Aquinas Catholic 41, East Butler 6: Week 8 Class D2 final

BRAINARD, Neb. — Aquinas Catholic beat East Butler 41-6 on the road Friday in Class D2 football. Aquinas Catholic is 6-2 and East Butler is 6-2.

The playoff picture

Aquinas Catholic was at No. 9 of 36 in D2 by NSAA wildcard average (40.8750), No. 8 in the Class D2 Hurrdat Sports coaches poll; East Butler was at T-6 of 36 in D2 by NSAA wildcard average (41.5000), No. 3 in the Class D2 Hurrdat Sports coaches poll.

Those ranks are from NSAA's wildcard page as of Oct. 17 at 7:42 a.m. CT, which counted this game, and are projections, not seeds. 16 teams qualify in D2. Compared with NSAA's Oct. 16 update at 11:07 a.m., Aquinas Catholic climbed from No. 12 (40.0000) and East Butler slipped from T-4 (42.7143).

At the Oct. 17 update, Aquinas Catholic's 40.8750 average was 2.7500 points above the No. 16 average (38.1250), and East Butler's 41.5000 average was 3.3750 points above the No. 16 average (38.1250).

Series

NSAA records since 2020 show no earlier regular-season meeting between the two.

Season so far

In eight scored games on NSAA's 2026 schedule, Aquinas Catholic has outscored opponents 279-154, an average margin of +15.6 points a game. Its wins: Superior (43-20), Lyons-Decatur Northeast (49-0), Fullerton (39-20), Omaha Christian (43-14), Humphrey-Lindsay (42-12), East Butler (41-6). Its losses: Howells-Dodge (14-36), Lourdes Central Catholic (8-46). That is three straight wins.

In eight scored games on NSAA's 2026 schedule, East Butler has outscored opponents 372-193, an average margin of +22.4 points a game. Its wins: Weeping Water (52-30), Oakland-Craig (76-14), Twin River (60-18), Howells-Dodge (38-26), Omaha Christian (36-6), Humphrey-Lindsay (82-18). Its losses: Shelby-Rising City (22-40), Aquinas Catholic (6-41). That is two straight losses.

The two share three common opponents this season: Howells-Dodge (Aquinas Catholic lost 36-14; East Butler won 38-26); Humphrey-Lindsay (Aquinas Catholic won 42-12; East Butler won 82-18); Omaha Christian (Aquinas Catholic won 43-14; East Butler won 36-6).

Next

Aquinas Catholic hosts Shelby-Rising City (8-0) on Fri., Oct. 23; East Butler visits Lourdes Central Catholic (6-2) on Fri., Oct. 23.

Sources: secure.nsaahome.org; secure.nsaahome.org; hurrdatsports.com.

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