Football · Preview · Class D3
No. 5 Wausa vs. No. 12 Anselmo-Merna: the lower seed brings the better scoring margin
No. 5 Wausa (8-1) hosts No. 12 Anselmo-Merna (7-2) in the Class D3 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. 5 Wausa (8-1) hosts No. 12 Anselmo-Merna (7-2) in the first round of the Class D3 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:00 PM CT. Reported site: Wausa Athletic Complex. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Wausa finished 1.4444 points ahead of Anselmo-Merna in NSAA's point averages. Wausa scored 43.4 and allowed 16.2 points a game; Anselmo-Merna scored 54.8 and allowed 23.8. Wausa's opponents went a combined 37-44, and Anselmo-Merna's went 37-44.
| Wausa | Anselmo-Merna | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 5 | No. 12 |
| Record (NSAA) | 8-1 | 7-2 |
| NSAA point average | 44.0000 | 42.5556 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 6 | No. 8 |
| Points scored / game | 43.4 | 54.8 |
| Points allowed / game | 16.2 | 23.8 |
| Average margin | +27.2 | +31.0 |
| vs. playoff teams | 2-1 | 1-2 |
| vs. winning teams | 3-1 | 2-2 |
| One-score games | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Opponents' combined record | 37-44 | 37-44 |
| Last 3 games | W 59-22, W 20-14, W 54-6 | W 76-28, W 70-26, W 82-38 |
| Streak | Won 6 | Won 5 |
How Wausa got here
Wausa finished the regular season 8-1, scoring 391 points and allowing 146. Its only loss came against a team with a winning record: at Archangels Catholic (8-1), 52-32. Its best win by opponent was a 33-22 win at Wynot (7-2), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 2-1. It comes in on a 6-game winning streak, capped by a 54-6 win at Boyd County (5-4) in Week 9.
How Anselmo-Merna got here
Anselmo-Merna finished the regular season 7-2, scoring 438 points and allowing 190. Both losses came against teams with winning records: Burwell (7-2), 41-38; Twin Loup (8-1), 45-12. Its best win by opponent was a 70-26 win over Brady (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 1-2. It comes in on a 5-game winning streak, capped by an 82-38 win at Maxwell (3-6) in Week 9. Its record also includes one 1-0 result (forfeit), left out of the scoring numbers. The defense posted two shutouts.
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.
Wausa
- M. Carlson (QB): 807 passing yards, 41 of 72, 11 TD, 1 INT; also 1,173 rushing yards
- L. Thorell: 504 rushing yards (5.1 per carry), 12 TD
- M. Schindler: 11 catches, 290 yards, 2 TD
- M. Carlson: 79 tackles, 9 for loss
- M. Carlson: 2 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 9 of its 9 games.
Anselmo-Merna
- D. Duryea: 1,121 rushing yards (9.3 per carry), 22 TD
- C. Priest: 508 rushing yards (10.2 per carry), 10 TD
- D. Duryea: 57 tackles, 7 for loss
- K. Martin: 4 sacks
- D. Duryea: 2 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 8 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 Wausa slow Anselmo-Merna's offense? Anselmo-Merna averaged 54.8 points; Wausa allowed 16.2. Anselmo-Merna scored 30 or more in 7 of 8 games.
- Wausa's answer. It scored 43.4 a game, and Anselmo-Merna's defense allowed 23.8. In its losses, though, Wausa averaged 32.0.
- Tested against playoff teams. Wausa went 2-1 against this year's playoff field; Anselmo-Merna went 1-2.
- If it's close late. In one-score games (8 points or fewer), Wausa was 1-0 and Anselmo-Merna was 0-1.
- M. Carlson and the ball. Wausa's quarterback threw 1 interception in 72 reported attempts; Anselmo-Merna's D. Duryea has 2 picks.
- Stopping M. Carlson. Wausa's top rusher has 1,173 reported yards and 22 touchdowns. Anselmo-Merna allowed 23.8 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 4 Pleasanton vs. No. 13 Guardian Angels Central Catholic in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6. Higher seeds host through the semifinals. The Class D3 state final is Friday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. Central in Kearney. The stadium name remains unconfirmed because NSAA sources conflict; see the state finals schedule.
Game center: kickoff, live score and bracket path → · Full Class D3 bracket →
Verified state finals schedule → · Class bracket →
Wausa team center → · Anselmo-Merna 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.