PRZNE Preseason Class D1 Notebook: Rankings, Top Players, Etc.

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;OscarGalindo30&nbsp;in the coupon code area.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>IT'S GAME WEEK! If you need a crash course on some of the biggest names, must-see games, and preseason class rankings, we've got you covered! Check out our Preseason Class D1 Notebook featuring some of the top players in the class, important games to know, and a quick overlook of the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Class Breakdown:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As always, the 8-man divisions are always very tough to gauge, mostly due to how deep they are with high-quality teams. Entering the season, <strong><em>Dundy County-Stratton</em></strong> takes the top spot of our PRZNE class rankings, finishing last season at 8-2, they return a great core group of players to lead the charge. <strong><em>Crofton</em></strong> is another team with a great senior class returning for one final run. The last two D1 champions, <strong><em>Sandy Creek</em></strong> (2024) and <strong><em>Stanton </em></strong>(2023), look to be legit contenders once again, but will have to pivot at several key positions. <em><strong>Shelby-Rising City</strong></em> is a team that was relatively young last season but still managed to post a 9-2 record, now with more experience under their belt, the sky's the limit. <strong><em>Bridgeport</em></strong> is a team that isn't getting enough buzz, but with a pair of potential high-level prospects, that could change this fall. <strong><em>Johnson-Brock</em></strong>, <strong><em>Plainview</em></strong>, <strong><em>Thayer Central</em></strong>, and <strong><em>South Loup</em></strong> are all very consistent teams that are able to find their way into the playoffs year in and year out. Outside of the Top 10, there are still a handful of teams that earned consideration... it will be a gaunlet getting out of D1!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rankings</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Dundy County-Stratton (2024 Record: 8-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Crofton Warriors (2024 Record: 9-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Sandy Creek Cougars (2024 Record: 13-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Shelby-Rising City (2024 Record: 9-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Stanton Mustangs (2024 Record: 12-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Johnson-Brock Eagles (2024 Record: 6-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. Bridgeport Bulldogs (2024 Record: 7-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. Plainview Pirates (2024 Record: 7-4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. Thayer Central Titans (2024 Record: 7-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. South Loup Bobcats (2024 Record: 7-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Next 3:</em> Arapahoe, Lourdes Central Catholic, and NP St. Patrick's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>District Assignments</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>District D1-1</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson County Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson-Brock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lourdes Central Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Omaha Christian Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Johnson-Brock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>District D1-2</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guardian Angels Central Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Homer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pender</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri County Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wakefield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wisner-Pilger</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Wisner-Pilger</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>District D1-3</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bloomfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boyd County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crofton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hartington-Newcastle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Niobrara/Verdigre</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wausa-Osmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Crofton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>District D1-4</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elkhorn Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laurel-Concord-Coleridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lutheran Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plainview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stanton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summerland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Stanton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>District D1-5</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clarkson/Leigh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>David City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Humphrey-Lindsay</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NG/SE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twin River</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Clarkson/Leigh</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>District D1-6</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centennial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Butler</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heartland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCool Junction</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelby-Rising City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Shelby-Rising City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>District D1-7</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Exeter-Milligan-Friend</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sandy Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sutton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thayer Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Sandy Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>District D1-8</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arcadia-Loup City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasanton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ravenna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sandhills Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Loup</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Holt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Ravenna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>District D1-9</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alma</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arapahoe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dundy County-Stratton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hi-Line</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Platte St. Patrick's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Dundy County-Stratton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>District D1-10</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bridgeport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hemingford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kimball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morrill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perkins