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McCook Gazette

Aurora's early momentum pushes them past McCook

Monday, September 14, 2009
JEREMY BLOMSTEDT
Bison seniors lead the team's charge onto Weiland Field Friday night.

As most fans, coaches and players know, winning and losing in football is often about momentum. The team that usually ends up victorious gains it early, builds on it quickly and holds it fiercely.

The Aurora High School Huskies provided a textbook example of such momentum Friday night in their 48-10 win over the McCook Bison. In the opening seconds, Aurora ran the Bison kick back 93 yards for a touchdown, deflating the hometown crowd.

Two more touchdowns -- including one on a fumble return -- before the end of the first quarter kept McCook from wresting control back from the visiting squad.

The Huskies crossed the goal line 3 more times before halftime to hold a dominating 42-3 lead at the break.

The Bison didn't roll over for Aurora, however. In fact, McCook ended the night ahead of the Huskies in total offense, rolling up 296 yards, including 227 on the ground and 69 through the air. The Bison also had 17 first downs to Aurora's 8.

McCook quarterback Chad Stull sounded unbroken after the tough loss. "Alliance hit hard and Aurora didn't hit any harder," Stull said. "We're going to bounce back from this. It's still early in the season."

He also remained confident about his team's offensive abilities, even after the defeat. "The offensive line did a good job blocking the big guys up front," he said. "Despite the size disadvantage, we managed to move the ball downfield."

"We had some turnovers," Stull admitted, but added, "It's better to make the mistakes now so we can correct them."

The 2-1 Bison will hit the road Friday to take on Scottsbluff.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central time.

Score by quarters

Aurora 21 21 6 0 -- 48

at McCook 3 0 7 0 -- 10

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  • The season is early.. The real test of these young men is can they improve to beat Aurora in the playoffs.. McCook has a real challenge ahead.. Can these players keep up the tradition? Too many times in McCook's past, they have gone without competition during the season.. This lack of competition removes personal/team improvement.. My recommendation to McCook seniors is to set a goal to to not lose another game.. Yes, Aurora is talented, but McCook has tradition.. Set a goal, and take no prisoners.. When you look back at life, defeat after an ***-kicking must be unacceptable.. The wonderful thing about high-school athletics is the best team at the end of the year can win the championship.. Mick Haney, class of 1978

    -- Posted by mickhaney on Tue, Sep 15, 2009, at 2:02 AM

  • Instead of worrying about winning championships the goal for the boys should be to play the best they can. Win or lose.

    Coach Dave Dunham said his best coaching accomplishment at McCook was his 1984 team that went 3-5. On paper they should have lost every game but they won 3 and could have beat two more playoff teams.

    The reason for his comment was that those players tried hard every day and reached 100% of their potential.

    The measure to success isn't running the table and winning every game. It is every kid knowing he tried his best and never giving up!

    -- Posted by wallismarsh on Tue, Sep 15, 2009, at 9:14 AM

  • "The Bison also had 17 first downs to Aurora's 8"

    That one cracked me up, They obviously were accomplishing what both teams wanted to do, score, instead of gaining another 4 plays.

    -- Posted by marlin on Tue, Sep 15, 2009, at 10:29 AM

  • It looks like Aurora did not need the first downs they just made the touchdowns. Oh yes McCook will get better but Aurora will also get better so boys hangon for the ride if McCook and Aurora are in the playoffs.

    -- Posted by rifleman on Tue, Sep 15, 2009, at 2:25 PM

  • Didn't seen the game, but from the stats.

    It appears Aurora may have one or two speed burners, with the ability to turn it on and outrun everyone if blocks and/or deception gets them a little room.

    Problem with a team built around a few "skill and speed" players is that one or two injuries can stop them dead.

    If the Bison hang in there and play solid team football, they won't have anything to regret, so long as they leave every ounce of energy on the field at the final gun.

    Reality, games are often won in June, July and August as dedicated athletes run five to ten miles daily to build the endurance and durability needed for the 11 or 12 games.

    -- Posted by HerndonHank on Tue, Sep 15, 2009, at 4:33 PM

  • It is heartbreaking when you suffer a loss like the one the Bison had on Friday night - just ask all the teams McCook has beaten by similar scores in recent years. Winning is nice, but being able to build character in the face of adversity is more important. The Bison tradition will not end with this one loss! These kids work hard everyday and do their best on the field (mistakes and all) and to expect them to be perfect is a goal no one will ever achieve. These boys have nothing to be ashamed of and will bounce back stronger from this setback. Go Bison! Go Chad!

