The Nebraska high school football season came to an end on Friday. That’s when the state championship games were held around the state. Things were different this year with the games not being held at Memorial Stadium. Hail Varsity checked out the Class A matchup of Omaha Westside and Elkhorn South. The game featured a matchup of Husker commits Teddy Prochazka and Koby Bretz and plenty of other talented players, too.
Omaha Westside took the game 37-21 for its first state championship since 1982. The Warriors were sparked by a 23-7 run to close the game.
Here are my five thoughts on the game.
Teddy Prochazka’s Potential
Whenever you watch Elkhorn South play you expect to see offensive lineman Teddy Prochazka (6-9, 300) dominate. He didn’t disappoint during the state championship game. The future Husker had several pancake blocks during the game. He is an exceptional puller for his size. The scary thing for future Husker opponents is that he is still getting better. His ceiling is quite high for a player of his stature. With Nebraska offensive line coach Greg Austin and head strength coach Zach Duval molding him, there is no telling how good Prochazka can be in college.
Cole Payton Show
The unquestioned star of the game in the Class A championship was Omaha Westside quarterback Cole Payton. He was terrific all game long getting it done with his arm and legs. He’s a smooth, tough runner and throws the ball well, too. You got to see that all on full display during this incredible touchdown pass.
The Warriors are quick to take back the lead with an incredible effort from QB Cole Payton. Westside heads to the locker room with a 7-point lead at the half. pic.twitter.com/zsLD7aWGvM
— Big Red WrapUp (@BigRedWrapUp) November 21, 2020
Payton is on his way to North Dakota State next year. He’ll join the growing tradition of big-time quarterbacks to come from the Bison. Payton is a great player and will have a lot of people watching his development at the next level.
Koby Bretz Dilemma
All season long, when talking to people about the Husker commit, the question was if he would stay at defensive back or slide down into the box to play outside linebacker. His frame and athleticism have people wondering. However, after seeing him play multiple times, should the Huskers consider giving him a shot to learn under Matt Lubick and play wide receiver? He made another incredible catch on the sideline Friday night. Bretz also chipped in another touchdown catch. He also made plays all over the place on defense. His future is bright wherever the Huskers line him up.
Elkhorn South’s Tremendous Run
The run to becoming state runner-up for Elkhorn South is nothing to be ashamed of. They did not play poorly in the championship game, but Westside just made a handful of more plays. The Storm had won nine games in a row prior to losing on Friday night. The team will lose some key seniors after this year. Teddy Prochazka, Isaac Zatechka, Mekhi Nelson- Douglas, Dilan Krause and more will be tough to replace but they have a nice program.
Westside’s Special Senior Group
Omaha Westside got close to tasting a state championship last year but lost to Bellevue West. They were led back to this point by a special group of seniors who were focused on winning a state title all year. The group was led by quarterback Cole Payton, lineman Cade Haberman, defensive backs Koby Bretz and Avante Dickerson plus linebacker Ben Radicia. That’s a special senior class that have made their own mark on school history.