Friday night football, folks! Where teenagers become heroes, the stands are packed with anxious parents trying not to yell too much, and the snack bar runs out of nachos by halftime. It was a night of wild plays, near-misses, and moments that’ll have us talking for a while. Whether you were biting your nails during Central City’s double-overtime saga, watching the High Plains Storm run Palmer out of the stadium, or catching Nebraska Christian’s upset special, Friday night was, well, exactly what Friday night football should be: chaotic, unpredictable, and just plain fun.

Let’s dive into the madness with five takeaways from the night.

1. Central City’s Double Overtime: When Football Decides It Wants Extra Drama

Ah, Central City. If you weren’t already aware that football can be the most dramatic of sports, last night probably drove that point home. The Bison’s 56-55 double-overtime loss to Cozad was like something straight out of a movie, except instead of a happy ending, we got a gut punch. 

Parker “EZ-PZ” Zikmund was, quite frankly, ridiculous. The guy threw for 477 yards and six touchdowns, as if he was playing Madden on rookie mode. His favorite target? None other than Wyatt Dent, who pulled in 13 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns, making defenders look like they were playing tag in slow motion. And then there was Turner Hanke, who casually turned three catches into two touchdowns. You know, just your average Friday night performance.

But oh, the PATs. In the first overtime, the Bison had the game in their hands—literally. All they had to do was make the extra point. But no, football doesn’t like easy endings, so the snap went sideways, and here we are, talking about what could’ve been. Fast forward to double overtime: Central City scores, makes the PAT, and you start thinking, "Okay, we got this." Enter Noah Shoemaker, football’s version of “that guy.” Cozad scores, Shoemaker converts the two-point try, and for the second year in a row, he walks off with the Bison’s hopes in his pocket. Just brutal.

2. High Plains Storm: Gage Friesen is Running Like He’s Late for Dinner

While Central City was doing their best to raise everyone’s blood pressure, High Plains was out here turning Palmer into a speed bump. The final score was 51-8, but honestly, Palmer probably stopped checking the scoreboard somewhere in the third quarter. Why? Because Gage Friesen happened.

Friesen ran like he was running from something for the second week in a row and added four touchdowns for good measure. Two of those were long sprints where it looked like he’d borrowed a cheat code from a video game. Palmer’s defense? They were there, technically, but I’m not sure they ever really knew what hit them. High Plains is now 2-0 for the first time since 2016, and if they keep handing the ball to Friesen, I’d say their odds of going 3-0 look pretty solid.

3. Nebraska Christian: The Underdogs Who Didn’t Get the Memo

Meanwhile, at Nebraska Christian, the Eagles decided to make their own little slice of Friday night magic by pulling off a 28-12 upset over Neligh-Oakdale. It was the kind of game where the underdog not only wins but does it in style. Oliver Herman was everywhere. Seriously, the kid threw for two touchdowns, snagged two interceptions, and probably found time to lead the halftime pep rally.

Brodey Flynn was equally unstoppable, scoring four touchdowns, split evenly between rushing and receiving. Imagine being a defender trying to stop him—you’d probably just wave as he went by. Herman finished the night with 184 passing yards and 67 rushing, because why not? With homecoming coming up next week, the Eagles are riding high, and Palmer might want to start brainstorming a game plan yesterday.

4. Turner Hanke: Sneaking Up on Everyone

Okay, back to Central City. So, while everyone was watching Zikmund fire touchdown passes like he’s got a rocket for an arm, Turner Hanke was quietly having himself a night. Three catches, two touchdowns—simple math says that’s a pretty good ratio. The thing is, Hanke isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of the Bison’s offense, but maybe it should be.

When you’re in double overtime, and the game’s on the line, you need guys who can make plays. Hanke did just that. He’s not flashy, but he’s dependable. If Zikmund’s looking for a new go-to guy in crunch time, Hanke might just be the answer. Along with the rest of Zikmund’s Swiss Army knife of weapons.

5. What’s Next: More Football, More Chaos

Now, the big question: what’s next? Well, Central City will respond one of two ways this week. This team has all the pieces—Zikmund, Dent, Kyes, Hanke and so many more. If they clean up the little things, they’re going to be a real problem for anyone who stands in their way.

Over at High Plains, I’m pretty sure the game plan is “Give the ball to Gage Friesen and get out of his way.” The guy’s running like he’s got somewhere to be, and Palmer found that out the hard way. With this momentum, the Storm are brewing (yes, pun intended) for an even bigger season.

Nebraska Christian? The Eagles are having the time of their lives after knocking off Neligh-Oakdale. With homecoming next week, they’ve got the chance to keep the hype train rolling. If Oliver Herman and Brodey Flynn keep playing like they did last night, Palmer’s in for a long night.

So there you have it—Friday night football in all its chaotic, heart-pounding, sometimes head-scratching glory. Whether you were cheering for the Bison, Eagles, or Storm, last night reminded us why we love this game. As always, thanks for reading, and good luck recovering before next week.