Go fast, people. We’ll be a third of the way through the season by the time this weekend’s games are complete. Some schools will have already played four games.
Here’s what you need to know for Week 3:
games of the week
A class: No. 3 Bellevue West (3-0) at No. 1 Omaha Westside (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m. — The collection of talent on the field Friday in Omaha The Westside’s Phelps Field will be bigger than any other game in the entire state this season. Both sides have Power Five prospects, both can move the ball offensively and both will see things in the opponent they haven’t seen all season. Westside’s special teams, perhaps the most talented in the state, give the Warriors an edge.
Prediction: Omaha West 31, Bellevue West 27.
People are also reading…
Class B: No. 3 Elkhorn (2-0) at No. 4 Omaha Gross (2-0)Friday, 7:00 p.m. The Omaha Gross has strangled their first two opponents, outscoring Beatrice and the new Omaha Westview program by a combined 104-21. Elkhorn has been more tested, scoring late to outscore Waverly 21-17 in his first game before beating Norris for two touchdowns. Can the Antlers stop Gross running back Jake Garcia? This is the first of a tough three game streak for Elkhorn, with games against Omaha Skutt and No. 1 Bennington to follow.
Prediction: Elkhorn 26, Omaha Gross 20.
Class C-1: No. 1 Aurora (2-0) at No. 3 Ashland-Greenwood (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: According to ratings, Ashland-Greenwood is the toughest test remaining on Aurora’s regular-season schedule. The No. 3 Bluejays have held their first two opponents to 6 and 0 points, and they’ll need that defense to be at its best against running back Carlos Collazo and an Aurora offense that hasn’t had a problem in two wins against ranked foes. .
Prediction: Aurora 30, Ashland-Greenwood 21.
Class C-2: No. 5 Hartington Cedar Catholic (2-0) at No. 9 Yutan (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: Cedar Catholic has dealt with a couple of enemies without a win, but we should learn a lot more about Trojans in the next three weeks. Yutan ran his offense last week against Tri County and should be able to test Hartington CC more than his two previous opponents.
Prediction: Catholic Cedar 23, Yutan 21.
eight men: Class D-1 No. 3 Elmwood-Murdock (2-0) at No. 6 Palmyra (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: Palmyra has averaged 55.5 points in their first two games, which is just 30 fewer than Elmwood-Murdock after the Knights hung 76 over Freeman a week after scoring 95 against Falls City Sacred Heart. There will be points in this. Palmyra are the last team on the EM schedule without losing.
Prediction: Elmwood-Murdock 66, Palmyra 48.
six men: No. 4 SEM at No. 3 Parkview Christian, Friday, 3:30 p.m.: Do yourself a favor, take Friday afternoon off and head to Northwest Lincoln to see the Patriots and Mustangs in what should be a beauty to start the weekend. Both teams showed the rare advantage of six-man defense last week, winning by identical scores of 46-6. Emerge victorious in this one, and Parkview Christian is firmly established at the top of the class.
Prediction: Parkview Christian 41, SEM 33.
Other city games
Kearney (2-0) vs. Lincoln North Star (2-0), Seacrest Field, Thursday, 7 p.m.: The Navigators are off to the best of their first 2-0 start in more than a decade, but the competition picks up significantly from here on out. This is Kearney’s second trip to Lincoln in the first three weeks of the season.
Class A No. 10 Lincoln East (1-1) vs. Lincoln Southwest (2-0), Seacrest Field, Friday, 7 p.m.: The Southwest offense should challenge the East defense in ways the Spartans haven’t seen yet, with a group of talented receivers and an experienced quarterback in Collin Fritton. The winner here gets access to the unofficial city championship.
Lincoln High (1-1) in Central Omaha (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: This is the kind of game the Links need to win if they want to contend for a playoff spot. Central is coming off a 56-0 loss to No. 2 Gretna, but an away win against a traditionally quality program could be a boon for Mark Macke’s side.
Lincoln Southeast (0-2) at Papillion-La Vista (0-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: The Knights didn’t expect to be winless two weeks into the season, but a road trip to Omaha could help fix things. Papillion-La Vista is also looking for its first win after scoring just three points against rival Papio South last week.
Lincoln Northeast (0-2) at Fremont (0-3), Friday, 7 p.m.: Two teams that could really use a win. Both were close in their opening games, with Fremont losing to Columbus by a touchdown and Northeast giving up a 21-6 lead at Bellevue East, but that’s the closest either team has come to a win thus far.
Hastings (0-2) at Class B No. 9 Lincoln Pius X (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: More zeros than Hastings would like to see right now, with one in the win column and one on point spread this season: The Tigers have been shut out in their first two games. This is the first time the teams have met since 2007.
Lincoln Northwest (0-2) at Plattsmouth (0-2), Friday, 7 p.m.: These two have taken different paths to 0-2, with Northwest trying to find their footing as a freshman program, and Plattsmouth giving up games to two of the best in the class in Bennington and Blair.
Class C-2 No. 3 Archbishop Bergan (1-1) at Lincoln Christian (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: The last time he played at home, Lincoln Christian fought with Lincoln Lutheran’s Spirit Sword. Now the Crusaders will try to surprise Kade McIntyre and Bergan.
Lincoln Lutheran (0-2) at Aquinas (0-2), Saturday, David City, noon: A rare Saturday game for two teams that got off to a rocky start. Aquinas has scored just 10 points in his two games, but the matchup against Lutheran marks the first of four straight matchups against teams that started 0-2.
week 2 stories
Game of the Year Candidate: Gretna would probably like to have a say in this, but Friday’s Bellevue West-Omaha Westside matchup could end up being the best of the bunch in Class A this year. As previously mentioned, the collection of on-field talent will be as deep as perhaps any Nebraska high school football game ever played. Gretna doesn’t play Westside, but hosts Bellevue West in two weeks.
Passing Patriots: Millard South will be without starting quarterback Cam Kozeal for the next two weeks. The Vanderbilt baseball recruit earned a spot on Team USA’s roster for the U-18 World Cup in Florida. Kozeal headed to Florida after leading the Patriots to a win against Millard West in Week 1. In Kozeal’s place, senior Brock Murtaugh will be at the helm. Murtaugh threw for 274 yards last week against Elkhorn South.
Contact the writer at cbasn[email protected] or 402-473-7436. On Twitter @HuskerExtraCB.
