70 Days Until Gameday – Day #24 Dawson County, Nebraska

71 Days Until Gameday – Day #23 Dawes County, Nebraska - Forums

We have 71 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026. Yesterday we looked at Dakota County, Nebraska. https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/72-days-until-gameday-22-dakota-county-nebraska.8875808/ Dawes County, Nebraska Population...

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• Population ~24,500 (2025)
• License plate prefix #18
• Lexington is the county seat and largest city in the county.
• Established in 1860 and named for Jacob Dawson, the first postmaster in Lancaster County.
• Plectron, a company that manufactured alert radios used by fire departments, was started in Overton in 1955 and continued operations in Lexington until the 1990’s.
• Lexington was a stop along the Pony Express in the 1860’s and began its origin as a frontier trading post.
• Lexington was originally named Plum Creek, named after the fort that was built near the trading post.
• There is a marker on Route 30 about 3.5 miles west of Lexington that identifies the place where a band of Cheyenne derailed a U.P. train in 1867, looted and destroyed the boxcars, killing 3 people in the process.
• The Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles is located in Lexington.
• From 1956-1958, Lexington was home to the Lexington Red Sox, a minor league affiliate for the Boston Red Sox.
• Gothenburg is named after Gothenburg, Sweden due to the large number of Swedish descendants settling the area in 1882.
• Cozad was founded by……a murderer!! John Jackson Cozad founded Cozad in 1873. In 1882, Cozad and another rancher, Alfred Pearson, both were laying claim to the same plot of land. The claim struggle resulted in an altercation where Cozad shot Pearson in the face and killed him. He fled to Denver and changed his name, ultimately settling in Atlantic City and New York City.

• LeRoy B Temple – T 1908-1910, Lexington, NE.
  
  • All Conference OT in 1909 and 1910.
  • 1909 Team Captain.
  • 1910 team went 7-1 and was Missouri Valley Conference champions.
• Gus Peters – G 1935-1937, Lexington, NE.
• Edward Dodd – HB 1935-1938, Gothenburg, NE.
  
  • 5’10” and 170lbs, wearing #24
  • Played for Dana Bible and Biff Jones.
  • Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
  • 1937 team went 6-1-2, winning the Big 6 conference title.
• Robert DeFruiter – HB 1939, Lexington, NE.
  
  • Wore #46 in the backfield for Biff Jones’ 3rd season at UNL.
  • 1939 team went 7-1-1, finishing 2nd in the Big 6.
  • Played 4 seasons in the NFL
• William Berquist – G 1944, Lexington, NE.
• James Godfrey – T 1948, Cozad, NE.

• James Murphy – DB 1954-1956, Lexington, NE.
  • 1956 Team Captain
  • Became an Army Ranger after graduating from Nebraska.
  • Served 31 years in the Army and Army National Guard.

• Larry Naviaux – HB 1956-1958, Lexington, NE.
  • Team went 8-22 in his 3 letter years, the last 2 seasons were Bill Jennings’ first 2 seasons.
  • Wore #43 for Nebraska
  • Became the youngest head coach in Boston University history at 33 years old, led their football team to the 1969 Rose Bowl.
  • Head coach of UConn football from 1973-1976.
• Russell Edeal – T 1958, Overton, NE.
  • Wore #71
  • Listed at 6’1” and 220lbs
  • Reserve at LT behind Duane Mongerson
  • His son David would letter for UNL from 1988-1990.
• Dallas Dyer – OG 1959-1961, Lexington, NE.
  • 5’9” 180lb guard wearing #44
  • Also spent time at HB earlier in his career.

• Mick Tingelhoff – C 1959-1961, Lexington, NE.
  • All-American and All-State center at Lexington HS.
  • Played center and linebacker at Nebraska
  • Co-Captain of 1961 team
  • Stood 6'1" and 210lbs wearing #51
  • Signed with Vikings as UDFA and played 17 years for the Vikings.
  • 7x All-NFL Center
  • 6x Pro Bowl
  • Started 240 consecutive NFL games
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • Nebraska Football Hall of Fame

• Monte Kiffin – T 1961-1963, Lexington, NE.
  • 1958 Nebraska High School Player of the Year at Lexington HS.
  • Two-way tackle at Nebraska
  • Coached for over 45 years.
  • Considered one of the greatest defensive coordinators in college football and NFL
  • Invented the Tampa 2 defense
  • 2x NCAA Champion
  • Super Bowl Champion
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame

