1000 YARD RUSHERS GALORE IN 2009 SHRINE BOWL

[Bobby Mills Jr. (1000 Yard Guy)]

1000 Yard Rushers meet as Lincoln North Star's Tyrone Lewis holds on to North Platte's Corey Serrano
Photo courtesy of Journal-Star

Mother of Mercy, look at the number of 1000 Yarders in this year’s 51st edition of the Shrine Bowl! 17 Running backs who rushed for over a 1000 yards in 2008 are going to be featured in this year’s annual All-Star North/South clash at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Game time is 6:30 on Saturday, July 25th. I didn’t have to be asked twice if I was going to be in attendance for this baby. The North squad will have 8 of the super backs and the South team will boast 9, and there are some good ones, let me tell you.

Let’s start with the North team. These coaching staffs looked like they consist of talented, top notch football minds . The North will be headed by Pierce’s Mark Brahmer, who has led his team to back-to-back State Championships and took some time off prior to that to boot. We’re glad he’s back….Norfolk Catholic and such isn’t. The assistants are new Omaha South and former Schuyler coach, Fred Doscher, Burwell’s very fine Luke Gideon, former North Platte coach Todd Rice and big old Mike Max of Burwell and Greg Warneke of Pierce. And now the scooters…………..
*Eric Koehlmoos-Pierce - What can you say about “Moose”? Ran for 4,262 yards and scored 86 touchdowns in his illustrious career and led the Bluejays to State C-1 Football Titles the past two seasons. Koehlmoos was an All-State Basketball player the past THREE seasons also and an outstanding Track athlete. Moose played hurt the past two seasons, but still toughed it out , especially this past campaign, splitting time at quarterback and running back plus anchoring Pierce’s stout defense. I stood a few feet away from him when he put the stops to Boys Town drive late in that Championship game and preserved the “W” with a vicious hit that rattled my bones . They don’t come along very often like Eric Koehlmoos……except at Pierce, of course.
*Drew Wagner-Madison - The “IRON MAN”! One of the most durable Backs I’ve seen in a ton of Sundays………..I mean Fridays. Led all 11-Man rushers last season with 2,172 yards. Gained entry into the prestigious 5000 Yard Career Rushing Club by running for 5,141 yards in his 4 year stint at Madison. He is only the 23rd RB in history to accomplish the feat. Wagner is ranked 22nd on the list. Drew also set a State Single Game record for carrying the ball by running it a staggering FIFTY NINE (59) times in a game against a fine Columbus Scotus team. Wagner gained 281 yards that night. LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I saw him run for 227 yards in 40 totes on a Thursday in David City! That’s 99 carries for 508 yards in 6 days, my friends. Have you picked yourself off the floor yet? Wagner’s 2,172 yards also are the 38th highest single season total in history.
*Corey Serrano-North Platte - This slippery Quarterback burst on the scene for the “Dogs last year and struck fear in his opponents every time he touched the ball. Since he’s a QB, that made ‘em nervous every play, don’t ‘cha know. Serrano rushed for 1,247 yards on 154 carries and scored 17 Tds. He also was 56 of 114 passing for 854 yds and 6 TD strikes. Corey’s not a small lad either at 6-1 and 205 pounds, and has blinding speed to boot.
*Matt Mimick-David City Aquinas - They rarely have a 1000 yarder in the Monarch’s spread-type ,wingT, option offense because of ball distribution, but Mimick is an exception. The 5-11, 170 pounder rushed for 1,378 yards this past year and led the stingy Aquinas defense at linebacker. Matt came within a whisker of breaking Tony Truska’s career rushing record of 2,886 yards, falling only 44 yards shy. Mimick also set the Monarch record for Yards/per/game. Rom Mimick, one of the finest coaches and gentlemen in the State, has to be proud of his son…..I know I am.
*Mitch Hron-Schuyler - Just get out of the way when this Runaway Freight comes rumbling your way. The 6-2, 225 Hron ran for 1,462 yards, just ONE more than his backfield buddy Kyle Emanuel (just a Jr.). Hron is a force on defense and led Schuyler as a Junior with 77 assisted and 45 unassisted tackles. This year he was in on 75 UA and 29 ASS. Tackles, was 3rd in Rushing in Class B, 8th in 11-Man, and 18th overall in the State. Hron is a load and pretty swift for his size. Multi-talented player.
*Tyrone Lewis-Lincoln North Star - This guy wasn’t even mentioned that often in pre-season last year and thus snuck up on everybody for 1,196 yards for the Gators. His team advanced to the second round in the playoffs. Lewis is another slippery back.
*Michel Mikaya - Lincoln North Star - Part of twin 1000 Yarders for the Gators. The super-tough Mikaya came on late in the season and gave the team a needed lift for a run at the playoffs. He is also an excellent basketball player. Mikaya used that late flurry to rush for 1,040 yards in ‘08.
*Andrew Bauer-Elgin Public - The 8-Man Back in the mix. The 6-2, 190 Lb. Runner-turned-QB was knocked out of the playoffs this past season and a chance to contend for the State Championship the Eagles just missed in ’07. Still, Bauer gained 1,054 yards, adding to the 1,218 he had at RB in 2007. He is a multi-talented football player who could be used at several positions in a game such as this, as witnessed by his Sophomore season when he played receiver and caught 12 balls for 268 yds. And 4 scores…..had 8 total that season.

