Football shaping up for big finish

For high school football fans following winning teams, the Friday nights of fall race by far too fast.

It's an exhilarating time ... filled with game time excitement and the anticipation of playoff drama.

The feelings are especially sweet for followers of the McCook Bison, who are driving for the record books with a 33-game winning streak. They are joined this year on the road to glory by the the Arapahoe Warriors, winners of seven straight game in Eight Man-1 competition; the Chase County Longhorns of Imperial, with a 7-1 record in Class C-1; the Southwest Roughriders, 6-1 in their first year of competition in Class C-2; and the Hayes County Cardinals of Hayes Center, who have a 7-0 record in Eight Man-2.

It has been an impressive showing by the teams in the southwest section of the state. Not much time remains, as teams enter the final weeks of the season and the start of the playoffs.

Get ready for the exciting final days of the season. Another thrilling finish is looming for the gridiron sport in Southwest Nebraska.

Old Home Week for Huskers

While Friday nights are played out under the lights in Nebraska hometowns, the action shifts to Lincoln on Saturdays for home games of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

It has been an up-and-down season for the Huskers, but we find out on Saturdays why we care so much about how the Nebraska football team fares.

On football Saturdays, Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is "Old Home Week" for Nebraskans. It's a time to renew friendships. To come together for a festive day of red-clad revelry.

The game's one thing. The atmosphere is another. For more than 40 years now -- dating back to 1962 -- Nebraskans have shared the victorious thrill of accomplishment in intercollegiate football. That's why the 70-10 blasting at Texas Tech was so scary. Husker fans feared that their incredible run of success was being threatened.

It was good to see the Huskers come back Saturday, soaring past Baylor, 59-27. Now it's off to Manhattan to take on the Kansas State Wildcats. As will be the case throughout this uncertain season, Husker fans are on pins and needles again, because for them and the team there's a lot at stake.

A Beautiful Sight!

What a glorious sight it is to see the hot-air balloons soaring in the skies in the McCook area. Our thanks go out to all who join in bringing the High Plains

Freedom Flight to McCook. They bring us an uplifting -- and inspiring -- weekend of wonder.