2015 Nebraska Prep Running Backs to Watch - Class D-1 - 8-Man

Posted Sunday, August 2, 2015, at 11:58 PM

Amherst QB Troy Taubenheim (#3) prepares to launch another one of his 33 touchdown passes.

by Bobby Mills (1000 Yard Guy)

Two running backs who surpassed the 1000 yard rushing mark will return to cause defensive headaches in 8-Man football's larger classification. A couple of 2014 freshman with 1000 yard potential also will be back with 3 years eligibility remaining.

This class lost a wealth of runners, but 2015 should see some new stars emerging, so let's take a look.

Class D-1 - 8-Man Returning 1000 Yard Rushers:

*Zemua Baptista-Friend (#33) - 5-9, 170, (Sr.) - 1,781-237, 26 TDs

There is not a shadow of a doubt this guy is a Athlete. Zemua Baptista is so football talented he could make all-state on either side of the line. This kid is already a two time 1000 yard rusher with 3,346 career rushing yards in the books plus 45 touchdowns. On defense, Baptista has logged 245 tackles in 3 seasons, leading the team as a freshman, sophomore, and junior.

In the wintertime, Zemua has been in the state wrestling finals all three seasons with Championships the past 2 years in the 152 pound weight class. His unofficial lifetime wrestling record stands at 135 and 5.

Last year, this kid helped Friend to it's finest season in years as the Bulldogs posted a 10-1 record and a playoff quarterfinal appearance. Baptista is a Crossfitter and if you are familiar with those boys and girls, you know how rock solid they have to be just to get through it.

Number 33 has very good speed and incredibly powerful muscle from his shoulders to his toes. Very difficult to bring down and lightening fast reflexes make Zemua Baptista nearly impossible to tackle one-on-one. Outstanding lineman Jesse Wells (6-2, 240) should help pave the way for Baptista this fall as Friend will be a force to contend with once again.

Sure fire bet for Class D-1 All-State this fall. Flip a coin as to which side of the ball Zemua is placed on that elite post-season honor team. Yeah, he's that good.

*Derek Sis-Perkins County (#20) - 5-10, 160, (Jr.) - 1,002-179, 13 TDs

Derek Sis is the type of runner that causes opposing coaches to hold their breath every time he gets a handoff or a pitch. State track sprinter speed combined with football speed is lethal as I've stated before. Sis placed 5th in the Class C 100 meter dash last May as a sophomore and is a "turn the corner and he's gone" type of runner.

Sis fared very well against teams like Hemingford, Elm Creek, Arapahoe, and Burwell a year ago. Matter of fact, the combined record of Perkins County's first 4 foes last season was 33-10. Derek Sis and his solid junior class, plus a solid senior class ahead of him, should enable Perkins to make some noise in 2015.

If Sis stays healthy, he has a great shot at being a three time 1000 yard rusher. Whatever you do, don't let this dude get a step on your defense or they will see nothing but his backside fading from view as he heads to the end zone.

### Tanner Hass-West Point Guardian Angels Central Catholic - 6-2, 195, (Sr.) - 529-60, 6 TDs

Aahhh....and you ask....why is Hass listed with the 1000 yard rushers? Think back to the preseason last August. Hass broke his leg before things were barely underway in practice after ripping defenses for 1,561 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. The rock solid prototype Guardian Angels CC football stud did pull a Lazarus in 2014, miraculously returning for the regular season finale vs. Pawnee City. He then teamed up with Jesse Prieto for 3 playoff games, busting loose in the final two.

Prieto picked up the slack to the tune of 1,648 yards last season, but Tanner Hass ripped Friend to the tune of 255 yards in a 46-26 icy second round playoff win, then laid 200 yards on BDS in a horribly bitter cold, heartbreaking 44-40 loss to the Eagles in the quarterfinals.

How good is Mr. Hass? Back on July 13th of this summer, he received an full ride offer from South Dakota University to play football. Remember, Tanner Hass could easily be an all-stater at linebacker and was fast enough to run 3rd leg on Guardian Angel CC's 400 meter relay that broke the school record at the State Track Meet in May.

You know how good Zemua Baptista of Friend is on Friday nights? Take a little trip to a WPGACC football game this fall and watch Tanner Hass. Number 3 will have a couple more Division 1 offers before this season is in the books. You heard it here.

