Rams win in OT, Ravens romp to start MFL season

Friday, July 24, 2020
McCook Football League players were so fired up that two Rams (above) tried to carry this ball Thursday night. Only one player reached the end zone all game as Isaac Vrbas (below) reacts to his touchdown which finished a 7-0 overtime win over the Eagles in fifth-sixth grade league action.
Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Defensive freaks and fans of offensive behavior were both pleased throughout the McCook Football League season openers at Felling Field Thursday.

Game one resembled the 1981 Nebraska-Missouri Tiger showdown, when fullback Phil Bates rumbled three yards for a 6-0 Husker victory with 23 seconds remaining.

Editor’s note: Yes, the Gazette sports editor recalled that Husker score from four decades ago and didn’t need Google.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

The team wearing gold won Thursday’s MFL opener, but it went beyond four quarters to decide this Rams-Eagles contest.

Finally in overtime, Rams runner Isaac Vrbas powered four yards across the goal line.

Kade Broz ran for the PAT and Rams defense helped finish a 7-0 thrilling debut win in fifth-sixth grade action.

Noah Mashek (19) reaches across the goal line to complete his 24-yard touchdown reception for his Ravens in a 47-6 opening win over the Chiefs Thursday night.
Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

The Ravens-Chiefs skirmish showed seventh and eighth graders have a little more experience at tallying TDs.

Bryson Gullion threw two scoring strikes to Ravens teammates before intermission.

Ethan Latta took one 64 yards into six-point paradise and Nathan Mashek plowed across the goal line for a 24-yard touchdown.

Gullion soon caught a Chiefs pass which he carried 64 yards to the season’s first “pick six.”

With a 26-0 halftime lead, the Ravens were soaring towards an impressive 47-6 triumph.

Their second-half scores were no less exciting for Ravens fans.

Zach Hinze sprinted 56 yards and Latta covered 54 to make it 40-0 through three quarters.

The Chiefs still rejected any Ravens shutout plans as Quentin Terry rumbled two yards into an end zone.

However, the Ravens weren’t finished until Latta reached this third TD on a 25-yard gallop.

Kalen McCorkle and Hinze both ran to two PAT conversions with Gullion adding another.

Gullion also ventured four yards past Chiefs defenders while scoring the game’s opening six points.

McCook Football League action continues tonight at Felling Field.

In fact, both the Rams and Ravens could reach 2-0.

The Rams take on Cowboys in a 6:30 p.m. game. Those Ravens and Raiders follow at 8 p.m.

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