Jack Poppe isn't most players.
He led Doniphan-Trumbull in receiving yards last season.
Jack Poppe isn't most players. He led Doniphan-Trumbull in receiving yards last season. He also led the Cardinals in interceptions. Now the senior wants to take his team farther.
He also led the Cardinals in interceptions.
He averaged 16.5 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game, too. That came while leading Doniphan-Trumbull to the state basketball tournament, earning first-team Class C-1 honors for the second straight season.
Then there was track. Poppe competed in four events at state, finishing second in the Class C triple jump.
He does a little bit of everything, the definition of a utility player. Take the Cardinals' second game last season. Poppe had 10 catches for 192 yards with four touchdowns against Centura. He made nine tackles, too.
The (mostly) receiver said traits from his other sports translate to the football field.
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“The skill sets and different components of track and basketball have helped me,” Poppe said. “Like with triple jump, you need strong legs and mobility. In basketball, you cut and jump. It helps me be a lot more athletic.”
That athleticism means the senior lines up everywhere, on both sides. Even quarterback, where he never played until last season.
Most players couldn't fill in at the most demanding position in the game with little experience. Again, Poppe isn’t most players.
“The skill sets and different components of track and basketball have helped me,” Jack Poppe said. “Like with triple jump, you need strong legs and mobility. In basketball, you cut and jump. It helps me be a lot more athletic.”
“We've always asked a lot of him, and he's always been willing to give us a lot,” Doniphan-Trumbull coach Jordan Conner said. “The situation required it, too, and we wouldn't have been where we were at the end of the year without him and him being willing to sacrifice.”
At quarterback, Poppe led the Cardinals to two wins, including a come-from-behind victory against Cross County. In those two games, he completed three passes for 6 yards but had nine carries for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Though Poppe was successful in three sports last year, none ended how he wanted.
Toward the end of football season, he was sidelined by an ankle injury. When he returned, he said he felt about 50%.
Doniphan-Trumbull made the C-2 playoffs but lost in the first round to Wood River, which also beat the Cardinals in their regular-season finale.
In basketball, Doniphan-Trumbull came into state as the seventh seed. It upset Ogallala in the second round before a 54-45 loss to Omaha Concordia in the semifinal.
Though Poppe got a silver medal in track, that wasn’t quite good enough.
“I feel like I could’ve done better,” Poppe said.
And doing better — in each sport — is the goal his senior season. That includes making the semifinal in football, winning a state medal in basketball and winning gold at state track.
This summer, Poppe said, he mostly focused on football and basketball, juggling camps and AAU tournaments, but he spreads out his weeks enough to make time for track.
Now there's something else in his repertoire.
He has recently become a vocal leader. Conner said Poppe used to be the lead-by-example type but is using his voice more as an upperclassman.
"I was just kind of sitting back and getting led by the older guys, letting them take over,” Poppe said. “Now it's kind of shifted to where we need to be the leaders and I need to take accountability and ownership every game.”
Given all those traits, his coach said the most important one is his presence.
“Guys know when Jack's around," Conner said. "Everybody's a little bit calmer, everybody's a little bit more focused. Everybody feels like they can accomplish a little bit more because they get the opportunity to play with him.”
Because Poppe isn't most players.
By Ben Beecham
Top 10 teams
1. Norfolk Catholic (13-0): No 11-man team has strung together four consecutive perfect seasons. The first two games and the last two on the Knights’ schedule will tell whether the streak reaches the playoffs. Their defense is young, their backfield has experience but there’s a need to develop the O-line and receivers for returning quarterback Callen Marshall. Returning starters: 4 offense, 3 defense.
2. Hartington Cedar Catholic (9-2): Trojans are deep in a lot of areas. The reloading occurs in the lines around Will Steffen, Sam Wiebelhaus and Jared Rutar. Hunter Bensen or Grady Haberer could start at quarterback. Breiton Whitmire was a 1,000-yard rusher backed up by sophomore punter Micah Cattau, a returning all-stater. Returning starters: 6, 7.
