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 A 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. Also, check out the football preview section in the Sunday World-Herald.

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No. 10 PAPILLION-LA VISTA SOUTH
District 3

RETURNING STARTERS: Ethan Traster, senior, OG; Keron Kefer, junior, DE; Danny Greco, senior, LB; Chris May, senior, LB; Jake Foster, senior, LB.

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No. 9 PAPILLION-LA VISTA
District 2

COACH: Jeff Govier, fifth year

RETURNING STARTERS: Alec Ditoro, junior, QB; Tyler Wrice, senior, RB/CB; Bryce Sheard, senior, WR; Spencer Lewis, senior, WR/DB; Jalen Allison, junior, WR/DB; Kenzo Cotton, junior, CB; Nick Lechtenberg, junior, LB; Elliot Nohr, senior, DE; Tyler Koch, junior, DE/OL

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ditoro. The quarterback threw for 2,634 yards and 28 touchdown last season, and seniors Sheard and Wrice should help carry the offensive load.

— Emily Gregger

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No. 8 MILLARD WEST
District 1

COACH: Kirk Peterson, 10th season

RETURNING STARTERS: Austin Walenz, senior, LB; Parker Leinbaugh, senior, DB; Skyler Monaghan, junior, WR; Ross Drwal, junior, QB; Mark Nellis, senior, OL; Harrison Phillips, junior, DL; Logan Davis, senior, RB

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Drwal and Monaghan. Drwal, the returning quarterback, is capable of throwing deep or running. He hopes to continue the chemistry with his No. 1 option from the previous season, returning 1,000-yard receiver Monaghan.

COACH’S QUOTE: “Our expectations are always high. Our kids just have to learn how to practice with the right tempo and bring consistent effort on a daily basis. The sooner this team learns how to do that, the better off we’re going to be.”

— Connor Shuessler

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No. 7 MILLARD SOUTH
District 3

COACH: Andy Means, seventh season

RETURNING STARTERS: Anthony Cloyd, junior, QB; Bryce Sosnowski, junior, DL; Freeman Coleman, senior, DL; Matt Kraft, senior, LB; Keeton Hutchinson, senior, DB; Bryce Stinger, senior, DB; Drayton Walter, senior, OL; Bennie Olson, senior, RB; Quentin Williams, senior, RB; Jake Halcomb, senior, LB/RB; Scott Botkin, junior, K

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sosnowski and Coleman. On defense, this duo combined to earn all-metro and second-team all-state honors last year, and they plan to form an imposing wall against the opposition again this season.

COACH’S QUOTE: “We’re a lot more experienced than we were last year. And that’s huge. We were reacting more last year and that kind of slowed us down because of our lack of experience. We played a lot of these guys as juniors and we got a lot better as the season went on. We’re just hoping that experience will carry over into this season.”

— Connor Shuessler

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No. 6 MILLARD NORTH

COACH: Fred Petito, 29th season

RETURNING STARTERS: Nick Roth, senior, DE; Connor Mattens, senior, RB; Isaac AAkre, senior, QB; Branden Vanderhorst, junior, OL/DL; Nick DeLuca, senior, LB; Steven Price, senior, OL/DL; Clay Fisher, junior, DB; Kyle Mcclain, senior, OL/DL; Andy Bayne, junior, K; Cody Thorson, senior, LB; Mike Milinkovich, senior, OL/DL.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Aarke. Rushing for 1,829 yards last season and scoring 24 touchdowns, the former all-state selection will lead the run-heavy offense at quarterback, hoping to improve upon his impressive numbers.

COACH’S QUOTE: “We will be competitive in our class. We’ve got a lot of returning players and newcomers that should help us out.”

— Connor Shuessler

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