Great Moments, Football:
- 2018: Friend’s Undefeated 1933 Football team
- 2012: “Not Once a Foe Inside the 10 Yard Line”:
Grand Island’s 1936 mythical state champs were never out-downed, out-yarded and their ten-yard line was never crossed. They outscored their opponents 128-0, out-yarded them 2,313-728 and out-downed them 114-34. - 2011: “Prep-Central 50 Years Later”:
In October, 1960, the two best football teams in the state met at Rosenblatt Stadium and played to a 0-0 tie before an estimated record Rosenblatt crowd of 14,000. Central had the great Gale Sayers. Prep had an star-studded defense. Coaches were legends—Don Leahy of Creighton Prep and Frank Smagacz of Central. They were both 4-0 and never lost after their epic draw. There were no overtime in the rules in 1960. In 2010, was decided to honor the 1960 teams when they met. They went to Rosenblatt Stadium again (for the last competition at Rosenblatt), had reserved sections for the 1960 teams, drew more than 10,000 and, as Prep Coach Tom Jaworski said, “Tonight was our overtime from 50 years ago.” Prep won in 2010, 30-25.Pictured are 1960 players who attended the 2010 game. - 2010: “Kicking Spree”:
- Jacob Ramsay, Lincoln Pius X, enjoyed a magic night of place-kicking in 2009. In a 26-7 win over Ralston, Ramsay was 4 for 4 on field goals of 32,50,50 and 22 yards. He also as 2 for 2 on extra points.
- 2004: “On the Run”:
Fillmore Central’s Michael Brower, the first 11-man football player in Nebraska to rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of his four seasons. His season totals in order were 1,063 yards, 1,321, 2,342 and 2,374 in 2003 and 6,099 yards in his career. - 2001: “Action Packed Final 2 Seconds”:
In a 1960 high school football game, Broken Bow and Hall of Famer Kent McCloughan lead Valentine by 21-18 with two seconds go. Jim Murphy of Valentine intercepted a Broken Bow pass in the end zone and the clock ran out while he was running 102 yards for a game-winning touchdown. Final score: Valentine 24, Broken Bow 21. - 2000: “Unbeaten, Untied, and Unscored Upon”:
Class B Ravenna’s 1968 team completed the season not only undefeated but allowed no opponent to cross their goal line or score a point. Gibbon came the closest, coming within six yards but the threat ended with Gary Reiter’s pass interception. The Blue Jays netted a total season output of 275 points to their opponents nil. Add to this a third consecutive conference championship and things were to be right with the world in Blue Jay land. Dick Roberts was the head coach.2000Roster:Dana Christensen
Terry Ripp
Kerwin Stover
Don Ondrak
Henry Heider
Mike Gillming
Doug Roth
Steve Haught
Larry Heathers
Barry SolomonMike Rager
Ron Schroll
Kenny Bock
Dave Johnson
Dean Psota
Kerwin Stover
Steve Shrader
Henry Heider
Don Hervert
Don Blaschko
Gregg HannaDon Lammers
Cordell Bullis
Greg Ondrak
Don Kusek
Dan Rogers
Dave Johnson
Kim Stover
Gary Reiter
Gary Zeller
Alan Schmaljohn
Ben RagerRick Fox
Terry Miller
Mike McKeon
Ron Young
Doug Roth
Larry Heathers
Mike Rager
Kenny Bock
Dean Psota
Steve Shrader
Don Hervert - 2000 – Football/Basketball: “Historic Double”:
In 1975, the first year of the NSAA-determined football championships, Nelson High School won the Class D 11-man football title and followed it with the basketball championship in March, thus becoming the first official winner of state championships in the two sports in the same year. Gary DeBoer was the football coach, Tom Murray the basketball coach.Team Members:Dan Buresh
Randy Garvin
Terry Jensen
Craig Jones
Dan Judy
Marlin Meyer
Mark Collins
Tom Garvin
Vic Jacobitz
Leon MichelsMike Wilford
Dave Wroughton
Paul Grueber
Dennis Holsteen
Calvin Meyer
Larry Miller
Randy Porter
Greg Bohling
Ivan Culbertson
Jeff HarrisBrent Jensen
Todd Jensen
John Mazour
Allen McClure
Steve Melvin
Jon Meyers
Tom Schleif
Marty Sunday
Randi Thomberry
Roger BiltoftSteve Gerbers
Curt Jensen
Rick Mazour
Byron Myer
Lorrell Peterson
Doug Porter
Nick Biltoft
John Ensign
Scott Farver
Dan Mazour
Brian Soulek - 1999: “End of an Era”:
Six-man football, the salvations for years for the sport in small schools, was invented in Nebraska in 1934, spread across the country in rural America and flourished for most of the rest of the 20th century, until school consolidations provided schools with larger enrollments and less need for the six-man game. The Hall of Fame inducted its inventor, Stephen Epler of Chester in 1995, and chooses today to honor the sport once more by saluting the two teams playing last November in the final six-man state championship sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association–Milligan and Benedict. Milligan won game at Memorial Stadium by the score of 35 to 28. The teams are honored equally here today for making their contribution to high school sports history.Team rosters:Benedict:
Eric Allen
Nate Wittgren
Josh Larkin
Adam Watson
Stuart Nickel
Jacob Schall
Justin Schoch
Brian Burhoop
Nate DoremusGregg Heiden
Gertjan DeVries
Andy Bowman
James O’Rourke
Reggie Wittgren
Joe Friesen
Nick Lott
Ryan Doremus
Coach Mark Rotter
Assistant Coach Phil BurhoopMilligan:
Matt Filipi
Corey Koca
Arich Uldrich
Tyler Bartels
Brent Kassik
Dustin Filipi
Jeff Havel
Jon HalamaTim Uldrich
Jon Vavra-Fong
Jeff Graham
Lance Lock
Corey Vavra
Dan Hadherny
Jason Pribyl
Mike Uldrich
Coach Dean Filipi
Assistant Coach Craig Rafert - 1998: “End Zone Blitz”:
John Cook, Beatrice, for 98 points scored in 1912 in one high school football game. His team won by 128-0. - 1997: “Running Wild”:
Cory Eikmeier of Dodge, competing in eight-man football, established state records for one season rushing, of 2,965 yards, career rushing of 8,330 yards; one season touchdowns of 68 and career touchdowns of156. His career covered four seasons, 1994 to 1997. His Friday night gains covered almost five miles. - 1996: “Gridiron Rampage”:
Falls City Sacred Heart’s 87-game football winning streak challenged for the national record. - 1995: “Football Fun”:
To the Nebraska School Activities Association, for initiating the football playoffs.
