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CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

NEMAHA CENTRAL (12-0) VS. SOUTHEAST OF SALINE (12-0)

12 p.m. Saturday at Gowans Stadium, Hutchinson
Nemaha Central
NEMAHA CENTRAL SURVIVES 2A PLAYOFF GAUNTLET TO MAKE FOURTH STRAIGHT TITLE GAME

Going into the season, Michael Glatczak had a list in mind of the top teams that could threaten his Nemaha Central team’s run at a fourth straight appearance in the Class 2A state championship game.

“When the season started, we knew it was going to be us, Osage (City), we knew (Council) Grove was going to be in the mix and Sabetha was going to be a darkhorse team maybe flying a bit under the radar,” Glatczak said.

Little did he know that short list of 2A East contenders would be the exact path his Thunder team would have to navigate to keep its championship game streak going with all three of the teams he listed falling on Nemaha Central’s side of the bracket.

The road back to Hutchinson certainly didn’t look easy when the playoffs began and it wasn’t easy as the rounds progressed. But each week, the Thunder found a way to survive games that seemingly got tougher and tougher the deeper they went.

“We knew when the bracket came out, it was going to be extremely tough,” Glatczak said. “And it couldn’t have been any tougher.”

After turning back that trio of challengers, Nemaha Central (12-0) is back in a customary position, returning to Hutchinson for Saturday’s noon Class 2A championship game at Gowans Stadium. Awaiting the Thunder is a familiar foe with this year’s title game a rematch of last year’s epic championship clash with Southeast of Saline (12-0).

The Trojans ended Nemaha Central’s two-year reign in Class 2A with a come-from-behind 36-28 win over the Thunder, getting the game-winning touchdown with just 11 seconds left in the game.

The sting of that loss still lingers for the Thunder, who had stormed back from a 20-7 halftime deficit to take a 28-20 lead with just under two minutes left before Southeast stunned them with two touchdowns in the final minute.

“We had our meeting (Sunday) and Carter (Hajek) was in there lifting and stretching and he brought that up, that it’s still hard to watch (the film). And it is,” Glatczak said. “I struggled watching it last year charting the stats and again when I turned it back on this fall. It’s just tough to watch because our kids played very hard when they could have easily folded and then just couldn’t finish it off.”

Nemaha Central is virtually the same team that took the field in that title game a year ago, losing only three seniors that finished the season to graduation. But while the losses were small in numbers, they were big in impact.

Namely, the Thunder lost the heart and soul of their defense in leading tackler Abram Keim, who also was the leading tackler on the 2023 state championship team. With a huge void there, the Thunder went into the season with some questions about how the defense would come together.

The questions got even bigger when top lineman Daniel Childress was lost for the season when he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his brain.

“You hit it on the head with leadership,” Glatczak said of Keim. “It’s awesome to have a linebacker that not only does his job but knows what everybody else is doing. We were blessed to have that with Keim. And then the shoes of Danny that we had to fill because he was our best lineman.

“So it’s the next man up and this year, it’s kind of been defense by committee. Kanin (Sudbeck) has done a great job and then it’s guys like Jack Macke, a three-year starter on the edge helping those younger guys out. But the defensive backfield has been our motor this year with interceptions and getting everybody lined up. We can line those guys up and then hone in on the other seven or eight guys.”

Nemaha’s defense hasn’t been nearly as lights out as say the 2023 title team, which posted eight straight shutouts and allowed just six points going into the state quarterfinals. But when it’s had to come up big, the unit has delivered.

In a rematch with Sabetha in the quarterfinals after having eked out a 20-18 regular-season win over the Bluejays, the Thunder defense blocked a key PAT attempt that kept Sabetha from taking a seven-point lead in the third quarter. After a TD run by Hajek and PAT put Nemaha Central up 21-20, the defense held the rest of the way with Caleb Strathman clinching the win with a late interception.

In last week’s 22-19 semifinal win over Osage City, the Thunder saw the Indians twice drive deep into their territory in the fourth quarter for potential go-ahead scoring drives. But Strathman came up with an interception in the end zone to stymie the first of those trips and the Thunder forced and recovered a fumble on a trick play inside the Thunder 5 on the second, preserving the victory.

“They’ve kind of carried us the last two games,” Glatczak said. “We’ve started fast defensively and then hit a little lull and then all of a sudden we wake up and the last two drives or the last drive, we get a stop. It was really cool to see our defense win us those games.”

The defense will face its ultimate test on Saturday. Like the Thunder, Southeast returned the bulk of its key performers off last year’s championship team with the most notable loss All-2A receiver Tucker Thaxton.

And while returning quarterback Gannon Jacobson was lost for the season in Week 6, the Trojans haven’t missed a beat in extending its winning streak to 25 straight victories, tied with Andale for the longest current streak in the state.