    -- Posted by KUmominFL08 on Tue, Sep 15, 2009, at 9:23 PM

  • I have heard the statememt made that "Tradition" graduated, how sad that would be a thought in anyone's mind. The senior members of the 2008 McCook football team graduated. The "Tradition" of a school football team should be that they play to the best of their ability and as hard as they can until the end of the game, and, they support their team menbers and do not belittle them when they make mistakes. We all make mistakes -- even football players! Respecting your team members and the team you are playing is sportsmanship. Being good losers as well as good winners -- that is sportsmanship. McCook should be proud of all the young men that were on the football field Friday night. Personally, I think losing may end up being a good thing -- now these young men can start over and just be the 2009 McCook Bison Football Team. And a great team they are! The support was great Friday night -- the fans even cheered wiht the Cheerleaders! When your team, or anyone, needs the most support is when they are down. That support makes us work harder, which might be part of the reason the Bisons fought to the last second of the game. They were playing for themselves, their team, and their fans. Had they been playing for a "streak" they, and the fans, would have given up after the first half, but they were all there until the end! Keep up the good work, team and fans! YOU are a winning TEAM!! Go Bisons! See you in Scottsbluff.

    -- Posted by Jake on Wed, Sep 16, 2009, at 11:00 AM

  • I hope these players remember this loss when speaking about other sports in their school. Not everyone is a winner...it's the attitude with learning how to lose makes them winners. This is exactly why the entire community needs to support all of the teams and not just one. Good luck kids, you'll get thru this. Hopefully the coaches will teach you how to lose along with how to win.

    -- Posted by FNLYHOME on Wed, Sep 16, 2009, at 11:43 AM

  • Some of you people heap way tioo much pressure on these KIDS to win everything for you. You sit in the stands and cheer until you're hoarse when they're winning and then scream at the top of your lungs at them when they are losing.

    They are kids! Since when was the success and the livelyhood of this town dependant on a HS football squad?

    This tradition crap is only cool as long as you have great teams and great talent. Once that dries up as it obvioulsy has, these kids are left trying to fill in the void created by highly expectant adults how want nothing less than a trip to Lincoln every year.

    I heard some very disturbing things coming from the stands last week and Gross heard it to and even mentioned it on the radio. Not everyone was going it, but it's enought to be heard and to be concerned about.

    Just walk into any business in McCook on Monday morning and you'll hear the rants and ravings of lunatic fans all morning long. It's nice to win a lot of games, but at some point you have realize these are just kids. We are not always going to have the best team in the state. You can't punish this group of kids because they are not the ones that played here 6 years ago.

    If you want that kind of drama and passion, go to NFL games instead of HS games. Those guys are professional men making lots of money. You can say whatever you want about them and scream any obscenity at them you wish, that's what they're there for. They don't get paid to lose and try hard.

    Cheer for the HS kids whether the win or lose. They have much more important things to do after graduation than play football.

    -- Posted by Justin76 on Thu, Sep 17, 2009, at 8:21 AM

  • Exactly Justin. These are just kids. Problem is, the parents along with the coaches expect them to win and accept nothing less. They don't teach how to lose gracefully. It also doesn't help when the coach himself gets on the radio and chuckles when he says "I wouldn't want to be one of our opponents in the next few weeks". This just shows arrogence at its best. These kids need to learn from their mistakes and improve on them. IT'S OK TO LOSE. But don't come back and slam other teams if you win.

    -- Posted by FNLYHOME on Thu, Sep 17, 2009, at 9:27 AM

  • As a past player we expect more from ourselves than anyone else... That is bull to say we don't plan on winning every single game. It's not being cocky, it is having the right mind set. Ask anyone of those kids, this game will make them work harder than they every have... because they expect it from themselves, not b/c fans want it, coaches want it, or the community wants it.

    Goodluck with the rest of the season, we are behind you all the way. Do your best, don't hold back, and don't forget this game.

    -- Posted by cmg003 on Sat, Sep 26, 2009, at 1:33 AM
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