• Maynard Smidt – HB 1963-1964, Cozad, NE.
  • 5’10” and 186lb halfback wearing #22.
  • During his 2 seasons as a contributor, the team went 19-3.
  • 1963 team went 10-1 and won Nebraska’s first major bowl game (Orange Bowl 13-7 vs Auburn)
  • First served an enlistment in the Army, and then joined Nebraska’s football program.
• John Strohmyer – OT 1964-1965, Lexington, NE.
  • Played both OT and DT for Bob Devaney.
  • Went 19-2 between 1964-1965, 2x Big 8 Champion.
  • Lost in the national title game to Alabama in 1965.
  • Selected in 12th round of 1965 NFL Draft and 6th round of 1965 AFL Draft.
  • Played 2 years for the Washington Redskins.
• Kenny Brunk – FB 1965-1966, Cozad, NE.
  • 3x Big 8 Champion
  • Teams went 19-2 his 2 years as a letterman
  • Wearing #40, stood 5’11” and 200lbs.
  • 1966 Honorable Mention Academic All-Big 8

• Kelly Petersen – C 1965-1966, Cozad, NE.
  • Wore #30, stood 6’ and 200lbs.
  • 1966 All-Big 8 center
  • 2x All-State for Cozad HS
  • High School All-American
  • Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member.
  • Led the 1965 offense line to 290 yards rushing per game.

• Ted Harvey – DB 1975-1977, Lexington, NE.
  • 5'10" 175lb DB wearing #31
  • 1973 All-State football and basketball for Lexington HS.
  • 1972 and 1973 football state champion for Lexington HS, playing QB and RB.
  • 2 gold medals in track relay at state, Lexington also won team title.
  • 1977 Honorable Mention All-American
  • 1977 2nd Team All-Big 8
  • 2x Academic All-American
  • 2x Academic All-Big 8
  • Led secondary in tackles in 1976 and 1977.
  • Finished career with 126 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 INTs, 12 PBUs, 1 blocked punt.
  • Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member.

• Dean Sukup – PK 1978-1979, Cozad, NE.
  • Former walk-on. Played at Nebraska from 1976-1979, lettered from 1978-1979.
  • Starter in 1979.
  • Won 1966 National Punt, Pass, Kick competition during an NFL game presentation at age 9.
  • Stood 6'1" and 210lbs, wearing #3.
  • 1979 First Team All-Big 8.
  • 1979 Academic All-Big 8.
  • Went 12-17 on FGs, 48-52 on PATs at Nebraska.
  • Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member.

• Mike Mandelko – OG 1980-1982, Lexington, NE.
  
  • 6'1" 255lb Guard wearing #68
  • 1981 2nd Team All-Big Eight
  • 1982 Honorable Mention All-American
  • 1982 All-Big 8 left guard
  • Helped lead Nebraska to a rushing title averaging 394 yards per game and 518 yards per game of total offense.
  • 1982 team went 12-1 as Big Eight Champion and Orange Bowl Champion.
  • Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member.
• Tim Holbrook – S 1981-1982, Lexington, NE.
  
  • Appeared in 23 games in his career.
  • 5'10" and 190lbs wearing #23
  • 1982 First Team Academic All-Big 8.
  • Reserve monster back behind Kris Van-Norman in 1982 and free safety behind Jeff Krejci in 1981.
• Jim Murphy – CB 1981-1982, Lexington, NE.
  
  • Son of James Murphy and nephew of Monte Kiffin.
  • Reserve CB behind Dave Burke in 1982, and behind Ric Lindquist and Allen Lyday in 1981.
  • Served 39 years in the Army National Guard.

• Rob Stuckey – DT 1982-1984, Lexington, NE.
  • 6'3" 245lb wearing #75
  • All-State football for Lexington HS
  • 2x Academic All-American
  • 2x Academic All-Big Eight
  • 2x 2nd Team All-Big Eight
  • Finished his career with 104 tackles, 8 TFL, 6 sacks, 3 FR, and 1 INT.
  • Went to Harvard Business School after Nebraska.
• Rod Reynolds – DT 1983-1985, Lexington, NE.
  • 6'3" and 245lbs wearing #93 and #95.
  • Provided depth behind Danny Noonan and Jim Skow
• Shane Geiken – LB 1989-1991, Gothenburg, NE.

• Chris Dishman – OG 1993-1996, Cozad, NE.
  • 1991 All-State football player that led Cozad HS to the Class B state title.
  • Lost wrestling heavyweight state finals to fellow Husker Jeff Ogard.
  • Averaged 9.4 pancakes per game in 1996.
  • Reserve behind Lance Lundberg and Rob Zatechka as an underclassman.
  • Wore # 75 and started at LT and LG his junior and senior year.
  • 2x 1st Team All-Big Eight
  • 1996 2nd Team All-American
  • 2x NCAA Champion (1994, 1995)
  • 4th round draft pick in 1997 NFL Draft
  • Outland Trophy Semifinalist
  • Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
• Brendan Holbein – SE 1993-1996, Cozad, NE.
  • 5'9" 190lb split end
  • 2x All-State who turned down Iowa State scholarship to walk-on at Nebraska
  • 2x NCAA champion (1994, 1995)
  • 1996 Honorable Mention All-Big 12
  • 1995 Honorable Mention All-Big Eight
  • Finished his career with 47 catches for 592 yards and 7 TDs.
• Eric Ryan – RE 1999, Overton, NE.
  • 2x All-State from Overton HS
  • Nebraska HS Defensive Player of the Year
  • Nebraska Eight Man Football Hall of Fame
  • 1999 First Team Academic All-Big 12
• Brandon Mooberry – RE 1999-2000, Lexington, NE.
  • 1997 NCAA Champion
  • Walk-on program
  • Appeared in 14 games recording 4 tackles and 1 sack.
  • Son (Pierce) is on the football team currently.

