State Football Playoffs Continue Today – Area Preview

The Nebraska high school state football playoffs continue today across the state of Nebraska with the quarterfinal round in all classes.  The Ansley/Litchfield Spartans will play in the quarterfinals of Class D2.  Ansley/Litchfield opened their playoff run with an impressive 74-8 win over Pleasanton in round one and then came back from 14 down to Mullen in the fourth quarter in the second round to come back and win 50-42 in overtime.  A/L head coach Kurt Kulhanek visited with KCNI/KBBN sports this week and talked about some of the keys to the Spartans’ playoff run.

 

Ansley/Litchfield will host the defending Class D2 state champion BDS (Bruning Davenport Shickley) today.  BDS is now 7-3 this season with playoff wins against Fullerton and Pender in the opening two rounds.  Today’s game will be broadcast on KCNI 1280 AM / 96.3 FM and kcni1280.com.  Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 in Ansley.

 

Sandhills/Thedford will continue its playoff run today when they host Osceola in the Class D2 quarterfinals.  The Knights enter tonight’s game at 10-0.  Sandhills/Thedford has been impressive in the opening two rounds winning over Lawrence-Nelson in round one 60-20 followed by a 62-6 win over Mead in round two.  The Knights will face an Osceola team that has not lost since falling to Riverside in their season opener.  One of the rallying cries for the Knights the last couple of years has been pound the ball.  Head coach Josh Deines says that will be the key again in tonight’s matchup.

 

Central Nebraska’s Sports Source will present a live video stream of today’s Sandhills/Thedford vs Osceola game which can be accessed by going to www.sandhillsexpress.com/live    Today’s kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 in Thedford.

 

One of the top matchups in the Class D1 quarterfinals will take place in Burwell tonight when the undefeated Longhorns face 9-1 Anselmo-Merna.  Burwell is ranked #1 and AM #5 in the current Omaha World Herald top ten rankings.  The two met earlier this season with Burwell overcoming an early 20 point deficit to come back and win 34-28.  Anselmo-Merna head coach Matt McGinn told KCNI/KBBN sports that it hasn’t always been easy this season but it has certainly been an enjoyable journey so far.

 

Tonight’s battle of D1 powers will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM and kbbn.com.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Burwell.

 

INTERVIEW WITH ANSLEY/LITCHFIELD HEAD COACH KURT KULHANEK

 

INTERVIEW WITH ANSELMO-MERNA HEAD COACH MATT MCGINN

 

INTERVIEW WITH SANDHILLS/THEDFORD COACH JOSH DEINES

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