Bison fans can see Class B No. 3 on Saturday

Friday, August 11, 2017
The McCook Bison (right) and two-time defending state champion Elkhorn South (left) are expected to be extremely close again this fall with both ranked among Class B’s top three football teams.
Steve Towery

McCOOK, Neb. — Football Saturdays start early in Bison land as Class B No. 3 McCook debuts with a 9:30 a.m. scrimmage on the high school practice field.

Expectations have been rumbling for months about another Bison team expected to be among the best in this state.

Not only are 20 seniors and returning, the Bison will also be breaking in several underclassmen who were part of an undefeated JV-freshman program last fall.

All these Bison should get some playing time during Saturday’s first scrimmage in 2017.

The Bison are only two weeks away from a huge season opener at Class B No. 6-ranked Aurora.

Omaha World-Herald prep writers released their football rankings this week. It was no surprise that Elkhorn South, Omaha Skutt and McCook own Class B’s top three spots.

McCook was one point from ending South’s 25-game win streak last November while Skutt played a super 34-32 state final against the Storm that following week.

However, coach Jeff Gross knows the Bison must navigate through a regular season featuring six 2016 state playoff teams.

More about McCook’s upcoming season will be featured in the Gazette’s Fall Sports Preview section next week.

A quick rundown of the World-Herald’s Top 10 teams starting 2017.

No. 1 Elkhorn South

No. 2 Omaha Skutt

No. 3 McCook

No. 4 Gretna

No. 5 Norris

No. 6 Aurora

No. 7 Elkhorn

No. 8 Beatrice

No. 9 Columbus

No. 10 Scottsbluff

Some might question how the York Dukes aren’t a Top 10 team considering they feature several highly-regarded players including 6’5”, 295-pound lineman Masry Mapieu who’s reportedly drawn interest from Nick Saban’s No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Dukes visit Weiland Field on Friday, Sept. 22. No Bison should have forgotten the 20-11 defeat those Dukes dumped on them last September in York.

Other early showdowns feature a familiar South-Skutt confrontation on Sept. 1. A ballyhooed battle but one defeat will likely not stop either the Storm or Skyhawks from advancing deep into Class B playoffs.

No. 4 Gretna at No. 5 Norris joins McCook at Aurora as huge first-week contests. The Dragons must replace both a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer.

They have nowhere to hide against Norris, Blair, Skutt and South all confronting their regular-season schedule.

Most fans will anticipate McCook visiting No. 10 Scottsbluff on Sept. 22, though the Bearcats must move on without 2,000-yard rushing workhorse Max Mason who graduated.

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