• Brandon Koch – OG 2003-2005, Gothenburg, NE.
  • A 6'3" and 310lb guard
  • Former walk-on turned scholarship starter
  • 2x Academic All-Big 12
• Dreu Young – TE 2007-2009, Cozad, NE.
  • 6'4" and 255lbs wearing #44
  • Former walk-on turned scholarship starter
  • Appeared in 34 games and made 13 starts
  • Recorded 15 catches for 232 yards and 1 TD in his career.
  • Older brother of Conor Young.
  • Currently coaching football at Cozad HS.

• Jared Crick – DT 2008-2011, Cozad, NE.
  • 6'6" 285lb defensive tackle
  • 2x All-State out of Cozad HS
  • 2011 Cletus Fischer Native Son Award Winner
  • 2010 1st Team All-American
  • 2x 1st Team All-Big 12
  • 2010 Lombardi Award Semifinalist
  • Finished career with 167 tackles, 35 TFL, 20 sacks, 1 FF, 2 FR, 8 PBUs, and 27 QB hurries.
  • School records: 7 TFL in a game, and 5 sacks in a game.
  • 4th round draft pick in 2012 NFL draft.
  • Played 6 years in the NFL.
  • Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
  • Currently head football coach at Cozad HS.
• Conor Young – WR 2017, Cozad, NE.
  • Former walk-on turned scholarship
  • 2x Academic All-Big Ten
  • 2016 Scout Team Special Teams MVP
  • All-State DB in 2014. Honorable Mention All-State DB in 2013, leading Cozad to state title in 2013.
  • Currently coaching football at Cozad HS.

• Wee Willie Smith – Born and raised in Lexington. Played college football and started 3 years at Idaho from 1931-1933 and played 1 year in the NFL for the New York Giants in 1934. NFL Champion in 1934. Listed at 5’6” and 148lbs.
• Aage Brix – Played forward on the US National Soccer team in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. Born and raised in Lexington, NE. Brix would end up puncturing his liver during the first game of the 1924 Olympics and that would end his international career.
• Bill Barrett – Served 10 years in Congress. Born and raised in Lexington. Navy veteran.
• Ben Kuroki – Born in Gothenburg but raised in Hershey, Kuroki was the only Japanese-American to have participated in air combat missions in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Flew 58 combat missions between Europe and the Pacific. University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate.
• Jay Novacek – From Gothenburg. Set NE state record in pole vault in 1980. All-State QB and All-State basketball player for Gothenburg. His jersey is the only one retired at Gothenburg HS. Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member. Played college football at Wyoming. 1984 1st Team All-American TE. Set NCAA single season record for yards per catch by a tight-end with 22.6 ypc. Finished his college career with 83 catches for 1,536 yards and 10 TDs. 6th round pick in 1985 NFL draft. Played 12 years in the NFL retiring a 3x Super Bowl Champion. 2x All-Pro, 5x Pro Bowl. Finished his career with 422 catches for 4,630 yards and 30 TDs.

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawson County, Nebraska - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Dylman said:

Its a shame lexington is now such a **** hole, reside in Gothenburg but avoid lexington like the plague

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Anon1752115983 said:

This is outstanding! Dean Sukup was a dear friend. We went through law school together. His 79 season as a starter coincided with his first year of law school. A little bit of pressure there. He rarely cracked a book but still got better grades than me. I was privileged to give one of the eulogies at his funeral in 2004.

He set what was then a single season record of 75 percent of FGs made (9 of 12) in 79, making last minute kicks to beat both Iowa and Missouri. He missed against both OU and Houston, both 17-14 losses, but swore the one against Oklahoma was good.

Dean could eat a whole large Val's pizza and down a litre of tequila in one sitting. A renowned eater. At the 1982 Colorado game, after we closed the bars, he decided he was hungry so set out in search of food while the rest of us stumbled back to the Harvest House (remember that place?). The next morning he was nowhere to be found. Showed up about 11 am. He'd gotten tired after his meal and didn't want to walk all the way back to our hotel, so he checked into another one across the street from the restaurant.

An all-time Sukism: coming out of the bar somewhere in Phoenix. Again, he's tired. Lays down right in the middle of the parking lot. When I mentioned that he might get run over, his response was "Don't worry. If they hit me, they'll wreck their alignment."

So many stories. A great friend and good human being. Terrific golfer too. RIP

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