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
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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)
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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
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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)
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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
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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)
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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
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – The Nebraska Extension hosted a workshop Wednesday morning for ag producers, focusing on how to use drought monitoring and forecasting tools, assess drought impacts and risks, explore management strategies, and identify available resources.
Organizers say the goal is to help producers make more informed, timely decisions as changing weather patterns continue to affect soil moisture, crop conditions, and long-term planning.
The session also highlighted practical tools farmers can use to track drought development and adjust operations before conditions worsen.
“The really warm temperatures and strong wind just sucked the moisture out of the soil, out of the vegetation and this has been going on since at least October and were not going to come out of it over the night, it’s going to take a while to rebuild those moisture supplies even if we get average moisture it will be enough for vegetation but it won’t helped us recover what we’ve already lost,” said Deborah Bathke, Nebraska state climatologist.
Officials add that continued education and early planning are key to helping producers stay resilient through increasingly variable growing seasons.
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Copyright 2026 KNOP. All rights reserved.
Adam Carriker is joined by HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan to break down the upcoming season for Matt Rhule and Nebraska football. Callahan gives unique insight on what Nebraska’s offense may look like, realistic expectation for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, if the offensive line is legit better, the new 4-2-5 defense, the undersized defensive line and if the Huskers will win more than seven games. Also, will Nebraska basketball make a Sweet 16 run again?
Hit the play button for that and more in this episode of the Carriker Chronicles. For a synopsis, scroll down.
Synopsis
In the latest installment of the Carriker Chronicles, Adam Carriker and Sean Callahan discuss the upcoming season for Nebraska football and why this year is so important. They explain that Year 4 under Matt Rhule is a big turning point because by now, the program should reflect his system, culture, and recruiting. If things are going to work long-term, this is the season where fans should really start to see it.
One of the first things they talk about is the overall vibe of the offseason. Callahan mentions that Nebraska has “closed the lab,” meaning the team is done experimenting and now fully focused on playing football. The expectation is that players understand the system better and can execute at a higher level without the outside distractions.
They also discuss the offense and what it might look like under Dana Holgorsen. While there may be some similarities to past systems, there will also be differences based on the players Nebraska has. Part of the conversation is quarterback Anthony Colandrea, and they set realistic expectations for him. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does need to be consistent, make plays with his feet and take care of the football.
The offensive line is another key topic. Callahan believes the group has improved this offseason, especially with players like Elijah Pritchett, who seems to be on the uptick. If the offensive line can protect the quarterback and create running lanes, it could make a huge difference for the entire offense. They also mention the running back room, which has potential but still needs to prove itself during the season.
On defense, Nebraska is expected to run more of a 4-2-5 scheme this year. This means more speed on the field, but it also raises questions about size, especially on the defensive line. One of the biggest concerns is whether the defensive front can hold up against physical teams. However, they point out that the secondary might be the strongest position group, which could help balance things out.
Special teams are briefly discussed, with the expectation that they will be solid but not necessarily a major strength or weakness. Recruiting is another area where Nebraska seems to be trending in the right direction, which is important for building long-term success.
They also touch on men’s basketball and whether the team can make another Sweet 16 run. While it’s possible, it will depend heavily on player development and who will replace those that have left.
To wrap it up, they debate whether Nebraska football will win more than seven games this season. It’s seen as a realistic but challenging goal. This is a critical year for Matt Rhule and the program, and fans should have a much clearer idea of the team’s future by the end of the season.
Program order
- 00:00: Intro
- 01:09: Sean Callahan Joins the Show
- 01:54: Year 4 Under Matt Rhule
- 04:04: Offseason Vibe: Closing the Lab, Focusing on Football
- 05:30: Dana Holgorsen: Similarities & Differences to Expect
- 07:30: Offensive Line: Offseason Improvements
- 09:45: Elijah Pritchett Spotlight
- 12:54: Running Back Room: What to Expect
- 15:20: Defensive Scheme: What to Expect This Year
- 18:53: Biggest Defensive Question Marks
- 22:10: Strongest Defensive Position Group
- 23:00: Special Teams Outlook
- 25:08: Recruiting Class Breakdown
- 27:45: Nebraska Basketball Preview
- 29:50: Over/Under: 7 Wins Next Season
- 31:18: Fan Questions
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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