SBLive Nebraska Power 25 football rankings: Top four unchanged, Bennington checks in at No. 5

The top four all won last week; Millard South and Millard West continue to rise after tough starts

By Nathan Charles 

With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, district titles and playoff positioning are up for grabs. Some teams should feel good about the future while many have work left to do. Feeling the best might be Millard South and Millard West. The Patriots and Wildcats both started 1-3 but have won three in a row and can wrap up the district title this week. 

That’s a much more difficult prospect for Millard South, but considering the situation a month ago, it’s better than the alternative. Prep has also recovered from a losing record. Millard North is going in the opposite direction.

Feature photo: Millard West football players stop for a photo after reading to the students at Wheeler Elementary last week. The Wildcats have won three in a row since starting 1-3 and can claim the district title with a victory this week. (Wheeler Elementary Twitter)

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1. Elkhorn South (7-0)

The Storm haven’t played a competitive game in more than a month. They’ve got one more tune-up before a top-five showdown to determine the district champion in Week 9. Elkhorn South is averaging over 46 points per game while allowing just 12. The offense has four players with 25 or more carries, averages 227 rushing yards per game and 356 yards overall. Quarterback Carson Rauner is completing his passes at 70%.

Last Week: Won 42-3 at No. 5 Grand Island. This Week vs. Burke (1-6)

2. Gretna (7-0)

The Dragons weren’t at their best last week, but it’s a mark of a great team to have an average performance yet still win by two touchdowns. Omaha South and Lincoln East stand in the way of a perfect season, though neither look to be particularly challenging for a program that’s on the verge of dynasty status. The offense is averaging over 400 yards per game while the defense has recorded 29 TFLs, 13 sacks, 12 interceptions and 10 fumbles.

Last Week: Won 41-27 at No. 11 Papio South. This Week vs. Omaha South (3-4)

3. Westside (6-1)

The Warriors weren’t about to let one loss become two and dismantled a Kearney squad that had been on the rise recently. Losing is never the desired outcome, but perhaps the long trip out to North Platte and the disappointment the team dealt with on the long ride back will serve as a motivator and focus point the rest of the season. It sure looked that way against Kearney.

Last Week: Won 42-14 vs. Kearney. This Week vs. No. 12 Millard South (4-3) - Thursday

4. Omaha North (6-1)

Five easy wins have led up to a final two weeks in which the Vikings will have their first legitimate chance at proving themselves since the Week 1 loss to Bellevue West. The defense has shut out three straight opponents and allowed just 36 points overall during the six-game win streak. Ideally, North needs at least one of the last two for favorable playoff positioning and likely both in order to secure a top-four seed.

Last Week: Won 42-0 vs. Fremont. This Week vs. No. 8 Grand Island (5-2)

5. Bennington (7-0)

The next two opponents, based on record and overall performance through seven weeks, should provide some resistance. But overall it’s looking like Class B is a four-team race, and the Badgers have a significant leg up on the other three and the rest of the state. The defense put together its third shutout last week, has 28 TFLs, 10 sacks and has forced nine turnovers. As much as the offense gets attention, and that unit is very, very special, it’s the defense that could be key once November rolls around.

Last Week: Won 70-0 vs. Omaha Westview. This Week at No. 24 Elkhorn North (5-2)

6. Bellevue West (5-3)

The T-Birds are in the mix for a playoff home game thanks to a strong schedule but can’t afford a slip up against Papio South. The good news is Bellevue West gets an extra week to prepare thanks to starting in Week 0.

Last Week: Won 49-0 vs. Bellevue East. This Week Idle

7. Creighton Prep (4-3)

Prep will be rested and ready for a final push to win a second straight district title due to a bye last week. Although the Junior Jays and the T-Birds, listed just above them in the ratings, have followed similar paths, Prep is lacking quality wins and may have to settle for a double digit seed as a result. Regardless, the Junior Jays are not a team any of the top six or seven seeds will want to see in the first round.

Last Week: Idle. This Week at Papillion-La Vista (4-3)

8. Grand Island (5-2)

The high of beating rival Kearney on its home field quickly melted away in a blowout home loss to No. 2 Elkhorn South. Now awaiting Grand Island is another top-five team, Omaha North. If the Islanders have any advantages those might be a more difficult recent schedule and a sense of desperation. GI currently has a top-four seed in the points standings but must play with that level of desperation to keep it.

