Hitchcock County wins school’s first state championship

The Hitchcock County football team came from behind Monday to claim the Class D2 Football Championship at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The Falcons scored first in the game, but trailed 8-12 at halftime after Howells-Dodge scored twice. The Jaguars, going for their 26th straight win and second straight state championship, failed to convert both extra points.
Hitchcock County came out of halftime and took the lead, then added another touchdown with less than a minute left to cap an undefeated 13-0 season with a 22-12 win.
Hitchcock County had forfeits by Maywood-Hayes Center and Medicine Valley on their regular season record. Still the Falcons rolled to wins over Bayard (72-8), Sandhills/Thedford (44-0), South Loup (36-24), Loomis (68-0), Bertrand (78-8) and Dundy County Stratton (44-6).
The Falcons won their playoff games in dominant style, as well. Hitchcock County beat Maywood/Hayes Center 78-0 in the first round and was number two after reseeding. Wins over Humphrey St. Francis (52-0), Elm Creek (58-6) and Bloomfield (48-0), sent the RPAC school to the state championship game.
Hitchcock County just missed a match up with Howells-Dodge in last year’s D1 state championship game after a playoff semifinal loss to Cross Country.