The Class D1 and D2 state football playoffs begin on Thursday across Nebraska. Central Nebraska’s Sports Source will present live radio coverage of three opening round games.
The Sandhills/Thedford Knights are the #2 seed in the Class D2 west bracket and will host Axtell in Dunning on Thursday. The Knights secured their second undefeated regular season and the D2-9 district championship by knocking off previously unbeaten Pleasanton last week. S/T was undefeated going into the playoffs last season but fell to Mullen in the opening round. Head coach Josh Deines told KCNI/KBBN sports that being bounced in the first round last year has served as a motivating factor going back to the end of last season.
Sandhills/Thedford vs Axtell will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM and kbbn.com with kickoff scheduled for 5 pm.
Ansley/Litchfield is back in the playoffs. The Spartans are the #10 seed in the Class D2 west bracket and will play at Riverside on Thursday. After winning just one game a year ago, the Spartans finished 5-3 this season. Coach Kurt Kulhanek said that even though they had just one win last year they still accomplished things that helped set the table for this season.
Ansley/Litchfield vs Riverside will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM and kbbn.com with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm.
The Anselmo-Merna Coyotes qualified for the playoffs with a 4-4 record. AM navigated their way through a difficult schedule to receive a playoff build. Head coach Matt McGinn told KCNI/KBBN sports that the season was kind of a grind but there was relief and rejuvenated excitement Saturday when they found out they had made the playoffs
AM will get another strong opponent in the opening round of the playoffs when they travel to face undefeated Dundy County Stratton. The game will be broadcast on KCNI 1280 AM / 96.3 FM and kcni1280.com. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 pm.
The Arcadia/Loup City Rebels played the early part of the season without some of their key pieces but are now getting healthy and have rebounded from an 0-2 start to win 5 of their last 6. ALC is the #9 seed in the Class D1 west bracket and will open the playoffs at Amherst whom they defeated earlier in the regular season 32-7.
The Mullen Broncos are on a 4 game winning streak and finished the regular season at 6-2. Mullen is the #11 seed in the Class D2 west bracket and will face Pleasanton on the road Thursday.
Burwell went through the season undefeated and is considered one of the favorites to get back to the state championship game. The Longhorns are the top seed in the Class D1 west bracket and will host North Central in the first round.
INTERVIEW WITH S/T COACH JOSH DEINES
INTERVIEW WITH A/L COACH KURT KULHANEK
INTERVIEW WITH AM HEAD COACH MATT MCGINN
