Neligh-Oakdale 90, Ainsworth 26: Week 8 Class D2 final

NELIGH, Neb. — Neligh-Oakdale beat Ainsworth 90-26 at home Friday in Class D2 football. Neligh-Oakdale is 6-2 and Ainsworth is 2-6.

The playoff picture

Neligh-Oakdale was at No. 13 of 36 in D2 by NSAA wildcard average (39.3750); Ainsworth was at No. 31 of 36 in D2 by NSAA wildcard average (33.7500). 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., Neligh-Oakdale held at No. 13 (39.1429) and Ainsworth slipped from No. 30 (34.2857).

At the Oct. 17 update, Neligh-Oakdale's 39.3750 average was 1.2500 points above the No. 16 average (38.1250), and Ainsworth's 33.7500 average was 4.3750 points below the No. 16 average (38.1250).

Series

Before this game, Neligh-Oakdale was 3-1 against Ainsworth in regular-season meetings in NSAA records since 2020. The last one was Neligh-Oakdale's 40-28 win at Neligh-Oakdale on Sept. 19, 2025.

Season so far

In eight scored games on NSAA's 2026 schedule, Neligh-Oakdale has outscored opponents 494-206, an average margin of +36.0 points a game. Its wins: Humphrey-Lindsay (44-12), Bancroft-Rosalie (80-10), Newman Grove/St. Edward (76-28), Madison (70-6), Niobrara-Verdigre (70-20), Ainsworth (90-26). Its losses: Shelby-Rising City (20-44), Creighton (44-60).

In eight scored games on NSAA's 2026 schedule, Ainsworth has been outscored 321-106, an average margin of -26.9 points a game. Its wins: North Central (13-6), Niobrara-Verdigre (33-18). Its losses: West Holt (16-39), Sandhills/Thedford (9-34), St. Mary's (0-52), Creighton (7-64), Bloomfield (2-18), Neligh-Oakdale (26-90). That is three straight losses.

The two share two common opponents this season: Creighton (Neligh-Oakdale lost 60-44; Ainsworth lost 64-7); Niobrara-Verdigre (Neligh-Oakdale won 70-20; Ainsworth won 33-18).

Next

Neligh-Oakdale visits Bloomfield (2-5, with its Week 8 game not yet scored by NSAA) on Thu., Oct. 22; Ainsworth visits Madison (0-8) on Fri., Oct. 23.

Sources: secure.nsaahome.org; secure.nsaahome.org.

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