Week Six Friday Night Lights football Heroes - Part 3

Hartington Cedar Catholic sophomore RB Jacob Keiser, now a 1000 yard rusher. *(photo courtesy of Sheila Jueden, Cedar Catholic high school)

This season is flying by too quickly but I love the time of the year because 1000 yard rushers start emerging. Speaking of which.

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert***

*Jacob Keiser (RB) - Hartington Cedar Catholic - No beating around the bush here man, this youngster is good, really good, and only a sophomore. In the Trojans 40-19 win over a good Lutheran High NE team, Keiser carried the ball 24 times for 167 yards and a touchdown. But then came the real crippler.

With Cedar clinging to a 19-9 halftime advantage, Keiser fielded the second half kickoff, veered to his right and followed his wall of blockers long enough to make the sidelines. The supersonic sophomore then turned the corner and ran lickety split down those sidelines for an electrifying 87 yard TD.

Keiser’s long kick return ignited a 21 point Trojan 3rd quarter outburst and the rest is history.

The 170 pound Keiser was a promising prospect for super Coach Chad Cattau a year ago as a freshman when he ran for 565 yards and 5 touchdowns.

This season, Jacob only touched the ball 10 times in the season opening 42-6 win over BLRD, but he scooted for 45 yards and 2 TDs.

The following week down at Shelby/Rising City, the jet-propelled Keiser exploded for 382 yards on 23 touches and 5 scores in the 37-14 win. The next week was a 61-6 blowout victory over Twin River, so Jacob’s stats were brief; 6 carries, 100 yards, 2 touchdowns.

But the past two weeks versus Battle Creek and Lutheran High NE, Cedar Catholic leaned on the sophomore a little more, giving him 25 and 24 touches respectively. This led to games of 177 and 167 yards.

To date, Jacob Keiser has rushed for 1,020 yards and 15 TDs. He has pulled off those stats with not only speed and elusiveness, but with power, as witnessed with his tough yards after contact. Shall we mention Keiser’s offensive line?

Absolutely, and they are; LT-Quinn Paulsen (260, Sr), LG-Derek Heimes (175, Jr.), Center-Marcus Arens (190, Sr.), RG-Rex Becker (265, Soph.), RT-Jacob Haahr (270, Sr). Plus, you certainly must mention Keiser’s backfield buddy, Jackson Eickhoff (180, Sr), who has rushed for 555 yards this season.

Mr. Keiser is of my favorite young backs in the entire state. Stay healthy Jacob.

*Kanon Koster (QB) - Kearney - Completed 10 of 15 passes for 212 yards and three TDs in the Bearcats impressive 42-0 win over Millard North. Koster also rushed 7 times for 60 yards, which included a 30 yard touchdown sprint.

Kanon’s scoring passes were grabbed by Isaiah Stalbird (21 yards), Miko Maessner (57 yards) and Will Jorgensen (9 yards). Stalbird also picked up a fumble and returned the loose ball 47 yards for another Kearney score.

To date, the 6-4, 210 pound Koster has completed 56% of his 79 throws for 687 yards and 9 TDs with only one pick. Kanon has also added 242 ground yards and another 3 TDs and is one of the top punters in all of Nebraska, averaging 41.3 yards each on 18 punts this season. Eight of those babies ended up inside the opponent’s 20.

These Bearcats are a very legit threat to make some big time noise in the Class A playoffs. They made a huge statement with that resounding 42-0 thrashing of Millard North which puts this football team at 6-0 right now.

*Drake Gillland (RB) - Mitchell - Was nearly unstoppable in the Tigers 56-37 home loss to Kearney Catholic. Gilliland ran for 202 yards on 33 totes and scored 3 TDs. The galloping senior star has rushed for 603 yards the past two weeks and is up to 4,099 career rushing yards and 39 touchdowns at the present time.

***2,000 Yard Passer Alert***

*Cedric Case (QB) - Lincoln High - The 6-2, 195 pound junior quarterback continues to be on fire in 2017. The heat continued last week when Case hit 12 of 17 passes for 300 yards and 4 TDs and a rare INT in the Links 48-0 win over Omaha Central.

Case hooked up with Chris Jones for a 47 yard TD, Zion Perry for a 37 yard score, Morgan Perry hauled in a 32 yard scoring reception, and Case then found Carlos Santistevan for a 30 yard touchdown.

Cedric’s favorite trio of receivers are Jones (591 yards, 5 TDs), Zion Perry (563, 9 TDs) and Morgan Perry (417, 7 TDs). Both Chris Jones and Morgan Perry are just juniors, like Case.

Yes, we know the combined record of Lincoln High’s first six opponents is only 8-28, but this is still a good football team with a high level quarterback and speedy, sure-handed receivers. The meat of the Links schedule lies ahead in the final three weeks of the regular season when they face Fremont (4-2), then District foes Lincoln SW (4-2) and Millard West (5-1).

