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.

* * *

No. 3 OMAHA CENTRAL
District 1

COACH: Jay Ball, 18th season, seventh at Central

LAST SEASON: The Eagles finished 10-2 after losing in the state semifinals.

RETURNING STARTERS: Jack Davis, senior, RB/OLB; Tra-Deon Hollins, senior, WR/CB; Devontay LeFlore, senior, LB; McKenna Kuhn, senior, OG; R.J. Jones, senior, LB; Josh Frezell, senior, DE; Chris Carter, junior, DT

KEY DEPARTURES: The Eagles lost their starting quarterback, Will Burgess, from last season as well as Darian Barrientos-Jackson, who started at receiver and corner.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Davis. The 2011 second-team all-state running back will anchor the Eagles’ ground attack.

ON OFFENSE: Without the services of last year’s starting quarterback Burgess and all-state selection Barrientos-Jackson, the Eagles will likely look the run the ball with Davis out of the I-formation.

ON DEFENSE: Returning defensive linemen Frezell and Carter team with a trio of returning linebackers to lead the front end of Central’s 4-4 defense.

GAME TO WATCH: The Eagles will get their shot at revenge on Aug. 31 when they host Omaha Burke, which knocked Central out of last year’s state playoffs.

DISTRICT OPPONENTS: Bellevue East, Millard West, Omaha Bryan, Omaha Northwest, Omaha Creighton Prep

COACH’S QUOTE: “We should be competitive, but must develop depth along the front lines.”

2012 SCHEDULE
Aug. 24, at Omaha Westside
Aug. 31, Omaha Burke
Sept. 7, at Papillion-La Vista South
Sept. 14, Omaha South
Sept. 21, Bellevue East
Sept. 27, at Millard West
Oct. 5, at Omaha Northwest
Oct. 12, Omaha Bryan
Oct. 19, at Creighton Prep

— Vinny Benedetto

* * *

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