By Tony Chapman and Terry Douglass – For the Nebraska School Activities Association

KEARNEY - Garden County and Southwest met in the first round of last year’s state football playoffs with the Eagles taking a 50-23 win at home in Oshkosh. This year the stakes are drastically different in the state final game that has both teams undefeated going into Friday’s 7 p.m. kick at Nebraska-Kearney’s Cope Stadium. 

The coaches agree, however, that both teams are a little different — and better — than their 2024 versions. 

“I think there are some things you can look at (from last year),” said Garden County coach Chad Dormann. “We know they still want to get out in space and spread us around. But, they run it a little better than last year. Defensively, they have improved as well and you wonder what they will do differently than last year, too.”

Southwest coach Christian Arterburn said the loss last year has motivated his team to get to Kearney and they are excited to earn another shot at the Eagles.

“I think that game (last year) put a little chip on our shoulders,” Arterburn said. “We set a goal in the offseason to get a home playoff game and after about four or five games this year, our kids changed that goal to getting to the finals. We know that we are going to have to come out and play physical football. And, defensively they have done a few more things than they did last year so we will have to be ready for that.”

In qualifying for the playoffs in 23 of the past 24 seasons, Garden County has played every kind of football. All with Dormann at the helm. The Eagles advanced to the Class C-2 semifinals in 2002, had three 8-man quarterfinal appearances in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and made the 6-man semifinals a season ago. 

“I think 8-man and 11-man are really similar,” the coach said. “But, in 6-man you really have to learn how to tackle in the open field.”

It has been a dominant season for the boys from Oshkosh as it has had a running clock in all but two games; both with their semifinal opponent Stuart.

The Eagles bruising running game has been too much for most teams to handle. They have passed just 65 times in 11 games and ran the ball for 3,178 yards and a 10.9 yards per carry average. Three players have more than 800 yards: Wilsie Lobner (946 yards, 17 touchdowns), Kole Fornander (800 yards, 19 TDs) and Kyan Kramer (772 yards, 18 TDs). 

Defensively, Garden County has allowed 20 points just three times all season. Junior Jase Roberson leads the Eagle defense with 92 tackles and Kramer is second at 69. They have forced 22 turnovers on the season, including 13 fumbles. 

“We just have a group of kids who have been playing together for a long time and they love football,” Dormann said. “We had a really good summer of work. It doesn’t take much to get them to the weight room and I think when you have a season like we have you have a little bit of luck with injuries. We have been very fortunate to stay healthy.”

Like its opponent, Southwest is another team that has played in the state playoffs at each level of football. But the Roughriders’ three wins this fall are one more than they’ve had previously in school history. After the district was formed in 2003, Southwest had not won a playoff game since defeating Burwell in the 2006 Class C-2 playoffs prior to this year’s run to the finals. 

The Roughriders feature a balanced offensive attack that is led by one of 6-man’s most talented players, Houston Billeter. Billeter has thrown for 31 TDs and 1,849 yards on the season, while also running for 740 yards. Juniors Jacob Barber (596 yards) and Deric Kelley (511 yards) have combined for 18 scoring receptions. 

Billeter threw for more than 2,400 yards last year, but Arterburn said his production has not lacked and the Roughriders have developed a better run game in 2025. Southwest has thrown for 1,901 yards and ran for 1,809 on the season. 

“Houston is just one of the best kids and best leaders I have ever been around,” Arterburn said. “Our players follow him, but all the kids in the elementary school look up to him, too. 

“I think last year we might have relied on his arm just a little too much. Even early this year we didn’t have a very good running game so it’s something we have really put an emphasis on. Houston can run it for us, but Jacob (Barber) and Darmario Koetter have run the ball well for us, too.”

Junior Gage Hammond leads a Roughrider defense that has given up 30 points just twice during the season and pitched a 35-0 shutout in the semifinals over previously undefeated Red Cloud. Hammond has 117 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions on the season. Barber is second on the team at 94 tackles and Billeter has four interceptions as well. 

Friday’s game will be the first with two unbeaten teams since 2021 when Cody-Kilgore defeated Potter-Dix in the final 72-37. The previous three games before that when 6-man returned as an NSAA sponsored game all featured a pair of undefeated teams.