Last Week: Lost 42-3 vs. Elkhorn South. This Week at No. 4 Omaha North (6-1)

9. Kearney (5-2)

The Bearcats have been able to endure back-to-back losses and not suffer too much in terms of playoff positioning. Wins over Bellevue west and North Platte reveal Kearney’s quality when it's at its best. The Bearcats would likely argue that hasn’t been the case the past two weeks. The next two provide an opportunity to get back on track.

Last Week: Lost 42-14 at No. 3 Westside. This Week vs. Lincoln Northeast (0-7)

10. North Platte (4-3)

There was no hangover after taking down the previous No. 1. Granted, North Platte was facing an 0-6 team, but the Bulldogs were crisp nonetheless. After what might have been some necessary growing pains early, North Platte has found some consistency with its power run game that makes it a handful for any opponent.

Last Week: Won 56-7 at Lincoln Northeast. This Week vs. Norfolk (5-2)

11. Aurora (7-0)

The formula is pretty simple – hand it off to Carlos Collazo. The senior has recorded nearly 150 rushing attempts and is nearing 2,000 yards on the season. Opposing teams know what’s coming, and it still doesn’t matter. The defense doesn’t have any stat that jumps off the page, but the Huskies also haven’t yet allowed more than 14 points. It’s a defense that feeds off a physical, sometimes ball control, sometimes big play, offense that has made Aurora effective. If any team can get stops, use tempo to maximize plays and win the time of possession battle, maybe there’s a chance. At this point that looks like a pipe dream.

Last Week: Won 41-7 vs. Adams Central. This Week vs. Fairbury (3-4)

12. Millard South (4-3)

Whatever momentum the Patriots have built in the past three weeks will be put to the test in Week 7. The return of starting quarterback Cam Kozeal has provided a spark. But what gave the Warriors their lone loss was a possession-based North Platte offense that was content to hand it off over and over. Millard South averages a respectable 157 rush yards per game but will likely need to go over 200 and have Kozeal make special plays through the air and on the ground to upset Westside.

Last Week: Won 49-7 vs. Columbus. This Week at No. 3 Westside (6-1) - Thursday

13. Millard West (4-3)

Like their rival listed just above them in the rankings, the Wildcats are in the midst of a turnaround following a tough start. Just how legitimate the turnaround is will be tested by Southwest. The district comes down to these two this Friday in a matchup that could also earn the winner the title of “contender” for the postseason while the loser might be relegated to “pretender” status.

Last Week: Won 17-16 vs. No. 17 Southeast. This Week at No. 15 Southwest (6-1) - Thursday

14. Papillion-La Vista South (5-2)

The Titans are beginning to take on the feel of a group that’s pretty good but just not quite ready to enter the upper echelon. The win over North Platte looks great, but that was in Week 1, and the past two against No. 1 and No. 2 have been lost by a combined score of 82-34. Papio South finishes with a chance to get back on track against Bellevue East before facing a fourth top-10 opponent – Bellevue West in Week 9.

Last Week: Lost 41-27 vs. No. 2 Gretna. This Week at No. 6 Bellevue West (4-3) - Thursday

15. Lincoln Southwest (6-1)

The Silver Hawks moved down two spots, not because of anything they did wrong but because Millard South and Millard West are playing better. Perhaps there’s some metro bias in these latest rankings, but Southwest has the chance to show it's different with a game against Millard West that will decide the district champion.

Last Week: Won 49-7 at South Sioux City. This Week vs. No. 13 Millard West (4-3) - Thursday

16. Lincoln East (4-3)

The Spartans have no room for error with Gretna waiting next week. Star receiver Malachi Coleman missed his second game of the season a week ago. His status for Friday is unknown. Quarterback Jeter Worthley is having a great year but might be overlooked if Lincoln East doesn’t finish the right way and get itself in the playoffs.

Last Week: Won 28-7 vs. No. 24 Lincoln High. This Week vs. North Star (3-4)

17. Scottsbluff (6-1)

The Bearcats probably feel like they’ve been playing on the road all season. Road trips to Lincoln, York and Waverly add up to nearly 30 hours on the bus. But Scottsbluff came through all of those with a win. Greeting them the final two weeks are two more trips, but both are much closer to the Bearcats' home region. Third in the points standings, Scottsbluff needs both to maintain that spot and guarantee at least two home playoff games.