Yeah.....he's also that good.

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......and the best of the rest:

*Garett Allemang-Neligh-Oakdale (#32) - 5-11, 162, (Sr.) - 911-125, 24 TDs

Oh lord, this is one rough, tough hombre. This Neligh-Oakdale squad is way better than you think and so is Garett Allemang. This dude is another granite solid power runner with muscular legs that keep churning after contact. On defense at linebacker, Allemang always knows the whereabouts of the football and is a vicious tackler. This team gave Fullerton fits a year ago in the season opener and that's saying something. Garett Allemang is an All-State prospect, big time.

*Ben Johnson-Niobrara-Verdigre (#25) - 5-11, 180, (Sr.) - 798-167

Tell you what, here is a pretty salty, do-it-all football player for a 2-6 team that took some lumps a year ago. Tough runner, capable receiver, lots of solo tackles (48 in 2014) from his linebacker slot and the team's punter. I like players like this who just love the game of football.

*Phalen Sanford-Dundy County-Stratton (#9) (QB) - 5-11, 165, (Sophomore) - 792-107, 17 TDs

This young man is scary. Last season as a Freshman, Sanford rushed for 14 Tds, had 3 TD receptions, and threw 5 scoring passes for a 3-5 football team. He was voted Dundy's MVP, made the All-District 10 team and is just faster than a speeding bullet. Makes great cuts, reads well, and is off to the races if he gets a step. Dundy has never had a 1000 yard rusher, but this great prospect has three more years to get it done. VERY nice player that has lots of skills. Keep an eye on this kid.

*Austin Koller-Arapahoe (#17) (QB) - 6-0, 170, (Sr.) - 779-150, 9 TDs

Good dual threat quarterback who rushed for 779 yards and threw for 642 yards. Strong youngster who benches 285 and runs a 4.6 forty which allows him to get a head of steam when he takes off running out of Arapahoe's gun. Strange stats concerning Koller's passing....kind of a good news/bad news scenario. He completed 64% of his tosses for those 642 yards and 6 TDs but suffered 14 interceptions.

Arapahoe returns most of their linemen this fall, which should help Koller, whose Warriors have not missed the playoffs since 2001. Koller will have to carry the load early with new backs being broken in, but this guy is a very good quarterback, defensive back and most importantly, a team leader. Expect a huge year from #17 in 2015.

*Colten Bergt-Amherst (#10) - 5-10, 165, (Sr.) - 771-104, 14 TDs

There are times when Bergt might feel like the Maytag repairman. Amherst does throw the ball a ton, but some of those are sent Colten's way making him valuable out of the backfield. When Bergt, a terrific wrestler (and who isn't at Amherst), isn't running the ball, he is one heck of a pass protection blocker and is one of the surest tacklers from his LB slot on that Bronco "D". The fact that 52 out of his 62 total tackles were solo stops demonstrates that ability. I also saw Bergt take on Fullerton's Garrett Sonderup head on and bring him down a few times in that thriller a year ago. That, my friends, is difficult to pull off.

Bergt is also swift enough to be Amherst's punt and kick return specialist. No nonsense runner with decent speed and the power to be super dependable in key situations like 3rd and short, and inside the opponents 5 yard line. Very, very valuable cog in the Bronco machine.

*Chad Bode-Elgin/Pope John (#2) - 6-1, 165, (Jr.) - 755-171, 5 TDs

Hey....this kid did a heck of a job as a sophomore. One of the team captains as 10th grader, Bode was a very good linebacker as well as a running back, and a nice kick return man too. Bode is tall for a running back in 8-Man football, and uses that to his advantage with good, long stride speed, sharp cuts, and very good vision.

VERY intelligent football player which will go a long way on Friday nights. Bode can also throw a halfback pass now and then, completing 3 of 5 and a TD a year ago. I like this kid, who by the way, is a pretty darn good golfer too.

*Tanner Lamoree-Cross County (#34) - 5-10, 160, (Jr.) - 701-121, 8 TDs

I sure hope Cross County continues to improve because young players like Tanner Lamoree make this team exciting at times. The Cougars just need more like him.

