Oct 28

Written by: ngreditor
10/28/2008 6:24 PM 

Jays playoff bound

For the fifth time in the last seven years the Newman Grove Bluejay football team has qualified for the Nebraska State High School Football Playoffs. The playoffs began in 1975; this will be the 34th year.

In the first years of playoffs only four teams qualified from each class, then it expanded to 8 schools, then to 16, 32 schools then back to 16 schools. Now back to 32 schools in the lower class.

From 1975 to 1987 Newman Grove played 11-man football. From 1987 to present they have played 8-man football. From the fall of 1993 to the fall of 2000, we were ineligible for the playoffs due to enrollment.

Before the playoffs began some conferences had a championship game. Some other schools may have added an extra game.

The 2008 Bluejays qualified with a 5 win 3 loss record and stood in a tie for 28th in power points of the 32 qualifying Class D-1 schools. This is a good reward for the team who had only one starter on offense and three on defense returning from the 2007 state qualifying playoff team.

The Jays are happy to be the sixth Newman Grove football team in the 34 year history of state playoffs to qualify.

This year’s seniors became good leaders for the team and helped the underclassmen fit into their team roles.

The 2008 quad became over achievers and will do their best to represent the school and community of Newman Grove at Eustis- Farnum, the Number 1 seed in the West half, on Thursday, October 30.

Newman Grove’s Conference or State Playoff History:

• 1950-Regular Season Cornbelt Conference Champions
• 1966 Undefeated 9-0
• 1973 Mid-State Conference Championship (lost to Dodge 6-53)
• 1991 State Playoff (lost to Sterling 0-44)
• 1994 Gridiron Conference Championship (lost to Elm Creek 22-30)
• 2002 State Playoffs (lost to Howells 0-54)
• 2004 State Playoffs (defeated Axtell 48-0, lost to Lawrence Nelson 14-22)
• 2005 State Playoffs (lost to Humphrey St. Francis 26-54)
• 2007 State Playoff (defeated Deshler 34-26, lost to Nebraska City Lourdes 8-14)
• 2008 State Playoffs.