Bison, Ogallala draw rematch in first round of playoffs

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook fullback Deon Allen takes a handoff from quarterback Chad Stull as Ogallala defender Gatlin Moul (7) closes in during football action last Friday night at Weiland Field. The Bison lost a 13-7 overtime decision to the Indians. The two teams have drawn a rematch at Ogallala next Friday in first-round Class B state playoff action.

McCook's football coaching staff should have a easy time developing a scouting report for its opponent in the first round of the Nebraska Class B state high school playoffs.

The Bison will visit Ogallala next Friday in opening-round playoff action. Kickoff time will be announced later this week.

McCook dropped a 13-7 overtime decision to Ogallala last Friday in the regular-season finale for both teams at Weiland Field. The loss dropped the 6-3 Bison to the fifth seed in the west bracket of the 16-team Class B playoff field. The victory boosted Ogallala (7-2) to the fourth seed, meaning the teams will square off again next Friday on Ogallala's home turf.

The McCook-Ogallala winner advances to the Class B playoff quarterfinals against the Aurora-Alliance winner. Aurora, 9-0, is the top seed in the West bracket. The Huskies rallied for a 19-9 victory over previously unbeaten Adams Central last Friday night.

Two upsets last Friday night shuffled the Class B west bracket. Alliance lost a 28-7 decision to Sidney, and Lexington was stunned by Holdrege, 9-3. Alliance (3-6) dropped to the eighth seed to draw the trip to Aurora to open the playoffs. Lexington dropped to the seventh seed, and the Minutemen (5-4) will visit second seed Gering (8-1) next Friday.

The other first-round playoff contest matches second seed Adams Central (8-1) hosting sixth seed Seward (6-3). Seward got into the playoffs with a 28-14 win over Columbus Lakeview last Friday night. The Adams Central-Seward winner advances to meet the Gering-Lexington winner in the quarterfinals Friday, Nov. 6.

The playoff semifinals are scheduled Saturday, Nov. 14, with the Class B championship game on tap Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7:15 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Unbeaten Omaha Skutt Catholic (9-0) is the top seed in the east bracket. Skutt will host eighth seed South Sioux City (4-5) in the playoff first-round action next Friday.

Other first-round games in the east bracket include: second seed Waverly (8-1) entertaining No. 7 Gretna (4-5); third seed Blair (8-1) hosting No. 6 Omaha Gross Catholic (7-2); and fourth seed Plattsmouth (7-2) at home against fifth seed Crete (5-4).