THE SOUTH:
What a Coaching staff….Whooooeeee! Head Coach is McCook’s Jeff Gross. Assistants are Rick Nordhues-Syracuse, Glen Snodgrass-Overton, and Matt Turman of Omaha Skutt. Sounds like a Whos Who, doesn’t it? Also assisting are Kearney’s Craig Lathrop and Jeff’s buddy, Chad Lyons of McCook
THE BACKS:
*Matt Berry-McCook - 5-10, 170 - Do you realize how good this guy is? Holy Cow, can he do it all. A dangerous kick returner is just the beginning. The last two seasons was simply a shining example of the kind of mold a typical McCook QB is made of, Matt Berry! Berry zipped for 1,020 yds. As a Junior, but exploded this past year for 1,109 yards rushing and a whopping 35 touchdowns. He can throw the ball a little too, hitting the mark for 1,445 yards with an amazing 74 completions in 128 attempts and 14 scoring strikes. He was Class B’s 4th ranked passer. IF they decide to let him throw, he will have two of the best in this State to heave the pig to…..Bell. West’s twin speed merchants, Greg Harden and Tyler Seals. And don’t forget Berry’s head coach is directing his team in this game.
*Michael Burris-Papillion LaVista South - Speaking of speed demons, Burris can FLY! Michael is the Class A Rushing King with a King-Size 1,826 yards in a pounding 276 carries. Burris averaged 182 yards a contest and crossed the line 21 times. He is a home run threat every time he has the ball. He had 1,029 yards in an injury shortened Junior year. You carry the ball 27 times a game in Class A and you have to have some kind of durability or have a huge whirlpool for Saturday mornings. Burris, needless is a Track standout.
*Jade Cleveland-Ogallala - This is ONE big hombre. Weighing around 220 pounds he and his inseparable football twin, Joe Knott, were dual 1000 Yarders for the Indians this past season. Cleveland had 1,200 yards in 177 tries and 16 Tds in ‘08. He also was a 1000 yarder in ‘07, running for 1,154. Playing in the shadow of the Bison is no fun, but Cleveland and his mates made the best of it that past two seasons. I really like Jade Cleveland.
*Joe Knott-Ogallala - Knott is a 195 pound FB/LB that is PURE football player through and through. The tough-as-nails Knott had 1,120 rushing yards, 56 assisted and 26 unassisted stops, and recovered 4 fumbles this past year. Joe Knott was one of the main reasons Ogallala was the top defensive team in Class B in 2008. Knott and Cleveland led their team to three straight playoff in their fine high school careers.
*Trevor Florendo-Crete - Yea, Brian Florendo’s little brother can play a little too! Trevor Florendo was finally the featured back this year for the Cardinals after contributing to TWO previous State Championships in ’06 and ’07. Florendo started at DB his Sophomore year, alternated at RB his Junior year an STILL gained 956 yds. and scored 12 times. This past season, he rambled for 1,344-199 and 15 scores.
If you will recall, his older brother Brian had back-to-back 1,500 rushing seasons and was a 2 year standout at Linebacker also. Trevor Florendo is a chip off the old block. Chuck knows how to get those Crete kids to play outstanding FB, and Florendo proves the point.
*Jerry Lobeda-Aurora - This guy is not all that big at 5-10 and 170 pounds, but being behind Aurora’s huge O-Line, he was a GEM. Lobeda, who played 8-Man quarterback for Nebraska Christian as a Sophomore, is a perfect example of how a player can make the transition to the 11-Man game. Football is football. Lobeda was a terror on defense too and was a main cog in the Huskie’s State Title.
