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Big plays bite Bison in loss at Aurora
AURORA -- The Friday night prep football showdown between McCook and Aurora was filled with big plays.
Unfortunately for the Bison, Aurora had a couple more big plays, and a few more points on the scoreboard at the end.
The two-time defending state champion Huskies won their 25th straight game with a 43-25 decision over McCook in a showdown of storied Class B high school football programs Sept. 3 on Aurora's home turf.
The Bison capitalized on two Aurora turnovers to take a 12-0 first-quarter lead.
On the third play from scrimmage Matt Chitwood intercepted an Aurora pass to set up the Bison at the Aurora 45-yard line. Nine plays later, senior running back Branden Yost found the end zone on a 3-yard run. McCook sophomore quarterback Austin Cherry mishandled the point-after snap, and Cherry was injured when he tried to scramble after securing the loose ball. Cherry did not return the rest of the game.
The two teams traded punts, and Aurora surrendered the ball again when Yost hit Huskies return man Trevor Thorell and jarred the ball loose. Ryan Powell recovered for the Bison at the Aurora 15. Yost ran five yards on first down, then junior fullback Justin Terry bulled into the end zone from 10 yards out. Yost was stopped short of the goal on the extra point run.
Aurora answered with a 73-yard scoring drive capped by Austin Smith's four-yard run and the PAT kick by Tyson Broekemeier early in the second quarter.
Schlager sprint
McCook recorded another big play, this time by the offense.
The Bison started the ensuing drive at their 11-yard line following a penalty on the kick return. McCook moved the ball to the 30-yard line in five plays and faced a third-own and three. Quarterback Chitwood pitched the ball to sophomore running back Jake Schlager, who found a hole in the Aurora defense, then simply outran the Huskies en route to a 70-yard touchdown sprint.
Chitwood was sacked on the PAT try, but the Bison had an 18-7 lead midway through the second period.
After an Aurora punt, McCook fumbled and the Huskies recovered at the Bison 28. On fourth down, Broekemeier scrambled and weaved his way through the McCook defense for a 22-yard TD run. Broekemeier ran for the two-point conversion, pulling the Bison within 18-15 with 2:22 left before halftime.
Aurora used its timeouts, a quarterback sack and a blocking penalty against McCook to force a Bison punt with 1:02 left. Thorell ran the kick back 42 yards for a touchdown. Wyatt Kain blocked the Aurora PAT kick, but the hosts took a 21-18 lead into the halftime locker room.
Thorell had another big punt return early in the third quarter, as he took the ball to the McCook 4-yard line. Aurora scored three plays later as Austin Smith plowed into the end zone on a 2-yard run, and Broekemeier kicked the extra point for a 28-18 Aurora lead.
Aurora interception
McCook trailed by 10 points with a drive to start the fourth quarter. The Bison tried a halfback pass with senior quarterback Brad Baumbach trying to hit Powell deep downfield. Powell slipped just before the ball arrived, and Thorell had an easy interception for the Huskies. Two plays later, Broekemeier found Jacob Shaffer deep over the middle, and Shaffer outran the Bison defense to complete the 76-yard TD play. Seth Schnakenberg bobbled the conversion hold, and Schnakenberg scrambled and got off a desperation pass that was caught by an Aurora teammate for the two-point PAT and a 36-18 Aurora lead.
Bison come back
McCook refused to fold. The Bison drove 65 yards in 11 plays, sparked by junior fullback Keldon Osterman, who had 37 yards on five carries during the march. Yost covered the final three yards, and Chitwood booted the PAT to pull McCook within 36-25 with just under six minutes left in the game.
Chitwood was hit on the PAT try, and the roughing the kicker penalty was assessed on the kickoff. The Bison tried an onside kick, but Aurora recovered.
On the next play, Broekemeier and Matthew Grosshans connected on a 51-yard pass play to move the ball to the McCook 14. Four plays later, the talented Aurora quarterback hit Smith on a swing pass for a 3-yard TD, and Broekemeier kicked the PAT for the final score of the night.
McCook moved the ball into Aurora territory, but a fumble near midfield was recovered by the Huskies, who ran out the clock for the victory.
Alliance up next
McCook, 1-1, entertains Alliance Friday, Sept. 10. Aurora, 2-0, meets Adams Central Sept. 10.