Gretna forced to vacate Class A title

GRETNA, Neb. -- Just months after a dramatic state championship victory, a Nebraska high school is being forced to vacate its title.

Gretna, which claimed a 7-3 victory over Omaha Westside to win the Class football crown in November, learned its fate at the Nebraska School Activities board meeting on Thursday.

The governing body for the state's high school activities ruled unanimously that the Dragons must forfeit the title and return their trophy after it was determined that they used an ineligible player. The player in question was ruled to have not correctly changed his address according to NSAA rules.

The NSAA said there will be no 2021 champion listed. The players can keep their championship medals, however.

According to the Omaha World Herald's Stu Pospisil, it was the first time since 1919 that a Nebraska state champion was forced to vacate its title. Holbrook had its Class F basketball title revoked for use of an ineligible player. Deshler, which had lost to Holbrook, was awarded the crown.