Football · Preview · Class D3
No. 14 Cambridge at No. 3 Archangels Catholic: what decides this Class D3 first-round game
No. 3 Archangels Catholic (8-1) hosts No. 14 Cambridge (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. 3 Archangels Catholic (8-1) hosts No. 14 Cambridge (7-2) in the first round of the Class D3 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 3:00 PM CT. Reported site: Humphrey. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Archangels Catholic finished 3.5555 points ahead of Cambridge in NSAA's point averages. Archangels Catholic scored 42.4 and allowed 11.6 points a game; Cambridge scored 39.5 and allowed 23.4. Archangels Catholic's opponents went a combined 47-34, and Cambridge's went 33-47.
| Archangels Catholic | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 3 | No. 14 |
| Record (NSAA) | 8-1 | 7-2 |
| NSAA point average | 45.1111 | 41.5556 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 3 | Not ranked |
| Points scored / game | 42.4 | 39.5 |
| Points allowed / game | 11.6 | 23.4 |
| Average margin | +30.9 | +16.1 |
| vs. playoff teams | 3-1 | 0-2 |
| vs. winning teams | 5-1 | 2-2 |
| One-score games | — | — |
| Opponents' combined record | 47-34 | 33-47 |
| Last 3 games | W 46-0, W 46-8, W 52-6 | W 46-36, L 8-34, W 42-14 |
| Streak | Won 7 | Won 1 |
How Archangels Catholic got here
Archangels Catholic finished the regular season 8-1, scoring 382 points and allowing 104. Its only loss came against a team with a winning record: Central Valley (8-1), 40-8. Its best win by opponent was a 52-32 win over Wausa (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 3-1. It comes in on a 7-game winning streak, capped by a 52-6 win over Winside (2-7) in Week 9. The defense posted three shutouts.
How Cambridge got here
Cambridge finished the regular season 7-2, scoring 316 points and allowing 187. Both losses came against teams with winning records: Dundy County Stratton (6-2), 54-34; Pleasanton (8-1), 34-8. Its best win by opponent was a 44-22 win over Blue Hill (6-3). Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 0-2. In Week 9 it had a 42-14 win at Axtell (1-8). Its record also includes one 1-0 result (forfeit), left out of the scoring numbers.
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.
Archangels Catholic
- E. Wieseler (QB): 344 passing yards, 15 of 36, 4 TD, 2 INT
- G. Geilenkirchen: 921 rushing yards (9.9 per carry), 15 TD
- E. Wieseler: 69 tackles, 6 for loss
- C. Wietfeld: 3 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 7 of its 9 games.
Cambridge
- B. Mitchell (QB): 624 passing yards, 52 of 71, 12 TD, 4 INT; also 809 rushing yards
- R. Hoelscher: 490 rushing yards (5.5 per carry), 9 TD
- R. Hoelscher: 26 catches, 338 yards, 9 TD
- C. Long: 94 tackles
- B. Mitchell: 3 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 Cambridge slow Archangels Catholic's offense? Archangels Catholic averaged 42.4 points; Cambridge allowed 23.4. Archangels Catholic scored 30 or more in 8 of 9 games.
- Cambridge's answer. It scored 39.5 a game, and Archangels Catholic's defense allowed 11.6. In its losses, though, Cambridge averaged 21.0.
- Tested against playoff teams. Archangels Catholic went 3-1 against this year's playoff field; Cambridge went 0-2.
- B. Mitchell and the ball. Cambridge's quarterback threw 4 interceptions in 71 reported attempts; Archangels Catholic's C. Wietfeld has 3 picks.
- Stopping G. Geilenkirchen. Archangels Catholic's top rusher has 921 reported yards and 15 touchdowns. Cambridge allowed 23.4 points a game.
- Momentum. Archangels Catholic has won 7 straight and averaged 48.0 points over its last three.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 6 Dundy County Stratton vs. No. 11 Brady 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 →
Archangels Catholic team center → · Cambridge 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.