 2 is in the books, which means some defensive top performers! Several great defensive efforts across the state. Check out the ballers of Round 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class D1 &amp; D2 are in the third round of their playoff brackets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(Stats via MaxPreps) </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><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='227031' first='John' last='Pargo Jr']. | 2023 | Creighton Prep | 5'10" 180 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 6 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 3 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13067499/6366f482664c85065876bdaf' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='250625' first='Justyce' last='Hostetler'] | 2024 | Grand Island | 5'11" 190 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 8 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='245883' first='Gunnar' last='Lym'] | 2024 | Bennington | 6'0" 160 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 6 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17241544/6367095e2aa7ab0748ee174b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Ben Gilliland | 2024 | Bennington | 5'11" 175 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14899599/63679e24e97a5602140a20c7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='302778' first='Leighton' last='Weber'] | 2023 | Adams Central</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='330962' first='Drew' last='Beeson'] | 2023 | Clarkson/Leigh | 5'11" 190 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 6 tackles, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9848347/6367a1969a9b6e04ec0b6ce6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='239789' first='Jack' last='Roberts'] | 2023 | Boone Central | 6'2" 190 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13122608/63669e659676cd0beca19373' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Korvin Fritz | 2024 | Pierce | 5'10" 160 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 13 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14953132/63679e639a9b6e04ec0b518d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan Claussen | 2025 | Stanton | 5'9" 155 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 8 tackles and 2 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='396713' first='Toby' last='Scherbath'] | 2023 | Hay Springs </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='408746' first='Bryson' last='Gadeken'] | 2024 | Neligh-Oakdale | 6'2" 190 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 14 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 fumble recoveries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Keean Benson | 2023 | Central Valley | 6'2" 200 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.</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 -->