A Look Inside the Class C-1, State Championship Matchup

Boone Central/Newman Grove's offense (Red/Black) prepares to strike against Norfolk Catholic in the regular season meeting on September 15th.*(photo by Bobby Mills)

Norfolk Catholic (12-0) vs. Boone Central/Newman Grove (10-2)

Tuesday, November 21st, 10:15 pm, Memorial Stadium, Lincoln Ne.

Most recent starting lineups. (Please realize, there is a margin for error due to injuries and changes for certain games/situations)

Norfolk Catholic Offense…………………Norfolk Catholic Defense

QB-Nate Brungardt - 5-11,145, So………FS-Evan Smith - 6-1,180, Jr.

RB-Dylan Kautz - 5-9,175, Jr..or……...….CB-Chace Claussen - 6-2,175, Sr

RB-Evan Smith - 6-1,180, Jr…...………....CB-Dylan Kautz, 5-9,175, Jr.

FB-Kelby Schaefer - 5-9,175, Sr. ……….OLB-Zach Schindler - 6-0,180, Sr.

TE-Zach Schindler - 6-0, 180, Sr………...MLB-Dylan Zaiser - 6-0,190, Sr.

SE-Chace Claussen - 6-2, 175, Sr………MLB-Kelby Schaefer - 5-9, 175, Sr

WR-Andrew Fleecs - 6-1,180, Sr………...OLB-Alex Lammers - 6-1,165, So

LT-Ethan Piper, 6-4, 270, Jr………………..DE-Ethan Piper - 6-4,270, Jr.

LG-Drew Pospisil - 6-0,185, So…………....DT-Payton Love - 5-10, 210, Sr

C---Joey Otero - 5-9, 205. Jr. ……………...DT-Sam Cantu - 6-0, 275, Sr

RG-Chris Dvorak - 6-0,205, Sr……………..DE-Joe Teten - 6-4, 240, Jr

RT-Joe Teten - 6-4,240, Jr.

*Head Coach: Jeff Bellar

*Assistants: Tim Kassmeier, Todd Pospisil, Kevin Miller, Jason Konicek, Steve Farlee, Troy Jones.

Boone Central/NG Offense……..……Boone Central/NG Defense

QB-Dylan Gentrup - 6-2, 195, Sr…….CB-Brenden Beierman, 58, 160, Jr

RB-Levi Krueger - 5-9, 205, Sr……….CB-Dylan Gentrup - 6-2, 195, Sr.

TE-Ethan Dotzler - 5-9, 170, Jr……….LB-Garrett Cornwell - 5-9, 170, Sr.

TE-Will Frey - 6-3, 195, Jr……………..S---Ethan Dotzler - 5-9, 170, Jr.

WR-Brenden Beierman - 5-8, 160, Jr...LB-Trey Schafer - 5-11, 190, Sr.

RT-Michael Murcek - 6-3, 195, Sr…...OLB-Levi Krueger - 5-9, 205, Sr.

RG-Matt Schmitz - 5-9, 200, Sr………..NG-Caden Ranslem - 6-2, 240, Sr.

C---Jon Merten - 6-1, 230, Jr……….....DE-Michael Murcek - 6-3, 195, Sr.

LG-Caden Ranslem - 6-2, 240, Sr…….DE-Jon Merten - 6-1, 230, Jr.

LT-Jessie Sullivan - 6-4, 255, Sr……....S---Cody Nelson - 6-2, 190, Sr.

WR-Cody Nelson - 6-2, 190, Sr.

*Head Coach: Mark Hudson

*Assistants: Dan Zoucha, Eric Albers, Michael Volker, Nolan Vandenburg, Braxton Staark, Corey Thome.

