High school football rankings: Bellevue West tops Nebraska Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

Thunderbirds looking for third state title in last six years.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Dean Backes
By
Aug 18, 2021, 10:30am
The 2021 high school football season kicks off this weekend in Nebraska with a handful of games before opening the floodgates next weekend, and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Coming off a 6-1 campaign last fall, Bellevue West owns the No. 1 spot in our Preseason Top 25.

The Thunderbirds outscored opponents 336-132 during an abbreviated season in 2020. Bellevue West has established a strong tradition of championship football as of late, winning the Nebraska School Activities Association state title in 2016 and 2019. They finished as runner-up a year ago and have gone 51-5 over the past five seasons.

Four of the Cornhusker State's Top 5 programs open the 2021 campaign against a ranked foe. Bellevue West will host No. 24 Omaha Burke a week from Thursday to get their big school championship run going. Second-ranked Pierce hosts No. 6 St. Paul in other Top 5 action while No. 3 Archbishop Bergan hosts No. 17 Yutan, No. 4 Omaha Westside travels to No. 21 Creighton Prep and No. 5 Oakland-Craig hosts Ponca.

St. Paul, Millard South, Lincoln Southeast, Wahoo and Central City round out the Cornhusker State's Top 10. Defending state champions include Omaha Westside (Class A), Elkhorn (Class B), Pierce (Class C1), Ord (Class C2), Dundy County Stratton (Class D1/8-Man), Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (Class D2/8-Man) and McCool Junction (Class D6/6-Man).

See the complete list below.
Oklahoma commit Kaden Helms hauls in the pass for Bellevue West last season.
Oklahoma commit Kaden Helms hauls in the pass for Bellevue West last season.
File Photo: Samuel Mfinanga
Nebraska Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. Bellevue West (Bellevue), 6-1
2. Pierce, 12-0
3. Archbishop Bergan (Fremont), 12-1
4. Omaha Westside (Omaha), 12-0
5. Oakland-Craig (Oakland), 9-2
6. St. Paul (St. Paul), 10-2
7. Millard South (Omaha), 8-2
8. Lincoln Southeast (Lincoln), 8-1
9. Wahoo, 7-3
10. Central City, 4-4
11. Ord, 11-0
12. Ashland-Greenwood (Ashland), 10-1
13. Lincoln East (Lincoln), 7-3
14. Waverly, 8-3
15. Elkhorn South (Omaha), 10-2
16. Norris (Firth), 8-3
17. Yutan, 9-2
18. Adams Central (Hastings), 10-3
19. Gretna, 6-2
20. Elkhorn, 11-2
21. Creighton Prep (Omaha), 6-3
22. Northwest (Grand Island), 6-4
23. Aquinas (David City), 8-3
24. Burke (Omaha), 0-0
25. Wayne, 6-4

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