By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

CRETE, Neb. -- No matter the opponent, Otis-Bison quarterback Kevin Wissman proves difficult to tackle. Last fall, Wissman picked up Hays Daily News Offensive Player of the Year honors after he led the Cougars to a 10-1 record and delivered highlight-reel plays every Friday, dipping, dodging and eluding and sprinting past defenders.

In two all-star games this summer, Wissman again yielded impressive performances, including returning two kicks for scores in the Kansas Eight-Man All-Star Game two weeks ago.

On Saturday night, Wissman capped his high school career with Offensive MVP honors in the third annual Kansas vs. Nebraska eight-man all-star contest at Doane College in Crete, Neb. Wissman was one of the few bright spots for Kansas in a 58-20 loss to the Nebraska all-stars. It was the second straight win for Nebraska in the series.

"It's an achievement because those Nebraska guys are heck of a players," Wissman said.

"They are just as good as me. They are just as fast. It's not like playing the regular season against all of the other teams in Kansas. It's a whole different experience, so it's pretty cool."

Wissman, used a kick returner/running back/wide receiver, collected 225 all-purpose yards, rushed for a 23-yard score and threw a 46-yard halfback pass to Bushton-Quivira Heights' Jacob Ingham.

"Kevin is such a fantastic guy in the open field," Doug Oberle, Kansas' co-coach and Victoria's head football coach. "We tried to get him on spots and out in the flats a little bit, and I was happy for him to show some of his skills late in the game."

Kansas, though, was never close, thanks to Nebraska quarterback Nathan Most. Most, a Wayne State (Neb.) College signee, passed for over 7,000 yards, breaking the state record set by Scott Frost, a four-year starter at the University of Nebraska.

Most worked out of the same spread offense his high school team used and finished 20-of-27 for 413 yards and five touchdowns against one interception. Nebraska led 32-0 with 11:10 left in the first half.

"We tried everything," Oberle said. "We started the game out, we wanted to zone a little bit, get a little bit of pressure off the edge. I really felt like our D-line did a good job getting pressure. We could have done a better job behind them. Their quarterback does an outstanding job releasing the ball. Throws a great ball. Did a good job running routes. They were very, very elusive in space. They are just a good football team."

Kansas struggled offensively. Baileyville-B&B coach Steve Tiernan ran the offense and B&B's Kyle Haverkamp was the starting quarterback. Haverkamp threw three interceptions and had one of Kansas' three fumbles. Nebraska scored the first points of the game when it blocked a punt off Kansas' first possession. On the first play from scrimmage, Most connected with Grant Bebhardt for a 30-yard TD pass.

Then, Most found Cody Calhoun on a 32-yard strike and a 14-0 lead with 7:26 left in the first quarter. Kansas had a touchdown called back because of a holding penalty and then Haverkamp threw an interception.

"Coach Tiernan just kind of put it best," Oberle said. "We are just not having any luck today. It seemed like the ball took a bad bounce. We get a ball on the ground and it bounces out of bounds. We put a ball on the ground and it bounces to them. Obviously great credit to them. That's a great football team, well coached.

"Just feel bad that I didn't do a better job with my guys and come prepared for this game. I take a lot of credit for the final score."

Wissman, who collected more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and accounted for 45 touchdowns for Otis-Bison last fall, was moved to an all-purpose role for the summer all-star games, a role he relished. On Saturday, he returned six kicks, including three for at least 27 yards.

"I have never really preferred playing quarterback," Wissman said. "I've always wanted to be more of a wide receiver, play some defense, but I like that role. I really love special teams."

During practice, Oberle wanted to put Wissman in situations where he could make plays. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Wissman had constantly avoided tacklers during the high school season, including accounting for six touchdowns in a 72-26 win against Victoria. Against Nebraska, Wissman had a 21-yard run off a screen pass where he went left, came back right and hurdled a defensive player.

"We tried to get him in some open spots and tried to get him on the edge," Oberle said. "Once he gets the ball in his hands, there is no rhyme or reason. We just told our front guys just to go get on people and make sure they maintain."

On his touchdown -- the game's final score -- Wissman went to his right and attempted a halfback pass. He was about to be tackled, but avoided the rush, ran left, stopped, cut around two defenders, then went to his right and scored within the right pylon.

"It was a sweep pass play," Wissman said. "It didn't work out and I decided to run just wherever it was open and I bounced sideline to sideline like usual."

"I was so happy to be on his sideline when he made that run," Oberle said. "He is doing that all week in practice. It was fun to finally have him on your team as opposed to being against him.

Definitely know what that feels like to be helpless out there trying to tackle him."

Wissman will continue his career at Kansas State University, but won't report until the spring. The performance Saturday, though, capped a tremendous prep career.

"I chose to go to K-State way too late and they were full on the roster, so I am just going to come in in the spring, start working out then," Wissman said. "It was a great way to end it. Obviously it didn't turn out very good for us, but it was fun to play with the best players in Kansas. They helped me out every bit. It was just one of the best experiences in football that I've had."