Week 5 Games to Watch 9/25

Ravenna at ALC

The Rebels found new life last week after that thrashing of unbeaten Amherst. Ravenna isn’t playoff eligible but they’re always a tough opponent, even though they’re stinging from that big loss to Burwell. ALC has lost 2 games by a combined 6 points and has Burwell on deck next Friday. Clayton Dethlefs is a machine on defense and Tryon Calleroz has over 500 yards rushing for ALC.

Blair at Bennington

Blair is another team that has really looked much better versus a month ago and that sluggish opener against currently unbeaten Plattsmouth, primarily behind the arm of QB Morgan Rump. Bennington led Skutt 18-7 until all-state level lineman Jameson Krayneski left and didn’t return and the Badgers may be without him again tonight. Bennington finally gets a breather after this game, as it ends perhaps the toughest stretch of opening games in the state this year for any team. Expect a high scoring game.

Lincoln Christian at Auburn

Auburn has that 1 point opening night loss to Ashland-Greenwood and Lincoln Christian is unbeaten and cracked the ratings after their big win over Lakeview last week. The winner here might be considered a dark horse for a state title in C1.

York at Aurora

York got Maddened last week against Ralston and they should see another great junior RB with Aurora’s Mack Owens tonight. The Huskies were sluggish last week against Omaha Gross and they’ll be in for a 4 quarter fight again tonight. Both teams have incredibly difficult stretches of games upcoming so whoever goes to 2-3 could potentially have some playoff qualification issues.

Kearney at Bellevue West

Don’t think for a second that Bellevue West won’t want to put it on Kearney to better the score comparison between the Bearcats and Omaha Westside. Kearney can pass the ball a little but the T-Birds are just too talented all over the field for the visiting Bearcats.

NPSP at Bridgeport

Standout freshman Jackson Roberts against that crazy tough Bridgeport defense. The toughest game left on the regular season schedule for both of these programs in C2.

Mitchell at Chadron

Both teams come in as one of the handful of remaining unbeaten teams in C1. Cardinals opponents have combined for just 1 win on the season so Xander Provance will need to have a huge game to keep them in this one. Mitchell’s schedule hasn’t been that much tougher but they have just destroyed every team including Class B Alliance.

Millard West at Creighton Prep

Two of the most physical and hardest-hitting teams in the state. Can Prep keep that momentum from their late rally against Lincoln Southeast? Over/under for total points should probably be 14. Both teams have extremely tough schedules but Millard West has had two weeks to prepare. Advantage Wildcats. Loser drops to 1-3.

Ralston at Elkhorn

Rashad Madden and Aidan Young should light up the scoreboard. Elkhorn’s sophomore OL Aidan Betz played one of his best games last week against Blair. Madden gives Ralston a chance against everyone.

LHNE at Elkhorn Valley

This is a great game between two ratings contenders in D1. Both teams suffered their first losses last week-LHNE to Wakefield and Elkhorn Valley to LCC. Should be a wild game-both teams are capable to putting big points on the scoreboard with prolific offenses. EV Quarterback Braedyn Ollendick has 1006 passing yards on the season.

Omaha Westside at Grand Island

The Warriors can’t bring their fans out west but they’ll bring a whole bunch of dudes to Memorial Stadium. GI hasn’t been GI this year but stranger things have happened when teams visit the 308. Cole Payton is playing out of his mind right now.

Riverside at HSF

I don’t think Riverside is all that bad-they put 36 points up against Osceola and lost 36-12 to top rated Central Valley last week. Should be the last real test for the Flyers until the regular season finale against Central Valley.

Cambridge at Hitchcock Co

Hitchcock County was blanked 42-0 in their first real test of the year last week against DCS. Ethan Sides averages nearly 17 tackles per game for Cambridge and Quinton Shaner does a little of everything from his QB spot. Both teams could run the rest of the schedule until their final regular season game.

Aquinas at OC

Game of the week across the state in any class. Both teams got tested by Crofton in the past few weeks. You just get the feeling these are the types of games that the Knights get up for-like they did last week against Logan Magnolia. Think Ord will be looking at the outcome of this one? All those great players for OC against the slow-it-down, grind it out offense of Aquinas. A real chess match between Coach Mimick and Coach Anderson-old school vs new age. If the Knights get out to a lead, Monarchs will be in big trouble trying to play from behind. Let's have it out, men.

Elkhorn South at PLV

Elkhorn South continues to lean on that big OL to grind opponents down. Papio is a year away from something really special with a plethora of great next-level juniors. They’ve got Lincoln Southeast down at Seacrest next week. Big game for those future playoff seedings, expect it to be close.

AG at Raymond Central

Another battle of unbeatens in Class C. No word on the status of Cale Jacobsen but the Bluejays didn’t need him last week in that road win against Wayne. Coach Thompson’s team is much more battle tested than Raymond Central and 2018 Super State freshman Connor Kriekemeier.

Osceola at Palmer

Palmer is much better than their record-ask Humphrey St. Francis. It’s been a horror show as far as their opening schedule. By far, Osceola’s toughest game of the season. Sterup and Company should be on upset alert tonight. Ruger Reimers, Chet Wichmann and Gunner Reimers lead the Tigers.