3. Kearney Catholic (9-3): "The desire to get one degree hotter," as in taking a state semifinalist the final step, is a starting point for the Stars, coach Rashawn Harvey said. That, and the amount of returning experience, are the team's strengths. Inside linebackers Daymeion Van Metre and Keaton Wemhoff are the teeth of the defense. Jake Bosshamer threw for 2,200 yards last year as a sophomore and is expected to run more this year. Returning starters: 7, 7.
4. Boone Central (6-4): Thanks to winning state two years ago, the Cardinals play one of C-2’s most demanding schedules. Coach Mark Hudson said even with six returning starters, there is competition for 10 of the 11 positions on offense. Brogan Benes, the only sophomore starter on that 2023 team, ran for 1,637 yards last year despite being targeted by defenses. Returning starters: 6, 6.
5. Battle Creek (9-3): The returning starters list goes two deep, as in all-state lineman Connor Heideman and running back/linebacker Casey Schnabel. The Braves’ tradition suggests the falloff from a semifinal team might be minimal. Returning starters: 2, 2.
6. Wahoo Neumann (11-2): New coach Joseph Pavlik takes over a state runner-up not short on starters, but with All-Nebraska running back Conor Booth off to the Huskers. Jack Van Slyke and Quinn Schutt head the defense. Most of the offensive line returns. Beau Fujan should take over at quarterback. Returning starters: 5, 7.
7. Ord (4-6): The Chanticleers hope to be healthier this time around after five regulars missed multiple games. “We have a bunch of potential," coach Nate Wells said. Colt Meyer is their top lineman, Jordan Williams returns at quarterback. Returning starters: 12, 14.
8. Raymond Central (8-3): Eight wins were the Mustangs’ most since 2000. “Our top-end, talented core of seniors has seen how to win," coach Tony Kobza said. Quarterback Wyatt Jelinek has his explosive receiver, all-stater Tavion Johnson, to throw to. Oliver Echtenkamp and Drew Tice are returning two-way linemen. Returning starters: 5, 7.
9. Malcolm (8-3): After a three-year record of 27-6, the Clippers face a reloading season. Brixon Meyer, Jake Walters, Justin Wisnieski and sophomore lineman Tregan Frank return on offense, Meyer and Preston Kucera on defense. It’s Matt Coufal’s first team after 18-year coach Scott Amen retired. Returning starters: 4, 2.
10. Fremont Bergan (4-5): The Knights start with a mostly intact lineup — nine two-way starters — that has added players due to moves, return from injury and transfers. Three games lost in crunch time have been an offseason motivator. Home games remain at the city’s Heedum Field. Returning starters: 10, 9.
By Stu Pospisil
Players to watch
Returning all-staters
Tavion Johnson, Raymond Central, WR, 6-2, 190, Sr.: In the Mustangs’ turnaround season, he averaged 27 yards per catch.
Leighton Burbach, Norfolk Catholic, OL, 6-8, 270, Sr.: Northwestern commit made big strides last year for state champs.
Connor Heiderman, Battle Creek, DL, 6-3, 265, Sr.: Game-changing lineman is part of a team reloading.
Jack Van Slyke, Wahoo Neumann, LB, 6-2, 210, Sr.: Middle linebacker was in on 157 tackles as a junior.
Jack Poppe, Doniphan-Trumbull, WR/DB, 6-3, 165, Sr.: His coach considers him the best skill player in C-2.
Micah Cattau, Hartington Cedar Catholic, RB/LB/P, 5-11, 180, So.: Returning C-2 all-state punter becomes a key defensive asset.
Others to watch
Isaac Cronin, Valentine, WR/DB, 6-4, 180, Sr.: State high jump champion will be in his second year of football.
Jake Bosshamer, Kearney Catholic, QB, 5-10, 165, Jr.: Dual-threat quarterback has an accurate arm.
Brogan Benes, Boone Central, RB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.: Carried the Cardinals to the playoffs last year.
Braxton Glines, Lincoln Lutheran, QB, 6-2, 170, Sr.: Better experience in his WR corps could improve his numbers.
