Trio of area football teams will start in state Top 10s

LINCOLN, Neb. — Hitchcock County, Dundy County-Stratton and Arapahoe will all start the football season as Top 10-ranked teams based on this week’s Lincoln Journal-Star.

Hitchcock County holds the Class D-2 No. 10 spot with many believing the Falcons will rebound from a 4-5 season last year.

Remember, it was only two years ago that coach Randall Rath’s team won their historic first state football championship. They knocked off mighty Howells-Dodge in an epic Class D-1 title game at Memorial Stadium.

Arapahoe returns likely the most talent among any Gazette-are team after a terrific 9-2 season one year ago.

Coach Dustin Kronhofman only saw one key senior graduate in May. The Warriors are listed No. 5 among Class D-1 teams.

The DC-S Tigers must replace some super three-sport athletes like Jackson Kerchal and Brody Rogers.

Yet they seem well-prepared again after scoring 10 consecutive wins and finishing 10-1 a year ago.

They kick off the new season at No. 7 in those Journal-Star D-1 state rankings.

Both the Tigers and Warriors will be hungry for a shotat defending champion Stanton (3-0), who holds that No. 1 spot yet again.

Sandy Creek, Crofton, Shelby-Rising City and Arapahoe complete the top five.

Perkins County is listed as a D-1 Top 10 contender.

The Class B Top 10 reveals three McCook Bison opponents who will be rated: No. 2 Waverly (11-1 last year), No. 9 Hastings (7-4) and No. 10 Scottsbluff (6-5).

Bennington again owns No. 1 along with its current 39-game win streak. Gretna checks in at Class B No. 3.