Bison starting playoffs tonight vs. Tigers

Friday, October 26, 2018
McCook Bison started their football season with a 14-yard touchdown catch from senior DJ Gross against Hastings on Aug. 24. Now the teams meet again to begain Class B state playoff action at Weiland Field Friday evening.
Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

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

PosNo.NameHt.Wt.Yr.
WR20Morgan Fawver5-10170Sr.

WR 12 James Mockry 5-8 145 Sr.

TE88DJ Gross6-2220Sr.
TE10Billy Bennett6-1195Sr.
T71Hunter Cunningham5-10280Sr.
G50Zach Latimer5-8255Sr.
C61Drew Daum6-0180Jr.
G55Colin Giron6-3235Sr.
T77Nick Baker6-4270Sr.
RB42Paxton Terry6-0190Sr.
RB13Gabe Sehnert6-0175Sr.
RB 21 Alec Bunger6-0165 Sr.
QB5Cameryn Berry6-0170Jr.

Defense

Pos.No.NameHt.Wt.Yr.
DE52Conner Kleckner6-1200Jr.
DT55Colin Giron6-3235Sr.
DT34Alec Langan6-3200So.
DE89Luke Roberts6-2195Jr.
OLB13Gabe Sehnert6-0175Sr.
ILB42Paxton Terry6-0190Sr.
ILB88DJ Gross6-2215Sr.
OLB6Seth Dugger6-1160Sr.
CB20Morgan Fawver5-10170Sr.
CB21Alec Bunger6-0165Sr.
S5Cameryn Berry6-0170Jr.
S8Trae Koetter5-10145Sr.

Special Teams

Pos.No.NameHt.Wt.Yr.
P20Morgan Fawver5-10170Sr.
K8Trae Koetter5-10145Sr.
H6Seth Dugger6-1160Sr.
L. Snap88DJ Gross6-2220Sr.
S. Snap88DJ Gross6-2220Sr.
RET5Cameryn Berry6-0170Jr.
RET13Gabe Sehnert6-0175Sr.

_

HASTINGS

Tigers

Offense

PosNo.NameHt.Wt.Yr.
WR3Quentin Synek6-2 180 Sr.
WR 19Nate Nordby 5-10 170 Jr.
TE83Jacob Schroeder6-4180Jr.
LT69Keshaun Hunt6-4265Sr.
LG72Evan Morara5-11200 Jr.
C55Dawson Jacobus5-11185Sr.
RG57Chris Glaze6-0205Sr.
RT75Jack Shardelow5-11220Jr.
FB 7Zade Weidner5-9145So.
RB20Carson Shoemaker5-6145So.
QB10Alex Swoboda6-0150Sr.

Defense

Pos.No.NameHt.Wt.Yr.
DT69Keshaun Hunt6-4265 Sr.
NT56Caden Adams6-0235Sr.
DT57Chris Glaze6-0205Sr.
OLB17Leif Hultine6-4190 Jr.
ILB61Blake Davis6-2215So.
ILB58Ivan Belber5-9210Sr.
OLB53Mclean White5-9195Sr.
CB5Jackson Hoops5-11190 Sr.
CB 2Quentin Synek6-2180Sr.
S83Jacob Schroeder6-4180Jr.
S 6Izaak Hunsley5-8142Jr.

S 2 Austin Nauert 5-10 143 Sr.

Special Teams

Pos.No.NameHt.Wt.Yr.
K8Mikey Hernandez5-8150Sr.
P3Quentin Synek6-2180Sr.
LS55Dawson Jacobus5-11185Sr.
KR 20Carson Shoemaker5-6 145So.
KR19Nate Nordby5-10170 Jr.
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