Football · Preview · Class D3
No. 2 Central Valley hosts No. 15 Falls City Sacred Heart: the numbers behind the Class D3 opener
No. 2 Central Valley (8-1) hosts No. 15 Falls City Sacred Heart (6-3) 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. 2 Central Valley (8-1) hosts No. 15 Falls City Sacred Heart (6-3) in the first round of the Class D3 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 5:00 PM CT. Reported site: Wolbach. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Central Valley finished 4.0000 points ahead of Falls City Sacred Heart in NSAA's point averages. Central Valley scored 52.3 and allowed 10.9 points a game; Falls City Sacred Heart scored 30.9 and allowed 29.2. Central Valley's opponents went a combined 46-35, and Falls City Sacred Heart's went 37-44.
| Central Valley | Falls City Sacred Heart | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 2 | No. 15 |
| Record (NSAA) | 8-1 | 6-3 |
| NSAA point average | 45.4444 | 41.4444 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 1 | Not ranked |
| Points scored / game | 52.3 | 30.9 |
| Points allowed / game | 10.9 | 29.2 |
| Average margin | +41.4 | +1.7 |
| vs. playoff teams | 4-1 | 0-3 |
| vs. winning teams | 4-1 | 0-3 |
| One-score games | — | 2-1 |
| Opponents' combined record | 46-35 | 37-44 |
| Last 3 games | W 62-0, W 73-0, W 44-14 | L 0-72, L 20-66, W 54-16 |
| Streak | Won 5 | Won 1 |
How Central Valley got here
Central Valley finished the regular season 8-1, scoring 471 points and allowing 98. Its only loss came against a team with a winning record: at Sandy Creek (8-1), 44-8. Its best win by opponent was a 38-0 win over Twin Loup (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 4-1. It comes in on a 5-game winning streak, capped by a 44-14 win at Burwell (7-2) in Week 9. The defense posted three shutouts.
How Falls City Sacred Heart got here
Falls City Sacred Heart finished the regular season 6-3, scoring 278 points and allowing 263. All three losses came against teams with winning records: at Lourdes Central Catholic (7-2), 36-28; Lawrence-Nelson (9-0), 72-0; at Deshler (7-2), 66-20. Its best win by opponent was a 12-8 win over Osceola (4-5). Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 0-3. In Week 9 it had a 54-16 win over Southern (0-9).
By the numbers
Shared opponent
They played one of the same opponent. Central Valley went 1-0 in those games and Falls City Sacred Heart went 1-0. Different weeks and sites, so it's a rough guide.
| Opponent | Central Valley | Falls City Sacred Heart |
|---|---|---|
| Osceola | W 68-8 | W 12-8 |
Players to watch
Season totals from MaxPreps game reports through Week 9. Not every game has a report, so treat these as minimums.
Central Valley
- L. Nekoliczak (QB): 513 passing yards, 48 of 81, 12 TD, 4 INT
- L. Shoemaker: 679 rushing yards (10.3 per carry), 17 TD
- W. Pokorny: 517 rushing yards (7.4 per carry), 11 TD
- L. Shoemaker: 19 catches, 225 yards, 5 TD
- W. Pokorny: 70 tackles, 21 for loss
- D. Dugan: 2 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 9 of its 9 games.
Falls City Sacred Heart
- H. Clow (QB): 1,260 passing yards, 91 of 151, 12 TD, 3 INT
- K. Groth: 578 rushing yards (6.8 per carry), 12 TD
- N. Howard: 340 rushing yards (4.2 per carry), 4 TD
- C. Rottinghaus: 41 catches, 484 yards, 6 TD
- C. Rottinghaus: 94 tackles
- T. Stutheit: 11 sacks
- N. Howard: 4 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 9 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 Falls City Sacred Heart slow Central Valley's offense? Central Valley averaged 52.3 points; Falls City Sacred Heart allowed 29.2. Central Valley scored 30 or more in 8 of 9 games.
- Falls City Sacred Heart's answer. It scored 30.9 a game, and Central Valley's defense allowed 10.9. In its losses, though, Falls City Sacred Heart averaged 16.0.
- Tested against playoff teams. Central Valley went 4-1 against this year's playoff field; Falls City Sacred Heart went 0-3.
- If it's close late. Central Valley hasn't played a one-score game (8 points or fewer) this season. Falls City Sacred Heart is 2-1 in them.
- L. Nekoliczak and the ball. Central Valley's quarterback threw 4 interceptions in 81 reported attempts; Falls City Sacred Heart's N. Howard has 4 picks.
- Stopping L. Shoemaker. Central Valley's top rusher has 679 reported yards and 17 touchdowns. Falls City Sacred Heart allowed 29.2 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 7 Twin Loup vs. No. 10 Deshler 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 →
Central Valley team center → · Falls City Sacred Heart 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.