Football · Preview · Class D1
No. 14 Alma at No. 3 Stanton: what decides this Class D1 first-round game
No. 3 Stanton (9-0) hosts No. 14 Alma (6-3) in the Class D1 first round Fri., Oct. 30. Stats, charts, players to watch, history and keys to the game.
Publication check, Oct. 28: Current NSAA seeds, records and point averages checked; kickoff and host details synchronized with the verified site schedule. Season statistics and chart reporting remain the dated Week9 draft snapshot, not a new full-season audit.
Seeds, records and point averages: NSAA's official bracket, Oct. 24, 2026. Scores: NSAA finals. Player stats: MaxPreps game reports through Week 9. Coaches poll: Hurrdat Sports, Oct. 18.
No. 3 Stanton (9-0) hosts No. 14 Alma (6-3) in the first round of the Class D1 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:00 PM CT. Host: Stanton. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Stanton finished 4.3333 points ahead of Alma in NSAA's point averages. Stanton scored 64.6 and allowed 13.5 points a game; Alma scored 35.3 and allowed 30.1. Stanton's opponents went a combined 36-45, and Alma's went 39-42.
| Stanton | Alma | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 3 | No. 14 |
| Record (NSAA) | 9-0 | 6-3 |
| NSAA point average | 45.0000 | 40.6667 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 3 | Not ranked |
| Points scored / game | 64.6 | 35.3 |
| Points allowed / game | 13.5 | 30.1 |
| Average margin | +51.1 | +5.2 |
| vs. playoff teams | 4-0 | 1-2 |
| vs. winning teams | 5-0 | 3-2 |
| One-score games | — | 2-1 |
| Opponents' combined record | 36-45 | 39-42 |
| Last 3 games | W 62-12, W 42-30, W 84-6 | L 21-66, L 14-20, W 42-19 |
| Streak | Won 8 | Won 1 |
How Stanton got here
Stanton went through the regular season 9-0 and outscored opponents 517-108. Its closest game was a 42-30 win over Pender (5-4). Its best win by opponent was a 40-24 win at Crofton (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 4-0. It comes in on an 8-game winning streak, capped by an 84-6 win at Wisner-Pilger (7-2) in Week 9. Its record also includes one 1-0 result (forfeit), left out of the scoring numbers.
How Alma got here
Alma finished the regular season 6-3, scoring 318 points and allowing 271. Losses: Hitchcock County (6-3), 36-20; at Ravenna (8-1), 66-21; at Gibbon (4-5), 20-14. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 1-2. In Week 9 it had a 42-19 win over Amherst (5-4).
By the numbers
Players to watch
Season totals from MaxPreps game reports through Week 9. Not every game has a report, so treat these as minimums.
Stanton
- P. Hogrefe (QB): 717 passing yards, 24 of 40, 11 TD, 2 INT; also 371 rushing yards
- R. Hansen: 627 rushing yards (14.9 per carry), 11 TD
- J. Hupp: 16 catches, 477 yards, 10 TD
- R. Hansen: 50 tackles
- A. Spence: 3 sacks
MaxPreps game reports cover 7 of its 9 games.
Alma
- D. Lewis (QB): 1,356 passing yards, 64 of 110, 22 TD, 1 INT
- M. Ford: 351 rushing yards (4.3 per carry), 6 TD
- B. Hammond: 12 catches, 309 yards, 5 TD
- B. Hammond: 105 tackles, 11 for loss
- C. Bennett: 2 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 7 of its 9 games.
Historical program and playoff-series claims are withheld pending school-identity verification. Current-season reporting above is unaffected.
Keys to the game
- Can Alma slow Stanton's offense? Stanton averaged 64.6 points; Alma allowed 30.1. Stanton scored 30 or more in 8 of 8 games.
- Alma's answer. It scored 35.3 a game, and Stanton's defense allowed 13.5. In its losses, though, Alma averaged 18.3.
- Tested against playoff teams. Stanton went 4-0 against this year's playoff field; Alma went 1-2.
- If it's close late. Stanton hasn't played a one-score game (8 points or fewer) this season. Alma is 2-1 in them.
- D. Lewis and the ball. Alma's quarterback threw 1 interception in 110 reported attempts.
- Stopping R. Hansen. Stanton's top rusher has 627 reported yards and 11 touchdowns. Alma allowed 30.1 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 6 Hartington-Newcastle vs. No. 11 Centura in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6. Higher seeds host through the semifinals. The Class D1 state final is Mon., Nov. 23, 2:45 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Lincoln.
Game center: kickoff, live score and bracket path → · Full Class D1 bracket →
Verified state finals schedule → · Class bracket →
Stanton team center → · Alma team center →
Nebraska football scores and schedules → · Football playoff tracker →
Result note: a 1–0 entry is shown as listed by NSAA. It is not treated as evidence of an on-field score or a confirmed forfeit.