Bison open district play vs. Dusters

The McCook-Holdrege matchup Friday night at Weiland Field is listed as the fifth game of the 2003 football season.

However, the game has more meaning to McCook head football coach Jeff Gross.

For Gross and his staff and players, it is the first Nebraska Class B District 6 game of the nine-game campaign.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.

"It is the biggest game of the year without a doubt," said Gross, whose team is ranked second in Class B behind Omaha Roncalli in the latest Associated Press consensus poll with a 4-0 record.

"Holdrege is 3-1, but could easily be 4-0. We have a very difficult task ahead of us this week. They are a very comparable team to Ogallala."

The Bison notched their fourth win of this season and 17 straight win with a 20-14 victory over Ogallala last week. The Dusters, whose lone loss was a 10-7 decision to York, fought off Seward 21-18.

The Bison offense, which has rushed for 1,412 yards and passed for 412 in four games, will try to solve the Dusters' 4-3 and 4-4 defensive schemes.

Gross said the Dusters run wide-open sets on offense featuring the talents of I-back Seth Swanson and wide receiver Mitch Ostgren, who has 25 catches.

"They do have other kids also," Gross said. "What we have to worry about is reading the keys. We have to do a really good job defensively."

H Injuries -- The Bison will be without the services of two players for Friday night's game.

Offensive and defensive lineman Jeff Lyster will sit out because of a concussion suffered in the Ogallala game.

Paul Kenny sprained his knee while defending on a pass play and could be out for 2-3 weeks.

There is good news on the injury front for the Bison. Junior linebacker Drew Wilson, who missed two games after getting his knee scoped, will be in the lineup.

H Stats -- The Bison are led in rushing by sophomore Brendan Liess, who has gained 613 yards on 94 carries. He has scored seven rushing touchdowns and caught a TD pass for 48 points.

Senior Kyle Bedore has 467 yards rushing and quarterback Trent Lyons 238. Lyons has completed 25-of-35 passes for 412 yards and two interceptions. Brooks Snyder has seven catches, Liess six, Allan Shiers five, Bedore four and Matt Beckenhauer three.

Date: Friday, Oct. 3, 2003

Kickoff: 7 p.m. CST

Location: Weiland Field, McCook.

Radio: KICX 96.1-FM

Pre-game show: 6:10 p.m. CST

McCOOK OFFENSE

WR -- Sean Cappel (84), 6-1, 165, sr.

WR -- Cade Lines (24), 5-7, 150, sr.

WR -- Matt Beckenhauer, 5-9, 130, sr.

TE -- Allan Shiers (8), 6-2, 185, sr.

TE -- Brooks Snyder (40) 6-2, 200, sr.

RT -- Talon Darling (77), 6-4, 270, sr.

RG -- Kip Bradley (58), 6-2, 220, sr.

C -- Karl Shaddock (62), 6-2, 220, jr.

RG -- Richard Smock (68), 6-1, 235, sr.

RT -- Trevor Bourg (65), 6-3, 225, sr.

FB -- Kyle Bedore (34), 6-3, 185, sr.

TB -- Brendan Liess (44), 6-0, 170, so.

QB -- Trent Lyons (21), 6-0, 155, sr.

McCOOK DEFENSE

RE -- Trevor Bourg (65), 6-3, 225, sr.

RDT -- Richard Smock (68), 6-1, 235, sr.

LDT -- Jayce Dueland (64), 5-11, 215, jr.

LE -- Jeremy Young (87), 6-3, 205, jr.

ILB -- Allan Shiers (8), 6-2, 185, sr.

ILB -- Brooks Snyder (40), 6-2, 200, sr,

OLB -- Kyle Bedore (34), 6-3, 185, sr.

OLB -- Brendan Liess (44), 6-0, 170. so.

or Drew Wilson (10), 5-9, 180, jr.

RCB -- Derek Ruppert (6), 6-0, 170, jr.

LCB -- Rico Quezada (12), 5-7, 155, jr.

FS -- Trent Lyons (21), 6-0, 155, sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K -- Trent Lyons (21), 6-0, 155, sr.

P -- Trent Lyons (21), 6-0, 155, sr.

H -- Matt Beckenhauer (2), 5-9, 130, sr.

LS -- Jayce Dueland (64), 5-11, 215, jr.

KR -- Brendan Liess (44), 6-0, 170, so.

Drew Wilson (10), 5-8, 180, jr.