Will Steffen, Hartington Cedar Catholic, OL/DL, 6-2, 260, Sr.: Explosive off the ball with quick feet.
Colt Meyer, Ord, OL/DL, 6-0, 230, Sr.: Best and most consistent of the Chants, his coach said.
By Stu Pospisil
Games to watch
Wahoo Neumann at Norfolk Catholic, Aug. 29: Norfolk Catholic won 28-21 in the regular season, then followed up with a 27-13 title-game win.
Kearney Catholic at Ord, Sept. 5: Middle game of a rugged opening stretch for Ord.
Auburn at Lincoln Lutheran, Sept. 5: Auburn hung on for a 21-17 win last season. Lutheran’s first five foes were a combined 41-13 in 2024.
Grand Island Central Catholic at Malcolm, Sept. 5: GICC just missed the playoffs despite a 6-3 record — one loss was 24-7 to Malcolm.
Raymond Central at Malcolm, Oct. 10: Raymond Central won't sneak up on anyone this season.
Norfolk Catholic at Battle Creek, Oct. 17: Only a Pierce-Norfolk Catholic game rivals this rivalry game in northeast Nebraska.
Hartington Cedar Catholic at Norfolk Catholic, Oct. 24: Will the preseason top two keep their spots in prior to this game?
Raymond Central at Wahoo Neumann, Oct. 24: Playoff implications galore could ride on this Saunders County showdown.
Valentine at Kearney Catholic, Oct. 24: After Valentine's 20-14 win, the Stars got immediate payback with a 24-0 victory in the playoffs.
By Stu Pospisil
Photos: All-Nebraska football teams through the years
2024
The Omaha World-Herald 2024 All-Nebraska Football Team, (front row, from left), Bennington's Kyler Lauridsen, Wahoo Neumann's Conor Booth, Omaha Westside's Christian Jones, Millard South's Carter Glab, Omaha Westside's Keynan Cotton, Papillion-La Vista's Logan Holtmeyer, Omaha Central's Ike Ackerman, Omaha Westside's Tay Tay Jenkins, (middle row, from left), Omaha Skutt's Joe Kolega, Omaha North's Tyson Terry, Millard South's Adam Pugh, Omaha North's Darion Jones, Omaha North's Max Clark, Millard South's Amarion Jackson, Millard South's DaShawn Prince, (back rom, from left), Kearney's Sawyer Schilke, Kearney's Jake Kracl, Millard South's Jett Thomalla, Gretna's Kalvin Janssen, Millard South's Isaac Jensen, Papillion-La Vista's Garin Maley, Millard South's Chase Loftin, Omaha North's Connor Cook, pose for a photo at Warren Academy in the Omaha Sports Complex in Omaha on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
2023
2023 All-Nebraska football team: (front row, from left) Millard South's Amarion Jackson, Omaha Westside's Jahmez Ross, Millard West's Jackson Williams, Omaha Westside's Beau Ryan, Ainsworth's Carter Nelson; (second row, from left) Omaha Central's Caleb Pyfrom, Omaha Westside's Teddy Rezac, Omaha North's Tyson Terry, Omaha Westside's Caleb Benning, Lincoln East's Dash Bauman, Millard South's JR Lecuona; (third row from left) Millard South's Max Gray, Omaha Westside's Anthony Rezac, Omaha Creighton Prep's Zac McLeay, Wahoo Neumann's Conor Booth, Elkhorn South's Ashton Murphy, Omaha Westside's Christian Jones; (back row, from left) Columbus' Kael Forney, Papillion-La Vista's Payton Prestito, Omaha Westside's Jack Wing, Gretna's Kalvin Janssen, Omaha Westside's Broc Regner, Omaha North's Donovan Jones and Kearney's Sawyer Schilke.
