Nebraska
A History of Nebraska 8-Man Football – 2000 Class D-1/D-2 Playoffs, All-State Teams and Final Ratings.
*119 Nebraska High School Football Teams played 8-Man football again in 2000 and here is what the D-1 playoff field looked like at the turn of the Century.
For the first time in FIVE seasons, the playoff fields in all classes, Class B and below, shrunk from 32 to 16 teams. Yours truly, along with a ton of 8-Man football coaches, were not thrilled with this move and thank goodness the 16 team playoff fields in 8-Man football lasted just two years.
I have a ton of love and respect for high school football coaches,so let’s begin a new feature by adding who the head coaches were for all of these Class D1 playoff qualifiers in the year 2000. We’ll do the same for Class D2.
*Nebraska Christian (Jeff Hower), St. Edward (Rich Lemburg), Falls City Sacred Heart (Doug Goltz), Omaha Christian Academy (Tim Hamilton), Humphrey St. Francis (Tom Ridder), Sterling (Arlo Wusk), Howells (Mike Speirs), Cedar Bluffs (Mitch Egger) Pleasanton (Ricci Westland, Anselmo-Merna (Greg Wemhoff)), Kenesaw (Leland Skeen), High Plains Community (Andy Vrbka), Lawrence-Nelson (Gary DeBoer), Culbertson (Jeff Messersmith), Orchard (Don Sich), Hyannis (Lucas Lechman).*
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CLASS D1
First Round
East
(7-2) Nebraska Christian 23-20 St. Edward (7-2)
(9-0) Falls City Sacred Heart 38-14 Omaha Christian Academy (7-2)
(8-1) Humphrey St. Francis 41-16 Sterling (9-0)
(9-0) Howells 40-28 Cedar Bluffs (7-2)
West
(7-2) Pleasanton 34-20 Anselmo-Merna (8-1)
(8-1) Kenesaw 36-14 High Plains Community (8-0)
(8-1) Lawrence-Nelson 41-20 Culbertson (9-0)
(7-2) Orchard 52-2 Hyannis (9-0)
Quarterfinals
East
(10-0) Falls City Sacred Heart 68-20 Nebraska Christian (8-2)
(10-0) Howells 14-0 Humphrey St. Franics (9-1)
West
(9-1) Kenesaw 14-12 Pleasanton (8-2)
(9-1) Lawrence-Nelson 38-12 Orchard (8-2)
Semifinals
(11-0) Howells 42- Falls City Sacred Heart (11-0)
(10-1) Lawrence-Nelson 26-14 Kenesaw (9-1)
Championship Finals
(12-0) Howells 38-14 Lawrence-Nelson (11-1)
2000 Class D-1 State Champion; Howells. Head Coach: Mike Speirs
———————————————————–
Final 2000 Class D-1 8-Man Football Ratings (Omaha World-Herald)
1 Howells – 13-0, (568-197)
2 Humphrey St. Francis – 9-2, (438-176)
3. Lawrence-Nelson – 11-2, (5144-191)
4. Falls City Sacred Heart – 11-1, (568-178)
5. Kenesaw – 10-2, (448-144)
6. Cedar Bluffs – 7-3, (430-198)
7. Sterling – 9-1, (460-105)
8. Pleasanton – 8-3, (280-171)
9. Polk-Hordville – 8-1, (382-190)
10 Culbertson – 9-1, (473-143)
————————————————————-
2000 Class D-1 (Eight Man 1) All-State Teams
Offense
WR–Jeremy Hoefs-Bancroft-Rosalie, 6-1, 180, Senior
WR–Scotty McPeak-Nebraska Christian, 6-1, 165, Senior
OL–Jeremy Cordero-Omaha Christian, 6-0, 300, Junior
OL–Andy Wemhoff-Humphrey St. Francis, 5-11, 205, Senior
OL–Jerron Suck-Kenesaw, 6-4, 210, Senior
QB–Andrew Shanle-St. Edward, 6-1, 175, Senior
RB–Alan Bohaboj-Howells, 5-7, 148, Senior
RB–Brandon Hagen-Culbertson, 6-3, 240, Senior
Kicker-Brandon Bonk-Falls City Sacred Heart, 5-11, 230, Senior
Class D-1 All-State
Defense
DL–Brad Metz-Pleasanton, 6-1, 185, Senior
DL–Adam Eickman-Lawrence-Nelson, 5-6, 150, Senior
DL–Ted Straub-Waterloo, 6-1, 230, Senior
LB–Anthony Weaver-Falls City Sacred Heart, 6-1, 215, Junior
LB–Matt Mastny-Howells, 6-0, 182, Senior
LB–Ben Hansen-Cedar Bluffs, 6-0, 190, Junior
DB–Jake Weyers-Sterling, 5-10, 165, Senior
DB–Mitch Blum-Howells, 6-0, 175, Senior
Punter-Joel Grotrian-Johnson-Brock, 6-2, 185, Senior
———————————————————————————-
AND, here is a glance at the 2000 Class D-2 playoffs.
