Much of my autumn is spent photographing Husker football games and practices, and while that offers plenty of opportunity for pictures, I’m always excited to cover the Nebraska high school state championship games at Memorial Stadium. For most of the players on the field, this is the ultimate stage. They arrive with huge expectations, and they seem to leave every last bit of effort on the field. This, generally, makes for great pictures.
Lincoln Southeast’s Christian Boehm leaps into the arms of fans after the Knight’s 21-9 win over the Omaha Burke Bulldogs in the Class A Nebraska state championship at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
Below you’ll find some images that Rebecca Gratz, Chris Machian, Corey Perrine and I took over the two days of six championship games.
And if these pictures only whet your pigskin appetite, check out the following photo showcases:
Class A championship game: Lincoln Southeast 21, Omaha Burke 9
Class B championship game: Elkhorn 26, Crete 17
Class C-1 championship game: Norfolk Catholic 20, Platteview 6
Class C-2 championship game: Aquinas 27, Kearney Catholic 13
Class D-1 championship game: Elgin Public/Pope John 44, Guardian Angel Central Catholic 14
Class D-2 championship game: Sargent 21, Howells 18
Omaha Burke assistant coach Jerry Donahue comforts Andrew Coppa after the Bulldogs’ 21-9 loss to the Lincoln Southeast Knights in the Class A Nebraska state championship at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD
Elkhorn’s Daniel Feickert lets out a yell after stopping a critical pass in the second quarter against Crete during Elkhorn’s 26-17 win in the Class B Nebraska state championship at Memorial Stadium on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. COREY PERRINE/THE WORLD-HERALD
Platteview’s Justin Cloyd wraps up Norfolk Catholic’s Jordan Molacek during Norfolk Catholic 20-6 win over Platteview in the Class C-2 Nebraska state championship at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Kearney Catholic’s Thomas Connely (left) and Tyson Colling kneel together on the field after their 27-13 loss to Aquinas for the Class C-2 Nebraska state championship at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011. CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Guardian Angels Central Catholic’s Nathaniel Hass drops a pass under pressure from Elgin Public/Pope John’s Grant Beckman in the second quarter of Elgin Public/Pope John 44-14 win in the Class D-1 Nebraska state championship at Memorial Stadium on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD
Howells’ Mat Gooch (right) is pushed out of bounds by a Sargent defender in the second quarter of Sargent’s 21-18 win in the Class D-2 Nebraska state championship at Memorial Stadium on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD
Again, below is your chance to check out the photo showcases from the championship games.
Class A championship game: Lincoln Southeast 21, Omaha Burke 9
Class B championship game: Elkhorn 26, Crete 17
Class C-1 championship game: Norfolk Catholic 20, Platteview 6
Class C-2 championship game: Aquinas 27, Kearney Catholic 13
Class D-1 championship game: Elgin Public/Pope John 44, Guardian Angel Central Catholic 14
Class D-2 championship game: Sargent 21, Howells 18
