Football · Preview · Class D1
No. 2 Sandy Creek hosts No. 15 Ponca: the numbers behind the Class D1 opener
No. 2 Sandy Creek (8-1) hosts No. 15 Ponca (5-4) in the Class D1 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 Sandy Creek (8-1) hosts No. 15 Ponca (5-4) in the first round of the Class D1 playoffs.
The game is Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:00 PM CT. Host: Sandy Creek. Current Game Center and source links →
The matchup at a glance
Sandy Creek finished 6.0000 points ahead of Ponca in NSAA's point averages. Sandy Creek scored 56.2 and allowed 16.6 points a game; Ponca scored 42.2 and allowed 39.4. Sandy Creek's opponents went a combined 52-29, and Ponca's went 43-38.
| Sandy Creek | Ponca | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 2 | No. 15 |
| Record (NSAA) | 8-1 | 5-4 |
| NSAA point average | 45.7778 | 39.7778 |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | No. 2 | Receiving votes |
| Points scored / game | 56.2 | 42.2 |
| Points allowed / game | 16.6 | 39.4 |
| Average margin | +39.7 | +2.9 |
| vs. playoff teams | 5-1 | 1-3 |
| vs. winning teams | 6-1 | 1-4 |
| One-score games | 0-1 | — |
| Opponents' combined record | 52-29 | 43-38 |
| Last 3 games | W 50-6, W 64-8, W 60-28 | W 38-6, L 12-62, L 12-57 |
| Streak | Won 7 | Lost 2 |
How Sandy Creek got here
Sandy Creek finished the regular season 8-1, scoring 506 points and allowing 149. Its only loss came against a team with a winning record: Johnson-Brock (9-0), 34-26. Its best win by opponent was a 44-8 win over Central Valley (8-1), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 5-1. It comes in on a 7-game winning streak, capped by a 60-28 win over Ravenna (8-1) in Week 9.
How Ponca got here
Ponca finished the regular season 5-4, scoring 338 points and allowing 315. All four losses came against teams with winning records: at Crofton (8-1), 64-22; Hartington-Newcastle (8-1), 78-60; Stanton (9-0), 62-12; at Pender (5-4), 57-12. Its best win by opponent was a 38-6 win at Wisner-Pilger (7-2), a playoff team. Against teams that made this year's playoff field, it went 1-3. In Week 9 it had a 57-12 loss at Pender (5-4). Its record also includes one 1-0 result (forfeit), left out of the scoring numbers.
By the numbers
Shared opponent
They played one of the same opponent. Sandy Creek went 1-0 in those games and Ponca went 0-1. Different weeks and sites, so it's a rough guide.
| Opponent | Sandy Creek | Ponca |
|---|---|---|
| Pender | W 76-26 | L 12-57 |
Players to watch
Season totals from MaxPreps game reports through Week 9. Not every game has a report, so treat these as minimums.
Sandy Creek
- K. Sealey (QB): 2,359 passing yards, 128 of 174, 35 TD, 4 INT; also 1,263 rushing yards
- W. Livgren: 344 rushing yards (6.9 per carry), 6 TD
- L. Tomky: 33 catches, 778 yards, 13 TD
- C. Shaw: 46 tackles, 7 for loss
MaxPreps game reports cover 9 of its 9 games.
Ponca
- C. Cleveland (QB): 645 passing yards, 48 of 72, 5 TD, 2 INT; also 802 rushing yards
- K. Byrne: 553 rushing yards (12.0 per carry), 15 TD
- P. Ehlers: 14 catches, 209 yards, 1 TD
- C. Bostwick: 73 tackles, 4 for loss
- J. Swick: 3 sacks
MaxPreps game reports cover 7 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 Ponca slow Sandy Creek's offense? Sandy Creek averaged 56.2 points; Ponca allowed 39.4. Sandy Creek scored 30 or more in 8 of 9 games.
- Ponca's answer. It scored 42.2 a game, and Sandy Creek's defense allowed 16.6. In its losses, though, Ponca averaged 26.5.
- Tested against playoff teams. Sandy Creek went 5-1 against this year's playoff field; Ponca went 1-3.
- If it's close late. Ponca hasn't played a one-score game (8 points or fewer) this season. Sandy Creek is 0-1 in them.
- K. Sealey and the ball. Sandy Creek's quarterback threw 4 interceptions in 174 reported attempts.
- Stopping K. Sealey. Sandy Creek's top rusher has 1,263 reported yards and 22 touchdowns. Ponca allowed 39.4 points a game.
What's next
The winner plays the winner of No. 7 Sutton vs. No. 10 Wisner-Pilger in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6. Higher seeds host through the semifinals. The Class D1 state final is Mon., Nov. 23, 2:45 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Lincoln.
Game center: kickoff, live score and bracket path → · Full Class D1 bracket →
Verified state finals schedule → · Class bracket →
Sandy Creek team center → · Ponca 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.