PRZNE Championship Game Previews | D2 Central Valley vs Riverside

<!-- 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><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>The Game:</em></span></strong> #4 Central Valley Cougars (11-1) vs. #6 Riverside (10-2) at Memorial Stadium-UNL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Journey:</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Central Valley Schedule:</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-regular"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong><em>Opponent</em></strong></th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong><em>Score</em></strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Riverside (H)</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">50-42 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">West Holt (D1 - A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">54-20 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Stanton (D1 - H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">40-28 (L)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Anselmo-Merna (A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">68-20 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Burwell (A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">64-6 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Twin Loup (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">58-13 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Palmer (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">66-0 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">CWC (A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">60-6 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#14 Elm Creek (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">62-8 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#13 St. Mary's (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">72-26(W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#5 Wynot (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">44-6 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#1 Archangels Catholic (A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">50-8 (W)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Riverside Schedule:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-regular"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong><em>Opponent</em></strong></th><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong><em>Score</em></strong></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Central Valley (A)</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">50-42 (L)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Twin Loup (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">42-8 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">High Plains (A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">42-16 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Archangels Catholic (A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">48-30 (L)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Osceola (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">44-0 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Howells-Dodge (A)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">44-20 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Nebraska Christian (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">59-20 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Fullerton (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">54-6 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#16 Winside (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">68-16 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#11 Creighton (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">84-46 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#3 Sandhills/Thedford (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">73-50 (W)</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">#2 BDS (H)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">50-20 (W)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>Projected Starting Lineups (Based on semi-final starters):</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Central Valley</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Offense:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - (#3) [player_tooltip player_id='533091' first='Zaden' last='Wolf'], 2025 - 5'11" 175 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/Zadenk03" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - (#5) [player_tooltip player_id='1105180' first='Grady' last='Kelly'], 2025 - 6'0" 195 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/GradyKelly112" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - (#14) [player_tooltip player_id='1306527' first='Luke' last='Shoemaker'], 2027 - 6'0" 160 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/lukeshoemaker27" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - (#4) Boston Wood, 2025 - 5'6" 120 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/TaylorJensen06" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - (#12) Taesian Soto, 2025 - 6'2" - <a href="https://x.com/taejs_11" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - (#17) Tyler Luscomb (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - (#27) Gunnar Vanosdall (Sr.) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - (#33) Cordel Wagner (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Defense:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - (#13) [player_tooltip player_id='1588499' first='Caden' last='Straka'], 2027 - <a href="https://x.com/cadenstraka0816" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - (#25 ) William Pokorny (Fr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - (#33) Cordel Wagner (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - (#5) [player_tooltip player_id='1105180' first='Grady' last='Kelly'] (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - (#12) Taesian Soto (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - (#3) [player_tooltip player_id='533091' first='Zaden' last='Wolf'] (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - (#4) Boston Wood (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - (#6) Taylor Jensen, 2025 - 5'10" 180 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/TaylorJensen06" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Riverside:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Offense:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - (#12) Larry Diessner, 2026 - 5'10" 140 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - (#7) [player_tooltip player_id='1314955' first='Jack' last='Molt'], 2025 - 5'10" 175 lbs - <a href="https://x.com/molt_jack" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - (#5) Trevor Carraher, 2025 - 5'11" 150 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - (#2) Nicholas Berger, 2025 - 5'11" 160 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - (#4) Dane Schalk, 2025 - 5'10" 195 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ATH - (#28) Jordan Dodds, 2027 - 6'0" 205 lbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - (#54) Kaleb Tenski (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - (#58) Brody Schmeits (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Defense:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - (#5) Trevor Carraher (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - (#30) Thomas Bloom, 2025 -</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - (#4) Dane Schalk (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL/LB - (#54) Kaleb Tenski (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL/LB - (#28) Jordan Dodds (So.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - (#7) [player_tooltip player_id='1314955' first='Jack' last='Molt'] (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - (#2) Nicholas Berger (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DB - (#12) Larry Diessner (Jr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>Tale of the Tape:</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Central Valley:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Last Championship:</em> N/A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Runner-Up:</em> N//A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Team Averages:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 56.3 Points/game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 452.2 Offensive Yards/game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 123.6 Passing Yards/game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 328.6 Rushing Yards/game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 16.2 Points Allowed/game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 22 Sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 8 Interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 6 Fumbles recovered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Stat Leaders:</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Passing: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='533091' first='Zaden' last='Wolf'] - 1,474 passing yards (20 touchdowns and 142.2 QBR).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Rushing:</em> [player_tooltip player_id='533091' first='Zaden' last='Wolf'] - 1,421 rushing yards (128 carries and 32 touchdowns).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Receiving:</em> Boston Wood - 449 receiving yards (29 catches and 7 touchdowns).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Tackles:</em> Taesian Soto - 139 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sacks: </em>Garrett Vanosdall - 10 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Interceptions:</em> Taylor Jensen - 3 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Riverside:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Last Championship:</em> N/A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Runner-Up:</em> N/A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Team Averages:</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 56.3 Points/game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- 25 Points Allowed/game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Stat Leaders:</em> N/A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>Overview</em>:</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When these two teams played each other in Week 1, who would've thought they'd be ending their seasons together in Memorial Stadium? This is a very interesting matchup between two teams that stayed near the top of their class all season long but were still somewhat considered dark horses. Central Valley enters the game with an explosive offense that received a boost with [player_tooltip player_id='1105180' first='Grady' last='Kelly'] back in the lineup. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='533091' first='Zaden' last='Wolf'] has been exceptional in the driver's seat, as he's thrown for 1,400+ yards and rushed for 1,400+ yards with 52 total touchdowns. He's gashing defenses for 11.1 yards per carry and completing 75% of his passes with a 20-2 TD to Int. Defensively, the Cougars play with a pack mentality that brings several hats to the ball on each down. Their sophomore duo of Gunnar Vanosdall and [player_tooltip player_id='1588499' first='Caden' last='Straka'] have combined for nearly 20 sacks, so the Chargers should be looking to slow them down. The Riverside Chargers have been surging since starting the season 2-2, picking up key wins against Howells-Dodge, Sandhills Thedford (reigning champs), and BDS. [player_tooltip player_id='1314955' first='Jack' last='Molt'] will be the top name to know in this game, as he will spearhead the Charger offense. They also feature a very dynamic passing attack with the Larry Diessner-Nicholas Berger connection, proving they can strike from anywhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><em>My Prediction:</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Central Valley</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's hard to pick against a Riverside team that has grown every week since their 2-2 start and were the ones to knock off last year's state champions in Sandhills/Thedford. However, I believe Central Valley has found its stride since its lone loss to Stanton and has been playing their best football this postseason. They have stiffened up defensively and have gotten healthier along the way with the return of senior [player_tooltip player_id='1105180' first='Grady' last='Kelly']. It's going to be difficult slowing down a Riverside offense that can pop off at any time, but the Cougars have the horses to do so. Therefore, I'm picking the Cougars to win on Monday and take home the first football championship in school history.</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 -->