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, Class C-1 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. 5 MINDEN

District 9

COACH: Sam Dunn, 13th season

LAST SEASON: Lost to Norfolk Catholic in the semifinals of the playoffs, finishing the season 11-1

RETURNING STARTERS: Landon Lompke, senior, TE/DE; Ryan Chramosta, senior, RB/DB; Paul Carlson, senior, RB/LB; Isaac Carlson, senior, TE/DB; Sam Fiest, senior, OL/DL; Jared Sanford, senior, OL/DL; Quinn Rutt, junior, RB/LB; Mitch Mueller, junior, OL/DL

PLAYER TO WATCH: Chramosta. Described as a “great football player” by his head coach, Chramosta will be essential to getting the offense going, especially for a team that ran the ball 65 percent of the time the previous year.

KEY DEPARTURE: Derek Kissinger, QB. Kissinger contributed to the ground game while still producing through the air, allowing the Crimson Tide offense to thrive.

KEY NEWCOMERS: Jonas Lovin, senior, QB. Replacing the production of Kissinger is no easy task, but the senior-to-be is hoping to showcase his abilities both as a leader and a dynamic dual threat. He will be asked to do a lot for the offense this year.

ON OFFENSE: Staying healthy is the main objective for the offense, while developing some depth along the way. The team hopes to gain some experience early in the season, allowing the players to have confidence come playoff time.

ON DEFENSE: The defense looks to be a strength for this squad. With a lot of backup experience returning on defense, the coaches are looking for those underclassmen from the previous season to reload a defense that may have to carry the team early in the season.

GAME TO WATCH: Minden travels to district opponent Kearney Catholic — a team that made the Class C-2 finals last year — on Sept. 28.

DISTRICT OPPONENTS: Cozad, Kearney Catholic, Gothenburg, Chase County

COACH’S QUOTE: “We’ll have to develop some leadership. We had a great senior class last year. We just have to develop depth and stay healthy. We have pretty good team speed, and that’s always important.”

2012 SCHEDULE
Aug. 31, at Grand Island Central Catholic
Sept. 7, at Fillmore Central
Sept. 14, Sandy Creek
Sept. 21, Gothenburg
Sept. 28, at Kearney Catholic
Oct. 5, Adams Central
Oct. 12, Cozad
Oct. 19, at Chase County

— Connor Schuessler

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