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert - Second Time Around***

*Alex Horky (RB/LB) - Twin Loup - Normal game for Horky in Twin Loup’s 57-0 thumping of Pleasanton. 23 carries, 210 yards, 5 touchdowns worth. The senior All-State player also caught 3 passes for 42 yards, returned 4 punts for 60 yards and recorded 8 tackles on defense.

Horky swept past the 1000 yard mark for the 2nd consecutive season and raised his 2017 total to 1,201 yards with 25 TDs. The 5-9, 170 pound sensation has put up two 300+ rushing games this fall, including a 429 yard/8 TD effort against North Central in Week 5.

Horky is also All-State material (again) on defense where he has 79 tackles thus far in 2017.

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert - Second Time Around***

*Quentin Moles (RB) - Bloomfield - Ran for 187 yards on 31 carries and scored 4 TDs from 5, 17, 4 and 47 yards away in the Bees 42-8 win over North Central. Moles also had 7 tackles, four of which were sacks. The 190 senior also kicked the ball off to North Central five times, knocking 4 of those through the end zone for touchbacks.

Quentin’s 187 rushing yards elevates him over the thousand yard mark for the 2nd straight season, raising his 2017 total to 1,057 with 17 TDs.

For his career, Quentin Moles has racked up 4,309 yards and 63 touchdowns for Bloomfield. Even more eye opening is in the past 16 games, spanning 2016 and this fall, Moles has rushed for 3,568 yards. That’s an average of 223 per contest. The lad is big, strong, fast and very difficult to bring down because of his low pad level.

Moles is just another dandy in the long line of 1000 Yard Rushers for the Bees over the years, and they’ve had a bunch. 33 to be exact since 1975.

*Grant Matthies (TE) - Creighton Prep - Had three touchdown receptions covering 40, 30 and 31 yards in the Junior Jays 42-12 win over Papio LV South. QB Reed Burke was on the delivering end of those scoring passes, which raised Grant’s season totals to 288 yards (18/catch) and 8 touchdowns in 6 games for the 5-1, 5th rated Creighton Prep boys. At 6-3, 225 pounds, Mr. Matthies is not a pleasant figure to correl after he catches the football.

*Tanner Tierney (RB) - Gretna - Only needed to touch the ball 9 times in the Dragons 49-0 win over Bennington to run for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Tanner hit the end zone from 40 and 41 yards out, giving him 13 TDs for the season.

Tierney, the junior, is up to 940 yards thus far, averaging 156 yards per game for Dave Schradrer’s No. 2 (Class B) Gretna squad.

***1000 Yard Rusher Alert - Second Time Around***

*Milton Sargbah (RB), Zander Gray (RB) - Omaha North - In the Vikings 44-7 win over Lincoln East, Sargbah escaped for 155 yards on 14 carries and a couple of TD runs covering 22, 74 yards. That raises Milton’s 2017 rushing mark to 1,097 yards.

Many forget that Milton kicks off and is Omaha North’s place kicker. Yeah, he’s good at it. This year Sargbah has drilled 33 of 35 PAT kicks through the uprights, including 6 of 6 against Lincoln East. For his career. Milton Sargbah has rushed for 3,829 yards and 44 TDs. He has also connected on 97 of 106 PAT attempts.

*Cole Schaedel (QB), Logan Kreizel (WR) - Lincoln Lutheran - This pass/catch combination helped knock Freeman from the ranks of the unbeaten last week. Schaedel nailed 13 of his 23 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns in the 35-20 triumph over the Falcons.

Logan Kreizel grabbed all three TD passes from Schaedel. Not only were all three long scoring receptions, but all came in the first quarter. Kreizel ran under scoring tosses of 38, 48 and 85 yards to stun Freeman in that opening frame.

For the year, Cole Schaedel has completed 57% of his passes for 1,141 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 3 INTs. Thus far Logan Kreizel has caught 37 passes for a lofty 744 yards and 11 scores.

Let me tell you something. Logan Kreizel has gone from a skinny 6-0, 150 pound freshman to a power packed 6-3, 195 pound senior, who has accumulated a massive 2,064 career receiving yards (124 catches) and 21 TDs in 29 games. That’s averaging 71 receiving yards every single game he plays. That’s pretty solid.

Don’t forget this Lincoln Lutheran team is 5-1, with their only loss coming on a last minute blocked field goal that gave rival Lincoln Christian a 20-19 upset victory over Lutheran.

*Will Huffman (RB) - Maxwell - 5-11, 165 pound senior continued his rampage through the West with 347 yards on 29 carries and 5 TDs in the Wildcats 68-18 win over Morrill. In just 5 games, Huffman has rushed for an incredible 1,597 yards and 25 scores. That’s averaging 319 yards and five touchdowns every single game.

