A Dive into the 8-Man Quarterfinals, Aquinas football and things larger than football.

Emerson-Hubbard senior Tanner Haberman (#10) (photo courtesy of Huskerland Prep Report)

Due to time constraints, I did not get a chance to expound on the Aquinas-St. Cecilia game but the chance to say a few things about the Monarchs from Aquinas Catholic cannot be passed up. Head coach Ron Mimick is not keen on writers singling out individual players. A kind of " NO "I" in team" type of deal. I understand. That's probably what makes this program so successful. You can see it, feel it, and grasp it every single time you are on their sideline.

This is not an attempt to jinx this football team in any way, shape, or form. Just a little credit where credit is due. Keep in mind who this bunch has to face this coming Friday in the C-2 semifinals.....powerful Battle Creek. The Braves have been Numero Uno since day 1 of the season this fall. No jinx, no pump here, just some light on one heck of a football program where a group of coaches, led by the best in the business, gets their players to buy into the philosophies and rudiments of that program....lock, stock, and barrel. So is Aquinas Catholic, right smack in the heart of the Bohemien Alps South.

Ron Mimick guides the ship. The venerable Tony Smith runs the defense. Ken Pelan, Marv Pelan, Jared Thomsen and former 1000 yard rusher and son of the head coach, Matt Mimick. Jason Lavicky and Jack Klosterman help at practice every day and don't make a dime.

This year's Monarchs are a young squad, yet in my opinion, possess one of the best trio of linebackers and set of defensive defensive lineman anywhere. The "Tres Hombres" who play the linebacker positions are Mitch White, Trent Smith, and Lane Napier. The two imposing lineman I speak of are Matt Kindler and Trevin Steager. Heaviest of the bunch is Steager......at 205. That's Aquinas football.

These 5 players are not alone by any means on the "D" side of the ball. Noah Pelan, Conner Kranda, Brandon Svoboda, Heath Ketteler, and Nate Kovar among others get after it plenty good.

Never a group of heavyweights here. You'll find only 4 players over 200 pounds on that Monarch roster. Tough kids that know the game.

In the past 6 years, Aquinas has a record of 67-7. The last time this team didn't record double-digit wins was in 2008 and then they won 8 games then. The Monarchs have been in the last three C-2 finals, winning in 2011 and 2012. Aquinas had a 27 game win streak alive from 2011 through early 2013.

Now you get the picture. Will these words of praise help or hinder the Monarchs chances against Battle Creek? I do not possess that kind of power friends. We'll have to wait 'till Friday to find out that answer.

.......and now that look at the Class D-1 Quarter Finals to be played Tuesday.

Elm Creek (9-1) @ Creighton (10-0) 4:00 pm

This Creighton team has been held under 50 points one time this season. Closest game was Neligh-Oakdale last Wednesday (50-35). The Bulldogs are led by Reid Liska, who has rushed for 1,278 yards 22 Tds. Elm Creek has D-1's leading rusher in Christian Best. The 165 pound ace has 2,036 yards and an unreal 38 touchdowns. The Buffalo's only setback was 20-13 to a very good Blue Hill team.

Hemingford (10-0) @ Fullerton (10-0) 2:00 pm

The Bobcat invaders from the West haven't lost since last year's D-1 finals against Exeter-Milligan 20-18. Hemingford led that baby at halftime 18-6 and return nearly their entire team. RB Ethan Skinner leads the 'Cats with 1,948 yards rushing and 37 Tds. Hemingford will feed Skinner the ball 50 times if they have to. Fullerton is led by the incomparable Garrett Sonderup whose status for the game is up in the air at this point. The 185 pound senior has to seen to be believed and may be the best 8-Man back since Dodge's Cory Eikmeier. By the way, Eikmeier is the most prolific back in Nebraska HS Football, having gained 8.330 yards in his career. Sonderup has rushed for 2,271 yards this fall and dazzled even the best of 'em in the process. Both Sonderup and Skinner are 3 year 1000 yard rushers and 5,000 yard career runners.

Friend (10-0) @ West Point Guardian Angels Central Catholic (10-0) 7:00

Friend is a dangerous, surging football team. Junior RB Zemua Baptista leads the ground attack with 1,575 yards and 19 Tds. Baptista rushed for over a thousand a year ago. Simon Sandberg (#56), a 6-3, 235 pound TE/DE from Skovde, Sweden, has 123 tackles, 13 sacks and 28 tackles for losses this fall. Guardian Angels CC is just a mainstay in the playoffs, having lost only 4 regular season games in the last 5 years. Jesse Prieto leads WPGACC with 1,479 yards rushing and 26 Tds. QB Isaac Kreikemeier has passed for 1,296 yards and 24 scores with only 3 interceptions.

Better wear the long johns for this baby. Forecast temps calling for a low of 16 and 15 MPH winds from the North.

B D S (9-1) @ Heartland (Henderson) (10-0) 6:00

BDS is now healthy and playing like a championship team......but so is Heartland. BDS is led by QB/LB Grant Norder, whose football IQ has been tested out somewhere near a gazillion and a half. Only loss was to Friend. Heartland is working on a Triple 1000 Yard Rusher backfield, which is almost non-existent in any form of high school football in Nebraska. QB Jordan Heinrichs (1,152) and RB Tyler Brown (1,155) are already there with FB Keshawn Camacho in hot pursuit at 735. Heartland has scored 82, 80, 74, and 74 respectively in their last 4 games, but don't kid yourself, this team can play some defense.

