State Playoff Recap: Class A

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/image_2024-01-14_155253975.png?w=704" alt="" class="wp-image-1147051" style="width:699px;height:auto" /></figure>     First Round RECAP:   I am finally back from my long break and fulfilling my promises I plan to go through and recap all of the major playoffs from Nebraska all Classes A through D. First off is Class A where the games were an mix of blow outs and nail biters. To start off Westside bulldozed Creighton Prep in the opening round. [player_tooltip player_id='250051' first='Anthony' last='Rezac'] and [player_tooltip player_id='250052' first='Jahmez' last='Ross'] scoring 7 touchdowns for the Warriors. Westside moves on with their 54-6 win over the Jays. Next the 2 seed versus the 15 seed. Millard South shut the doors on Lincoln North Star shutting them out 38-0. The Patriot's Jett Thomallia having a great game going 12-19 for 188 yards and a touchdown along with a rushing touchdown. The Patriots entire running back room had a field day with 3 touchdowns on the ground by 3 different ball carriers. The third seed game was another blow out with Elkhorn South running over Papillion La Vista South. The Storm's defense was intense the entire game allowing only 8 total points. Their Offense led by [player_tooltip player_id='236546' first='Madden' last='Riggs'] was insane with 11-17 for a total of 3 touchdowns leading to a 42-8 victory. One of the best rivalries is next with a classic game between Grand Island and Kearney. Here is our first upset. The game itself was neck and neck in the first half. Kearney would lead at halftime before the Islanders would hold them to only 3 points in the second half. Grand Island would come back and win 29-19. Millard games always bring a great match up. Millard North and Millard West is no exception. The Wildcats and Mustangs were competitive in the first half before the Wildcats dominated the third quarter winning 49-14. Another nail biter and upset along with an Lincoln rivalry between Lincoln East and Lincoln Southeast. This game was going to be a great game. The Spartans were able to go up by a score before halftime. Southeast would attempt to comeback but the Spartans would hold them off. The Spartans were led by QB [player_tooltip player_id='545269' first='Jeter' last='Worthley'] and RB [player_tooltip player_id='250623' first='Dash' last='Bauman'] both having great days on the ground. Southeast also had a very good defensive game with the loss. 4 different defensive players had 3 fumble recoveries and 2 caused fumbles. This next game has to be the upset of the playoffs. Gretna who had been to the last two state title games is knocked off by a single point by Omaha North. Gretna would come out swinging with a 10 point lead in the first half. The Vikings defense would shut down the Dragons the entire second half holding them to only 3 points. Omaha North would comeback and tie the game leading to overtime. During overtime Omaha North would sneak a win to win 35-34. Omaha North's comeback was led offensively by [player_tooltip player_id='320049' first='Sebastian' last='Circo'] and Jaron Cannon who totaled up to all of the Vikings touchdowns. On defense [player_tooltip player_id='245820' first='Nolan' last='Venner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='245879' first='Tyson' last='Terry'] would both destroy the offensive line with a total of 19 tackles and 2 TFLs together.   Round 2   Round 2 of the playoffs were dominated by 3 teams entirely. Of course Omaha Westside dominated. In a way the Warriors solidified their domination at the top with their 49-0 victory over Bellevue West. 3 different runners had touchdowns, one of the best rushers was Brody Groc who had only 4 rushes totaling for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Warriors defense was insane with multiple players with plenty of tackles and TFL and a total of 2 forced turnovers. Next was the game between Grand Island and Millard West. Another one of our dominant performances from the Wildcats. Millard West effectively ran the ball and used that to dominate over the Islanders after a close first half. In the second half they Just stole the show holding the Islanders to 0 points and continuing to score. The final blowout of round two was a massive performance from Millard South again with another shutout the Patriots move to being 83-0. [player_tooltip player_id='476963' first='Jett' last='Thomalla'] was amazing 14-19 for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='319195' first='Jameson' last='Rayner'] was one of many on the Patriots defense who dominated with 10 tackles and TFLs. The final game of the second round was between Lincoln East and Elkhorn South. This game was a lot closer than the others. At halftime the score was a tie with both teams hitting back and fourth. Both teams and an rusher with more than 120 rushing yards. [player_tooltip player_id='516328' first='Brady' last='Bousquet'] from Elkhorn South who had 23 carries for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns. And [player_tooltip player_id='250623' first='Dash' last='Bauman'] who had 27 carries for 147 yards. In the end the Storm were able to over come by 5 winning 24-19 to move onto the Semi Finals.   Semi Finals and Finals   The Westside Tsunami keeps washing over Nebraska. Another shut out by a long shot. The Warriors dominated again scoring 41 more points continuing their streak from the week before. At the end of the Semi Finals Westside's offense and defense and special teams had dominated each apart of the game scoring 144 points and only allowing 6. The battle of the Souths between Millard and Elkhorn South. Early on the Patriots had the game in control only allowing 3 total points in the first half leading to a 10 point Millard lead going into halftime. [player_tooltip player_id='236546' first='Madden' last='Riggs'] and the Storm would not give up. The Third Quarter was a stalemate leading to the storm to awaken and score 21 un answered points in the 4th Quarter leading to their come back win. An Amazing way to make it to the finals. The long awaited state title game was an insane one. After the first quarter the Warriors started with an 14-0 lead. After this the Warriors would keep the pedal to the floor. by halftime it was 28-0 then 42-0 at the end of the 3rd Quarter. When the clock hit 0 the final score was Omaha Westside 56 Elkhorn South 0. Westside had a total of 443 yards and 7 touchdowns on offense. Defensively they only allowed 102 total yards and 0 touchdowns and had 49 tackles for 5 TFLs and 4 total forced turnovers. Westside had one goal as a team and that was to win it all and they solidified themselves as one of the best teams in Nebraska history. Outscoring their opponents 200-6 in the playoffs alone.