2022
2022 All-Nebraska football team: From top left: Grenta’s Zane Flores (honorary captain), Lincoln Southeast’s Gunnar Gottula, Omaha Central’s Caleb Pyfrom, Gretna’s Mason Goldman, Millard South’s Lance Rucker, Gretna’s Korver Demma, Grand Island Northwest’s Victor Isele, Elkhorn South’s Maverick Noonan, Omaha Westside’s Curt Cubrich, Grand Island’s Jace Chrisman, Omaha Westside’s Tristan Alvano and Omaha Creighton Prep’s Sam Sledge. Front row: Omaha Gross’ Sal Nacarelli, Bellevue West’s Isaiah McMorris, Omaha North’s Te’Shaun Porter, Elkhorn South’s Cole Ballard, Pierce’s Ben Brahmer (honorary captain), Bellevue West’s Daniel Kaelin, Grand Island’s Colton Marsh, Omaha Westside’s Caleb Benning, North Platte’s Kolten Tilford, Millard South’s Brock Murtaugh, Omaha Creighton Prep’s Marty Brown and Omaha Westside’s Jaylen Lloyd.
2021
2021 All-Nebraska football team: Sitting, from left: Grand Island's Kytan Fyfe, Omaha Westside's Caleb Benning, Bellevue West's Micah Riley-Ducker, Fremont Bergan's Koa McIntyre, Millard South's Gage Stenger, North Platte's Vince Genatone. Standing, from left: Omaha Westside's Tristan Alvano, Aurora's Gage Griffith, Elkhorn South's Maverick Noonan, Omaha North's Keshaun Williams, Papillion-La Vista's Will Hubert, Gretna's Mick Huber, Omaha Burke's Devon Jackson, Bennington's Dylan Mostek, Gretna's Zane Flores, Bellevue West's LJ Richardson, Columbus's Ernest Hausmann, Bellevue West's Henry Rickels, Gretna's Mason Goldman, Omaha Central's Deshawn Woods, Bellevue West's Kaden Helms, Pierce's Ben Brahmer, Waverly's Trevor Brown, Omaha Creighton Prep's Sam Sledge.
2020
2019
Standing, left to right, Omaha Westside's Cade Haberman, Lincoln Southeast's Isaac Gifford, Waverly's Trevor Brown, Omaha Westside's Cole Payton, Scottsbluff's Sabastian Harsh, Bellevue West's Thomas Ault, Omaha Westside's Avante Dickerson, Millard South's Kohl Herbolsheimer, Bellevue West's Zavier Betts, Millard West's Dalys Beanum, Lincoln Southeast's Xavier Trevino, Bellevue West's Jay Ducker, Millard West's Dane Christensen, Omaha Westside's Grant Tagge, Elkhorn South's Teddy Prochazka. Sitting, left to right, Bellevue West's Jack McDonnell, Millard South's Isaiah Harris, Bellevue West's Nate Glantz, Omaha Skutt's Tyson Gordon, Grand Island's Caleb Francl, Omaha Burke's Xavier Watts, Grand Island's Broc Douglass, Bellevue West's Matt Thompson, Grand Island Central Catholic's Dietrick Stolz
2018
Front row, from left: Sam Sims, Grand Island; Dietrick Stolz, Grand Island Central Catholic; James Burks, Omaha Burke; Dylan Sales, Omaha Burke; Shane Dailey, Bellevue West; Jarod Epperson, Omaha Skutt. Second row, from left: D.J. Gross, McCook; Garrett Snodgrass, York; Xavier Watts, Omaha Burke; Jevyon Ducker, Bellevue West; Kohl Herbolsheimer, Millard South; Alex Rodgers, Omaha Roncalli. Third row, from left: Joseph Krause, Seward; Ethan Piper, Norfolk Catholic; Nick Henrich, Omaha Burke; Garrett Nelson, Scottsbluff; Chris Hickman, Omaha Burke. Back row, from left: Zavier Betts, Bellevue West; Mehki Butler, Omaha North; Caden Johnson, Wahoo Neumann; Tyson Gordon, Omaha Skutt; Baylor Scheierman, Aurora; Noah Stafursky, York. Not pictured: Isaiah Alford, Lincoln High
2017
Like the burr oaks at Mahoney State Park that were the backdrop for this photo, the 2017 All-Nebraska football team branched out with players from the Wyoming state line to the Missouri River.