Once again, here is a list of the D2 playoff field with their Head Coaches.
Lindsay Holy Family (Rusty Rautenberg), Prague (Gary Brown), Coleridge (Ken Swanson), Benedict (Lynn Jurgens), Nebraska City Lourdes (Andy Fedoris), Shickley (Gary Filipi), Greeley (Dennis Hurlburt), Silver Creek (Scott Porter)
Sargent (Mike Kozeal), Elgin Pope John (Mark Koch), Hayes Center (Jim Cole), Ansley (Mike Sorenson), Dunning Sandhills (Reggie Smith), Ewing (Jim Crilly), Dalton Leyton (Harlan Dormann), Petersburg (Mike Kennedy)
—————-
CLASS D2
First Round
East
(8-1) Lindsay Holy Family 53-6 Prague (5-4)
(6-3) Coleridge 54-8 Benedict (6-3)
(8-1) Nebraska City Lourdes 26-0 Shickley (8-1)
(9-0) Greeley 40-0 Silver Creek (5-3)
West
(9-0) Sargent 20-14 Elgin Pope John (8-1)
(5-3) Hayes Center 28-24 Ansley (8-1)
(8-1) Dunning Sandhills 54-22 Ewing (8-1)_
(9-0) Dalton Leyton 50-0 Petersburg (7-2)
Quarterfinals
East
(9-1) Lindsay Holy Family 46-0 Coleridge (7-3)
(10-0) Greeley 12-8 Nebraska City Lourdes (9-1)
West
(10-0) Sargent 36-24 Hayes Center (6-3)
(9-1) Dunning Sandhills 30-24 Dalton Leyton (10-0)
Semifinals
(10-1) Lindsay Holy Family 36-12 Greeley (11-0)
(11-0) Sargent 34-20 Dunning Sandhills (10-1)
Championship Final
(11-1) Lindsay Holy Family 28-24 Sargent (12-0)
2000 D-2 State Champion: Lindsay Holy Family. Coach: Rusty Rautenberg
——————————————————
Final 2000 Class D-2 8-Man Football Ratings (Omaha World-Herald)
1. Lindsay Holy Family – 12-1 (510-159)
2. Sargent- 12-1 (465-166)
3. Greeley – 11-1 (510-87)
4. Dunning Sandhills – 10-2 (532-155)
5. Dalton Leyton – 10-1 (634-177)
6. Nebraska City Lourdes – 8-3 (362-144)
7. Elgin Pope John – 8-2 (346-150)
8. Ewing – 8-2 (362-200)
9. Shickley – 8-2 (392-132)
10 Hayes Center – 6-4 (333-263)
————————————————————
2000 Class D-2 (Eight Man 2) All-State Teams
Offense
End-Levi Gray-Harrison, 6-4, 175, Senior
End-Jason Herbert-Verdigre, 5-10, 150, Senior
OL–Tony Kurtenbach-Lindsay Holy Family, 6-1, 225, Senior
OL–Wyatt Johnston-Dunning-Sandhills, 5-11, 225, Senior
OL–Matt Mitchell-Dalton Leyton, 5-9, 235, Senior
QB–Brandon Holtorf-Prague, 5-10, 165, Senior
RB–Jared Franzluebbers, Dodge, 6-0, 205, Senior
RB–Carl Jarecki-Lindsay Holy Family, 5-9, 175, Senior
Kicker-Brad Schlegel-Shickley, 5-10, 200, Senior
Class D-2 All-State
Defense
DL–Mike Smith-Sargent, 6-4, 205, Senior
DL–Kory White-Nebraska City Lourdes, 6-1, 205, Senior
LB–Mat Korth-Greeley, 5-9, 175, Senior
LB–Tyson Cox-Dunning-Sandhills, 6-0, 160, Senior
LB–Matt Woodward-North Loup/Scotia, 6-0, 185, Senior
LB–Reggie Twarling-Dalton Leyton, 6-2, 190, Junior
DB–Tim Wiese-Lindsay Holy Family, 5-10, 175, Senior
DB–Brian Selting-Elgin Pope John, 6-1, 180, Junior
Punter-Adam Schueth-Ewing, 5-10, 185, Senior
Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers could lure 4,000-yard QB away from Big Ten football rival | Sporting News
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are in search of a new quarterback. While there appear to be a few on the market, one of them appears to reportedly be interested in replacing Dylan Raiola.
