Football · Preview · Class C2
No. 8 Malcolm vs. No. 9 Bishop Neumann: the closest seed matchup in Class C2
No. 8 Malcolm (7-2) hosts No. 9 Bishop Neumann (7-2) in the Class C2 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.
Only 0.3333 NSAA points separate No. 8 Malcolm (7-2) and No. 9 Bishop Neumann (7-2). The winner moves on to face the winner of No. 1 Grand Island Central Catholic vs. No. 16 Hershey.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 7:00 PM CT. Host: Malcolm. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Malcolm finished 0.3333 points ahead of Bishop Neumann in NSAA's point averages. Malcolm scored 39.4 and allowed 12.6 points a game; Bishop Neumann scored 34.3 and allowed 16.2. Malcolm's opponents went a combined 43-38, and Bishop Neumann's went 39-42.
| Malcolm | Bishop Neumann | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 8 | No. 9 |
| Record (NSAA) | 7-2 | 7-2 |
| NSAA point average | 42.2222 | 41.8889 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 8 | No. 7 |
| Points scored / game | 39.4 | 34.3 |
| Points allowed / game | 12.6 | 16.2 |
| Average margin | +26.9 | +18.1 |
| vs. playoff teams | 3-2 | 2-2 |
| vs. winning teams | 3-2 | 2-2 |
| One-score games | 0-1 | 1-2 |
| Opponents' combined record | 43-38 | 39-42 |
| Last 3 games | W 49-13, W 43-6, W 43-7 | L 12-13, W 42-23, W 47-23 |
| Streak | Won 6 | Won 2 |
How Malcolm got here
Malcolm finished the regular season 7-2, scoring 355 points and allowing 113. Both losses came against teams with winning records: Yutan (8-1), 15-14; at Bergan Catholic (9-0), 31-13. Its signature result was a 56-7 win over Wilber-Clatonia (6-3). Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 3-2. It comes in on a 6-game winning streak, capped by a 43-7 win over Fillmore Central (6-3) in Week 9.
How Bishop Neumann got here
Bishop Neumann finished the regular season 7-2, scoring 309 points and allowing 146. Both losses came against teams with winning records: Bergan Catholic (9-0), 25-22; Yutan (8-1), 13-12. Its best win by opponent was a 32-14 win over Scotus Central Catholic (6-3), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 2-2. In Week 9 it had a 47-23 win at Omaha Brownell Talbot (4-5).
By the numbers
Shared opponents
They played three of the same opponents. Malcolm went 1-2 in those games and Bishop Neumann went 1-2. Different weeks and sites, so it's a rough guide.
| Opponent | Malcolm | Bishop Neumann |
|---|---|---|
| Bergan Catholic * | L 13-31 | L 22-25 |
| Palmyra | W 42-0 | W 42-23 |
| Yutan * | L 14-15 | L 12-13 |
Players to watch
Season totals from MaxPreps game reports through Week 9. Not every game has a report, so treat these as minimums.
Malcolm
- G. Little (QB): 1,230 passing yards, 77 of 134, 19 TD, 0 INT
- G. Smith: 908 rushing yards (13.8 per carry), 12 TD
- P. Kucera: 23 catches, 556 yards, 11 TD
- G. Dewaard: 60 tackles, 1 for loss
- P. Kucera: 3 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 9 of its 9 games.
Bishop Neumann
- C. Wiese (QB): 541 passing yards, 25 of 52, 7 TD, 1 INT; also 362 rushing yards
- W. Sanderson: 609 rushing yards (8.0 per carry), 7 TD
- H. Woita: 545 rushing yards (8.1 per carry), 8 TD
- H. Woita: 82 tackles, 8 for loss
- W. Sanderson: 4 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 6 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 Bishop Neumann slow Malcolm's offense? Malcolm averaged 39.4 points; Bishop Neumann allowed 16.2. Malcolm scored 30 or more in 7 of 9 games.
- Bishop Neumann's answer. It scored 34.3 a game, and Malcolm's defense allowed 12.6. In its losses, though, Bishop Neumann averaged 17.0.
- Tested against playoff teams. Malcolm went 3-2 against this year's playoff field; Bishop Neumann went 2-2.
- If it's close late. In one-score games (8 points or fewer), Malcolm was 0-1 and Bishop Neumann was 1-2.
- G. Little and the ball. Malcolm's quarterback threw 0 interceptions in 134 reported attempts; Bishop Neumann's W. Sanderson has 4 picks.
- Stopping G. Smith. Malcolm's top rusher has 908 reported yards and 12 touchdowns. Bishop Neumann allowed 16.2 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 1 Grand Island Central Catholic vs. No. 16 Hershey in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6. Higher seeds host through the semifinals. The Class C2 state final is Tue., Nov. 24, 10:15 a.m., Memorial Stadium, Lincoln.
Game center: kickoff, live score and bracket path → · Full Class C2 bracket →
Verified state finals schedule → · Class bracket →
Malcolm team center → · Bishop Neumann team center →
Nebraska football scores and schedules → · Football playoff tracker →