McCook trying not to look past 0-4 Hastings

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School senior defensive end Jeremy Young (87 left) brings down Ogallala running back Bill Chandler (34) behind the line of scrimmage two weeks ago. Young and his Bison teammates host Hastings Friday night at Weiland Field. Kickoff is 7 p.m. CT. McCook is 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in Nebraska Class B. Hastings is 0-4, but lost a close contest to Scottsbluff 10-6.

Bison, Tigers

hook up in

first game

of district play

Don't look for the McCook Bison football team to overlook any opponents this season, starting with Friday's contest at home against Hastings.

Kickoff at Weiland Field is 7 p.m. CT.

The Tigers bring an 0-4 record into the first Nebraska Class B-5 district game, but Hastings lost a 10-6 heartbreaker to Scottsbluff last week.

Meanwhile, McCook, ranked No. 1 in Class B, drilled Gering 41-7 and improved to 4-0. The Bison have won 30 consecutive games.

Gering scored in the second quarter last week to break the Bison defense's four-game scoreless streak.

McCook coach Jeff Gross said Hastings' defense, led by senior inside linebackers Mark Scheeckle and Jeremiah Zach, could make the game close for the Tigers.

"They played better (against Scottsbluff) and they're playing better," Gross said. "Don't let their record fool you. They play tremendous defense. That will be an issue for us. We want to make sure we can effectively move the football. The scores are deceiving.

"They have a new coach (Rick Ripperger). He was their defensive coordinator and there won't be any changes defensively, but they've made some changes offensively.

"They have two really good inside linebackers (Scheeckle and Zach). We have to figure out how to get those guys blocked."

Gross said Friday night's game takes on more significance because it is the district opener for Nebraska high school football teams.

"What we've done so far by going 4-0 is gravy-- the district is meat and potatoes," Gross said. "We have a lot of improvement to make.

"We found out what happens when we don't take responsibility. Last week when Gering scored, we had breakdowns on six of the 11 plays on the scoring drive.

"We have to maintain discipline on defense. We need to block and tackle well."

Gross said fans should not expect new offensive wrinkles this week, but added the Bison will try to use more of their offensive schemes, such as more counter run plays.

"We need to expand on all phases of our offense," he said. "We've got a lot of other plays. We need to open up our counter game better. We want to be able to throw the ball. We haven't utilized a fourth of our offense."

HASTINGS TIGERS (0-4)

at McCOOK BISON (4-0)

Date: Friday, Oct. 1

Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT

Last year's matchups: McCook 24, Hastings 6.

Last week's results: McCook 41, Gering 7; Scottsbluff 10, Hastings 6.

Radio pre-game show: 6 p.m. CT

Radio: KICX (96.1-FM McCook)

Play-by-play: Rich Barnett.

Analysis: Ken Wellman, Bob Gaulke

McCook stats

Offense (2122 total yards)

Rushing (185-1491): Brendan Liess 55-607, Alex Beam 45-318, Tony Purvis 38-190, Craig Fritz 15-209, Jeff Klug 23-106, Joel Arterburn 4-49, Ryan Bedore 3-8, Drew Wilson 2-4.

Passing (12-24-1-240): Tony Purvis 12-24-1-240.

Receiving (12-240): Brian Winder 4-96, Alex Beam 3-60, Brendan Liess 2-39, Jeremy Young 2-28, Zach Volquardsen 1-19.

Returns (18-403): Brendan Liess 8-257, David McCorkle 7-51, Jeff Klug 1-56, Rico Quezada 1-35, Derek Ruppert 1-4.

Scoring (117 points): Brendan Liess 48 (8 TDs), Alex Beam 30 (5 TDs), Josh Cherry 18 (16 PAT1s, 1 FG), Tony Purvis 18 (3 TDs), Craig Fritz 18 (3 TDs), Jeff Klug 12 (2 TDs), Joel Arterburn 6 (1 TD), Brian Winder 6 (1 TD), Jared Muehlenkamp 2 (1 PAT2).

