Football · Preview · Class D1
Amherst at Alma: playoff stakes for Amherst
Amherst (5-3) at Alma (5-3), Friday, Oct. 23. Playoff picture, season stats, charts and history before the Week 9 game.
Game-day information: Kickoff reported by the Game Center: 7 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.
Amherst goes into the final week of the regular season close to the playoff line, 14th in Class D1's NSAA point standings. Both play in District D1-7: Amherst is 2-1 in district games and Alma is 2-1.
Friday, Oct. 23, at Alma, 7 p.m.
The playoff picture
In Class D1, the seven district champions and the nine best remaining averages qualify.
Amherst is 14th in Class D1's NSAA point standings at 40.250. It is 2-1 in District D1-7 games.
Alma is 17th in Class D1's NSAA point standings at 39.125. It is 2-1 in District D1-7 games.
Projections are not official seeds. NSAA sets the field after Week 9.
How they got here
Amherst (5-3) opened with a 62-6 loss at Ravenna (8-0). Its losses: at Ravenna (8-0), 62-6; at Sandy Creek (7-1), 84-19; Elm Creek (4-4), 61-6. Its best win by opponent record was a 47-26 win over Pleasanton (7-1). Last week it had a 61-6 loss to Elm Creek (4-4).
Alma (5-3) opened with an 8-6 win at Arcadia/Loup City (1-7). Its losses: Hitchcock County (5-3), 36-20; at Ravenna (8-0), 66-21; at Gibbon (3-5), 20-14. Its best win by opponent record was a 52-34 win over Thayer Central (4-4). Last week it had a 20-14 loss at Gibbon (3-5). Three of its games were decided by seven points or fewer.
By the numbers
| Amherst | Alma | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-3 | 5-3 |
| Class and NSAA rank | D1, 14th (40.250) | D1, 17th (39.125) |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Points scored per game | 28.2 | 34.5 |
| Points allowed per game | 36.5 | 31.5 |
| Average margin | -8.2 | +3.0 |
| Current streak | Lost 1 | Lost 2 |
Shared opponents
These two have played six of the same teams. It's a rough guide, since the games came in different weeks and places.
| Opponent | Amherst | Alma |
|---|---|---|
| Arcadia/Loup City | W 30-6 | W 8-6 |
| Elm Creek | L 6-61 | W 45-44 |
| Gibbon | W 34-12 | L 14-20 |
| Hastings St. Cecilia | W 48-19 | W 64-40 |
| Kimball | W 36-22 | W 52-6 |
| Ravenna | L 6-62 | L 21-66 |
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
- Alma's offense. It averages 34.5 points. Amherst allows 36.5.
- Amherst's offense. It averages 28.2; Alma allows 31.5.
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