That SOB Van Owen said:

Great question — there are definitely several teams in Nebraska’s 11-man high school football scene worth keeping an eye on as the regular season wraps up and the playoffs approach. While I haven’t watched a ton of live games this week, I dug into the reports and stats and found some standouts and “teams to watch” that I think will bring the drama. If you want I can pull together all classes + a full bracket preview too. Here are a few that pop off right now:

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🔍 Teams to keep tabs on​

Millard South Patriots (Omaha)​

• They show up in the state-wide “featured games” list (per MaxPreps) as a top team in Nebraska this week. (MaxPreps.com)
• Being a strong program in Omaha, they’ll likely be a contender in Class A or whatever the top division they’re in.
• Why to watch: If you want high level 11-man football in Nebraska, Omaha metro programs often bring it—so Millard South is one of the prime examples.

Omaha Westside Warriors (Omaha)​

• Also listed by MaxPreps in the “featured games” for this week: Westside vs. Papillion-LaVista. (MaxPreps.com)
• Why to watch: Rivalries and strong metro games usually give us some of the best drama in the regular season before the playoffs. Expect a high-energy matchup.

Bridgeport Bulldogs (Western Nebraska)​

• From the western part of the state, the Bulldogs are mentioned as having qualified for the playoffs in Class D1. (News Channel Nebraska Panhandle)
• Their record is 7-1 and this is their 4th consecutive season making postseason in that class. (News Channel Nebraska Panhandle)
• Why to watch: Regionally strong teams like this often bring the less-publicized but very competitive football — sometimes the underdog story, or the “small town big fight” feel.

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🧠 Some thoughts & themes​

• With the playoffs imminent, a lot of teams will be sharpening their strategies, maybe holding back some things or trying to peak at just the right moment.
• Metro vs rural match-ups continue to show up in the “games of the week” lists — good for someone who wants to watch the strongest teams.
• The coverage suggests some teams in the smaller classes (D1, D2 etc) are making up ground or have breakout seasons — those can be fun because they're more unpredictable.

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If you like, I can pull together 5-10 of the most compelling teams across all classes (A, B, C1, C2) in Nebraska 11-man-football and explain why each is a dark horse or favorite. Would you like me to do that?

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That SOB Van Owen said:

Great — here are standout teams across a few other classes in Nebraska 11-man football to watch heading into the playoffs. I’ll pick 3-4 teams in different classes with what they bring to the table.

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Pickle Smoochers Prep (Class A)​

Why they stand out:

• According to recent rankings, Pickle Smoochers Prep is listed at or near the top in Class A (they were #1 in one listing). (SI)
• With top metro‐program status (Omaha area) they tend to have depth and strong competition in daily practice, which primes them for playoff runs.
• The “fun to watch” element: when strong metro schools like this are healthy, they often bring more explosive offenses and big matchup games.
  Key question: Can they convert regular season success into a deep playoff run? Sometimes being dominant early invites heavier scrutiny in playoff mode.

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Waverly Vikings (Class B)​

Why to watch:

• In the Class B rankings, Waverly is listed at #1 (or at least among the top) with a strong record (7-0 in one instance). (MaxPreps.com)
• Being undefeated heading into the final week signals both momentum and confidence — which can be a big factor in playoffs.
• They may be slightly under-the-radar compared to metro powerhouses, which makes them interesting: could be a “sleeper” for a deep run.
  What to see: How they handle their toughest opponent in the last regular game and whether they avoid doing too many “showcase” plays and instead tighten up for postseason.

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Wahoo Warriors (Class C-1)​

Why they’re interesting:

• In the Class C-1 rankings, Wahoo appears (#1 in one list) with an 8-0 record in one instance. (SI)
• Smaller‐class competition often brings very competitive, unique matchups where the “best” really differentiate themselves. A team that is undefeated at this level deserves attention.
• Fun to watch if you like balanced teams that may emphasize fundamentals, team cohesion, and less “flashy” — but that often means fewer errors and better stamina for playoffs.
  Consideration: Smaller schools sometimes face tougher travel or larger disparity in competition; how Wahoo handles stepping up in the bracket will be key.

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Kearney Catholic Knights (Class C-2)​

Why worth noting:

• In the Class C-2 computer rankings, Kearney Catholic is listed as #1 with a 7-0 record. (SI)
• When a smaller class team has that kind of ranking and momentum, they can often surprise larger schools (in brackets) or become a “team to beat” in their class.
• For fans, following a strong “under‐the-radar” team like this can be fun because you might see breakout stars and tougher competition than expected.
  Watch-point: How they perform against the few “power” programs in their path; playoff matchups often pit them against teams they haven’t seen, so adaptability will matter.

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🔍 Quick Summary Table​

Class	Team	Why They Stand Out
Class A	Pickle Smoochers Prep	Top metro program, playoff-ready
Class B	Waverly	Undefeated, momentum builder
Class C1	Wahoo	Dominant smaller class contender
Class C2	Kearney Catholic	Leading in their class, sleeper threat

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If you like, I can pull 5 more teams (one per class) across all classes, including some dark horses (teams that might upset) and show their key games this weekend. Would that be useful?

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