Football · Preview · Class D6
No. 14 Meridian at No. 3 Garden County: what decides this Class D6 first-round game
No. 3 Garden County (7-1) hosts No. 14 Meridian (5-3) in the Class D6 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 Garden County (7-1) hosts No. 14 Meridian (5-3) in the first round of the Class D6 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 2:30 PM MT. Host: Garden County. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Garden County finished 3.8750 points ahead of Meridian in NSAA's point averages. Garden County scored 52.0 and allowed 10.7 points a game; Meridian scored 40.7 and allowed 28.2. Garden County's opponents went a combined 33-31, and Meridian's went 32-32.
| Garden County | Meridian | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 3 | No. 14 |
| Record (NSAA) | 7-1 | 5-3 |
| NSAA point average | 43.7500 | 39.8750 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 1 | Not ranked |
| Points scored / game | 52.0 | 40.7 |
| Points allowed / game | 10.7 | 28.2 |
| Average margin | +41.3 | +12.5 |
| vs. playoff teams | 3-1 | 1-2 |
| vs. winning teams | 3-1 | 1-2 |
| One-score games | — | 1-0 |
| Opponents' combined record | 33-31 | 32-32 |
| Last 3 games | W 57-0, W 74-26, W 60-6 | L 0-40, L 20-58, W 63-0 |
| Streak | Won 5 | Won 1 |
How Garden County got here
Garden County finished the regular season 7-1, scoring 364 points and allowing 75. Its only loss came against a team with a winning record: at Southwest (5-3), 21-12. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 3-1. It comes in on a 5-game winning streak, capped by a 60-6 win over Leyton (7-1) in Week 9. Its record also includes one 1-0 result (forfeit), left out of the scoring numbers. The defense posted two shutouts.
How Meridian got here
Meridian finished the regular season 5-3, scoring 244 points and allowing 169. Both losses came against teams with winning records: at Diller-Odell (7-1), 40-0; Lewiston (6-2), 58-20. Its best win by opponent was a 40-20 win over Sterling (5-3), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 1-2. In Week 9 it had a 63-0 win at Pawnee City (1-7). Its record also includes one 1-0 result (forfeit), left out of the scoring numbers. NSAA lists Meridian at 5-3. Our score data doesn't have its Sept. 3 at McCool Junction result yet, so the per-game numbers here cover 6 games.
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.
Garden County
- B. Dean: 405 rushing yards (11.6 per carry), 12 TD
- K. Fornander: 381 rushing yards (9.8 per carry), 4 TD
- J. Roberson: 42 tackles, 2 for loss
- L. McColloch: 3 sacks
- J. Roberson: 3 interceptions
- Javis Underwood (LS), one of our top 2027 recruits
MaxPreps game reports cover 7 of its 8 games.
Meridian
- J. Jones (QB): 699 passing yards, 34 of 71, 7 TD, 4 INT; also 618 rushing yards
- M. Haake: 25 catches, 506 yards, 4 TD
- M. Haake: 62 tackles, 3 for loss
- B. Davis: 3 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 6 of its 7 games.
Historical program and playoff-series claims are withheld pending school-identity verification. Current-season reporting above is unaffected.
Keys to the game
- Can Meridian slow Garden County's offense? Garden County averaged 52.0 points; Meridian allowed 28.2. Garden County scored 30 or more in 6 of 7 games.
- Meridian's answer. It scored 40.7 a game, and Garden County's defense allowed 10.7. In its losses, though, Meridian averaged 10.0.
- Tested against playoff teams. Garden County went 3-1 against this year's playoff field; Meridian went 1-2.
- If it's close late. Garden County hasn't played a one-score game (8 points or fewer) this season. Meridian is 1-0 in them.
- J. Jones and the ball. Meridian's quarterback threw 4 interceptions in 71 reported attempts; Garden County's J. Roberson has 3 picks.
- Stopping J. Jones. Meridian's top rusher has 618 reported yards and 16 touchdowns. Garden County allowed 10.7 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 6 Medicine Valley vs. No. 11 Lewiston in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6. In D6, hosting after the first round follows NSAA's alternating rule: a team that was the visitor in its previous game hosts a team that was home; otherwise the higher point average hosts. The Class D6 state final is Fri., Nov. 20, 7 p.m., Cope Stadium, Kearney.
Game center: kickoff, live score and bracket path → · Full Class D6 bracket →
Verified state finals schedule → · Class bracket →
Garden County team center → · Meridian 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.