GENEVA, Neb. -- Fillmore Central is preparing for a bout with Norfolk Catholic in the Class C2 State Semifinals Friday.

Both teams are 11-0 but are completely different in their postseason history. 

For Norfolk Catholic, they are looking to win their second straight state title, something that they have become accustomed to. 

For Fillmore Central, 11 wins is the most wins in a single season in program history but the players have a chip on their shoulder to pull off the upset. 

“They’re going to do everything they can this week,” said head coach Gabriel Eberhardt. “They’re ready. They’re dialed in. There’s nothing we really have to say to them. We have noticed all week how ready and prepared they are and it should be a fun game.”

The team is undefeated for the first time since 1990 when they were Geneva High School. 

For head coach Eberhardt, he is grateful that he has such a hard working and dedicated group of players to try and win it all. 

“It’s been exciting,” Eberhardt said. “I mean, it’s a credit to our guys. They’ve done everything we have asked them to do. They’ve been bought in for the last four years, this group of seniors and all of these guys underneath them and guys even before them have started really biting into the program and doing the work it takes to get here. The weight room, the camps, doing everything that we have asked them to do to get to this point. Make no mistake about it, these guys, this is one of their goals, to continue playing in November so we are pretty blessed to still be here.”

Senior quarterback Treven Stassines, who can pass and run the ball well, is looking to continue his elite playoff performance in Norfolk.

“It’s a pretty big game," Stassines said. "I’m excited and there is going to be a lot of people and I like the atmosphere that is going to happen. Two 11-0 teams going at it, for a chance to play in the state finals.”

Sophomore running back Trevor Roach and senior running back Luke Kimbrough have been tearing up the field in the running game this season, rushing for nearly 2,000 yards combined.

For Kimbrough, he has always dreamed of making it to the big stage.

“It’s awesome. It has always been a dream of mine to get this far and it is just great,” Kimbrough said. “Freshman year and sophomore year, we were in the weight room every day, all of us. And it is really paying off, it's great.”

The team has put the work in to get to this point and they feel like they deserve a shot at the title.

“It feels really good,” Stassines said. “Everyone on this team deserves it for all we have done and all the work we have put in the past 14, 15 weeks.”

Norfolk Catholic has an elite running game that has over 3,000 yards. The Knights haven’t lost a game since November 2021 in the state championship game. 

For Fillmore Central, they believe they can pull off the upset and they know they have worked hard enough to earn the right to have a chance. 

“It’s not easy,” Eberhardt said. “These guys have fought and worked hard for four years to get to this point but if you put the work in, it can happen. So, it’s exciting to see and we hope to continue it after this year.”

Kickoff for Fillmore Central and Norfolk Catholic is set for 6 p.m. in Norfolk. The game can be listened to on Ol' Red 99.5.