Last Week: Won 35-0 vs. Hastings. This Week at Gering (2-5)

18. Pierce (7-0)

The Bluejays have been head and shoulders above everyone in Class C-1, with the exception of Aurora, and that matchup looks like it won’t be possible until the state title game. This week offers perhaps the most intriguing Pierce opponent until a potential showdown with Aurora. The Cardinals surprised the Bluejays last year in a Week 5 matchup that handed Pierce its first loss of the season. Pierce has the payback motivation but Boone Central should be confident it can hang with one of the best.

Last Week: Won 56-35 at Central City. This Week vs. Boone Central (6-1)

19. Omaha Gross (7-0)

Gross is in a similar scenario as Pierce – mostly unchallenged throughout the season and awaiting a real threat. That won’t happen this week against winless Buena Vista. Jake Garcia is averaging 13 yards per carry for an offense that puts up close to 200 yards per game. Under center, quarterback Colby Duncan has been efficient enough to make defenses think twice about loading the box against Garcia. Defensively, the Cougars don’t have any particularly impressive stat in turnovers or sacks, but have allowed just 66 points in seven games.

Last Week: Won 42-14 at Norris. This Week at Omaha Buena Vista (0-7)

20. Elkhorn (5-2)

The Antlers blew a 21-point lead but responded with the next 10 in a row and held off Blair for a second straight win last week. Though frustrating, it was a great chance for Elkhorn to see itself respond to adversity after failing in that regard against Gross and Bennington. A couple of losses might have the Antlers flying under the Class B radar but they’re still very much in the mix.

Last Week: Won 31-21 at Blair. This Week vs. Mount Michael (3-4) - Thursday

21. Lincoln Southeast (3-4)

The Knights will be favored in the final two games and they had better come through or Southeast will be spending the postseason at home for the first time in five years. At 3-4, all the losses are quality losses to teams rated 16th or higher in this latest list, but only one win has come against a team above. 500. That will severely limit the Knights’ chances for a favorable seed, but at this point getting in is the first priority.

Last Week: Lost 17 to 16 at No. 15 Millard West. This Week vs. Omaha Bryan (3-4)

22. Millard North (3-4)

The Mustangs are in almost the same exact situation as the Knights but face a much more difficult slate to close the season because of 6-1 Southwest in Week 9. It seems like just weeks ago that Millard North led Westside at halftime and was en route to delivering the first shocker of the season. Since then there’s been two losses and a win over Bryan.

Last Week: Won 50-17 at Bryan. This Week vs. South Sioux City (2-5) - Thursday

23. Waverly (5-2)

The Vikings are set up to make some postseason noise if they can finish off Seward. They’ll then get a week off because of a forfeit against Lincoln Northwest before preparing forth a home playoff game. At that point, Waverly should go on the playoff bracket as a top-five seed with a potential rematch against Elkhorn in the quarterfinals. Were it not for a late drive by Elkhorn and an overtime loss to Scottsbluff, Waverly would feel like more of a contender. But don’t overlook the Vikings.

Last Week: Won 38-8 at Lincoln Pius X. This Week vs. Seward (5-2)

24. Elkhorn North (5-2)

The Wolves might have a playoff spot locked up but winning one of the final two games looks like a necessity if they want to have a path away from the top of Class B. Elkhorn North’s best chance is in Week 9 against Blair. Prior to last week, the Wolves had beaten four teams with a combined three wins. The victory over Mount Michael lends some support to Elkhorn North’s quality, but the Wolves still look a few years away from competing with the best of Class B. Before that the program has to take the kind of steps is in the midst of this year.

Last Week: Won 27-24 at Mount Michael. This Week vs. No. 5 Bennington

25. Omaha Skutt (5-2) 

The Skyhawks return to the ratings after a few weeks away behind a three-game win streak that included a forfeit but also just 17 total points allowed in wins over Pius and Ralston. The offense has lacked the kind of consistency that’s been a theme of recent Skutt teams. That could be a problem against Plattsmouth and would definitely be a problem against Gross.

Last Week: Won 42-9 vs. Ralston. This Week at Plattsmouth (3-4)