Football · Preview · Class D1
No. 1 Johnson-Brock (9-0) opens its playoff run against No. 16 Amherst
No. 1 Johnson-Brock (9-0) hosts No. 16 Amherst (5-4) 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.
Johnson-Brock is 9-0 and outscored its regular-season opponents 516-202. Amherst (5-4) gets the first shot at it in the Class D1 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 5:00 PM CT. Host: Johnson-Brock. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Johnson-Brock finished 6.2222 points ahead of Amherst in NSAA's point averages. Johnson-Brock scored 57.3 and allowed 22.4 points a game; Amherst scored 27.2 and allowed 37.1. Johnson-Brock's opponents went a combined 44-37, and Amherst's went 45-36.
| Johnson-Brock | Amherst | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 1 | No. 16 |
| Record (NSAA) | 9-0 | 5-4 |
| NSAA point average | 46.0000 | 39.7778 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 1 | Not ranked |
| Points scored / game | 57.3 | 27.2 |
| Points allowed / game | 22.4 | 37.1 |
| Average margin | +34.9 | -9.9 |
| vs. playoff teams | 4-0 | 1-3 |
| vs. winning teams | 6-0 | 1-4 |
| One-score games | 2-0 | — |
| Opponents' combined record | 44-37 | 45-36 |
| Last 3 games | W 88-20, W 64-28, W 78-22 | W 36-22, L 6-61, L 19-42 |
| Streak | Won 9 | Lost 2 |
How Johnson-Brock got here
Johnson-Brock didn't lose in the regular season, finishing 9-0 with a 516-202 scoring edge. Its closest game was a 32-28 win over Exeter-Milligan-Friend (8-1). Its best win by opponent was a 34-26 win at Sandy Creek (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 4-0. It comes in on a 9-game winning streak, capped by a 78-22 win over Fairbury (0-9) in Week 9.
How Amherst got here
Amherst finished the regular season 5-4, scoring 245 points and allowing 334. All four losses came against teams with winning records: at Ravenna (8-1), 62-6; at Sandy Creek (8-1), 84-19; Elm Creek (5-4), 61-6; at Alma (6-3), 42-19. Its best win by opponent was a 47-26 win over Pleasanton (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 1-3. In Week 9 it had a 42-19 loss at Alma (6-3).
By the numbers
Shared opponent
They played one of the same opponent. Johnson-Brock went 1-0 in those games and Amherst went 0-1. Different weeks and sites, so it's a rough guide.
| Opponent | Johnson-Brock | Amherst |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy Creek * | W 34-26 | L 19-84 |
Players to watch
Season totals from MaxPreps game reports through Week 9. Not every game has a report, so treat these as minimums.
Johnson-Brock
- W. Fulton (QB): 971 passing yards, 76 of 108, 15 TD, 3 INT; also 541 rushing yards
- O. Everett: 723 rushing yards (7.5 per carry), 8 TD
- B. Parriott: 713 rushing yards (7.5 per carry), 9 TD
- D. Bernadt: 37 catches, 572 yards, 8 TD
- O. Everett: 88 tackles, 6 for loss
- D. Bernadt: 3 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 8 of its 9 games.
Amherst
- R. Boersma (QB): 324 passing yards, 12 of 25, 5 TD, 1 INT
MaxPreps game reports cover 3 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 Amherst slow Johnson-Brock's offense? Johnson-Brock averaged 57.3 points; Amherst allowed 37.1. Johnson-Brock scored 30 or more in 9 of 9 games.
- Amherst's answer. It scored 27.2 a game, and Johnson-Brock's defense allowed 22.4. In its losses, though, Amherst averaged 12.5.
- Tested against playoff teams. Johnson-Brock went 4-0 against this year's playoff field; Amherst went 1-3.
- If it's close late. Amherst hasn't played a one-score game (8 points or fewer) this season. Johnson-Brock is 2-0 in them.
- W. Fulton and the ball. Johnson-Brock's quarterback threw 3 interceptions in 108 reported attempts.
- Stopping O. Everett. Johnson-Brock's top rusher has 723 reported yards and 8 touchdowns. Amherst allowed 37.1 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 8 Exeter-Milligan-Friend vs. No. 9 Elmwood-Murdock 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 →
Johnson-Brock team center → · Amherst 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.