Boone Central/NG Record (10-2)……..Norfolk Catholic Record (12-0)

42 Pierce 20…………………………………...24 Wahoo Neumann 7

30 Wayne 34………………………………….34 Columbus Lakeview 7

42 O’Neill 0…………………………………...24 Wahoo 19

35 Norfolk Catholic 48*..................................48 Boone Central/NG 35

35 Columbus Lakeview 0…………………….28 Pierce 13

43 Ord 15……………………………………….35 O’Neill 0

49 Adams Central 7……………….…………...61 Madison 12

36 Columbus Scotus 19……………………….35 Wayne 0

43 GICC 0……………………………...……....49 West Point-Beemer

43 Auburn 0……..….….…..............................20 Wayne 7

19 Boys Town 9……………...………………...21 David City Aquinas 17

42 Pierce 25…………………………………….14 Wahoo 0

Norfolk Catholic……………………………………Boone Central/NG

*Boone Central/Newman Grove most recent Championship: Class D

C-1 (2014), Runner-Up: Class C-1 (2012)

*Norfolk Catholic most recent Championship: Class C1 (2012, 2011, 2010) Runner-Up: Class C-1: (2015)

*Boone Central/Newman Grove offensive leaders:

Passing:

Dylan Gentrup - 13-232 - 2,014 yards, 24 TDs - 10 INTs

Rushing

Dylan Gentrup - 1,410 yards...20 TDs

Carter Stara…...1,227 yards...17 TDs

Receiving:

Cody Nelson - 41 receptions, 728 yards, 7 TDs

Will Frey…..…….....36 for 515 - 6 TDs

Brenden Beierman..16 for 276 yards, 1 TDs

Ethan Dotzler……...14 for 227 yards, 8 TDs

*Boone Central/Newman Grove defensive leaders:

Tackles:

Jessie Sullivan…..34 solos, 58 assists, 90 total, 1 sack

Garrett Cornwell....20….…...60…….......80 total, 1 Int, 2 fumble recoveries

Will Frey………......31….…..46…….…...77 total, 4.5 sacks, 1 FRs

Trey Schafer……..15……….46………...63 total, 1 sack, 1 Int, 1 FR

*Norfolk Catholic offensive leaders:

Passing:

Nate Brungardt - 57-79 - 769 yards, 12 TDs - 2 INTs

Rushing:

Dylan Kautz…....2,213 yards...21 TDs

Evan Smith……....616 yards….7 TDs

Kelby Schaefer…..325 yards….4 TDs

Receiving:

Chance Claussen - 23 receptions for 306 yards, 5 TDs

Zach Schindler….... 8 receptions for 138 yards, 0 TDs

*Norfolk Catholic defensive leaders:

Tackles:

Kelby Schaefer…....41 solos, 83 assists, 124 total, 1 sack, 2 Blk kicks 1 FR

Dylan Zaiser……....38.....…...82….……..120 total, 1 sack, 2 Ints, 1 FR

Ethan Piper….…….40……….53….…….. 93 total, 8 sacks, 1 FR

Sam Cantu………...31……….53…….…….84 total, 2 sack,

Joe Teten…….……27……….54….……….81 total, 5 sacks, 1 FR

Chace Clausen…...23……….33…………..56 total, 7 Ints, 1 FR

**If this Class C-1 State Championship is anything like the first meeting between these two squads back on September 15th, you are in for a real treat. Norfolk Catholic zipped to a 24-14 halftime lead, then increased it to 27-14 advantage before a fast moving thunderstorm caused a one hour lightning delay.

The two teams put on a scoring barrage that rivaled the spectacular lightning display after the 60 minute delay.

Catholic ended up pulling away 48-35, but it was one of the best games I saw in 2017, especially after the storm delay.

Dylan Gentrup ran for 141 yards and passed for another 281 big ones. Cody Nelson caught 9 of Gentrup’s aerials for 182 yards and a score.

Dylan Kautz ripped up the Cardinal defense for 232 yards and 3 TDs, while Kelby Schaefer bolted for 66 yard scoring run, then scooped up a Boone Central/NG fumble, taking that baby back for a 80 yard score.

Are you ready for some C-1 Championship football? Who says rematches aren’t fun?