Tiernan Ptacek has stepped right in at quarterback and directed an offense that’s averaging 455.3 yards and 52.9 points per game. But there’s little question what makes Southeast’s offense go.

Senior back Grady Gebhardt has had a monster season for the Trojans, rushing for 1,941 yards and 33 TDs while adding another 585 yards and 10 TDs receiving.

“It’s all eyes on him, and he’s a dude,” Glatczak said. “When he gets going, it’s tough to stop. And then they’ve got (lineman Brady) Chambers out front, who kicked our tail last year. Across the board, they’ve got a bunch of dudes that like playing football, which was a lot like Osage City and a lot like us.”

While Gebhardt is Southeast’s driving force, there’s also little doubt as to who Nemaha’s meal ticket is. Since taking over as starting quarterback his sophomore year, no player in the state has been as productive as Hajek.

With 2,406 yards rushing this season, Hajek has now topped the 2,000-yard mark for three straight seasons with his 7,678 career yards ranking him fourth all-time in state history, just 49 yards from moving to No. 2 all-time. His 39 rushing TDs are one shy of a third straight season with 40 or more and his 127 career rushing touchdowns rank second in state history, just four behind all-time leader DeAngelo Evans of Wichita Collegiate.

Throw in 809 yards and 12 TDs passing this year and Hajek has accounted for more than 10,500 yards and 164 touchdowns in his career.

For both sides, there’s no secret who the guy is. But it’s still been impossible for anyone to slow them down.

“Obviously people scheme around Carter for us and we’re going to scheme around Gebhardt on Saturday,” Glatczak said. “It’s going to be those X-factor kids and who’s going step up and make a big play. Who’s going to go that extra step to make that saving tackle, touchdown or play on special teams that could decide this game.”

It was a bit of an X-factor play that decided last year’s title contest. After Nemaha Central had come back from down 20-7 at halftime to score three straight touchdowns to lead 28-20, the Trojans knotted the game with just under a minute to go.

On the ensuing kickoff, Southeast pooch kicked it and when the ball spun away from a Thunder up man, the Trojans recovered at the Nemaha 31 to set up the game-winning drive.

That ending served as plenty of fuel for this season and now the Thunder will look to continue what’s been an unrivaled four-year run for the program that already has two state titles and a runner-up finish on the ledger.

“This senior class has been outstanding,” Glatczak said. “Obviously the classes before them set the foundation, but what’s cool for this class is you have four playoff runs all the way to Thanksgiving weekend, that’s an extra season of football. Those extra practice reps, the playoff atmosphere and everything that’s involved with that has been huge. I keep telling the young kids that this is not normal and we’ve been truly blessed here the last four years.

“Hopefully we can get the job done one more time here.”

NEMAHA CENTRAL THUNDER (12-0)

COACH: Michael Glatczak (5th year, 56-5)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: 3 state titles – 2023 (2A), 2022 (2A), 2019 (2A); 1 runner-up finish – 2024 (2A)

2025 RESULTS

W,48-0 at Marysville
W,42-7 Silver Lake
W,56-28 at Rossville
W,28-14 Chanute
W,55-6 at Oskaloosa
W,20-18 Sabetha
W,48-27 at Royal Valley
W,61-0 Atchison County
W,80-0 West Franklin (P)
W,34-12 Council Grove (P)
W,21-20 Sabetha (P)
W,22-19 Osage City (P)

2025 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 515 (42.9 per game)

Points allowed: 151 (12.6 per game)

Total offense: 4,353 yards (362.8 per game)

Rushing: 3,462 yards (288.5 per game), 54 TDs

Passing: 891 yards (74.3 per game), 14 TDs, 4 INTs

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Carter Hajek (sr.) 293 carries, 2,406 yards, 39 TDs; Jayden Seitz (sr.) 69 carries, 499 yards, 7 TDs; Sullivan Haverkamp (so.) 31 carries, 231 yards, 2 TDs; Caleb Strathman (sr.) 16 carries, 133 yards, 2 TDs; Dason Hill (so.) 13 carries, 106 yards, 2 TDs; Cole Ranieri (so.) 14 carries, 73 yards, 2 TDs.

Passing: Carter Hajek (sr.) 52 of 86, 809 yards, 12 TDs, 4 INTs.

Receiving: Caleb Strathman (sr.) 31 catches, 520 yards, 7 TDs; Jack Macke (sr.) 7 catches, 115 yards; Kamden Schmitz (sr.) 6 catches, 60 yards, 2 TDs; Layton Thomas (sr.) 3 catches, 56 yards, 2 TDs.