*Riley Harris (QB) - Fremont - 19 of 26 for 216 yards and 2 TDs in Fremont’s 27-21 win over Lincoln Northeast. The Tigers led 27-0 at the half then held on at the end in that baby. The 6-6, 220 pound Riley has led the Tigers to a 4-2 record thus far and his razor sharp, pinpoint passing is the main reason.

After 6 games, Harris has hit 110 of 153 throws for 1,257 yards and 14 TDs and NO INTs. At 6 feet 6 inches tall, would you call Riley Harris a “downhill passer” since he can see over the line so easily? Hey, it’s late in the evening folks.

*Jake Ahlschwede (QB) - Lincoln SW - Lit up Memorial Stadium last Saturday afternoon by completing 15 of 26 throws for 296 yards and a TD in Southwest’s 34-0 whitewashing of North Platte. The Ahlschwede touchdown pass was caught by future Nebraska walk-on Justin Holm (56 yards), who had 7 receptions for a huge 219 yards.

The Huskers are going to like this Holm kid, who is 6-6 and a 190 pounds.

*Brian Covarrubias (K) - Grand Island - 155 pound senior is a perfect 6 of 6 on field goal attempts in 2017. He is also 21 of 21 on PATs and has blasted 19 of 35 Islander kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks.

In his career, Covarrubias has nailed 12-14 field goal tries (longest was 41), hit 54-56 PATs and booted 40 of 99 kickoffs for touchbacks.

‘Spose this dude is a good soccer player?

*Carter Terry (QB) - Grand Island Northwest - The junior field general is gaining steam as the season rolls along, and getting more accurate in the process. In the Vikings 49-12 trouncing of Holdrege, Terry hit 22 of 28 passes for 228 yards and 4 touchdowns. Brady Glause hauled in three of Carter’s scoring tosses coming from 6, 28, 6 yards out. Danny Fisher reeled in the 4th touchdown pass that covered 21 yards.

For the season, Carter Terry is 97-157 for 1,612 yards (62%), 22 TDs and 9 INTs. Glause, who had 9 receptions for 104 yards in the Holdrege contest, has 30 catches for 560 yards and 11 TDs thus far. Riley Schliep has three less receptions (27) but more yards (590) than Glause.

*Trent Reed (ATH) - Hay Springs - 6-Man football phenom ran for 215 yards and three touchdowns, threw a 65 yard TD pass, made 12 tackles, and picked off a pass in the Hawks 54-46 win over Minatare. Reed now has 1,766 yards and 26 TDs and continues to lead nation in 6-Man football by a margin of 717 yards, according to MaxPreps.

*Luke Reimers (QB) - Lincoln North Star - Third string quarterback ran for touchdowns covering 10, 14, 30, 2 and 35 yards in the Gators 35-21 win over Omaha Northwest.

*Devin Mercuris (RB) - Ralston - Rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams nail biting 33-30 overtime win over Platteview. Mercuris, a 1000 yard rusher in 2016, bolted for 30 and 35 yard touchdowns, then crashed in for the winning score from the one yard line in the overtime period.

Devin now has 771 yards and 6 TDs after 6 games for the 2-4 Rams.

*Jarrett Weidner-Humphrey St. Francis - 123 yards on 13 carries and four TDs in the Flyers 74-6 win over Scribner-Snyder. Weidner’s scoring runs were from 4, 7, 4 and 6 yards out.

*Cadge Janssen-Columbus Lakeview - Connected with Jaden Johnson for the winning two point conversion pass in overtime, giving the Vikings a 41-40 win over Columbus Scotus. Janssen’s 234 passing yards also helped Lakeview triumph over their crosstown rivals for the time since 2013.

*Christian Timm (TB) - Eustis-Farnam - 6-0, 190 pound junior rambled for 324 yards on 24 touches and 5 TDs in a 68-28 win over Hitchcock County. Timm also returned a kickoff for a 6th score and made 11 stops on defense. He has 968 rushing yards to date.

*Charles Johnson (QB/DB) - Perkins County - In a wild 68-58 win over Dundy County/Stratton, the All-State DB completed 9-19 passes for 151 yards and 2 TDs, rushed 16 times for 139 yards and 4 more scores, and made 16 tackles on defense, 11 of which were solos.

*Spencer Wichmann (QB) - Palmer - In the Tigers 30-8 win over Nebraska Christian Saturday, Wichmann was 10-16 passing for 134 yards and a TD, ran the football 21 times for 132 yards and 4 more touchdowns, plus made 16 tackles on defense. The dude is a force on both sides of the ball.

*Kobee Olson (RB) - Hyannis - Junior bolted for 240 yards on 33 carries and 4 TDs and made 12 tackles in a 60-47 win over Arthur County.

*Reno Hunt (DE) - Hyannis - Junior classmate of Olson made 17 tackles (7 for losses), recorded 3 sacks and pounced on 2 fumbles in that 60-47 win over Arthur.