Lawrence-Nelson races to 96-50 Homecoming win over Giltner.

Giltner (white) and Lawrence-Nelson captains meet prior to Saturday's game for the coin toss. I wonder if they envisioned both teams combining to score 146 points before it was in the books? *(photo by Bobby Mills)

-LAWRENCE, NE-

The headline for this story could have read “Lawrence-Nelson rallies for Homecoming win over Giltner”.............No, I haven’t gone mad.

Lawrence-Nelson thought they would try a little zone pass defense to begin the game. After all, Giltner ran an offense that featured a no-back set and three wide receivers.

Didn’t work.

Hornet QB Dayne Hinrichs broke loose for 59 yard TD scamper that appeared to start out as a pass. Hinrichs then hit Rody Lyons for a 30 yard score, and when Hinrichs connected Lance McKay for a 23 yard score and a 24-8 Giltner, the zone pass defense being employed by Lawrence-Nelson was history.

The Raiders led by All-State candidate Lane Heikkinen, then reeled off the next three touchdowns, battled Giltner even-steven until the mid-point mark of the 3rd quarter, then unleashed a scoring barrage that even the Lawrence-Nelson basketball team may never equal in the next quarter century.

After Lawrence-Nelson and Giltner battled back and forth to a 36-36 halftime deadlock, the Raiders unleashed the offensive fireworks, outscoring the Hornets 60-14 in the 2nd half to post the bizarre 96 to 50 victory.

Good grief, the Lawrence-Nelson basketball team hasn’t even scored 70 points in a game since posting 79 big ones against Harvard back on February 9, 2010. Spose, Lawrence and Nelson are football towns?

So, when everything was in the books after the three hour, 20 minute contest, Lawrence-Nelson quarterback Lane Heikkinen had rushed for 240 yards on 26 carries and 6 touchdowns, run in 5 two-point conversions, and completed 5 of 6 passes for 88 yards and another touchdown. To make his senior homecoming day complete, the slender 165 pound Heikkinen added an pass interception on defense.

This Saturday afternoon contest was just a crazy football game from the get-go . Both teams entered the game 1-2, hungry for a victory after facing tough early season schedules.

You have to especially feel for Coach Brian Blevins Lawrence-Nelson squad, whose losses have come the hands of Class D-2’s Number 2 Falls City Sacred Heart and #3 Johnson-Brock, who may just win D-2 this year.

Looking at the final score, one might be tempted to think Lawrence-Nelson piled on the points after the midway mark of the third quarter. Not so. Just a combination of a gazillion penalties, especially holding calls, key defensive plays by the Raiders, and a Giltner team that never gave up and kept fighting back.

In fact, all four touchdowns scored by Lawrence-Nelson in the 4th quarter were simple direct snaps to a player lined up in the Wildcat formation. The player would simply receive the snap, then take off.

The Lawrence-Nelson 2nd offensive unit scored the last pair of TDs for the Raiders, who were playing against very tired Giltner athletes.

Also a tip of the hat to Giltner head coach Chip Bartos, who was even competing to the very end, by calling pass plays for his 2nd unit offense, despite being down by 40 plus points. Tradition, my friends, even though a Pick 6 could have resulted in the Raiders hitting the century mark on the scoreboard. You have to love that competitive spirit by the Hornets.

Stocky 190 senior Jacob Sharp added 159 yards on 24 carries and three TDS for Lawrence-Nelson, who piled up 482 yards on the ground. All-State line candidate Kyle Golay (6-2, 265) was a brute force on defense, making several tackles and some QB sacks during the game. At one point, the powerful junior blasted through the line to record three consecutive sacks.

Giltner quarterbacks combined to complete 12 of 34 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, but suffered three interceptions on the day. QB Dayne Hinrichs, who rushed only three times in the game, led the Hornets ground game with 71 yards, with that 59 yard TD gallop on the 2nd scrimmage play of the game being the major gain.

Hinrichs suffered what appeared a rib cage injury after those three first quarter carries, and was basically limited to playing defense the remainder of the way. Junior speedster Rody Lyon (5-11, 170) was also a defensive standout for Giltner.

Lawrence-Nelson (2-2) hits road next Friday to face a undefeated Kenesaw team, who rolled previously unbeaten Axtell, 66-20 Friday afternoon.

Giltner, now 1-3 on the season, hosts 1-3 Blue Hill for their homecoming game next Friday. Blue Hill whipped a winless Franklin team 55-10 on Friday.

……………………...……….1……..2……..3……..4……….F

Giltner (1-3).......................24…...12…....14…....0.…...…50

Lawrence-Nelson (2-2).....22…...14.…...30…...30……...96

…………………………………………………………………..……………..……...Gil-L/N

1st Qtr.

Gil - Dayne Hinrichs 59 run…………...........PAT-D. Wilson pass from T. Linden...8..0

Gil - Rody Lyon 30 pass from Hinrichs........PAT-Linden run……………………....16 - 0

LN - Lane Heikkenin 2 run…………….........PAT-Heikkenin run…………………..16 - 8

Gil - Lance McKay 23 pass from Hinrich.....PAT-Hinrichs pass from Linden.……24 - 8

LN - Lane Heikkenin 5 run…………………..PAT-Jake Sharp run…………..…….24-16

LN - Lane Heikkenin 15 run………………….PAT-Run failed………………...……24-22

2nd Qtr

LN -Trevin Kotinek 13 pass from Heikkenin..PAT-Heikkenin run…………………..24-30

Gil - Rody Lyon 61 pass from Linden…........PAT-Pass failed……………………...30-30

LN - Jacob Sharp 5 run……………………….PAT-Pass failed……………………...30-36

Gil - Dakon Wilson 8 pass from Linden……..PAT-Pass failed……………………...36-36

3rd Qtr.

LN - Lane Heikkenin 5 run…………………....PAT-Heikkenin run…………………..36-44

Gil- Lance McKay 57 run…………………….. PAT-Pass failed………………...…...42-44

LN - Lane Heikkenin 10 run…………………..PAT-Heikkenin run…………………..42-52

LN - Lane Heikkenin 32 run…………………..PAT-Heikkenin run…………………..42-60

Gil - Rody Lyon 65 pass from Linden….........PAT-McKay pass from Hinrichs…....50-60

LN - Jacob Sharp 35 run………………..…….PAT-Pass failed……………………...50-66

4th Qtr.

LN - Jacob Sharp 16 run………………..…….PAT-Himmelberg pass fr. Heikkenin.50-74

LN - Blake Janda 1 run………………....…….PAT-Janda run………………………..50-82

LN - Trevor Biltoft 5 run……………………....PAT-Kaden Thompson run…………..50-90

LN - Connor Cannaday 5 run……………......PAT-Run failed………………...……...50-96