Bennington football reaches semifinals at NebPreps 7-on-7 State Championship

2–4 minutes

By Marisa Dawson, Photos by Jeff Douglas

A group of young athletes huddled together on a football field, with a coach providing instructions. They are wearing matching shirts and shorts, and some players are holding equipment.

The Bennington High School football team continued to build momentum for the upcoming season with a semifinal appearance at the 2026 NebPreps 7-on-7 State Championship, held June 18-19 at Bellevue West High School.

The Badgers advanced through pool play before making a deep run in the championship bracket, ultimately falling to eventual tournament champion Millard South in the semifinals. The event brought together many of Nebraska’s top football programs and served as an important measuring stick as Bennington prepares for its transition to Class A competition this fall.

In an interview with Hurrdat Sports following the tournament, head coach Kam Lenhart said he was pleased with both the team’s performance and the progress it has made throughout the offseason.

A football player in a red jersey catches the ball while being defended by another player in a blue jersey who is diving to tackle him. The scene takes place on a purple and yellow field.

“I was really excited,” Lenhart said. “I think the kids achieved exactly what I wanted to. They came out, competed every single game. We had things that we’d been working on this summer that they showed out really well. Things still needed to improve, but overall I was really, really excited how we competed.”

One of the biggest takeaways from the tournament was the continued development of returning quarterback Ty Bouaphakeo (pictured below), who connected on several deep passes during the semifinal matchup against Millard South.

A young athlete throwing a football during a practice session on a green turf field, with several teammates observing in the background.

“He’s been awesome,” Lenhart said in the Hurrdat Sports interview. “Yeah, it’s helpful having a quarterback come back… So, he’s been tremendous. Just seeing him continue to progress is what we need.”

While Bennington is moving up to Class A this season, Lenhart said the program’s approach won’t change.

“I don’t think the move in itself is going to change how we go about things,” he said. “We need to take every day one day at a time… You know, we talked about closing the gap. That’s what we got to do throughout this summer.”

The move into Nebraska’s largest classification does present new challenges, particularly with unfamiliar opponents after the season opener against Elkhorn North.

A football player in a white shirt catches a football while running on a purple field, with a defender in a red shirt sprinting behind him. A referee observes the play in the background.

“I know for sure the number one thing we said is we don’t know really anything about anybody with the exception of week one Elkhorn North,” Lenhart said. “So, after that we have to start doing some scouting, start figuring out who’s who and just go from there.”

Rather than worrying about outside expectations entering Class A, Lenhart said the Badgers remain focused on controlling what they can.

“I don’t know,” he said when asked if Bennington is being overlooked. “We try to not look at what other people are trying to think. I would assume some people know what’s going on, some people don’t. At the end of day, we’ll let the the game play itself and figure out what happens.”

Lenhart was especially encouraged by the way his team improved over the course of the two-day tournament, something he believes is critical during the summer months.

A group of young athletes playing football on a field, with one player wearing a white shirt running with the ball while being pursued by two others in red shirts.

“I think that’s what every coach wants to see in the summer,” he said. “I think our kids once again have taken the steps to get better from where we started. By no means are we where we want to be, but I’m excited to see what they do in the future.”

Although Bennington graduated talented seniors, the Badgers return a strong core of experienced players on both sides of the ball. Lenhart pointed to returning contributors poised to make a significant impact this season.

With the semifinal finish and continued offseason development, the Badgers appear well-positioned as they continue preparing for their first season competing in Class A.

A young athlete catching a football during practice, with several spectators in the background.
A football player jumps to catch a football while two other players defend, with a referee observing in the background.
A high school football practice scene with two players in action. One player in a white shirt is running with the ball while being pursued by a player in black. In the background, several teammates and coaches are watching from the sidelines.
A football player in a white shirt and blue shorts is being tackled from behind by another player in a black shirt and pants during a practice session on a green field.
A group of young athletes watches as a teammate throws a football during a practice session on a sports field.
A football player in blue attempts to catch a football while being closely guarded by another player in black, on a green turf field.
A football player in a blue jersey jumps high to catch a football while another player in a black jersey attempts to defend. A referee in the foreground observes the play.
Two young male athletes on a football field; one player is down on the ground in pain while the other stands nearby.
A player in a blue uniform catches a football while diving, with two teammates in black jerseys celebrating in the background on a purple football field.
A football player in blue jumps to catch a football while another player in red attempts to block the pass during a practice on a grassy field. In the background, a small crowd observes the activity.
A group of young athletes in blue and red jerseys practicing on a football field. Some players are in a ready stance, while others observe from the sidelines.
Two young male athletes engaged in a competitive tackle during a football practice on a green turf field. One player in a red jersey is holding the football, while the other in a blue jersey is attempting to make a tackle.
A group of young athletes participating in a football practice on a field with purple and yellow markings. Players are in various colored jerseys, with one player poised to throw the ball while others are in motion.
A young athlete in a white shirt and blue shorts throws a football during practice, with coaches and other players observing from the sidelines under a purple tent labeled 'THUNDERBIRDS'.
A football player in a white shirt catches a pass while a defender in a red shirt attempts to intercept. An official is observed in the background on the field with purple turf.

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