Hoisington and Nemaha Central have each enjoyed a high-level of success and multiple top-five seasons in recent years.
Hoisington coach Zach Baird is the most successful coach in his alma mater’s history with a 99-18 record and two state championship game appearances, a runner-up to Rossville in 2020 and this fall.
Nemaha Central won a state championship in 2019 under long-time coach Warren Seitz and again last fall under Michael Glatzcak.
The Cardinals and Thunder will decide the Class 2A state championship on Saturday at Salina District Stadium.
Kickoff has been moved up to 12:00 P.M. due to the threat of impending winter weather.
This year, both 12-0 programs have enjoyed superlatives for its respective programs – and recent Kansas history.
Hoisington has tallied 551 points, third-most in program annals. The school mark is 597 points, set in a 12-1 season in ’15. Tony Moore has re-written the Hoisington passing record book in the Baird era.
Nemaha Central has permitted 53 total points and 4.4 points per game, the best for all classes in Kansas this season. No non-Olpe 11-man team has allowed fewer points and won a state title since Smith Center in 2007.
Nemaha Central sophomore Carter Hajek has stepped in for his graduated brother and thrown for 931 yards, rushed for 2,165 yards, accounting for 49 touchdowns.
Hajek has 303 carries this season; no one else has more than 30.
The Thunder are elite up front, including senior Holden Bass, who has 107 tackles, 20 for loss. Bass is a likely Top 11 all classes selection and has committed to Northwest Missouri State. Junior Abram Keim has 135 tackles, while junior Sam Nordhus has 128 stops.
Nemaha Central won the Big Seven Conference title in this, its last year of existence and defeated run-heavy teams, such as Sabetha (twice) and Holton.
Hoisington is more balanced offensively and features two consensus top players with Moore and lineman Caiden Hoffman. Hoisington converted a key fourth down against Southeast of Saline on the Cardinal side of the field in the quarterfinals. The Cardinals also had a key fourth down conversion versus Norton.
“I thought (in the Round of 16), we played really tight,” Baird said. “And the whole deal (in the quarterfinals) was just cut it loose and have fun and be aggressive. So if we want the kids to play that way, our thought process was, we’ve got to coach that way.”
The classification’s top offense features 1,455 passing yards and 19 scores from Moore, along with 1,185 rushing yards by Teron Kraft. Moore has rushed for 835 yards and eight scores.
Senior Mason Alderdice has 15 scores on 53 offensive touches. Moore has run the ball more in the playoffs, including 18 carries for 171 yards at Norton last week.
“It’s a team bond,” Alderdice said. “We all fight for one another, and we all pitch in to do it for the guy beside us, and that’s what makes us go.”
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