Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

GILTNERHORNETS
By: Spencer Schubert
For the first time in a decade, the
Giltner football team is entering fall
camp with a brand-new head coach.
However, unlike in 2007 when coach
Jeff Ashby arrived in town, new
coach Chip Bartos will be taking
over a perennial state power.
When Ashby took over ten years
ago, he assumed the reins of a team
that had won only four games in
three seasons. The same can’t be
said for Bartos, who takes over a
team that has been to the playoffs
for ten straight years, including
a Class D2 championship year in
2012.
With Ashby embracing a new
challenge as head coach of Wood
River, Bartos says he can’t wait to
get started.
“As a new head coach (the biggest
challenge) will be just learning a
new offense and a different style of
a past offense,” Bartos said.
The new head ball coach comes
from Wausa, and fortunately, is
coming into an ideal situation when
it comes to eight-man football.
20 letterwinners are returning from
the playoff squad of a year ago,
including six starters on both sides
of the ball. The team, however, went
just 4-4 in 2016 — a far cry from the
years where one loss was one too
many for a championship-hungry
town.
Bartos said with so many returning
starters to work with, he knows the
expectations will be high as usual.
“Leadership by this senior group
and staying healthy will be the key
to a successful season,” Bartos said.
Another welcome sight for the firstyear
head coach will be the start
and end of the upcoming schedule.
The first and final two opponents on
the ledger went a combined 9-23 in
2016, giving Giltner an opportunity
to get their feet wet early this time
around.
Unfortunately for Bartos and
company, the heart of the schedule
is the exact opposite, as the four
opponents combined to go 28-4
in the regular season in 2016.
Justifiably so, those were Giltner’s
four in-season losses last year.
The Hornets did make it to the
playoffs a year ago, but fell woefully
short in their opener against
Sandhills-Thedford, losing 49-14. A
nice note to make, though, is that
Sandhills-Thedford made a run to
the semifinal round before bowing
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Exeter-Milligan
9/1 @ Pleasanton
9/8 @ Heartland
9/15 Osceola
9/22 @ Lawrence-Nelson
10/6 Blue Hill
10/13 Shelton
10/20 @ Axtell
out to Twin Loup.
The 2017 Hornets will be led by a
solid collection of seniors on the
offensive end, and a good majority
of them are in skill positions.
Quarterback Alex Goracke is
back under center for his senior
campaign, and he’s got three senior
wideouts to keep an eye on.
Seniors Josh Hinrichs, Brodi Hansen
and Rees Lyon are expected to lead
the aerial attack Giltner hopes to
showcase this fall.
Key Players:
Alex Goracke (6’1” 205 lbs) Sr. QB/
LB
Josh Hinrichs (6’3” 170 lbs) Sr. WR/
DB
Brodi Hansen (6’2” 170 lbs) Sr. WR/
DB
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Hornets
Class: D2
2016 Record: 4-5
Playoff Appearances: 15
Head Coach: Chip Bartos
Assistant Coach: Scott Dangler
402.849.2400 • 216 Tonya Drive • Giltner, NE
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