Class D-2 Quarter Finals:

Humphrey St. Francis (10-0) @ Exeter-Milligan (10-0) 6:00

Mother-of-Mercy, does it get any better than this? Exeter-Milligan is the defending D-1 champion and was runner-up the year before. St. Francis bulldozing RB/LB J.J. Oltmer is a 3 year 1000 yard runner as well as all-state player. Oltmer is also near the career 5,000 yard rushing mark and is a brutal linebacker. Exeter-Milligan's Kyle Jensen has rushed for 1,891 yards, scored 34 touchdowns, made 107 tackles on defense and returned 3 kick-off for scores this fall. Jensen is also a 2 time all-state player and one of the best technique tacklers in the state. There will be some bone-chilling hits in this game. Classic match-up.

Kenesaw (9-1) @ Falls City Sacred Heart (8-2) 4:00

With both Schnitzler boys injured a year ago, the Blue Devils were pounded 58-0 by Sacred Heart in the playoffs. Both are healthy and pose a serious threat for the defending D-2 state champions. Junior Preston Schnitzler has run for 1,553 yards and 26 Tds, while senior brother Austin has 1,364 yards and 9 scores. Austin sat out the Meridian playoff game with a concussion but is now healthy. Sawyer Keen, a 1000 yard back a year ago, is now healthy for Falls City SH and producing. Quarterback Austin Malone can run or throw for the Irish. Only 2 losses for FCSH this season were to powerful North Andrew, Missouri and Exeter-Milligan. Interesting game to be played on artificial turf in Falls City.

Sandhills-Thedford (8-2) @ Anselmo-Merna (10-0) 5:00

Sandhills-Thedford is the only team this season that has caused Anselmo-Merna any problem. The Coyotes squeezed out a 34-29 win over S/T on October 3rd. Anselmo-Merna is led by tough running Trent Geiser, who has rambled for 1,940 yards and 39 Tds. QB Troy Gilligan, a junior, has rushed for 992 yards and 20 Tds, but means business when he throws the ball. Gilligan has passed for 1,212 yards and 18 Tds with only one pick. The smallish signal caller averages 21 yards a completion. Gilligan carried the load as a sophomore, rushing for 1,329 yards, while passing for another 1,281. Sandhills/Thedford counters with sophomore gunslinger Jacie Nutter. The 175 pound QB has connected on 152 of 241 passes for 2,198 yards, 36 touchdowns and only 4 INTS. Senior Justin Lee is Nutter's favorite target, catching 54 passes for 898 yards and 20 Tds. Seven different receivers have caught passes for the Knights and each receiver has at least 44 yards for the season. 7 receivers.....this is 8-Man football, man.

Maxwell (9-1) @ Garden County (10-0) 2:00 MST

Garden County beat Maxwell back on September 12th, 30-27. Since then Maxwell has beaten up on everybody. Garden County has had a couple of close calls, including an opening round 28-20 scare at home against Mullen. Maxwell is paced by D-2's leading rusher, Jaylon Sturdivant who has 2,265 yards and 37 Tds. Sturdivant is something else friends, trust me. The 180 pound senior has also caught 13 passes for 334 yards and 4 more scores and that leads the team. Sturdivant has also converted on 19 of 24 point after kicks and 4 of 6 field goals. Not finished yet....he has 86 tackles on defense, 2 fumble returns for Tds, 2 kick-return Tds and a total of 319 points scored. Phew! Garden County, usually known for their potent running game, is no disappointment this year in that department. Junior McCarthy has 1,156 yards and 26 Tds to lead the Eagles. Junior classmate Elliot Epp is at 911 rushing and sophomore QB Mason Zorn has completed 55% of his passes for 1,061 yards and 16 Tds with 4 INTS. Epp leads the defense with......are you ready for this......161 tackles...69 solos and 92 assists and he weighs 160 pounds. They make 'em tough out there.

...and finally:

Our prayers, best wishes, and God Speed to Emerson-Hubbard senior Tanner Haberman. Tanner, a senior, suffered a broken leg in the Pirate's playoff loss to Falls City Sacred Heart. According to Huskerland Prep Report's fine Bob Jensen, Haberman's leg injury was so severe they flew him to Lincoln to perform the surgery. When they attempted to insert a rod into his broken femur, they discovered he had osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that is sometimes found in youngsters 10 to 20 years of age.

A severe bone fracture is bad enough, but this cancer diagnosis has rocked this fine young man, the Haberman family, the Emerson-Hubbard community and the strong brotherhood of Nebraska High School Football. The power of prayer can do wonders and a little financial assistance never hurt things either. Let us all band together and get Tanner through this ordeal. Our thoughts and prayers are with you 24/7, man.

Here is the address Bob Jensen put on his site to help this young man and his family.

By the way, thank you Bob for bringing this to our attention. You're the best.

A fund has been established in support of Tanner and his family. You can send checks made out to the Haberman family to: First Nebraska Bank, 1000 Main Street, Emerson NE 68733.