Playoff time is here. I stayed in Lincoln for the opening round of the playoffs to check out No. 2 seed Lincoln High take on the No. 10 seed Elkhorn South. The Links were seeking their first playoff victory since 1992. There was a lot of talent on display in the game including North Dakota QB commit Cedric Case, Nebraska wrestling commit Isaiah Alford and Jaden Horton on Lincoln High. On the Elkohrn South side, 2021 Nebraska OL target Teddy Porchazka, RB/DB Cooper Jewett and RB/DB Eli Hustad are all standouts.
The game was tight though Elkhorn South controlled most of the game. It got interesting late but Elkhorn South sprung the upset, winning 27-24 and will move on to face Bellevue West next Friday night.
Jewett played huge role
Elkhorn South’s Cooper Jewett had a great night. He starred on both offense and defense for the Storm. Jewett had multiple touchdowns in the game and was one of two Elkhorn South players to pick off Cedric Case.
Cooper Jewett with the TD run for @ESStormFootball. PAT good for a 7-0 lead w 7:30 in 1Q. #NebPreps pic.twitter.com/PLevCM3hjH
— Greg Smith (@GregSmithHV) October 27, 2018
Isaiah Alford did it all
The state-champion wrestler and Nebraska wrestling commit had a monster night for the Links. He ran tough all night against a Storm defense that was ready for the challenge. He played well on defense as well and was in on several tackles. I thought he completely changed the momentum of the game with a fumble return for TD but the Links came up short.
Eli Hustad is a name to know if 2019
One player I will definitely be looking out for next season is RB/DB Eli Hustad at Elkhorn South. Hustad had a 56-yard TD catch to go along with a 68-yard TD run in the game. His ability to play wideout and run the ball out of the backfield was on full display Friday night. He will be a fun player to watch for another season.
Teddy Prochazka has a bright future
Prochazka is listed at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds and it looks like his frame can hold another 50 pounds. He will be very interesting to watch over his high school career since he’s just a sophomore and only starting to see his potential. One thing that stands out about watching him is that he is a very athletic lineman. He pulls a lot from his tackle spot and does a nice job getting to the second level. The Huskers were smart to make the offer to him last weekend.
Storm disrupted Cedric Case
Case didn’t have quite the night that he did when I saw him a month ago against North Platte when he just carved up their defense. Elkhorn South was able to disrupt Case throughout the night, not letting him get comfortable in the pocket. Case made some wow throws like the one to CJ Jones in the first quarter for a TD but also had a couple of interceptions. We’ll all definitely be following along with his career in college.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
