GILTNER, Neb. — Nate Most and the Giltner defense took turns pummeling Palmer in the first quarter Monday night.

The Hornets forced the top-ranked Tigers into three punts after holding Palmer on downs at midfield to open the game.

Most converted after each stop, running for a 42-yard touchdown on Giltner's first play from scrimmage and throwing the first three of his Eight Man-1 playoff record eight touchdown passes for a 28-0 lead that led to a 64-36 victory.

Giltner (11-1) will play defending champion Howells (11-1) at 10:15 a.m. Monday in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln in the Eight Man-1 final.

Giltner avenged its only loss of the season against the Tigers (11-1), who won 46-37 in the regular season.

“The first time we played them our defense wasn't very good, but it got better as the season progressed,'' Most said. “We were having better pursuit of getting all eight people to the ball, and that showed tonight. It really helped getting those three-and-outs.''

Most, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior, threw four touchdown passes to Shay Hinrichs, three to Drew Ott and one to Cody Schacht while completing 21 of 36 passes for 292 yards and no interceptions.

“Tonight has to be one of his best games,'' Hinrichs said.

Most is the state's first eight-man passer to top 50 touchdowns in a season (51) and 100 in career (107). His season yardage now stands at 2,752 on 203 completions.

Palmer clawed back into the game with three touchdowns in the second quarter and threatened to score again, only to be stopped on downs inside the Hornets' 10-yard line in the final minute of the half.

“They got that lead, and that turned out to be the difference in the game,'' Palmer coach Nathan Glause said. “Once we finally scored, we got some momentum. But it took us that long to get going.”

Dillon Glause of Palmer tied the Eight Man-1 playoff record with a 79-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Palmer (11-1)...............0 22 8 6—36
At Giltner (11-1).................28 8 20 8—64

G: Nate Most 42 run (pass failed)

G: Drew Ott 5 pass from Most (Luke Richards pass from Most)

G: Shay Hinrichs 21 pass from Most (pass failed)

G: Ott 13 pass from Most (Hinrichs pass from Most)

P: Dillon Glause 28 pass from Tyler Wichmann (Glause run)

G: Hinrichs 46 pass from Most (Hinrichs pass from Most)

P: Wichmann 1 run (Glause run)

P: Glause 23 pass from Wichmann (pass failed)

G: Cody Schacht 10 pass from Most (pass failed)

G: Hinrichs 8 pass from Most (pass failed)

P: Glause 79 kickoff return (Wichmann run)

G: Ott 38 pass from Most (pass failed)

P: Glause 18 run (pass failed)

G: Hinrichs 14 pass from Most (Schacht pass from Most)

A: 1,000 (est.)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: P, Wichmann 19-37, Glause 12-59, Haden Kensen 3-7, Nathan Doggett 1-minus 1. G, Most 17-138, Hinrichs 3-11, Gabe Harmon 4-14, Richards 2-33, Derreck Eastman 5-8, team 3-minus 7.

PASSING: P, Wichmann 15-31-1 199, Glause 1-1-0 11. G, Most 21-36-0 292.

RECEIVING: P, Glause 5-64, Jensen 3-18, Logan Simonson 2-42, Jack Wardyn 2-29, Derek Niewohner 2-9, Doggett 1-15, Wichmann 1-11, Riley Santin 0-31, team 0-minus 21. G, Hinrichs 11-145, Schacht 4-38, Ott 5-88, Richards 1-21.

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