Football · Preview · Class D2
Ainsworth at Madison: Madison looks for its first win
Ainsworth (2-6) at Madison (0-8), Friday, Oct. 23. Playoff picture, season stats, charts and history before the Week 9 game.
Game-day information: Kickoff reported by the Game Center: 2:30 p.m. Central. This article’s schedules and statistics are dated reporting, not live score updates.
Scores are NSAA finals. Points and ranks are NSAA wildcard standings, checked Oct. 21, 2026. Projections are not official seeds.
Madison (0-8) gets one more chance at a first win Friday, against Ainsworth (2-6). Both play in District D2-3: Ainsworth is 1-3 in district games and Madison is 0-4.
Friday, Oct. 23, at Madison, 2:30 p.m.
The playoff picture
In Class D2, the six district champions and the 10 best remaining averages qualify.
Ainsworth is 31st in Class D2's NSAA point standings at 34.125. It is 1-3 in District D2-3 games.
Madison is 36th in Class D2's NSAA point standings at 30.250. It is 0-4 in District D2-3 games.
Projections are not official seeds. NSAA sets the field after Week 9.
How they got here
Ainsworth (2-6) opened with a 39-16 loss to West Holt (5-3). Its losses: West Holt (5-3), 39-16; at Sandhills/Thedford (4-4), 34-9; at St. Mary's (4-4), 52-0; at Creighton (6-2), 64-7; Bloomfield (3-5), 18-2; at Neligh-Oakdale (6-2), 90-26. Its best win by opponent record was a 33-18 win over Niobrara-Verdigre (2-6). It comes in on a 3-game losing streak, most recently a 90-26 loss at Neligh-Oakdale (6-2).
Madison is 0-8. Its season began with a 54-8 loss at Tri County Northeast (TCNE) (4-4). It is still looking for its first win. Its closest game was a 56-26 loss to Newman Grove/St. Edward (1-7). It comes in on an 8-game losing streak, most recently a 58-6 loss at Creighton (6-2).
By the numbers
| Ainsworth | Madison | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 2-6 | 0-8 |
| Class and NSAA rank | D2, 31st (34.125) | D2, 36th (30.250) |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Points scored per game | 13.2 | 12.5 |
| Points allowed per game | 40.1 | 56.5 |
| Average margin | -26.9 | -44.0 |
| Current streak | Lost 3 | Lost 8 |
Shared opponents
These two have played four of the same teams. It's a rough guide, since the games came in different weeks and places.
| Opponent | Ainsworth | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomfield | L 2-18 | L 8-52 |
| Creighton | L 7-64 | L 6-58 |
| Neligh-Oakdale | L 26-90 | L 6-70 |
| Niobrara-Verdigre | W 33-18 | L 20-58 |
Editorial update, Oct. 21: Program-history claims from the supplied school-history mapping are withheld pending school-identity verification. This does not change the current-season results, records or statistics above.
What to watch
- Madison's first win. This is its last regular-season chance.
- Ainsworth's streak. 3 straight losses.
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