Neumann ready to battle atop of Class C-2 (2024)

WAHOO — There is no doubt that the Bishop Neumann football team has the talent to be one of the top teams in Class C-2 this season. With 15 returning starters from a group that finished 8-2 a year ago (technically 9-1, they had to forfeit against David City) the Cavaliers are ready to make a push for a state championship this season.

Leading this talented bunch will be Nebraska football recruit Conor Booth. He amassed over 2,000 yards on the ground a season ago and single-handedly won Neumann some of their games.

According to Head Coach Jordan Roberts, who in his own right was a star running back at Division III St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minn., Booth is an exceptional talent that you only see once in a coaching career.

“It’s really hard to put into words,” Roberts said. “Especially this only being my third year as a head coach and to have a player of this caliber. I will probably only have a kid like this once in a career. He’s that level of talent in my opinion. I think he can go as far as he wants to go with his career and he is super talented, but also a great kid. It’s just a blessing to have him and to have him for three years in a row is amazing. He has grown a lot as a person and a player.”

This year the Cavaliers should be even better on the offensive line. They return Andrew Meduna, who is committed to Wayne State to play football, and added transfer Calib Svoboda, who was a solid football player and wrestler at David City Aquinas.

Hopefully, this will open even bigger holes for Booth, who doesn’t need much daylight to make a big play happen.

“Our biggest strengths right now are definitely upfront with the offensive and defensive lines,” Roberts said. “We have a lot of upperclassmen that have gotten a lot bigger and stronger and are looking really good upfront. Obviously, Conor Booth coming back is a huge strength, and we’re looking forward to having him again this year. We also have great skill players, so we are excited about this year.”

This group has put in a lot of effort over the summer to make sure there isn’t a drop-off in their performance. They have attended several camps as a team this summer, including the Nebraska Football Camp back in June in Lincoln.

Roberts was impressed with their work ethic, and it has translated into a good first few weeks of organized practice.

“We had a great summer, that’s for sure,” Roberts said. “We’ve gone to three or four camps together and our weight room attendance this summer was unbelievable. We had a lot of guys put up some great numbers in the weight room and just the commitment level of the players getting ready for the season was really what we’re looking for and trying to build here. The work ethic is great and now we are transitioning into practices, and there hasn’t been a drop off there at all.”

Neumann once again will have a tough schedule, which includes three teams that are rated in the top 10 in Class C-2 in the preseason polls.

No question that the biggest test for the Cavaliers comes out of the gate against two-time defending Class C-2 State Champion Norfolk Catholic at home on Aug. 30. Going into the game, the Knights have a 26-game winning streak that is on the line.

Nothing would make Neumann happier than to knock off Norfolk Catholic but understand they will have to play a solid mistake-free game against a Jeff Bellar squad.

“Yeah, they have lost two games in three years, which is pretty unbelievable,” Roberts said. “They are definitely the class of C-2 and would say class of the state as well. They have an unbelievable program, a dynasty, and they have a great culture. You can see that on film, and we have our work cut out for us. There is no doubt they are the best and if we want to win a state championship, if we want to be the best, we got to beat this team.”