Class A State Football Championship Capsules

Omaha North's superb defensive player, Cole Bixler.

Monday, November 24th - 7:15 PM (Memorial Stadium-Lincoln)

Omaha North (12-0) vs. Creighton Prep (11-1)

Omaha North Season Record (12-0):

20 Millard West 13

42 Omaha Burke 0

63 South Sioux City 7

62 Bellevue West 21

47 Creighton Prep 14

35 Omaha Central 28

62 Omaha South 0

42 Omaha Westside 14

48 Bellevue East 0

50 *Lincoln SW 16

54 *Kearney 14

48 *Grand Island 14

573 Opponents 141

47.8 Opponents 11.8

Omaha North Individual stats:

Rushing: Calvin Strong (#5) - 2,072-219 (9.5) 32 Tds, Tavion Seals (#3) - 730-83 (8.8) 8 Tds.

Passing: Payton Nelson (#9) - 70 of 113 for 1,455 yds and 18 Tds with 4 INTs.

Receiving: Marquise Lewis (#1) - 40 catches for 910 yards and 11 Tds. (22.8/catch)

Tackles: Jason Martin (#10) - 110 tackles, 13 TFL, Cole Bixler (#34) - 86, 18 TFL, TreVaughn Ammons (#2) - 69, Markell Vaughn (#22) - 55

Interceptions - Team-19 - Grant Martin (#7) and Vaughn - 4 each, Martin-3 (Martin, Vaughn and Bixler all have interceptions for scores)

Fumble Recoveries - Team-7 - Noah Capazo (#40) - 2

Punt Return Tds - Lewis-2, Vaughn-1

Kick Return Tds - Vaughn - 1

Creighton Prep Season Record (11-1):

42 Papillion LV 8

56 Omaha Westside 37

35 Omaha Central 14

65 Omaha South 12

14 Omaha North 47 (L)

57 Bellevue East 13

58 South Sioux City 0

47 Bellevue West 43

28 Papillion LV South 10

35 *Omaha Burke 0

30 *Omaha Central 27

28 *Papillion LV South 0

758 Opponents 159

63.1 Opponents 13.3

Creighton Prep Individual stats:

Rushing: Micah Rensch (#21) - 1,433-258 (5.6) 22 Tds, Jeremiah Stovall (#20) - 798-67 (11.9) 11 Tds.

Passing: Zack Luckey - 50 of 82 for 627 yds and 6 TDs with 1 INT.

Receiving: Trystn Ducker (#8) - 18 catches for 264 yds and 4 Tds, Michael Corpuz (#13) - 12 for 183 and 1 TD.

Tackles: Logan McNeal (#82) - 66, Nicholas Janecek (#42) - 60, Joe Rodino (#10) - 54.

Interceptions - Team-20...Stovall-6, Mike Flynn (#90) - 3..(Stovall has returned 2 for scores)

Fumble Recoveries - Team-17...Mitchell Ursik (#69) - 3, Flynn, Robert Morgensen (#87), Josh Stoltneberg (#63) - 2 each.

Punt Return TDs - None

Kick Return TDs - Ducker has 2.

The question swirling around the state concerns how good this 2014 Omaha North really is? The Vikings have hardly worked up a sweat since the 35-28 win over Omaha Central back on October 3rd. Opponents know about Calvin Strong, who has run for 7,189 career yards while scoring an even 100 touchdowns. And the offensive line, as well as the D-Line, are 2nd to none. That offensive front of Strong is simply dynamite. They appear like this; TE-DeValon Whitcomb (#47), LT-Neil Sellers (#76), LG-Michael Decker (#78), C-Anthony Workman(#75), RG- Justin Edwards (#70),and RT-Kendrick Parker(#60). And yes, every single one of these players deserves a mention.

The real shot in the arm to this Viking football team in 2014 has been the developement of QB Payton Nelson. The senior field general has settled in and is very comfortable with the North offensive schemes. Nelson averages only 6 passes a game, but when opponents dare to crowd the line of scrimmage on defense Nelson can burn them with his roll out passes. Just ask Creighton Prep about that one. In their first meeting this year, Nelson hurt the Junior Jays when they put too many players in the box, completing 6 of 7 passes for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns in North's 47-14 win. Nelson's favorite target is obviously the swift Marquise Lewis, who can do some serious dancing after he runs under the Nelson aerials.

Difficult to imagine how anyone in this state can stop this offense or advance against the Viking "D".

By this time everyone knows Creighton Prep will be with their head coach Chris Nizzi, who resigned Sunday. Offensive coordinator Andy Yost will take over the head coaching duties for this title game and Prep can react in two ways. The Jays can throw in the towel and be blown out or rally around the new man in command and make this baby a game. It seems as though Creighton Prep has everything going against them in this state championship game, but I've never seen a Prep team quit in all my years watching high school football. Too much pride and tradition folks. Blue runs deep in those hallowed halls at 7400 Western Avenue.

The Jays have a dandy running back in Micah Rensch and have speed distributed all over the place on both sides of the ball. Junior QB Zack Luckey has done a very fine job of running the show for Prep and can run the football or throw it. Jeremiah Stovall is a speed merchant who can.....and has been a game breaker on both sides of the ball. And as far a toughness, 5-10, 190 pound RB/DB Joe Rodino is pretty hard to beat. The rock solid Rodino has a nose for the football on defense and has delivered some brutal hits this season. Pure football player through and through and can be a game changer.

Who have thought Creighton Prep would be in the state Class A finals after graduating the talent they lost a year ago. You lose players like Easton Stick, RJ Urzendowski and Michael Emodi it makes things awful difficult especially in light of how many yards and points Stick and Urzendowski accounted for in 2013.

So here we go next Monday night. Is this David versus Goliath or will Prep rally around it's new leader and win one for the Gipper? Is it within the realm of possibility the events of the past week deal will not affect the outcome of this game? Lots of unanswered questions and speculations on this football game, but in the end I have a feeling it will be just be another hard knocking Class A title game between two very proud Omaha football programs. I won't be going anywhere but the floor of Memorial Stadium for this one.............................strap 'em up boys.