Tackles: Kanin Sudbeck (sr.) 106 tackles (43 solo), 5 tackles for loss; Sullivan Haverkamp (so.) 81 tackles (43 solo), 6 tackles for loss; Jack Macke (sr.) 70 tackles (28 solo), 9 tackles for loss; Kamden Schmitz (sr.) 64 tackles (34 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Brady Koch (jr.) 63 tackles (36 solo), 9 tackles for loss; Kyler Ganstrom (jr.) 62 tackles (40 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 5 sacks; Caleb Strathman (sr.) 59 tackles (40 solo); Hendryx Wahl (sr.) 50 tackles (22 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Jayden Seitz (sr.) 37 tackles (21 solo); Conner Lueger (jr.) 33 tackles (11 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Caleb Hynek (jr.) 31 tackles (21 solo); Jackson Haverkamp (jr.) 30 tackles (16 solo), 3 tackles for loss; Logan Deters (sr.) 24 tackles (11 solo); Drew Desomiers (sr.) 20 tackles (11 solo), 5 tackles for loss; Deryk Rosenberger (jr.) 18 tackles (11 solo), 5 tackles for loss; Lavin Stallbaumer (jr.) 3 tackles for loss.

Takeaways: Caleb Strathman (sr.) 5 INTs, 1 fumble recovery; Jayden Seitz (sr.) 5 INTs; Kendal Bergman (fr.) 3 INTs; Kamden Schmitz (sr.) 2 INTs; Carter Stallbaumer (so.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery; Drew Desomiers (sr.) 2 fumble recoveries; Jack Macke (sr.) 2 fumble recoveries; Brady Koch (jr.) 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery.

Kicking: Levi Thomas (jr.) 51 of 56 PATs.
Southeast of Saline
REIGNING CHAMP SOUTHEAST OF SALINE KEEPS ROLLING, TAKES 25-GAME WIN STREAK INTO TITLE GAME

After facing little resistance from overmatched opponents throughout the season, Southeast of Saline’s method of victory required a different formula in last Friday’s semifinal against Hoisington.

The explosive Trojans were largely held in check offensively by the Cardinals, but Southeast used two huge plays on special teams and a pair of stops inside the 5-yard line to notch a 22-12 win in the battle of unbeatens at Gypsum. The reigning champs extended their winning streak to 25 games.

“I'm proud of our guys for being resilient and just keep banging away and doing what they need to do to win the game,” Southeast of Saline coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “That's what playoff football's about. It's not how big a distance it is. It's just getting one more point than somebody else.”

The stage is set for a rematch of last year’s instant classic title game that saw the Trojans deny Nemaha Central’s bid for a three-peat with a dramatic 36-28 win to claim Southeast’s second championship in program history. Both teams take 12-0 records into Saturday’s noon Class 2A championship game at Gowans Stadium.

Southeast of Saline entered the semifinal having outscored opponents 613-101. The Trojans’ previous closest game was a 32-point victory over Russell in the second round of the playoffs.

After Hoisington scored a touchdown inside the final minute of the first half to bring the Cardinals within two, Southeast of Saline’s Kanyon Douglas answered with arguably the biggest play of the night.

On the ensuing kickoff, Douglas mishandled the ball and had to retrieve it at the 1-yard line. Douglas calmly scooped it up and immediately found a seam, racing for a 99-yard touchdown.

“I missed the ball, which was not good on my end, but I wanted to gain those yards back, so I picked it up and tried my best to get the yards. I saw that gap, so I tried to keep my feet,” Douglas said. “And once I got my feet, I saw open space and I just ran for the end zone.

“I knew my guys would have the blocks. It really helped hype us up for the next half and got us ready to go.”

The Trojans tacked on the two-point conversion to take a 10-point halftime lead before the defenses dominated in a scoreless second half.

Southeast’s first touchdown was also set up by a key play on special teams. Up 6-0, Hoisington’s defense came up with a defensive stop but a punt bounced off a Cardinal and the Trojans recovered. Trojans’ star running back Grady Gebhardt took advantage with a 17-yard touchdown run.

The Trojans notched a fourth-and-goal stop early in the fourth quarter then ate up most of the clock on their next drive to seal it.

“We played great team football,” Mitch Gebhardt said. “(Hoisington’s) backs run hard, they have great receivers. We rallied to the football well. They gained some yards on us but we kept them from getting in the end zone in the second half. Just good team defense.

“They're very physical, so we had to really get after it and they just got those small gains from those runs,” Douglas said. “We just battled with them the whole time and we never stopped.”

Grady Gebhardt has delivered a phenomenal senior season with 1,941 rushing yards and 33 TDs while adding 585 yards and 10 TDs receiving. The Trojans also have one of the state’s best linemen in Brody Chambers.

While the results haven’t shown it, the Trojans did face some midseason adversity. Quarterback Gannon Jacobson suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6.