Enter Michigan State Spartans transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule is focused on what’s best for his team, and although he didn’t mention Chiles by name, he is intrigued by the possibilities of a new signal-caller.
“We’re really grateful for all he did, and if he needs a fresh start,” Rhule told reporters. I’ll pray that he finds the right place and has a lot of success. With that being said, there are a lot of great quarterbacks out there, and a lot of them want to play at Nebraska.”
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Raiola’s Nebraska exit opens the door for Chiles.
“Two schools have been mentioned early on for the Michigan State quarterback,” Nakos wrote. “Sources have linked Aidan Chiles to Cincinnati and Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are not only looking at one quarterback.”
Nakos followed up by reiterating how strategic this process will be in Lincoln.
“Sources have said Matt Rhule is evaluating the entire quarterback field in the portal, and that could include Boston College’s Dylan Lonergan and Notre Dame’s Kenny Minchey, among others.”
We’ll see how the Cornhuskers end up, but it seems some preliminary movement is just beginning.
Nebraska continues to make its presence felt on the recruiting trail, this time turning attention toward 2027 three-star edge prospect Griff Galloway.
The Cornhuskers have positioned themselves as a serious contender early in the process, signaling their intent to build future defensive depth with a versatile pass rusher who’s already drawing national interest. As Galloway’s recruitment heats up, Nebraska’s involvement underscores the program’s commitment to securing impact talent for the years ahead.
Galloway, a defensive line prospect from Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 240 pounds. A member of the Class of 2027, Galloway has already drawn attention on the recruiting trail, earning a player rating of 88 from 247Sports. He ranks as the No. 45 defensive lineman nationally and is among the top prospects in North Carolina, positioning himself as a name to watch as his timeline unfolds.
Galloway’s recruitment has quickly gained momentum, with the Providence Day standout already collecting ten scholarship offers. Among the programs showing strong interest, Nebraska, SMU, Notre Dame, and Tennessee have emerged as the schools in the final mix. As the Class of 2027 defensive lineman continues to evaluate his options, these four programs stand out as the leading contenders for his commitment, underscoring the national attention his talent has drawn at an early stage.
According to MaxPreps, Galloway has shown steady production across his high school career at Providence Day. As a junior, he recorded 27 solo tackles and 39 assists for a total of 66 stops, averaging 5.5 tackles per game with 13 tackles for loss. His sophomore campaign was even more impressive, as he tallied 31 solo tackles and 48 assists, finishing with 79 total tackles, 6.6 per game, and ten tackles for loss.
