In a season of pinball-like scoring, it's fitting that Millard North junior quarterback Isaac Aakre and Omaha Burke senior running back Jordan Nelson are the honorary captains of the 48th World-Herald All-Metro Conference football team.

They were two of the league's most prolific playmakers, ranking first and second in rushing yardage. Aakre churned out 1,829 yards and 24 touchdowns in 10 games, in which Millard North was 7-3 on the field but forfeited three wins for using an ineligible player early in the year. Nelson ran for 1,791 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 games and caught 24 passes for 700 yards and eight more scores.

This was Nelson's only full season. He was injured during his sophomore year, then made it through only two games last year before a knee injury. It took him six months to get healed following surgery.

"Such a resilient kid, the way he was able to battle back,'' Burke coach Paul Limongi said. "His work ethic was unbelievable in the offseason and in the summer. He was so determined and committed to be the best.

"Once the season started, he was just electric. He ran with explosiveness and power and breakaway speed and was a huge threat coming out of the backfield in our passing game. He was the main cog to our offense."

Aakre plays the position that has been Millard North's main cog for nearly 20 years. A second-team All-Metro pick as a sophomore after leading the Mustangs to the 2010 Class A title, he has two-year career totals of 2,936 yards and 35 touchdowns rushing and 1,147 yards and 12 touchdowns passing in 22 games.

"He has such poise,'' Mustangs coach Fred Petito said. "He's as good before the snap as after the snap. So much of what we do is our check system. He gets us into the right spots on the right play."

Nebraska assistant Ron Brown visited both schools Friday, the two coaches said, and inquired about both players. Limongi said Nelson is getting recruiting interest from the North and South Dakota FCS schools, along with Ohio University and FCS Northern Iowa.

Option-based teams Georgia Tech, Navy and Army are showing interest in the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Aakre, whom Petito said will try to put on a few more pounds while working to improve his straight-ahead speed for next season.

The wealth of offensive players created a rare situation in which three receivers and three running backs rated first-team inclusion. So the All-Metro first team includes a 25th player.

Those selected on offense are wide receivers Zach Oliver of Omaha Burke, Terry Grigsby of Omaha North and Ryan Leif of Papillion-La Vista; linemen James Anderson of Burke, Landon Arnold and Sam Davidson of Millard North, Matt Kraft of Millard South and Sheldon Brummel of Papillion-La Vista South; running backs Carson Collins of Burke, Jackie Davis of Omaha Central and Nelson; kicker Danny Hamilton of Omaha Westside; and Aakre at quarterback.

The defensive unit consists of linemen Bryce Sosnowski of Millard South, Andrew Coppa and Hunter Greer of Burke and Dylan Utter of Papillion-La Vista; linebackers Nick Deluca of Millard North, DJ Avant of Omaha North and Jeremy Queen of Burke; defensive backs Darien Barrientos-Jackson and Dennis Barfield of Central, Bo Liekhus of Bellevue West and Grant Costello of Westside; and punter Michael Finocchiaro of Omaha Westside.

Two-time selections are Arnold, Hamilton and Greer. Kraft, Aakre, Davis, Sosnowski and Deluca are juniors.

All-Metro selections are based on observations by The World-Herald's sports staff and by nominations from high school coaches. All coaches received their nomination forms at a meeting to select all-district teams and list players they deemed worthy of honorable mention all-district.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1041, stu.pospisil@owh.com

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