County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sutherland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Predicted Winner:</em> Bridgeport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top Prospects</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id='1394087' first='Regan' last='Raabe'] (2026), Wisner-Pilger - OL - 6'4" 250 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/raaberegan26" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@raaberegan26)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17922327/67210362a161dd59214060b2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe490a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='487755' first='Ethan' last='Latta'] (2026), Dundy County-Stratton - DB/RB - 5'11" 150 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/EthanLatta9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@EthanLatta9) </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17269856/6737bd45364a9f3dc09796ff' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe4965"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='1327922' first='Cody' last='Bates'] (2027), Bridgeport - LB/TE - 6'4" 210 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/CodyBates44" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@CodyBates44)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19321771/672979b1be3351666e118bbf' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe4992"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. [player_tooltip player_id='1115019' first='Korbin' last='Werner'] (2026), Elkhorn Valley - TE/LB - 6'4" 225 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/KorbinWerner1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@KorbinWerner1)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15079561/67257f112a04b31f061e71a5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe49b5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. [player_tooltip player_id='1192532' first='Landon' last='Dean'] (2027), Bridgeport - 6'3" 215 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/LandonDean42" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@LandonDean42)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17313545/67e9e2f2011295104e50f6d3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe49d6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='1590722' first='Kamerin' last='Sealey'] (2028), Sandy Creek - ATH - 6'0" 175 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/Kamerinallan09" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@Kamerinallan09)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23140283/66e1e8b9ff35a0f16760dcb3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe49f7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='933251' first='Cole' last='Vorderstrasse'] (2026), DL/OL - Thayer Central - 6'2" 230 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/ColeVorderstra1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@ColeVorderstra1)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18218715/672b94b0fd08e0b269e435b4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe4a17"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1666090' first='Robert' last='Gravatt'] (2026), Johnson-Brock - 6'4" 215 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/robertgrav62501" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@robertgrav62501)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15051295/67eeebda956e7e329a57bd49' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe4a38"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1551549' first='Brody' last='Koehler'] (2026), Johnson-Brock - WR/ATH - 6'4" 190 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/Bro_k32" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@Bro_k32)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15046311/66f5bfec777d85e0de617c9b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae31abe4a58"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='1625493' first='Levi' last='Gall'] (2026), Clarkson/Leigh - 6'1" 270 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/levi_gall50755" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@levi_gall50755)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14861446/67ad235024541e375550c8fa' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ae2c384cdf9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Honorable Mention:</em> Ashton Wakeley (DL - Hartington-Newcastle), Jacob Huxoll (LB - Sutton), Blaine Bellar (ATH - Wisner-Pilger), Korbyn Anthony (DL - Wisner-Pilger), Javeaughn Soukup (RB/ATH - McCool Junction), Conner Paulsen (RB - South Loup), Carlos Diaz (OL - Dundy County-Stratton), Jace Panning (RB/ATH - Crofton), Brennan Lindner (QB - Pleasanton), Nikolas Weibert (ATH - Bridgeport), Carson McDonald (QB - McCool Junction), Reece Heineman (ATH - Pender), Hayden Gravatt (ATH - Johnson-Brock), Lane Bybee (ATH - Dundy County-Stratton), Cohen Denker (WR/DB - David City), Keegan White (OL - Freeman), Trey Furmanski (ATH - NP St. Patrick's), and Callen Schnitzer (ATH - Lourdes Central Catholic).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Top Games</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 1:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Platte St. Patrick @ #7 Bridgeport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 Crofton @ #4 Wynot (Class D2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Sandy Creek @ #6 Johnson-Brock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 2: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#7 Bridgeport @ #1 Dundy County-Stratton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summerland @ #2 Crofton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#6 Johnson-Brock @ EMF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Sandy Creek @ #4 Shelby-Rising City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 3:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 Central Valley (Class D2) @ #5 Stanton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 Crofton @ #8 Plainview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 4: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#5 Stanton @ Summerland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 Dundy County-Stratton @ Hi-Line</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 5: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#6 Johnson-Brock @ Elmwood-Murdock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hartington-Newcastle @ #2 Crofton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Sandy Creek @ #9 Thayer Central </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arapahoe @ #1 Dundy County-Stratton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 6: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 Dundy County-Stratton @ North Platte St. Patrick's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 7: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#5 Stanton @ #8 Plainview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Week 8: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lourdes Central Catholic @ #6 Johnson-Brock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>EMF @ #9 Thayer Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure to follow&nbsp;<em>@PRZ_OscarG</em>&nbsp;for more news on Nebraska and Iowa HS recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->