Football · Preview · Class D1
Thayer Central at Tri County: playoff stakes for Tri County
Thayer Central (4-4) at Tri County (6-2), Friday, Oct. 23. 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 Tri County, Week 9 is about the playoff line. It sits 16th in Class D1's NSAA point standings, and this is its last chance to move. Both play in District D1-1: Thayer Central is 3-1 in district games and Tri County is 3-1.
Friday, Oct. 23, at Tri County, 7 p.m.
The playoff picture
In Class D1, the seven district champions and the nine best remaining averages qualify.
Thayer Central is 22nd in Class D1's NSAA point standings at 38.125. It is 3-1 in District D1-1 games.
Tri County is 16th in Class D1's NSAA point standings at 39.750. It is 3-1 in District D1-1 games.
Projections are not official seeds. NSAA sets the field after Week 9.
How they got here
Thayer Central (4-4) opened with a 42-18 loss to Cross County (5-3). Its losses: Cross County (5-3), 42-18; Hanover, KS, 62-20; at Alma (5-3), 52-34; at Johnson-Brock (8-0), 49-26. Its best win by opponent record was a 46-14 win at Superior (4-4). Last week it had a 58-22 win at Fairbury (0-8).
Tri County is 6-2. Its season began with a 40-36 win over Centennial (4-4). All two of its losses came against teams with winning records: Elmwood-Murdock (5-3), 50-8; Johnson-Brock (8-0), 54-8. Its best win by opponent record was a 40-36 win over Centennial (4-4). It comes in on a 3-game winning streak, most recently a 42-14 win at Falls City (2-6).
By the numbers
| Thayer Central | Tri County | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 4-4 | 6-2 |
| Class and NSAA rank | D1, 22nd (38.125) | D1, 16th (39.750) |
| Coaches poll (Oct. 18) | Not ranked | Not ranked |
| Points scored per game | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| Points allowed per game | 35.9 | 30.0 |
| Average margin | +2.9 | +9.6 |
| Current streak | Won 2 | Won 3 |
Shared opponents
These two have played four of the same teams. It's a rough guide, since the games came in different weeks and places.
| Opponent | Thayer Central | Tri County |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbury | W 58-22 | W 74-14 |
| Falls City | W 54-8 | W 42-14 |
| Johnson County Central | W 54-38 | W 28-26 |
| Johnson-Brock | L 26-49 | L 8-54 |
Players to know
Among the leaders in MaxPreps game reports through Week 8: Thayer Central's O. McLaughlin (1,303 rushing yards in 7 reported games). Reports aren't complete for every game, so treat these as minimums.
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
- Tri County's offense. It averages 39.6 points. Thayer Central allows 35.9.
- Thayer Central's offense. It averages 38.8; Tri County allows 30.0.
- Tri County's streak. 3 straight wins.
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