Bison drop tough 21-14 battle at Scottsbluff

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — Sophomore Sebastien Boyle's 72-yard touchdown run on the second play after halftime broke a 14-14 tie and eventually decided Scottsbluff's 21-14 win over McCook Friday night.

The Bearcats (6-2 record) clinched their district championship with a fifth consecutive win.

McCook (3-5) now must almost certainly beat winless Alliance in its regular-season finale next week to secure another Class B state playoff berth.

The Bison traded touchdowns while gaining nearly 200 first-half yards against one of Class B's top-ranked defense. Fullback Layton Bortner carried five times for 39 yards unofficially — easily his best varsity rushing performance.

Junior Jacob Gomez-Wilson ran 53 yards for one TD and quarterback Adam Dugger scampered across the goal line to score another about two minutes before intermission.

Gomez-Wilson gained more than 100 rush yards, but did not play in the second half due to a "hard shot" to his helmet.

McCook still moved into Scottsbluff territory multiple times during those final two quarters. However, they just could not convert two crucial fourth downs which would have put them within serious game-tying position.

The Bison also missed two field-goal attempts though one was from about 51 yards closing that first half.

Senior Hunter Hansen made two PAT kicks and Eloy Carbajal recovered a Bearcat second-half fumble.

More details will appear on Monday and in the next McCook Gazette.