Giltner players celebrate with their trophy after winnng
the Class D-2 state football championship Monday at
Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
LINCOLN — Finally.
After three straight years of heartbreaking playoff exits, the Giltner football team can finally call itself state champion.
The Hornets were in control of the Class D-2 state finals game against Humphrey St. Francis virtually from start to finish, defeating the Flyers 42-26 Monday at Memorial Stadium. The Hornets' high-octane offense continued to score points seemingly at will, while the defense made key stops when Giltner needed it most.
"I'm just happy for the kids," said Giltner coach Jeff Ashby, whose Hornets had lost to Howells in the playoffs each of the last three years. "I do this for fun. I love coaching football and I'm going to keep coaching football for quite a while. This is more for the kids. They only get four chances in their high school career to get this done.
"What a great senior class. They have a state runner-up in football (in 2009), now a championship in football and two state championships in basketball (in 2011 and 2012). What a great senior class."
To read more, see Tuesday's Hastings Tribune or the Tribune e-edition.>>>
