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Pius X ends McCook's streak
Long TD
pass gives
Thunderbolts
state title
LINCOLN -- The streak had to end sooner or later, and it ended at the Nebraska Class B state championship game Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The McCook Bison football team's 38-game winning streak was snapped when Lincoln Pius X quarterback Ross Bosn threw a perfect 49-yard touchdown strike to Michael Millard with 11 seconds left.
McCook threw two desperation passes into the end zone, but Pius dethroned the two-time Class B state champions 14-9.
Lincoln Pius X finished the season with a 13-0 record. McCook, which has won 46 of its last 50 games, posted a 12-1 mark.
McCook had come into the game having allowed just 49 points in 12 games. The Bison had shut out eight opponents.
"We haven't given up big plays for three years," McCook coach Jeff Gross said. "We picked the wrong time to let them happen, and that was the difference."
The Bison hadn't lost since a 19-14 defeat to Scottsbluff in November 2001.
"In the last three years, we've been the best there was in Class B," Gross said. "I kept telling the kids after the game not to be sad, to celebrate what they accomplished."
McCook took a 9-7 lead with 1:22 left in the game when junior quarterback Tony Purvis hooked up with junior tailback Brendan Liess on a 12-yard TD pass. But Josh Cherry's extra point kick was blocked.
The TD pass was set up by a pass interference call on the Thunderbolts.
Pius scored the game's first TD with 51 seconds left in the first half when Millard caught a 12-yard TD pass from Jordon Reed. Greg Zuerlein kicked the extra point.
McCook finally dented the scoreboard when Cherry kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2:24 left in the third quarter.
Bosn completed 4 of 8 passes for 86 yards, with one interception. Pius' other quarterback, Jordan Reed, was 3 of 4 for 47 yards. Millard caught seven balls for 133 yards and both Pius touchdowns.
Purvis was 4 of 10 for 79 yards.
Pius' Daniel Bargen won the battle of the state's top two rushers in 11-man football, running for 107 yards on 27 carries. Liess, who came into the game with a state-high 1,812 yards, was held to 50 yards on 19 attempts.
McCook, which averaged more than 450 yards in total offense a game during its 38-game winning streak, was limited to 215 yards total by Pius' defense.
The Thunderbolts had 311 yards in total offense.
Mason Pohl, a junior linebacker, led the Bison defense with 17 tackles. Senior Jeff Lyster added 12, Drew Wilson 8 and Alex Beam 7.
Rico Quezada made a big interception in the first half for McCook. He finished with six picks this season.
Kyle Fichtner led the Thunderbolts with 15 tackles. Bosn added 9, Michael Seidl 8 and Bargen 8.
Pohl said he was optimistic that the Bison could start a new streak next season.
"It's been a ride," Pohl said. "A ride has got to end sometimes, but it gives us something to build on next year."
Zach Volquardsen, one of 22 seniors who played their final game, was philosophical about the loss.
"We didn't come out on top but we gave it our best shot and they came out one play better than us," he said. "I guess that's just how things go."
Tyler Bieck and Associated Press contributed to this article.
| McCook | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Lincoln Pius X | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
LPX -- Michael Millard 12 pass from Jordon Reed (Greg Zuerlein kick)
M -- Josh Cherry 27 FG
M -- Brendan Liess 12 pass from Tony Purvis (kick blocked)
LPX -- Millard 49 pass from Ross Bosn (Zuerlein kick)