Nebraska High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams - Oct. 17

The Nebraska On3 Massey Ratings top 25 list as of Oct. 17 reflects the teams that will likely compete in the 2024 Nebraska high school football playoffs. Therefore, being on the rankings boosts their player’s confidence as they gear up for the regular season’s home stretch. Here’s where the state’s best teams are after the games during the second weekend of October.

The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

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1. Westside

The Warriors have been a powerhouse throughout the season. The smallest victory margin in their seven wins was 15 points, and they’ve limited opponents to single-digit scores thrice. Those instances include their latest victory, a 45-3 thrashing of Elkhorn South.

Tay Tay Jenkins singlehandedly defeated the Storm, tallying 127 receiving yards, 132 rushing yards, and three touchdowns. Beating a fellow top-ten team in such a dominant fashion makes them worthy of the top spot. Westside can solidify their claim of the summit by defeating Creighton Prep.

2. Bennington

It’s easy to see why the Badgers have the second-best defense in Nebraska high school football. Save for the 35 points they’ve given to Gretna, Bennington has limited opponents to seven points or less in their other six victories. Their last opponent, the Elkhorn Antlers, generated one touchdown all game.

Conversely, Cooper Johnson had 102 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Badgers, while Will Gutz contributed 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns. While Bennington cruised to a 7-0 record, their schedule gets more challenging as they visit Skutt Catholic and host Elkhorn North in their next two games.

3. Millard South

The Patriots are on a six-game winning streak after defeating Lincoln High. Millard South scored 63 points by halftime, leading the Links to forfeit the game. Jett Thomalla completed a touchdown pass to three receivers, while Aamir Hill added a rushing touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Millard South’s defense finished with 13.5 tackles for losses and three sacks. The Patriots can continue their winning run against North Platte on the 18^th.

4. Wahoo

Sadly, the Warriors’ streak of shutout victories has ended. However, they remained dominant in their last match against Logan View 63-6. Kip Brigham became a nightmare for Logan View as he tallied 183 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Wahoo can improve to 8-0 for the season by defeating Fort Calhoun on the road.

5. Norfolk Catholic

The Knights offense is humming, averaging 45.42 points per game. That number makes them the fifth-best offense in Nebraska high school football. In their 48-21 victory over Oakland-Craig, Norfolk Catholic created more separation by scoring 21 third-quarter points. The Knights will close the season by hosting Battle Creek this week and visiting Cedar Catholic on the 25th

6. Elkhorn South

The Storm remains in the top ten because of the six-game winning streak before their humiliating loss to top-ranked Westside. During that stretch, Elkhorn South had three shutdown victories and scored 139 points in their last two wins. While they will visit Norfolk Senior for their next match, Massey Ratings give the Storm a 98-percent winning chance against the Panthers.

7. Seward

The Bluejays extended their winning streak to seven games after a 20-13 win over Blair. After the Bears scored 13 first-quarter points, the Seward defense shut them down in the final three quarters. Tresten Haas had two rushing touchdowns, while Peyton Else added another one to give Seward the lead.  An 8-0 record is up for grabs for the Bluejays as they host York on the 18^th.

8. Skutt Catholic

Elkhorn North halted the Skyhawks’ six-game winning streak in a match wherein Skutt Catholic failed to score points in the decisive fourth quarter. Despite that loss, the Skyhawks are among the top ten in offense and defense. In addition to giving up 86 points in seven games, they’ve averaged 38.85 points per contest. Skutt Catholic can bounce back from that defeat against Bennington and Blair in their following two assignments.

9. Elkhorn North

After their three-point loss to the Elkhorn Antlers, Elkhorn North bounced back by defeating Skutt Catholic. Ethan Beachy completed two touchdown passes, while Jeff Tingelhoff had 36 carries for 194 rushing yards. At 6-1, Elkhorn North will finish the 2024 Nebraska high school football regular season with road games against Gretna East and Bennington.

10. Ashland-Greenwood

While the Bluejays have had some close calls lately, they still find ways to win. After their two-point win over Boys Town, Ashland-Greenwood pulled off a 29-26 thriller against Roncalli Catholic, in which the home team survived despite the Crimson Pride scoring 12 fourth-quarter points. Cael Smith was the undeniable star for the Bluejays, finishing with 34 carries for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Ashland-Greenwood will visit Brownell Talbot and host Gross Catholic for their upcoming matches.

Teams 11-25 in the latest Nebraska High School Football Rankings

11. Waverly
12. Sidney
13. Kearney
14. Scottsbluff
15. Battle Creek
16. Lakeview
17. Bishop Neumann
18. Boone Central
19. Cedar Catholic
20. Elkhorn
21. Norris
22. Central City
23. Gretna
24. Stanton
25. Boys Town