2016
The 2016 All-Nebraska football team "earned their wings" at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.
Back row from left: York's Masry Mapieu, Bellevue West's Sylvo Johnson, Lincoln East's Chris Walker, Gretna's Patrick Arnold, Bellevue West's Tyler Ciurej, Omaha Burke's Cole Frahm, Wilber-Clatonia's Riley Homolka, Norfolk's Lane McCallum, Ashland-GW's Brett Kitrell, and Beatrice's Cam Jurgens.
Middle row from left: Kearney's Noah Urbanek, Bellevue West's Jaylin Bradley, Omaha North's Kendrick Parker, Omaha North's Milton Sargbah, Elkhorn South's Moses Bryant, Omaha Skutt's Christian Banker, and Creighton Prep's AJ Hubner.
Front row from left: Wahoo Neumann's Noah Vedral, Omaha North's Zion Williams, Bellevue West's Diego Galvan, McCook's Zach Schlager, Bellevue West's Kevin Ponec, Norris' Austin Schultz, and Millard North's Jack Begley.
2015
The 2015 All-Nebraska football team gathered at Papillion-La Vista High School for the photo shoot.
2014
The 2014 All-Nebraska football team posted on the steps of the Joslyn Art Museum. The cover read: "A Step Ahead: The 24 members of the All-Nebraska football team towered over foes."
Back rows, starting from left: Papillion-La Vista South’s Jeremy Kowalski, No. 75; Seward’s Adam Holtorf, No. 79; Papillion-La Vista South’s Ryan Earith; Kearney’s Brian Arp, No. 55; Elkhorn South’s Brett Stinson; Grand Island’s Kevin Cahoy, No. 12; Omaha Central’s Tre Sanders, No. 6; Omaha Central’s DaiShon Neal, No. 9; Grand Island’s Pierce Almond, No. 2; Blair’s Vance Janssen; Bellevue West’s CJ Johnson; Boone Central/Newman Grove’s Wyatt Mazour; Omaha Central’s Xavier Graham, No. 64; Creighton Prep’s Jeremiah Stovall; and Creighton Prep’s Jack McLeay, No. 54. Front rows, starting from left: Omaha North’s Cole Bixler, No. 34; Omaha North’s Michael Decker, No. 78; Omaha North’s Calvin Strong, No. 5; Omaha North’s Jason Martin; Grand Island Central Catholic’s Youhanna Ghaifan; Millard North’s Adrrell Taylor, No. 27; Omaha North’s Marquise Lewis, No. 1; McCook’s Bryce Lyons, No. 21; and Omaha North’s Markell Vaughn, No. 22.
2013
In 2013, the All-Nebraska football and volleyball teams came together for a photo shoot, and the cover was designed to look like a Facebook page with the teams taking one big selfie.
2012
The 2012 All-Nebraska football team made a splash in the shark tunnel of the Scott Aquarium at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
Standing, from left: Luke McNitt, Kearney; DJ Foster, Lincoln Southeast; Josh Banderas, Lincoln Southwest; Nick DeLuca, Millard North; Harrison Phillips, Millard West; Mike Milenkovich, Millard North; Bryce Sosnowski, Millard South; Nathan Bazata, Howells-Dodge; Casey Sayles, Omaha North.
Middle row: Christian LaCouture, Lincoln Southwest; Jordan Bellar, Norfolk Catholic; Clay Fisher Millard North; Isaac Aakre, Millard North; Matt Kraft, Millard South; Alec Ditoro, Papillion-La Vista; Jake Schlager, McCook; Lee Carhart, Creighton Prep; Freeman Coleman, Millard South.
Front row: Andy Bayne, Millard North; Trey Carr, Omaha Burke; Calvin Strong, Omaha North; Skyler Monaghan, Millard West; Devin Washington, Lincoln Southeast; RJ Urzendowski, Creighton Prep.
2011
With the Omaha skyline in the background, the 2011 All-Nebraska football team was "Standing Tall" at Pioneer Courage Park not far from the Omaha World-Herald building.
