Bison go back-to-back

The referee signals touchdown after McCook High School senior Brooks Snyder powered his way into the end zone after catching a pass from sophomore Tony Purvis on a fake field goal attempt during the Nebraska Class B state championship game. Bison linemen Kip Bradley (58) and Richard Smock (68) wait for the TD signal. The McCook Bison shut out Omaha Bishop Roncalli 21-0 to win their second straight title and extend the school's wining streak to 26 games. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

LINCOLN -- Perhaps McCook football coach Jeff Gross was inspired by a gutsy two-point conversion call by Bishop Wahoo Neumann coach Tim Turman in the Cavaliers‚ 8-7 win over Chase County-Imperial in the Nebraska Class C1 state championship game.

The sixth-year McCook coach went to his bag of tricks to call a fake punt as time ran out in the second quarter.

The Bison set up for a 48-yard field goal attempt by Trent Lyons.

Instead the ball was pitched to Tony Purvis, who threw to Brooks Snyder at the 10-yard line.

Snyder, knowing he had to score because the clock would run out, avoided two tacklers and dove into the end zone to give the Bison a 14-0 halftime lead.

The Bison defeated Omaha Bishop Roncalli Catholic 21-0 in the Nebraska Class B state football championship Saturday night at the University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

The Bison, the defending Class B state champions, lost 15 starters from last year's squad, but still put together back-to-back unbeaten season and extended the school's winning streak to 26 games.

McCook was making its 18th state playoff appearance and its fourth title game appearance. McCook finished second in 1980 and 1994 and, of course, won it all last year.

Roncalli has reached the state playoffs 10 times and was playing in its first championship game. The Pride finished the season 12-1.

"Roncalli had never been behind this year," said Gross. "We just kept plugging away. We try to be a prepared team.

"We have to give a ton of credit to the lines on both sides of the ball. We have been here before, but we never expected to be here again (in the title game)."

The fake punt was not something the Bison just drew up during this game, said Gross.

"We actually scored on it earlier this year and last year," he said. "Once Brooks caught the ball, there was three seconds left on the clock.

"It was just second effort that got him in the end zone. It was a momentum boost because it was 14-0 as opposed to 7-0. We bent all night on defense, but we did not break. It was unbelievable. Everyone's special. Who would have thought this."

Lyons, who also played free safety for the Bison in addition to handling the quarterbacking and kicking duties, tried to show composure after the game.

"This is awesome -- I'm speechless right now," said Lyons. "I didn't think it was going to happen this year. When we beat York in overtime (16-13), I knew we were going to be good."

Senior fullback Kyle Bedore, who rushed for 84 yards on 18 carries, said his teammates were a special group.

"It took a lot of hard work and dedication and trust in each other," Bedore said.

McCook's first drive ended when quarterback Lyons was intercepted by Roncalli's Mike Burley.

The Crimson Pride drove 58 yards before Craig Thommes fumbled at the 32-yard line and McCook's Jeremy Young recovered.

McCook went three-and-out and punted. Burley returned the punt 20 yards to the Roncalli 49.

The Pride drove the ball again. Lyons made a tough tackle, and had to leave the field with an shoulder stinger.

He returned to the field a few plays later at the start of the second quarter.

He proved how healthy he was by intercepting Roncalli quarterback Matt Bowers at the Bison 15.

The Bison, who were limited to 32 yards of total offense in the first quarter, were forced to punt the ball after gaining one yard on three plays.

The McCook defense forced the Pride to punt on their next possession.

After Lyons dropped a punt at the Roncalli 5, the Pride punted back to Brendan Liess, who sprinted to the 6-yard line. Liess ran twice to the 2-yard line and McCook called a timeout.

Lyons dove in from 1-yard to give the Bison the lead with 2:29 left in the first half. He kicked the extra point and McCook led 7-0.

A terrible Roncalli punt gave the Bison the football at the Pride 46.

After a 15-yard run by Bedore, McCook set up for a 48-yard field goal attempt by Lyons.

Instead the Bison snapped the ball to Purvis, who hooked up with Snyder for the back-breaker. Lyons‚ PAT kick gave McCook a 14-0 halftime lead.

Roncalli drove downfield, but was stuffed by the Bison defense.

On three straight plays, the Bison forced losses and took over at the 29-yard line.

The Bison turned the ball over on downs at their own 21-yard line when Lyons knelt down to field a low snap on a punt. Roncalli only moved 8 yards on four plays and gave the ball back to McCook at the 13.

McCook punted the ball away.

Roncalli's next drive started out to be promising, but the Bison secondary, led by Rico Quezada and Derek Ruppert, broke up two passes.

The Pride turned the ball over on downs.

Penalties killed the next McCook possession and McCook punted the ball.

Allan Shiers sealed the victory for McCook with an interception.

Brendan Liess put the finishing touches on the second straight state title for McCook with an 8-yard TD run.

Lyons scored his final points in a Bison uniform with the extra point.

For the first time in two years, the Bison were outgained in total yardage by an opponent.

Roncalli had 219 yards in total offense compared to 178 for McCook. Roncalli outrushed McCook 141-123.

Snyder caught two passes for 44 yards. Liess was limited to 32 yards rushing.

Shiers and Snyder led the Bison in tackles with nine each, followed by Lyons, Trevor Bourg and Bedore with 7 each.

Snyder also had a sack. Purvis broke up two passes.

Bowers rushed for 63 yards and passed for 78. Thommes rushed for 61 yards.

McCOOK 21, OMAHA BISHOP RONCALLI 0

Scoring Plays

M -- Trent Lyons 1 run (Lyons kick), 2:29 2Q

M -- Brooks Snyder 31 pass from Tony Purvis (Lyons kick, 0:00 2Q

M -- Brendan Liess 8 run (Lyons kick), 2:46 4Q

Individual Stats

McCook

Rushing -- Kyle Bedore 18-84, Brendan Liess 4-32, Trent Lyons 3-19, Alex Beam 1-5, Tony Purvis 1 (minus 2).

Passing -- Trent Lyons 3-9-1-24, Tony Purvis 1-1-0-31.

Receiving -- Brooks Snyder 2-44, Allan Shiers 2-11.

Roncalli

Rushing -- Matt Bowers 19-63, Craig Thommes 16-61, Nick Chandler 7-17.

Passing -- Matt Bowers 6-23-2-78.

Receiving -- Brian Hanson 3-43, Roy Lehn 1-18, Mike Burley 1-11, Nick Chandler 1-6.