Bison overpower Red Raiders

Bison record

improves to 5-0

By JOHN J. MESH

Gazette Sports Editor

SIDNEY -- The McCook Bison grinded it out against a stingy Sidney defense and earned a 28-0 victory Friday night.

McCook scored one touchdown in each quarter against the Red Raiders.

The Bison, ranked No. 1 or 2 in various state polls, improved to 5-0. McCook's defense has three shutouts.

Sidney, which has been shut out four times this season and has scored just 21 points, dropped to 1-4.

After Bison kicker Jeff Lorentz' opening kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback, Sidney gained about 30 yards before McCook forced the Red Raiders to punt to the Bison 16.

The Bison drove 84 yards in three minutes, capped by a 8-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Matt Berry. Lorentz' extra point kick gave McCook a 7-0 lead.

McCook put together two long drives in the second quarter that ate up a lot of clock time.

The first drive fell short, but the second was capped by a 1-yard TD run by Berry with 19 seconds in the first half. Lorentz' second PAT kick gave the Bison a 14-0 lead at intermission.

Sidney attempted an onside kick on the opening kickoff of the second half, but the Bison recovered at midfield. However, Sidney forced the Bison to punt.

After a penalty for blocking in the back on the next series, Berry found senior Colton Cochran for a 35-yard pass to the Sidney 2-yard line.

Junior fullback Chris Schleeman, who started in place of senior Sam Frazier (who sat out because he is still bothered by an ankle sprain), scored from 2 yards out.

Lorentz' third PAT kick put the Bison ahead 21-0 with 5:18 left in the third quarter.

The Bison tacked on their fourth TD on a 12-yard "pop pass" from Berry to tight end Brady Hess. Lorentz kicked his fourth PAT for a 28-0 final advantage.

The Bison rushed for 247 yards on 48 carries. Berry completed 4-of-6 passes with no interceptions for 58 yards and rushed for 84 yards on 13 carries.

Schleeman rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries. Junior Zach Wieser added 63 yards on 19 carries and caught 1 pass for 9 yards. Cory Gaston had 1 catch for 2 yards.

The Bison defense limited the Red Raiders to 112 yards rushing on 37 carries. Sidney quarterback Eric Einspahr completed 1-of-6 passes for 8 yards.

Sidney was penalized 11 times for 90 yards and McCook was flagged eight times for 55.

"We made some mental mistakes tonight," said Bison coach Jeff Gross. "No one was injured and we're 5-0. It's a lesson well-learned."

McCook will hit the road again next week against Lexington (0-5), which lost to Grand Island Northwest 35-0 Friday night at Grand Island.

It will be the first game of Nebraska Class B-5 district play for the Bison.

Sidney defeated Lexington 21-3 in Week 2 (Sept. 7) for the Raiders' lone victory.

Despite Lexington's record, Gross said it could be a tough game.

"It's Lexington -- it's our rival," Gross said. "We still haven't found that complete game yet. We know we'll be in for a tough game."

M -- Matt Berry 8 run (Jeff Lorentz kick)

M -- Berry 1 run (Lorentz kick)

M -- Chris Schleeman 2 run (Lorentz kick)

M -- Brady Hess 12 pass from Berry (Lorentz kick)