Leading up to the Nebraska high school football season, NEPrepZone.com will be looking at the top teams in each class, based on last year’s rankings. This week, Eight Man-2 will be in the spotlight with a new post each day. Let us know in the comments how you think each team will finish, as well as players you’ll be watching.

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No. 2 TWIN LOUP

NOTE: The Eight Man-2 No. 2 team in last season’s final rankings was Sargent. But after co-oping with Loup County this year, the schools will play as Twin Loup in Eight Man-1, District 8.

COACH: Mike Kozeal, 15th season

LAST SEASON: Sargent defeated Howells 21-18 to win the state championship, finishing 13-0.

RETURNING STARTERS: Ryan Mosier, Sargent senior, C/DL; Lane Bennett, Sargent senior, G; Dylan Strohl-Yeomans, Loup County senior, TE; Dakota Divine, Sargent junior, G/DL; Chet Hinton, Loup County sophomore, DB

KEY RETURNING PLAYER: Mosier. The 2011 all-stater will anchor the offensive and defensive lines.

KEY DEPARTURE: Jed Fenske. The Nebraska wrestling recruit, who played linebacker and running back for Sargent, led the team with 2,036 yards rushing and 43 touchdowns.

NEWCOMERS: Tyler Viers, senior, RB/LB; Jack Gibbens, junior, QB/LB. Both were backups a season ago, though Viers had 638 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, and Gibbens was 15 of 27 passing.

KEY POSITION CHANGES: Hinton. The sophomore moves from running back to defensive back.

ON OFFENSE: Will a strong offensive line be able to carry the Wolves in a new class until the skill players can develop?

ON DEFENSE: If Mosier can build on his seven sacks from last year’s championship season, the line should be the heart of the defense.

GAME TO WATCH: Oct. 19, at South Loup

DISTRICT OPPONENTS: South Loup, Palmer, Loup City, Ansley-Litchfield

COACH’S QUOTE: “Both schools come off of excellent years in 2011. We should be excellent at the offensive and defensive line. We will have to develop some skill position people in order to be successful.”

2012 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24, Chambers/Wheeler Central
Aug. 31, at Mullen
Sep. 7, at North Central
Sep. 21, Palmer
Sep. 28, Elm Creek
Oct. 5, at Loup City
Oct 12, Ansley-Litchfield
Oct. 19, at South Loup

— Jake Anderson

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For more prep football previews, go to Omaha.com/preppreviews