The first round of the Class D1 and D2 state football playoffs begin today across the state of Nebraska. Unlike the past few years, the D1 and D2 playoff brackets are set up as a 32 team statewide bracket with the higher seeded team hosting in each round.
Anselmo-Merna is the #5 seed in the D2 bracket. The Coyotes completed a 7-1 regular season and will host Lyons-Decatur Northeast (4-4) in the opening round today. The game will be broadcast on KCNI 1280 AM / 96.3 FM / kcni1280.com with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m.
Sandhills/Thedford is the #12 seed in the D2 bracket. The Knights are 6-2 but went through district play undefeated to claim the D2-9 district championship. S/T will host Winside (5-3) today in Dunning. The game will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM and kbbn.com with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. A live video stream of the game, accompanied by the radio call, will be available on the Sandhills Express Facebook Page and Sandhills Express You Tube Channel. The winners of the Anselmo-Merna vs LDN and Sandhills/Thedford vs Winside games will face one another in the next round.
Twin Loup is the #19 seed in the D2 bracket. The Wolves are 5-3 and will be on the road to face Neligh-Oakdale (6-2) in today’s opening round. The game will be broadcast on KBBN 95.3 FM and kbbn.com with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Mullen Broncos are the #11 seed in the D2 bracket. The Broncos finished the regular season at 7-1 and will host 5-3 Maxwell today. This will be the second meeting of the season between the two. They met during the regular season with Mullen winning 34-32. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 6 pm mountain time.
Burwell is the #20 seed in the D2 bracket. The Longhorns are 4-4 and will be on the road to face Bruning Davenport Shickley at 4 p.m. in Bruning.
The Arcadia/Loup City Rebels qualified for the Class D1 state playoffs. After finishing 2-6 last season, ALC suffered just one regular season loss this year and enter the playoffs at 7-1. The Rebels are the #18 seed in the D1 bracket and will play on the road against 6-2 McCool Junction.
