Football · Preview · Class D2
South Loup at Wilcox-Hildreth: playoff stakes for South Loup
South Loup (4-4) at Wilcox-Hildreth (5-3), Thursday, Oct. 22. Playoff picture, season stats, charts and history before the Week 9 game.
Game-day information: Kickoff reported by the Game Center: 7 p.m. Central. This article’s schedules and statistics are dated reporting, not live score updates.
Scores are NSAA finals. Points and ranks are NSAA wildcard standings, checked Oct. 21, 2026. Projections are not official seeds.
For South Loup, Week 9 is about the playoff line. It sits 16th in Class D2's NSAA point standings, and this is its last chance to move. Both play in District D2-5: South Loup is 1-3 in district games and Wilcox-Hildreth is 3-1.
Thursday, Oct. 22, at Wilcox-Hildreth, 7 p.m.
The playoff picture
In Class D2, the six district champions and the 10 best remaining averages qualify.
South Loup is 16th in Class D2's NSAA point standings at 38.125. It is 1-3 in District D2-5 games.
Wilcox-Hildreth is 11th in Class D2's NSAA point standings at 39.875. It is 3-1 in District D2-5 games.
Projections are not official seeds. NSAA sets the field after Week 9.
How they got here
South Loup (4-4) opened with a 56-14 loss at North Platte St. Patrick's (8-0). Its losses: at North Platte St. Patrick's (8-0), 56-14; Arapahoe (4-4), 38-0; at Bertrand (5-3), 53-6; Loomis (8-0), 66-30. Its best win by opponent record was a 34-30 win at Hemingford (6-2). It comes in on a 3-game losing streak, most recently a 66-30 loss to Loomis (8-0).
Wilcox-Hildreth is 5-3. Its season began with a 48-12 win at Hi-Line (2-6). All three of its losses came against teams with winning records: North Platte St. Patrick's (8-0), 47-6; Deshler (6-2), 24-8; Loomis (8-0), 38-12. Its best win by opponent record was a 60-28 win over Bertrand (5-3). It comes in on a 3-game winning streak, most recently a 60-28 win over Bertrand (5-3).
By the numbers
| South Loup | Wilcox-Hildreth | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 4-4 | 5-3 |
| Class and NSAA rank | D2, 16th (38.125) | D2, 11th (39.875) |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Points scored per game | 28.0 | 37.0 |
| Points allowed per game | 33.4 | 24.9 |
| Average margin | -5.4 | +12.1 |
| Current streak | Lost 3 | Won 3 |
Shared opponents
These two have played six of the same teams. It's a rough guide, since the games came in different weeks and places.
| Opponent | South Loup | Wilcox-Hildreth |
|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe | L 0-38 | W 48-0 |
| Bertrand | L 6-53 | W 60-28 |
| Franklin | W 56-0 | W 66-22 |
| Hi-Line | W 44-18 | W 48-12 |
| Loomis | L 30-66 | L 12-38 |
| North Platte St. Patrick's | L 14-56 | L 6-47 |
Editorial update, Oct. 21: Program-history claims from the supplied school-history mapping are withheld pending school-identity verification. This does not change the current-season results, records or statistics above.
What to watch
- Wilcox-Hildreth's offense. It averages 37.0 points. South Loup allows 33.4.
- South Loup's offense. It averages 28.0; Wilcox-Hildreth allows 24.9.
- South Loup's streak. 3 straight losses.
- Wilcox-Hildreth's streak. 3 straight wins.
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