Top Nebraska prospects square off
OMAHA, Neb. – Nebraska's Class A No. 1 Omaha Creighton Prep showed why it is considered the best team in the state last Friday night.
The Junior Jays rolled 42-20 over Lincoln Northeast and three-star defensive tackle Nebraska commit Cole Pensick. Pensick was held to a very quiet night thanks to the solid play from Creighton Prep's three-star offensive tackle Jon Lechner and the rest of his team.
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Lechner, who originally committed to Wisconsin but later backed away from that when the Badgers rescinded their scholarship offer, was a dominating presence on the offensive line with his solid all-around play. He showed why he's considered one of the top offensive linemen in the region.
But Lechner, who is 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, wasn't the only highlight for Creighton Prep.
Quarterback Alex Hook threw for four touchdowns and Creighton Prep's running game set the pace all game.
Lincoln Northeast's player of the game without a question had to be Porter Groves. The 5-foot-6, 135-pound senior running back/defensive back picked off a Hook pass and returned it 86 yards back to the Creighton Prep 4-yard-line to set up the Rocket's first touchdown of the game late in the first quarter.
Lincoln Northeast coach Dave Svehla said even though Porter is vertically challenged, he plays a lot bigger than he is. He thinks one day Porter will be a great college football player.
Svehla says that Groves is pound for pound one of the best football players he has ever coached. Groves has had a few offers for track from some local Division II schools in Nebraska, but has not revived any offers for football yet.
"I really don't have a list of schools I would like to play at." Groves said. "If I do get an offer I would like it to be from somewhere in the Midwest region."
An underclassmen to look out for is Omaha Creighton Prep's Richard Wayne. The 5-foot-9 170-pound running back showed very quick feet and great vision when got in late in the fourth quarter.
But still all eyes were on the battle between Pensick and Lechner. And while Lechner's team got the best of Pensick's it was a battle that showed why both are highly-recruited prospects.
Pensick, who is the No. 4 player in Nebraska, said he still remains very committed to Nebraska.
"It's a very strong verbal commitment." Pensick said. "They are my only offer, but if another school offers me, good for them, but I am sticking with Nebraska. They are my school."
After the situation with Wisconsin, Lechner's recruiting is still wide open. Lechner has offers from Nebraska, Buffalo, Iowa State and Ohio University.