For one team it's familiar territory for the other it's the deepest playoff run in years but one thing that isn't that different is that it will mark the third postseason matchup in the last four years between Nemaha Central and Rossville. 

The Thunder are riding high and continue their season into the 3A Sub-State round of the playoffs one win shy of a bid to the State title game but in order to get to that contest the two-time defending 3A Champs in Rossville stand in front of them on Friday night. Both teams and coaches are familiar with each other having played twice in the last three years in the second round of the playoffs each of those teams with Rossville winning each 61-20 in 2015 and 25-15 in 2013 with both games in Seneca, but this time the matchup is at Rossville. 

For Rossville it marks the fifth straight trip to the Sub-State round of the playoffs as they look to go to the State title game for the third straight year led by Nemaha Valley Raider alum, Derick Hammes who has a 51-2 record in his four years at Rossville. The Bulldogs took down Perry Lecompton 41-14 in the first round of the 3A playoffs and followed that up with a tough road win against Sabetha 34-28 in Regionals and then routed Caney Valley 67-31 in Sectionals.

The Bulldogs had to replace a strong senior class including a guy that amassed nearly 5,000 yards of offense just last year in Tucker Horak but the team has done pretty well filling the voids. Rossville is averaging 43.8 points per game this year and 468 yards of total offense per game led by quarterback, Jacob Bradshaw who has accounted for 62% of the team's offense with over 3,800 yards of total offense and 48 touchdowns. Production doesn't stop there as senior, Cole Schumacher has nearly 1,000 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns and both senior, Dawson Hammes and junior, Perry Foster have been strong out of the backfield. The defense has been solid giving up 19.8 points per game but the team hasn't forced many turnovers and has an even turnover margin on the season. Rossville enters the game with a 10-1 record and their lone loss coming to Silver Lake week five 36-28. 

Nemaha Central rolled past Wellsville in Sectionals 42-14 to make the Semifinals for the first time since 1975. The win against Wellsville came after beating Silver Lake on the road 21-14 in Regionals and topping Pleasant Ridge 61-6 in the first round of the 3A playoffs. The Thunder have enjoyed a strong year under coach Warren Seitz who won his 50th game as Nemaha's coach with the win over Wellsville and the team has used great balance and depth of playmakers to achieve their success. Offensively Nemaha is putting up 46.5 points per game with a balanced offense as they are rushing for 232 yards per game and 147 passing yards per game. Quarterback, Ryan Hasenkamp leads the Thunder offense with 1,501 yards passing with 17 touchdowns and over 600 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns. Hasenkamp is surrounded with playmakers including Jacob Koelzer who has ran for 973 yards and 23 touchdowns, along with Mitchell Henry who has 928 yards with nine touchdowns and a few punt return scores also. Six guys have over 100 yards rushing on the year and five guys have over 200 yards receiving on the season for the Thunder and strong line play as given the team plenty of opportunities all year to produce yards and points. 

The defense has been just as impressive for Nemaha giving up just 10.3 points per game this season with four shutouts and only two games giving up more than 14 points. Thunder have racked up 20 takeaways on the season, including six in the last two playoff wins. Trenton Henry as led the defense from his linebacker spot with 114.5 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Guys like Chase Kramer, David Delaney and several others have been huge playmakers also on defense. 

The right to play for the Class 3A State title is up for grabs when the Thunder travel to Rossville Friday night for Sub-State action and the winner moves on to Hutchinson on Saturday, November 26th at play for the title at Hutchinson Community College against the winner of the Hoisington (12-0) at Hesston (9-3) Sub-State contest. You can listen the Nemaha Central at Rossville game on 92.1 KMZA and MSCSports.net (click KMZA under listen live tab) on Friday night with kickoff at 7:00pm and pregame at 6:30pm.