Bluejay History and Records

Football Story at Ashland One of Oldest in Nebraska

First Conference Formed Here in 1892.

It may not be generally recognized that Ashland high school was one of the first to play football in Nebraska, and that the first high school football conference in the state was formed at Ashland’s Hotel Selma on December 30, 1892. The charter members were Omaha, Lincoln, Plattsmouth, and Ashland.

Formation of the Nebraska Interscholastic Football League recognized that the gridiron sport had been played by these high schools during the fall of 1892. Ashland Superintendent J. W. Crabtree was named chairman of the League. Bylaws were adopted, including a rule that the visiting team would take two-thirds of the gate receipts, probably as compensation for travel expenses.

Football in 1892 was a decided novelty and it was not well understood by the public. The game consisted of two 45-minute halves divided by a 10-minute intermission. A team was permitted three downs in which to attempt to make five yards. “Piling” was only one of the objectionable features of early football. Another was the very hazy definition of the eligible player. Fans had to be cautioned to print to stay off the playing field in order to give the teams room to play. The forward pass was not yet a recognized means of gaining yardage.

Taken from The Ashland Gazette, September 13, 1973.

Ashland-Greenwood Football Important Date Timeline:

1892: First Football Season for the Ashland Bluejackets

1893: Formed First Football Conference in Nebraska with Lincoln, Omaha, and

Plattsmouth.

1895 – 1903: No Football. Sport Abandoned Due to Brutality, Injuries, and Non-Enthusiasm.

1907: No Football.

1930: Ashland-Greenwood Joined Class B as Its New Classification.

1930: First Night Game for Ashland @ Havelock. Ashland Lost 0-21.

1933: First Homecoming Game for Ashland vs. Bethany. Ashland Won 6-0.

1936: First Year as the Bluejays.

1937: Ashland Bluejays Finished Unbeaten 8-0.

1945: First Night Game in Ashland vs. Omaha Cathedral. Ashland Lost 6-12.

1957: Greenwood Students Officially Started to Play Sports at Ashland.

1967: Name Changed to Ashland-Greenwood.

1983: First Time Ashland-Greenwood was Ranked in Final Standings, #9.

1995: Ashland-Greenwood Joined Class C1 as Its New Classification.

2002: Ashland-Greenwood’s First Trip to the Playoffs (C1) @ Conestoga. Ashland-

Greenwood Lost 0-25.

2005: Ashland-Greenwood’s First Win in the Playoffs (C1) vs. Arlington. Ashland-

Greenwood Won 20-7. The Bluejays Advanced as Far as the Quarter Finals and Finished Ranked #10.

2013: Ashland-Greenwood Had a Season of Firsts: District Championship, First Quarter Final Win,

First Semi Final Appearance and Win, First 11 Win Season, and First State Championship Game and

Runner-Up Finish.

2014: Ashland-Greenwood Went Unbeaten in the Regular Season for the First Time Since 1937 Going 9-0.

This was also the First 12 Win Season Winning 12 Games in a Row. The Bluejays Won both the District Title

and Runner-Up Title for the Second Year in a Row as well. They also Earned Thier Highest Post-Season Ranking

Being Ranked #3 by All Media Outlets.

AG Football History and Records are being researched and gathered at this time. The All-Tiime Records File uses records from 1995 to 2015.

This page will be updated as soon as possible. Thanks for your understanding.