At a couple of points this season, Omaha North coach Larry Martin was feeling pretty good about his football team.

But then came the reality checks.

At 2-0 and ranked second in Class A, the Vikings turned the ball over five times and lost in overtime to Norfolk.

Three weeks later, after a pair of wins — including one over then-unbeaten Papillion-La Vista — North received a 33-7 beatdown from Omaha Burke.

The Vikings are now riding a three-game winning streak as they open the Class A playoffs against Grand Island (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday at Omaha Northwest's Kinnick Stadium.

Feeling good again? Martin isn't falling for that one.

“Without a doubt, the reason why I've been so proud of these kids and so proud of this coaching staff is our ability to get through those tough times,” he said. “In athletics you're going to have some troubles. For us to bounce back both times, especially when we had to go on the road with our backs to the wall, that was impressive.”

Nebraska's playoffs begin today with first-round games in Class C-1, C-2 and eight-man. Class A and Class B games are Friday.

Unbeaten and top-ranked Millard South is the favorite in Class A, and defending champion Millard West is riding a six-game winning streak. But North figures to be a dangerous opponent, too.

The Vikings stood 0-1 in District A-4 following the loss to Burke, facing an uphill battle in the most competitive district in the state.

“We weren't playing as a team,” running back Ron Coleman said.

So they got together and aired out frustrations. “We got a lot out in the open when things didn't go so well,” Martin said. “We got closer as a group.”

Since then they've won three critical games, including two over playoff qualifiers Millard North and Bellevue West. That gave them their fifth straight district championship and seventh playoff appearance in eight years.

“We are exactly where we want to be right now,” Coleman added. “We just play.”

The Vikings are led by Coleman, the 2009 World-Herald athlete of the year. The kid they call “Burger,” a 6-foot, 250-pound senior, has scored 19 touchdowns this season, tops in Class A. He's rushed for 1,226 yards and is also fourth on the team in tackles from the defensive line.

“He likes making plays,” Martin said. “He's been a very enjoyable young man to watch grow in this program.”

The Vikings' first-round opponent, Grand Island, opened the season in the Top 10 but then started 1-2 with losses to Kearney and Omaha Central. But coach Jeff Tomlin's Islanders have won five of their last six, including victories over qualifiers Lincoln Southwest and Lincoln North Star.

North and Grand Island have common opponents in Central and Norfolk, but it's hard to read much into those results: North beat Central and lost to Norfolk, while Grand Island did the opposite.

“I just know this is going to be a heck of a game,” Martin said. “I have the utmost respect for Coach Tomlin and the community. They really get behind their football team. I just think it's a great first-round matchup. This is as dead even of a ballgame as I've felt that I've ever walked into.”

The Vikings hope their playoff experience helps Friday night. They reached the state semifinals last season, the best finish in school history, before falling to eventual champion Millard West.

“We've been here now,” Martin said. “Hopefully that hunger will continue to kick in.”

Contact the writer:

850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com

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