Bison starting playoffs tonight vs. Tigers
McCOOK, Neb. — The long trip seemed like about four days to McCook Bison as they motored past Minatare, Chimney Rock, Lodgepole and other great Nebraska landmarks.
“We were a sluggish football team until Tuesday,” coach Jeff Gross said following the 23-13 loss at unbeaten Scottsbluff Friday night. “You have to expect that. We got home about 4 a.m., guys were tired and a little beat up.”
But like the camel declaring Hump Day, it’s amazing how mid-week change any team’s perspective.
The Bison are back.
They’re fired up and ready for another great state playoff run starting Friday night in the friendly central time zone confines of Weiland Field.
“It’s amazing how everything changed Wednesday and today,” Gross declared this morning even after a gray, dreary Wednesday. “Our guys are ready. Like I’ve said, our goal wasn’t to go undefeated. It’s to be in a great position for getting where we want to be at the end.”
A revived Bison (8-1 record) team now get ready for a rematch against highly-improved Hastings (4-5) with kickoff at 7 p.m.
The Tigers have thrown 20 touchdown passes and only five picks since Alec Bunger’s “pick six” sparked a 41-0 Bison victory on Aug. 24.
McCook was leading 34-zip just one play into the second period.
“We hit them so hard and so fast. I just don’t think they ready for that. You can’t simulate it in practice,” Gross observed. “They had a bunch of sophomores starting. But now they’ve had a whole season of playing against speed.”
Quarterback Alex Svoboda has burned opponents for a 64.6 percent completion rate (133 for 206).
He’s fired five TDs against Gering, four vs. Alliance, three at Beatrice and another three in a victory over Crete.
Overall, the Tigers have averaged 30 points during their past eight games since McCook’s season-opening visit.
The Bison permitted only 91 pass yards, but another number impresses McCook coaches most:
-16 rushing.
That kind of number shows exactly how Bison approach state playoff games.
“Our number one goals are always to run the ball and stop the run,” Gross declared. “They (Hastings) have thrown for a ton of yards, but we want to totally eliminate the run game. Make them one dimensional.”
The Tigers have produced 103 rush yards a game despite that dismal debut.
Sophomore Carson Shoemaker has covered nearly seven yards a carry (51 for 354) besides 463 yards on 28 pass receptions.
Hastings’ No. 1 target has been 6’4” junior Jacob Schroeder with 45 receptions, 581 yards and four TDs.
“He (Schroeder) is their most dangerous player,” Gross said.
Hidden yardage is another huge factor entering players, according to the coach.
McCook still boasts one of the state’s top punters in senior Morgan Fawver to help dominate field position.
“If we gain 40 yards a punt and they get 35. We kick off into the end zoneand they don’t so we return,” he said. “And avoid the turnovers. It all eventually adds up.”
The expected starting lineups tonight:
McCOOK Bison
Offense
Pos | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 20 | Morgan Fawver | 5-10 | 170 | Sr. |
WR 12 James Mockry 5-8 145 Sr.
TE | 88 | DJ Gross | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. |
TE | 10 | Billy Bennett | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. |
T | 71 | Hunter Cunningham | 5-10 | 280 | Sr. |
G | 50 | Zach Latimer | 5-8 | 255 | Sr. |
C | 61 | Drew Daum | 6-0 | 180 | Jr. |
G | 55 | Colin Giron | 6-3 | 235 | Sr. |
T | 77 | Nick Baker | 6-4 | 270 | Sr. |
RB | 42 | Paxton Terry | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. |
RB | 13 | Gabe Sehnert | 6-0 | 175 | Sr. |
RB 21 Alec Bunger | 6-0 | 165 Sr. | |||
QB | 5 | Cameryn Berry | 6-0 | 170 | Jr. |
Defense
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 52 | Conner Kleckner | 6-1 | 200 | Jr. |
DT | 55 | Colin Giron | 6-3 | 235 | Sr. |
DT | 34 | Alec Langan | 6-3 | 200 | So. |
DE | 89 | Luke Roberts | 6-2 | 195 | Jr. |
OLB | 13 | Gabe Sehnert | 6-0 | 175 | Sr. |
ILB | 42 | Paxton Terry | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. |
ILB | 88 | DJ Gross | 6-2 | 215 | Sr. |
OLB | 6 | Seth Dugger | 6-1 | 160 | Sr. |
CB | 20 | Morgan Fawver | 5-10 | 170 | Sr. |
CB | 21 | Alec Bunger | 6-0 | 165 | Sr. |
S | 5 | Cameryn Berry | 6-0 | 170 | Jr. |
S | 8 | Trae Koetter | 5-10 | 145 | Sr. |
Special Teams
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
P | 20 | Morgan Fawver | 5-10 | 170 | Sr. |
K | 8 | Trae Koetter | 5-10 | 145 | Sr. |
H | 6 | Seth Dugger | 6-1 | 160 | Sr. |
L. Snap | 88 | DJ Gross | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. |
S. Snap | 88 | DJ Gross | 6-2 | 220 | Sr. |
RET | 5 | Cameryn Berry | 6-0 | 170 | Jr. |
RET | 13 | Gabe Sehnert | 6-0 | 175 | Sr. |
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HASTINGS
Tigers
Offense
Pos | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 3 | Quentin Synek | 6-2 | 180 Sr. | |
WR 19 | Nate Nordby 5-10 170 Jr. | ||||
TE | 83 | Jacob Schroeder | 6-4 | 180 | Jr. |
LT | 69 | Keshaun Hunt | 6-4 | 265 | Sr. |
LG | 72 | Evan Morara | 5-11 | 200 Jr. | |
C | 55 | Dawson Jacobus | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. |
RG | 57 | Chris Glaze | 6-0 | 205 | Sr. |
RT | 75 | Jack Shardelow | 5-11 | 220 | Jr. |
FB | 7 | Zade Weidner | 5-9 | 145 | So. |
RB | 20 | Carson Shoemaker | 5-6 | 145 | So. |
QB | 10 | Alex Swoboda | 6-0 | 150 | Sr. |
Defense
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DT | 69 | Keshaun Hunt | 6-4 | 265 Sr. | |
NT | 56 | Caden Adams | 6-0 | 235 | Sr. |
DT | 57 | Chris Glaze | 6-0 | 205 | Sr. |
OLB | 17 | Leif Hultine | 6-4 | 190 Jr. | |
ILB | 61 | Blake Davis | 6-2 | 215 | So. |
ILB | 58 | Ivan Belber | 5-9 | 210 | Sr. |
OLB | 53 | Mclean White | 5-9 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 5 | Jackson Hoops | 5-11 | 190 Sr. | |
CB 2 | Quentin Synek | 6-2 | 180 | Sr. | |
S | 83 | Jacob Schroeder | 6-4 | 180 | Jr. |
S | 6 | Izaak Hunsley | 5-8 | 142 | Jr. |
S 2 Austin Nauert 5-10 143 Sr.
Special Teams
Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
K | 8 | Mikey Hernandez | 5-8 | 150 | Sr. |
P | 3 | Quentin Synek | 6-2 | 180 | Sr. |
LS | 55 | Dawson Jacobus | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. |
KR | 20 | Carson Shoemaker | 5-6 145 | So. | |
KR | 19 | Nate Nordby | 5-10 | 170 Jr. |