Football · Preview · Class C1
No. 14 Auburn at No. 3 Chadron: what decides this Class C1 first-round game
No. 3 Chadron (8-1) hosts No. 14 Auburn (5-4) in the Class C1 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.
The Class C1 playoffs start with No. 14 Auburn (5-4) traveling to No. 3 Chadron (8-1).
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 2:00 PM MT. Host: Chadron. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Chadron finished 4.6667 points ahead of Auburn in NSAA's point averages. Chadron scored 32.6 and allowed 8.9 points a game; Auburn scored 23.8 and allowed 22.3. Chadron's opponents went a combined 34-38, and Auburn's went 38-43.
| Chadron | Auburn | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 3 | No. 14 |
| Record (NSAA) | 8-1 | 5-4 |
| NSAA point average | 43.7778 | 39.1111 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 5 | Not ranked |
| Points scored / game | 32.6 | 23.8 |
| Points allowed / game | 8.9 | 22.3 |
| Average margin | +23.7 | +1.4 |
| vs. playoff teams | 3-1 | 0-4 |
| vs. winning teams | 2-1 | 0-4 |
| One-score games | 1-1 | 1-0 |
| Opponents' combined record | 34-38 | 38-43 |
| Last 3 games | W 25-0, W 28-8, W 47-0 | L 7-55, L 6-34, W 54-10 |
| Streak | Won 4 | Won 1 |
How Chadron got here
Chadron finished the regular season 8-1, scoring 293 points and allowing 80. Its only loss came against a team with a winning record: Sidney (9-0), 7-6. Its best win by opponent was a 16-0 win over O'Neill (6-3), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 3-1. It comes in on a 4-game winning streak, capped by a 47-0 win at Ogallala (0-9) in Week 9. The defense posted four shutouts.
How Auburn got here
Auburn finished the regular season 5-4, scoring 214 points and allowing 201. All four losses came against teams with winning records: Ashland-Greenwood (7-2), 35-14; at Lincoln Christian (7-2), 27-8; at Boys Town (9-0), 55-7; at Syracuse (7-2), 34-6. Its best win by opponent was a 25-21 win over Mount Michael Benedictine (4-5). Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 0-4. In Week 9 it had a 54-10 win over Nebraska City (0-9).
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.
Chadron
- T. Landen (QB): 730 passing yards, 41 of 87, 10 TD, 5 INT
- J. Hoffman: 947 rushing yards (5.4 per carry), 16 TD
- R. Griese: 465 rushing yards (7.4 per carry), 4 TD
- T. Owsley: 8 catches, 210 yards, 3 TD
- M. Lien: 67 tackles, 3 for loss
- B. Wright: 8 sacks
- H. Catches: 2 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 8 of its 9 games.
Auburn
- B. Swanson (QB): 1,009 passing yards, 85 of 159, 9 TD, 8 INT
- W. Tanner: 333 rushing yards (5.7 per carry), 5 TD
- R. Tanner: 28 catches, 355 yards, 4 TD
- W. Tanner: 51 tackles, 2 for loss
- R. Tanner: 3 sacks
- L. Jones: 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 Auburn slow Chadron's offense? Chadron averaged 32.6 points; Auburn allowed 22.3. Chadron scored 30 or more in 4 of 9 games.
- Auburn's answer. It scored 23.8 a game, and Chadron's defense allowed 8.9. In its losses, though, Auburn averaged 8.8.
- Tested against playoff teams. Chadron went 3-1 against this year's playoff field; Auburn went 0-4.
- If it's close late. In one-score games (8 points or fewer), Chadron was 1-1 and Auburn was 1-0.
- T. Landen and the ball. Chadron's quarterback threw 5 interceptions in 87 reported attempts; Auburn's L. Jones has 2 picks.
- Stopping J. Hoffman. Chadron's top rusher has 947 reported yards and 16 touchdowns. Auburn allowed 22.3 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 6 Ashland-Greenwood vs. No. 11 Roncalli Catholic in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6. Higher seeds host through the semifinals. The Class C1 state final is Tue., Nov. 24, 2:45 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Lincoln.
Game center: kickoff, live score and bracket path → · Full Class C1 bracket →
Verified state finals schedule → · Class bracket →
Chadron team center → · Auburn 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.