NEMAHA CENTRAL THUNDER

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

In 2022, Nemaha Central was an unstoppable force. After the first game of the season, a 35-28 win against experienced perennial 3A powerhouse Holton, the Thunder cut through the rest of their schedule like a hot knife through butter, winning each game by double-digits, including a 33-17 win in the title game against a Kingman squad that also seemed unbeatable up until their November 26th championship matchup.

Much of Central’s success came via their stingy defensive unit, with head coach Michael Glatczak and defensive coordinator

Mark Mayberry’s 3-3 scheme holding teams to two TDs or less.

One of the key leaders for the Thunder D last season was AllState defensive lineman Holden Bass, who recorded 67 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and five sacks as a junior, earning his second consecutive nod as a finalist for Sports in Kansas Defensive POY, along with attention from DI and DII college scouts.

“Holden (who committed to Northwest Missouri State this summer) has had a spectacular career already,” Glatczak said. “He works his butt off in the weight room, classroom, and the practice field. He is what every coach wishes a player could be like. On defense he demands double teams, sometimes triple teams, which opens his teammates up to make plays.”

His goals for this fall include becoming 2A DPOY, winning another state title, and most fundamental of all, “to get better at football.”

Other top Thunder defensive contributors back include senior D-backs Aiden Broxterman (25 tkls., 4 INTs) and Carter

Rottinghaus (27 tkls., 1 TFL, 1 INT), senior linebacker Sam

Nordhus (26 tkls., 4 TFLs, .5 sacks), sophomore linebacker

Carter Hajek (39 tkls., 1 TFL, 1 sack), senior D-linemen Josh Gonzalez (13 tkls., 3 TFLs, 1 sack) and Abe Hilbert (37 tkls., 4 TFLs), and junior D-linemen Abram Keim (22 tkls., 1.5 sacks).

Bass (6-3, 276), Hilbert (6-6, 235), and Gonzalez (6-1, 220) provide one of the biggest defensive line trios in the state in any classification.

Offensively, the Thunder bring back four starting O-linemen, with Bass, Gonzalez, Hilbert, and Keim all returning to continue clearing the way for a balance offensive attack.

“On the offensive line, he is our anchor,” Glatczak said. “He is a big reason this O-line group is a tight knit group with experienced kids.”

A couple of glaring holes the Thunder must fill this fall are those left by running back Cooper Hajek (Hutch CC, 2A Sports in Kansas OPOY), who posted a 2,094 yard season, and QB Brayden Uphaus, who gained over 1,500 yards rushing and passing last year

While it’s incredibly difficult to replace Hajek’s production with one player, Cooper’s sophomore brother, Carter, was the team’s second leading rusher in 2022, gaining 451 yards and scoring five TDs on 54 carries. He, along with Broxterman (6 rec., 90 yds., TD), give Nemaha Central vital experience in the skill position group.

“This year will be no different for player and team expectations,” Glatczak said. “We still have the same team goals and that starts with getting 1% better everyday at practice. Holton, Week 1, will give us a great test to see where we are at, as it does every year. These seniors have been successful so I am excited to see them take the next step in the leadership aspect of the game to take this team to another level.”

Bluejays

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

Veteran head coach Lucas Melvin and a senior-laden Norton squad started their 2022 season strong with four straight double-digit wins over MCL opponents. The win streak ended with the Bluejays’ first out of league matchup against GWAC opponent Goodland, losing in overtime, 28-25.

From there, the Bluejays were unable to piece together another streak, losing two of three district contests against Beloit and Russell. The Jays entered the playoffs with a 5-3 record and put together a 28-14 win against Lakin, but were then blown out in a rematch with Beloit in the second round, finishing 6-4 on the season.

With that playoff exit the Jays graduated a large portion of their roster, including Garrett Urban, the team’s leading rusher, and Clayton Sumner, the top tackler.

“It will be HUGE for some younger guys to step up and be leaders this season, we lost several great leaders,” Melvin said. “It is time for other young men to grow up and be the leaders they can be.”

In all Norton returns just five offensive and four defensive starters, but what they have back is high quality.

All-State senior Roman Hauser returns as the team leader in sacks with 13, to go with 52 tackles and 14 tackles-for-loss. His efforts earned him a nomination as Sports in Kansas 2A Defensive Player of the Year as well as All-State honors from multiple outlets. “Roman has really stepped up and been a force at defensive end for us,” Melvin said. “He is long and athletic and physical which makes him hard to block.”

At 6-3, 210 pounds, offense was another strong point for Hauser, who caught 28 passes for 423 yards and four TDs at tight end and earned first team All-MCL honors as a receiver. For Hauser, this season provides multiple opportunities.

“My team goals are to win the league title, and my personal goals are to get the attention of college coaches and get offers.”

Back to help Hauser reach both of those goals is junior quarterback Eli Jones, who was 99 of 194 for 1,229 passing yards and 12 TDs, and added another 313 yards rushing.

Jones gets back another top target in junior receiver Tyce Melvin (9 rec., 138 yards., 3 TDs) and junior running back Logan Willour, who caught two passes for 33 yards on limited snaps.

Juniors Corbin Puga and Colton Stover return to lead an otherwise inexperienced offensive line, but Melvin has five candidates to help spur on competition.

That same line duo also serves on the interior defensive line – Puga coming off a 36 tackle, six TFL, two sack season and Stover with 15 tackles in four games. Rounding out the front, Willour is slated to line up opposite of Hauser at D-end (10 tkls., 2 TFLs) after four starts in 2022.

Melvin (38 tkls., 1 TFL) is the team’s lone returning starter in the defensive backfield. “We will have to have several players step up and fill in the several gaps that were left from graduation,” Melvin said. “Some younger players will have to grow up very quickly. I know the guys we have want to be good, but it will take a lot of hard work and the good Lord will have to watch over us, because we are unable to afford any injuries.”

Keegan McCullick is a full-time Staff Writer for Kansas Pregame and has nearly six years of experience covering high school and college sports across Kansas.