Football · Preview · Class D1
No. 6 Hartington-Newcastle hosts No. 11 Centura: the numbers behind the Class D1 opener
No. 6 Hartington-Newcastle (8-1) hosts No. 11 Centura (7-2) 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.
No. 6 Hartington-Newcastle (8-1) hosts No. 11 Centura (7-2) in the first round of the Class D1 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 3:00 PM CT. Host: Hartington-Newcastle. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Hartington-Newcastle finished 2.8889 points ahead of Centura in NSAA's point averages. Hartington-Newcastle scored 55.9 and allowed 33.2 points a game; Centura scored 45.0 and allowed 25.7. Hartington-Newcastle's opponents went a combined 42-38, and Centura's went 32-49.
| Hartington-Newcastle | Centura | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 6 | No. 11 |
| Record (NSAA) | 8-1 | 7-2 |
| NSAA point average | 44.1111 | 41.2222 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 8 | No. 10 |
| Points scored / game | 55.9 | 45.0 |
| Points allowed / game | 33.2 | 25.7 |
| Average margin | +22.6 | +19.3 |
| vs. playoff teams | 4-1 | 0-2 |
| vs. winning teams | 5-1 | 1-2 |
| One-score games | 1-0 | — |
| Opponents' combined record | 42-38 | 32-49 |
| Last 3 games | W 63-6, L 13-62, W 55-34 | L 6-50, W 54-16, W 50-14 |
| Streak | Won 1 | Won 2 |
How Hartington-Newcastle got here
Hartington-Newcastle finished the regular season 8-1, scoring 447 points and allowing 266. Its only loss came against a team with a winning record: Crofton (8-1), 62-13. Its best win by opponent was a 42-36 win at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 4-1. In Week 9 it had a 55-34 win over West Holt (5-4). NSAA lists Hartington-Newcastle at 8-1. Our score data doesn't have its Sept. 3 vs. Homer result yet, so the per-game numbers here cover 8 games.
How Centura got here
Centura finished the regular season 7-2, scoring 405 points and allowing 231. Both losses came against teams with winning records: at Ravenna (8-1), 70-14; at Sandy Creek (8-1), 50-6. Its best win by opponent was a 50-19 win at West Holt (5-4). Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 0-2. In Week 9 it had a 50-14 win over Hastings St. Cecilia (2-7).
By the numbers
Shared opponent
They played one of the same opponent. Hartington-Newcastle went 1-0 in those games and Centura went 1-0. Different weeks and sites, so it's a rough guide.
| Opponent | Hartington-Newcastle | Centura |
|---|---|---|
| West Holt | W 55-34 | W 50-19 |
Players to watch
Season totals from MaxPreps game reports through Week 9. Not every game has a report, so treat these as minimums.
Hartington-Newcastle
- A. Sudbeck (QB): 910 passing yards, 51 of 94, 17 TD, 3 INT; also 876 rushing yards
- J. Heimes: 1,005 rushing yards (7.4 per carry), 16 TD
- K. Gratzfeld: 18 catches, 436 yards, 6 TD
- T. Opfer: 67 tackles, 5 for loss
- C. Cavanaugh: 4 sacks
- J. Heimes: 2 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 9 of its 8 games.
Centura
- W. Dvorak (QB): 351 passing yards, 29 of 53, 8 TD, 3 INT; also 1,171 rushing yards
- C. Iron Horse: 516 rushing yards (6.3 per carry), 11 TD
- F. Fries: 58 tackles, 3 for loss
- L. Flores: 3 sacks
- F. Fries: 5 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 Centura slow Hartington-Newcastle's offense? Hartington-Newcastle averaged 55.9 points; Centura allowed 25.7. Hartington-Newcastle scored 30 or more in 7 of 8 games.
- Centura's answer. It scored 45.0 a game, and Hartington-Newcastle's defense allowed 33.2. In its losses, though, Centura averaged 10.0.
- Tested against playoff teams. Hartington-Newcastle went 4-1 against this year's playoff field; Centura went 0-2.
- If it's close late. Centura hasn't played a one-score game (8 points or fewer) this season. Hartington-Newcastle is 1-0 in them.
- A. Sudbeck and the ball. Hartington-Newcastle's quarterback threw 3 interceptions in 94 reported attempts; Centura's F. Fries has 5 picks.
- Stopping W. Dvorak. Centura's top rusher has 1,171 reported yards and 16 touchdowns. Hartington-Newcastle allowed 33.2 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 3 Stanton vs. No. 14 Alma 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 →
Hartington-Newcastle team center → · Centura 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.