Defense (allowed 7 points in four games): Jayce Dueland 73 points, Rico Quezada 63, Tony Purvis 52, Drew Wilson 51, Mason Pohl 50, Jeff Lyster 48, David McCorkle 41, Karl Shaddock 38, Jeremy Young 33, Paul Kenny 33, Alex Beam 31, Brendan Liess 29, Josh Cherry 25, Derek Ruppert 24, Paul Farrell 23, Jeff Klug 19, Craig Fritz 18, Tony Aguilar 16, Jared Muehlenkamp 11, Brandon Kotschwar 10, Derek Sailors 7, Daniel Banda 6, Garrett Rippen 6, Zach Volquardsen 6, Brock Hubert 4, Brad Ackerman 4, Levi Alegria 2, Eric Ramsay 1, Logan Polly 1.

STARTING LINEUPS

McCOOK OFFENSE

WR 31 Brian Winder, 6-3, 165, sr.

WR 6 Derek Ruppert, 6-1, 170, sr.

TE 1 Zach Volquardsen, 6-5, 215, sr.

TE 87 Jeremy Young, 6-3, 210, sr.

T 64 Jayce Dueland 6-0, 210, sr.

G 56 Ryan Saalfeld 6-1, 195, sr.

C 62 Karl Shaddock, 6-2, 215, sr.

G 63 Jeff Lyster, 6-1, 195, sr.

T 55 Tony Aguilar, 5-10, 220, sr.

FB 32 Alex Beam, 5-10, 180, sr.

TB 44 Brendan Liess, 6-1, 175, jr.

QB 5 Tony Purvis, 6-1, 160, jr.

DEFENSE

DE 62 Karl Shaddock, 6-2, 215, sr.

DT 55 Tony Aguilar, 5-10, 220, sr.

DT 64 Jayce Dueland 6-0, 210, sr.

DE 87 Jeremy Young, 6-3, 210, sr.

ILB 63 Jeff Lyster, 6-1, 195, sr.

ILB 32 Alex Beam, 5-10, 180, sr.

OLB 44 Brendan Liess, 6-1, 175, jr.

OLB 10 Drew Wilson, 5-9, 180, sr.

CB 19 Paul Kenny, 5-10, 155, sr.

CB 12 Rico Quezada, 5-7, 145, sr.

DB 6 Derek Ruppert, 6-1, 170, sr.

NB 3 Jeff Klug, 5-10, 165, jr.

FS 5 Tony Purvis, 6-1, 160, jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K 2 Josh Cherry, 6-1, 150. so.

P 31 Brian Winder, 6-3, 165, sr.

H 7 Joel Arterburn, 6-0, 155, jr.

LS 62 Jayce Dueland, 6-0, 210, sr.

KR 44 Brendan Liess, 6-1, 175, jr.

KR 23 David McCorkle, 5-10, 155, sr.

KR 3 Jeff Klug, 5-10, 165, jr.

HASTINGS

OFFENSE

X 21 Alex Berndt, 165, jr.

LT 74 Jordan Furrow, 220, sr.

LG 59 Nathan Mullen, 235, sr.

C 70 Colby Richter, 165, jr.

RG 64 Dylan Montey, 210. jr.

RT 56 Stephen Goodin, 210, jr.

TE 82 Mark Scheeckle, 210, sr.

Z 85 Sean Glen, 170, sr.

Z 13 Jordan Miller, 155, sr.

TB 12 Jordan Krueger, 180, sr.

FB 35 Jeremiah Zach, 185, sr.

QB 11 Aaron Williams, 195, jr.

DEFENSE

DE 70 Colby Richter, 165, jr.

DT 59 Nathan Mullen, 235, sr.

DT 57 Lance Garvin, 175, jr.

DE 83 Eric Gunn, 180, jr.

OLB 14 Trenton Gloystein, 175, jr.

ILB 82 Mark Scheeckle, 210, sr.

ILB 35 Jeremiah Zach, 185, sr.

OLB 12 Jordan Krueger, 180, sr.

CB 22 Brett White, 155, jr.

CB 21 Alex Berndt, 165, jr.

FS 13 Jordan Miller, 155, sr.