The Matchup

On paper, the Wildcats’ defense doesn’t match up well against Elkhorn South, as they will face Fresno State commit Jayden Sutko, who has more than 1,500 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns. However, there’s room for optimism: Millard West just shut down Omaha Westview junior running back Sage Giddings, who, while not at Sutko’s level, is still an excellent rusher capable of breaking long runs. The Storm’s passing game isn’t anything special, averaging just over 100 yards per game.

Offensively, looking at South’s only two losses — Westside (58-17) and Papillion-La Vista South (24-19) — the strategy that seems to work best against the Storm is efficient passing for medium gains. The Warriors ran all over South, but TayTay Jenkins is one of the best running backs in the state, and it’s unreasonable to expect this Millard West offense to produce a rushing attack averaging 10-plus yards per carry. However, both Westside and Papillion-La Vista South succeeded by avoiding turnovers and maintaining efficient passing — the apparent key to breaking through the Storm’s defense.

Players to Watch

Senior running back and linebacker Jayden Sutko: Sutko enters as the top back in the state, and once he gets going, he’s hard to slow down. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, according to 247Sports, and also doubles as a linebacker. He’s ranked as the No. 3 linebacker in Nebraska’s 2026 recruiting class. Sustaining long, controlled drives will be difficult against such a fast, strong and intelligent player.

Junior running back David Washington: Coming off the best game of his varsity career, Washington will need another strong performance for the Wildcats to pull out a win. He’s a do-it-all back with solid speed and strength, but his biggest asset is his ability to read plays, find holes and minimize losses in tight situations.

Senior defensive back Jack Meeks: Meeks has had an outstanding season, leading the team in tackles, ranking second in interceptions and tying for second in tackles for loss. He isn’t particularly big — he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, according to MaxPreps — but what he lacks in size he makes up for in hustle and football IQ. Meeks consistently puts himself in position to make plays.

What Needs to Happen

Millard West

• Establish a strong passing game. Senior quarterback Gus Dahlhauser started the season with one touchdown and five interceptions, but over the last four games he’s thrown five touchdowns to just two interceptions. He hasn’t yet faced a defense as strong as Elkhorn South’s, so expect more runs and short passes early as he adjusts to the Storm’s coverage.

• Control the tempo. The Wildcats aren’t built to win a shootout — they haven’t done it this year, and this likely won’t be the exception. They’ll need long, sustained drives to give the defense time to recover between possessions and limit errors caused by fatigue.

• Limit Sutko. This is the most important key for West. Everything else becomes irrelevant if they can’t contain Sutko. If he runs freely, Elkhorn South will almost certainly win. Jack Meeks, senior safety John Stanton and senior linebacker Harper Townsley will need to fill gaps and maintain containment. If they can, the Wildcats have a real shot.

Elkhorn South

• Run the ball effectively. It’s simple — run the ball like they have all season, and it could be a blowout. Sutko has a chance to prove he’s the best offensive weapon in Class A.

• Force turnovers. Millard West’s offense has struggled with turnovers this season, while Elkhorn South’s defense has excelled at creating them — a dangerous combination for the Wildcats.

• Start fast. Millard West’s offense isn’t known for explosive plays. If South jumps ahead 10-0 early, it’ll be tough for West to mount a comeback. A strong start could seal the deal.

AI Analysis

Using an AI model that evaluates matchups, statistics and strength of schedule, a game prediction was generated based purely on analytics:

“Elkhorn South wins 27-20.”

Why not a blowout?

• Millard West has been battle-tested and likely won’t fold. Their losses suggest vulnerability but also resilience from facing tough opponents.

• Elkhorn South, while strong, has shown cracks against elite teams — most notably in a 58-17 loss to Westside — indicating that if Millard West executes well, it can exploit weaknesses.

• Strength of schedule and past results suggest Elkhorn South’s dominance has largely come against weaker teams, meaning the margin tightens against a capable opponent.

My Prediction

Despite the analytics favoring Elkhorn South, I believe Millard West pulls off the upset in a thriller, 15-14. The Wildcats start strong with a touchdown on their opening drive but allow the Storm to score 14 unanswered points. In the final five minutes, Millard West drives down the field for another touchdown. Instead of kicking the extra point, they go for two — and get it — securing the first playoff win of head coach David McEnaney’s career.

Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Elkhorn High School.