*Justin Coleman-Beatrice - MR EVERYTHING. Let him run it or run under it! The 6-0, 175 Coleman is a 2 year All-Stater, and had 2,228 total yards as a Junior, 1,375 rushing yards in 183 carries and 18 TDS. this past year. In 2007 he was an All-State Punter, averaging a “NCAA-like” 41.8 yds/boot. He was an absolute terror in that 63-62 OT win over Omaha Gross in the 2007 playoffs…..you had to be there to believe that baby! Keep an eye all over the field for Coleman in this game.
*Kohlman Adema-Shulte-Millard West - Now you see him….now you don’t. Adema-Shulte has to be the fastest Fullback in the history if Nebraska High School Football! He slammed the sprints at State Track a year ago, making mince meat of the 100 field, enroute to a :10.6. He transferred that speed and flashed some pure muscle to help the Wildcats to the Class A crown last Fall. Kohlman played the entire season with TWO hernias and still ran for 1,433-199 and 16 Tds. A year ago the “Cats lost in the Semis to Millard North in an OT heartbreaker, but got the job done in ‘08. The future NW Missouri State star will give Jeff Gross an opportunity to showcase his talents in many ways. Adema-Shulte WILL score in this game.
*Jordan Hale-Millard South - Oh, Momma, what a complete football player this guy is! Hale is 5-11 and 180 pounds of pure muscle and speed. I saw him take a 92 Yarder to the house the first time he touched the ball last season in the Lincoln East opener and he was pulling away from ‘em Mabel. Hale rushed for 1,129 yards on only 126 carries and led “A” with 28 TD’s. Averaging close to 10 yards a pop in Nebraska’s largest class takes some doing. I predict he makes a big time go of it with the Huskers in the future.

*There are a few others I wanted to give some props to in this game. Justice was served when GICC’s Kelly Zimmerman was named to the Shrine Bowl. Zimmy’s Senior campaign was thought to be over before it started with that knee injury in the Crusaders first game. He came back in right before the playoffs and impressed the powers-to-be enough to be chosen for this game. Take it from me, Zimmerman can play football, and you won’t find a nicer young man.
*Another North player that is better than you think is GINW’s Austin Pomajzl. I’m sorry, but he didn’t have much help this season in Viking-land, but the kid has talent.
I’m glad he’s in this game. Just might win the Pole Vault at State Track too.
*You like to see people crunch running backs? Wait’ll you see Millard South’s Drew Neville. He was Class A’s second leading tackler and will take your head off if you have a ball in tote, or maybe just because. The man in front of him on the tackle list, GI’s Braden Taylor, is a 1-Man wreaking crew, amassing a hard-to-believe 83 assisted and 58 unassisted tackles for a staggering 224 Total tackle points. If you like head-hunters, you’ll love Kearney’s Brady Roeder too.

Should be an outstanding game and a fitting conclusion to these young player’s illustrious careers, regardless if they are continuing their football careers or not. What they accomplished in High School will not soon be forgotten! See you on the sidelines, July 25th.