The Ponca Indians were one of the 16 Class D-1 schools selected for the 2026 playoffs as the field was announced Saturday morning by the Nebraska School Activities Association.
The 5-4 Indians are seeded 15th and will travel to face No. 2-seed Sandy Creek (8-1) in the first round Friday at 6 p.m. in Fairfield.
The Class D-1 bracket is as follows (some game times yet to be decided, all games to be played Friday, Oct. 30):
No. 16 Amherst (5-4) at No. 1 Johnson-Brock (9-0)
No. 9 Elmwood-Murdock (6-3) at No. 8 Exeter-Milligan-Friend (8-1)
No. 12 Elkhorn Valley (6-3) at No. 5 Crofton (8-1), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Cross County (6-3) at No. 4 Ravenna (8-1)
No. 14 Alma (6-3) at No. 3 Stanton (9-0)
No. 11 Centura (7-2) at No. 6 Hartington-Newcastle (8-1)
No. 10 Wisner-Pilger (7-2) at No. 7 Sutton (7-2)
No. 15 Ponca (5-4) at No. 2 Sandy Creek (8-1), 6 p.m.