Several schools are starting to stand out for 2027 EDGE Griff Galloway, according to @ChadSimmons_ 👀
Read: https://t.co/x6Oa8PXNGy pic.twitter.com/mMAQszZZgb
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 19, 2025
Galloway first made his mark as a freshman, posting 39 solo tackles and 21 assists for 60 total, averaging 4.6 per game with 9 tackles for loss. The numbers highlight his consistency and growth as a disruptive force on the defensive line.
On film, Galloway flashes several standout traits that make him a compelling defensive prospect. His quick first step allows him to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays right at the snap, while his relentless motor ensures he pursues ball carriers across the field with consistent energy. Galloway’s versatility is another asset, as he has lined up both inside and outside, showing the flexibility to play on the edge or slide into a 3-tech role depending on scheme.
The production backs up the tape. His MaxPreps numbers reveal steady growth in tackles and tackles for loss each season, underscoring his ability to finish plays and impact games at multiple levels of the defense.
While Galloway’s film shows plenty of promise, there are clear areas for growth that could elevate his game. He needs refinement in hand usage and pad level to consistently win battles against stronger offensive linemen, ensuring he can maintain leverage and control at the point of attack. In addition, developing a wider array of pass-rush counters will be crucial to his progression, helping him move beyond being a solid disruptor to becoming a true difference-maker on the defensive front.
Grateful to be named RBC player of the week vs Rolesville @ChadGrier_ @PrepRedzoneNC @pepman704 @247recruiting @RBC pic.twitter.com/zlqa4DFMah
— Griff Galloway (@Griff_Galloway) September 6, 2025
Nebraska’s defensive vision under Matt Rhule emphasizes toughness and versatility up front, and Galloway’s skill set fits seamlessly into that approach. With the ability to line up both on the edge and inside, his size and motor make him a natural fit for the Huskers’ multiple 3 looks. Nebraska is actively recruiting pass rushers to strengthen its defensive line rotation, and Galloway’s recruitment shows the program’s commitment to targeting national prospects with high upside.
With continued development, Galloway projects as a player who could contribute early in a rotational role before growing into a starter capable of setting the edge and generating consistent pressure. If the Huskers can secure him, he’d be a valuable addition to their 2027 class, offering both immediate depth and long-term upside as a disruptive edge presence.
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LINCOLN, Neb. — No. 15 Nebraska found itself in a rock fight with UND at halftime on Sunday evening.
The Cornhuskers shot 28.1% from the field, barely worse than the Fighting Hawks’ 31.3%, and trailed by two points.
It didn’t take long for the Husker offense to find its rhythm in the second half, though.
Undefeated Nebraska (12-0) pulled away quickly for a 78-55 win at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, shooting 63.3% in the second half.
The Huskers found scoring from across the lineup, as four different players notched 12 or more points. Forward Braden Frager led the way with 17 points.
Dylan Widger/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
UND fell to 5-10. The Hawks will close up non-conference play next Sunday, hosting Dakota State.
The Hawks ended the day shooting 33.3%. They actually were better from beyond the arc than from the field, shooting 34.5% from deep with 10 triples.
Senior guard Eli King scored a team-high 13 points. Freshman forward Marley Curtis contributed 10 points and six rebounds after missing last Thursday’s game against Winthrop.
Redshirt sophomore guard Zach Kraft did not play against Nebraska. He was out due to illness, according to the broadcast.
King started hot, nailing two 3-pointers as UND jumped out to an 8-2 lead.
Dylan Widger/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Hawks clung onto a slight advantage for the entire first half, leading by as much as nine points. By halftime, they led the Huskers 26-24.
Nebraska, which entered Sunday’s contest averaging 11.2 3-pointers per game, shot 2-for-18 from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Huskers ripped off a quick 6-0 to start the second half, capturing a 30-26 lead.
UND counterpunched with a layup from freshman guard Anthony Smith III and a triple from senior guard Garrett Anderson for a one-point advantage.
That was the last time the Hawks led. Nebraska responded with a 13-1 run, and its lead slowly ballooned as the second half progressed.
The Huskers made a concerted effort to push the ball inside. They made just four triples, content to create easy field goals and force contact by attacking the rim.
Nebraska was 12-for-13 from the stripe in the second half.
Dylan Widger/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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