Football · Preview · Class C1
No. 5 Syracuse vs. No. 12 O'Neill: Class C1 first-round breakdown
No. 5 Syracuse (7-2) hosts No. 12 O'Neill (6-3) in the Class C1 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. 5 Syracuse (7-2) hosts No. 12 O'Neill (6-3) in the first round of the Class C1 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:00 PM CT. Host: Syracuse. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Syracuse finished 2.5556 points ahead of O'Neill in NSAA's point averages. Syracuse scored 28.8 and allowed 15.9 points a game; O'Neill scored 23.8 and allowed 13.6. Syracuse's opponents went a combined 42-39, and O'Neill's went 38-43.
| Syracuse | O'Neill | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 5 | No. 12 |
| Record (NSAA) | 7-2 | 6-3 |
| NSAA point average | 42.8889 | 40.3333 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 8 | Not ranked |
| Points scored / game | 28.8 | 23.8 |
| Points allowed / game | 15.9 | 13.6 |
| Average margin | +12.9 | +10.2 |
| vs. playoff teams | 3-2 | 1-3 |
| vs. winning teams | 3-2 | 0-3 |
| One-score games | 1-0 | 1-1 |
| Opponents' combined record | 42-39 | 38-43 |
| Last 3 games | W 35-7, W 34-6, W 28-0 | L 7-14, W 42-0, W 48-24 |
| Streak | Won 5 | Won 2 |
How Syracuse got here
Syracuse finished the regular season 7-2, scoring 259 points and allowing 143. Both losses came against teams with winning records: at Ashland-Greenwood (7-2), 41-7; at Boys Town (9-0), 40-7. Its best win by opponent was a 42-23 win over Wahoo (7-2), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 3-2. It comes in on a 5-game winning streak, capped by a 28-0 win at Fort Calhoun (2-7) in Week 9. The defense posted two shutouts.
How O'Neill got here
O'Neill finished the regular season 6-3, scoring 214 points and allowing 122. All three losses came against teams with winning records: at Chadron (8-1), 16-0; Ord (7-2), 34-24; at Pierce (9-0), 14-7. Its best win by opponent was a 20-19 win over Central City (4-5), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 1-3. In Week 9 it had a 48-24 win over Wayne (1-8). The defense posted two shutouts.
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.
Syracuse
- J. Janssen (QB): 434 passing yards, 39 of 71, 8 TD, 4 INT
- M. Lintz: 876 rushing yards (8.9 per carry), 10 TD
- O. Eylar: 359 rushing yards (5.0 per carry), 4 TD
- J. Walters: 61 tackles, 2 for loss
- G. Stark: 5 sacks
- M. Lintz: 4 interceptions
MaxPreps game reports cover 8 of its 9 games.
O'Neill
- C. Laursen (QB): 343 passing yards, 32 of 46, 2 TD, 3 INT
- R. Sudbeck: 585 rushing yards (6.8 per carry), 4 TD
- B. Eichelberger: 509 rushing yards (6.8 per carry), 5 TD
- B. Eichelberger: 25 catches, 304 yards, 2 TD
- C. Shoemaker: 110 tackles
- B. Eichelberger: 3 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 O'Neill slow Syracuse's offense? Syracuse averaged 28.8 points; O'Neill allowed 13.6. Syracuse scored 30 or more in 5 of 9 games.
- O'Neill's answer. It scored 23.8 a game, and Syracuse's defense allowed 15.9. In its losses, though, O'Neill averaged 10.3.
- Tested against playoff teams. Syracuse went 3-2 against this year's playoff field; O'Neill went 1-3.
- If it's close late. In one-score games (8 points or fewer), Syracuse was 1-0 and O'Neill was 1-1.
- J. Janssen and the ball. Syracuse's quarterback threw 4 interceptions in 71 reported attempts; O'Neill's B. Eichelberger has 3 picks.
- Stopping M. Lintz. Syracuse's top rusher has 876 reported yards and 10 touchdowns. O'Neill allowed 13.6 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 4 Pierce vs. No. 13 Cozad in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6. Higher seeds host through the semifinals. The Class C1 state final is Tue., Nov. 24, 2:45 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Lincoln.
Game center: kickoff, live score and bracket path → · Full Class C1 bracket →
Verified state finals schedule → · Class bracket →
Syracuse team center → · ONeill 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.