CARTHAGE — It wasn't the trophy Gunner Ellison wanted, but the Republic running back tucked it under his right arm Friday as he exited the turf of David Haffner Stadium.
Ellison's high school football career ended in a 28-14 loss to top-ranked Carthage, but the misty-eyed senior understood that the Class 5, District 6 runner-up hardware represented something much larger.
"It sucks that it's over for me, but it's been fun to be part of this program's turnaround," Ellison said as Carthage celebrated its first district crown since 2019, sending the Tigers to the state quarterfinals. "This team has a bright future and I'm excited to watch them excel.