This sophomore was in the offensive backfield from his MLB slot than almost anybody I saw in 8-Man football. Lamoree had 74 stops in 2014 and just gets to where the ball carrier is in a heck of a hurry. On offense, put Tanner Lamoree in a backfield operating behind a Friend or BDS line, and the lad has a thousand yards after just 6 games. Awful strong for a hundred 60 pounder, Tanner has tremendous balance and simply slides off of tacklers. I'd have him on my team in a heartbeat. Tough customer.

*Kadin Copeland-Sutherland (#6) (QB) - 5-11, 160, (Sr.) - 675-98, 5 TDs

All-District performer last season is back to direct the Sailors, who return 10 starters from that 2014 playoff team. Copeland who often had no time to throw, still completed 44% of his tosses for 806 yards and 12 TDs. Wood River grad Sam Boshart takes over the program this fall, so Copeland and his Sailor mates might be able to make some noise in that D-1, District 10 scrap. Kadin Copeland is a very nice dual threat QB who makes good decisions.

*Andrew Wisterman-Nebraska Christian (#43) - 6-2, 180, (Jr.) - 648-96, 10 TDs

They make 'em tough over there at Christian and Wisterman is just one in a long line of excellent, hard nosed runners at the school east of Central City. 648 yards is a ton for a sophomore playing in the shadow of a thousand yard back like Carson Huenefeld a year ago. Also caught only 8 passes in 2014, but FOUR went for touchdowns. How's that for a percentage?

Winsterman should be a part of a solid returning backfield for the Eagles and is also an all-state candidate at cornerback where he made a fat 86 stops a year ago. Andrew should be able to crack the 1000 yard rushing mark this fall too.

*Garrett Zwiebel-Morrill (#6) (QB) - ???, ????, (Sr.) - 627-132, 10 TDs

If a genie suddenly appeared in my room tonight (preferably Barbara Eden), one of my wishes would be for the Morrill Lions to make the 8-Man playoffs. Never happened in history and only once in 2005 when they played the 11-Man game. Plus, they've had only one thousand yard runner in history. (Wayne Kakuda in 1983/84). Hard luck bunch and it's sad.

This Zwiebel kid had 89 carries in Morrill's first 4 games a year ago and something just had to slow down there or Morrill would have been out a quarterback. He was lucky to end up with over 600 yards with the blocking he had and did amazingly throw for 443 yards but had 14 interceptions and only 5 TDs. Not much protection and scrambling for dear life had to contribute to that.

Garrett Zwiebel is a pretty good football player folks, making 80 stops on defense, so I'm hoping 2015 is good to this young man and Morrill as well. Go Lions!

* * *

.........and.....keep an eye on these guys:

*Voy Pearson-Pawnee City (#12) (QB) - 5-11, 185, (Sr.) - 559-133, 8 TDs

*Kyle Kollhoff-Elgin/Pope John (#15) - (Sr.) - 555-140, 10 TDs

*Andrew Fangman-Elgin/Pope John (#5) - (Sr.) 543-89, 9 TDs

*Trey Taubenheim-Amherst (#3) - 5-10, 175, (Sr.) - 537-80, 6 TDs

One of 8-Man's most proficient gunslingers is Taubenheim, throwing for 1,725 yards (65% completion rate) and 33 TDs with only 5 picks and I'll bet he crushes those numbers this year. This guy may very well be Class D-1's best QB. You want a treat? Catch an Amherst football game this fall. If you are keeping stats, bring lots of paper. I love the way Trey Taubenheim plays the game of football.

*Josh Johnson-Perkins County (#27) - (Sophomore) - 537-110, 4 TDs

Better keep a close eye on this young man. I have no idea what he weighs, but Johnson made 76 tackles on defense and 53 were SOLO STOPS. Josh also intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and caught 5 passes on offense for another 77 yards to go with his 537 yards rushing. And remember, thousand yard speed demon Derek Sis is in that same backfield.

*Grant White-Neligh-Oakdale (#7) (QB) - 5-8, 125, (Jr.) - 536-88, 11 TDs (passing-146-236-2,089, 25 TDs-7 Int)

Plain and simple, a quality, quality player. Remember, White led Class D-1 in passing by over 300 yards. Is this guy a gunslinger or what? Incidentally, is that weight correct? If so, holy cow!

*Lorenzo Duenas-Pender (#10) - (Sr.) - 515-73, 6 TDs

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..........Up Next, Class D-2, 8-Man Football's returning 1000 yard runners and best of the rest.