Tiernan Ptacek has filled in admirably, throwing for 1,064 yards and 12 TDs. Ptacek hit Malachi Hopkins for a 56-yard touchdown pass in the semifinal.

“We didn't flinch at all,” Grady Gebhardt said. “Tiernan’s done a great job. In practice everybody gets the same reps and everybody gets it with the first team. He just stepped right in.”

The Trojans will look to find an answer for Nemaha Central star quarterback Carter Hajek, who has run for a staggering 2,406 yards and 39 touchdowns on the season.

“It'll be a great game again, for sure,” Grady Gebhardt said. “They got a lot of dudes back. Obviously stopping their quarterback run will be a big deal there.”

“Nemaha Central is Nemaha Central,” Mitch Gebhardt said. “This is their fourth year in a row playing in a state championship game. We know we've got a battle in front of us. Their coaching staff does a great job. They have a lot of very talented guys that are used to winning. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
SOUTHEAST OF SALINE TROJANS (12-0)

COACH: Mitch Gebhardt (16th year, 128-39)

STATE FINALS HISTORY: 2 state titles – 2024 (2A), 2005 (3A)

2025 RESULTS

W,60-21 at Minneapolis
W,46-7 Clay Center
W,50-0 at Beloit
W,58-6 Kingman
W,73-7 at Lyons
W,52-16 Hillsboro
W,55-14 at Halstead
W,53-12 Ellsworth
W,74-0 Southwestern Heights (P)
W,44-12 Russell (P)
W,48-6 Phillipsburg (P)
W,22-12 Hoisington (P)

2025 STATISTICS

TEAM

Points scored: 635 (52.9 per game)

Points allowed: 113 (9.4 per game)

Total offense: 5,463 yards (455.3 per game)

Rushing: 3,351 yards (279.3 per game), 53 TDs

Passing: 2,112 yards (176.0 per game), 27 TDs, 5 INTs

INDIVIDUAL

Rushing: Grady Gebhardt (sr.) 183 carries, 1,941 yards, 33 TDs; Amarion Holub (sr.) 32 carries, 330 yards, 2 TDs; Tiernan Ptacek (jr.) 53 carries, 319 yards, 7 TDs; Lavone Hopkins (jr.) 55 carries, 309 yards, 3 TDs; Gannon Jacobson (sr.) 26 carries, 288 yards, 5 TDs.

Passing: Tiernan Ptacek (jr.) 63 of 98, 1,064 yards, 12 TDs, 2 INTs; Gannon Jacobson (sr.) 58 of 89, 1,028 yards, 15 TDs, 3 INTs.

Receiving: Grady Gebhardt (sr.) 27 catches, 585 yards, 10 TDs; Malachi Hopkins (sr.) 19 catches, 308 yards, 3 TDs; Kaden Barragan (sr.) 20 catches, 296 yards, 2 TDs; Bryson Lippold (sr.) 11 catches, 233 yards, 7 TDs; Amarion Holub (sr.) 13 catches, 231 yards, 3 TDs; Kanyon Douglas (sr.) 11 catches, 213 yards, 3 TDs.

Tackles: Grady Gebhardt (sr.) 79 tackles (48 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 3 sacks; Brady Chambers (sr.) 73 tackles (43 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 4 sacks; Kanyon Douglas (sr.) 70 tackles (44 solo), 12 tackles for loss, 3 sacks; Killian Vaughan (sr.) 67 tackles (33 solo), 7 tackles for loss; Tristan Swank (so.) 65 tackles (32 solo), 11 tackles for loss; Drew Weller (sr.) 63 tackles (41 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 4 sacks; Amarion Holub (sr.) 58 tackles (38 solo); Josh Watkins (jr.) 57 tackles (30 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks; Bryson Lippold (sr.) 48 tackles (31 solo), 4 tackles for loss; Malachi Hopkins (sr.) 38 tackles (27 solo). Tiernan Ptacek (jr.) 34 tackles (21 solo); Kain Sawyers (so.) 28 tackles (10 solo); Kaden Barragan (sr.) 26 tackles (18 solo); Tysen Keller (so.) 25 tackles (14 solo), 2 tackles for loss; Tyler Bramblett (sr.) 24 tackles (15 solo); Jayden Kloster (jr.) 21 tackles (13 solo).

Takeaways: Malachi Hopkins (sr.) 4 INTs; Tiernan Ptacek (jr.) 3 INTs; Kaden Barragan (sr.) 2 INTs; Lyrik Lilly (jr.) 2 fumble recoveries.

Kicking: Adam Thiel (sr.) 5 of 6 PATs.

🏈 Class 2A state championship preview: Southeast of Saline vs. Nemaha Central