Bottom Row (from left): Tay Bender, RB, Lincoln Southwest; Isaac Aakre, RB, Millard North; Landon Arnold, OL, Millard North; Andrew Coppa, DL, Omaha Burke; Trey Foster, DL, Lincoln Southeast; Bo Liekhus, DB, Bellevue West.
Middle Row (from left): Darian Barrientos-Jackson, DB, Omaha Central; James Anderson, OL, Omaha Burke; Andy Janovich, LB, Gretna; Drew Farlee, K, Norfolk Catholic; Mike Minter Jr., DB, Lincoln North Star; Sam Cotton, DL, Lincoln Southeast; Devin Washington, RB, Lincoln Southeast; Sam Foltz, DB, Grand Island; Jeremy Callahan, P, Lexington; Robbie Lafour, OL, Lincoln Southeast; Jake Schany, LB, Blair; Jordan Nelson, RB, Omaha Burke; Ryker Fyfe, QB, Grand Island.
Top Row (from left): Jordan Brichacek, OL, Howells; Zach Oliver, WR, Omaha Burke; Terry Grigsby, DB, Omaha North; Drew Ott, LB, Giltner; Mike Shoff, OL, Cambridge.
2010
All-Nebraska football captains Jimmie Forsythe of Omaha Burke and Tyson Broekemeier of Aurora were the focus in 2010 during this shoot at Turner Park at Midtown Crossing.
2009
The 2009 All-Nebraska football hopped aboard this old streetcar at the Durham Museum.
2008
There was "nothing pedestrian" about the 2008 All-Nebraska football team, which posed in front of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge.
Back row, from left, Tyrone Sellers of McCook, Corey Serrano of North Platte, Nathan Zook of Grand Island, Eric Koehlmoos of Pierce, Tyler Daake of Norfolk Catholic, Tyler Niederklein of Millard West, Charles Viers of Millard West, Josh Kage of Papillion-LaóVista, Jake Herweyer of Millard West, Cole Pensick of Lincoln Northeast, Jordan Hale of Millard South, Andrew Rodriguez of Aurora, James Davis of Omaha North, Jon Lechner of Prep, Scott Criss of Omaha Creighton Prep and C.J. Zimmerer of Omaha Gross. Front row, Matt Berry of McCook, Braden Taylor of Grand Island, Vinny Molina of Kearney, Kohlman Adema-Schulte of Millard West, Bryant Giles of Omaha North, Michael Burrus of Papillion-LaóVista South, Ronald Coleman of North, Tyler Seals of Bellevue West and Greg Hardin of Bellevue West.
2007
For the 2007 All-Nebraska football team, The World-Herald chose individual shots for the cover instead of the group photo, and the result was "Picture Perfect."
2006
No challenge was too steep for the "Rock Solid" 2006 All-Nebraska football team, who posed in front of a climbing wall at Dick's Sporting Goods.
2005
The 2005 All-Nebraska football team wore letterman jackets for the photo shoot instead of their jerseys.
Top, from left, Millard North's Corey Young, Lincoln Southwest's Ian Dike, Millard North's Adam Nelson, Bellevue West's Silas Fluellen, Omaha Central's D.J. Jones (back row), Millard North's Jeff Tarpinian, Kearney's Tony Green, Lincoln Southwest's Ben Martin, Bellevue West's Jeff Martin, Lincoln Southwest's Ollie Sloup, Papillion-LaVista's Kyle Dooley and McCook's Josh Cherry.
Bottom, from left, Omaha Benson's Anthony Williams, Kearney's Joey Rousseau, Lincoln Southwest's Andy Cotton, Omaha Burke's Ricky Henry, Omaha South's Philip Barrientos, Creighton Prep's Mark Waring, Omaha Burke's Alex Henery, Millard West's Brandon Pete, Omaha Burke's Travis Liechti, Millard North's Paul Homer, Omaha North's Aaron Terry and Millard West's Matt Leaders.
2004
Nothing says football like rows of poinsettias. Those were the accents that went with this photo shoot for the 2004 All-Nebraska football team.
