Bison fall to Aurora in playoff quarterfinals

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook receiver Mark Nichols (right) and Aurora defender Josh Bart battle for control of the football in the back of the end zone during Class B quarterfinal playoff action Friday night at Weiland Field. Bart intercepted the pass, but officials ruled he did not come down inbounds. McCook scored the first touchdown of the game three plays later, but Aurora used a big second half to claim a 35-10 victory.

McCook's ball-control game plan against top-ranked Aurora worked to perfection in the first half of last Friday night's Class B state playoff quarterfinal contest.

Unfortunately for the Bison, Aurora took a page from the McCook plan in the second half, using ball control plus several big plays to claim a 35-10 victory.

Aurora entered Friday night's contest unbeaten and riding a 20-game win streak. Ironically, the last loss for the Huskies was a 42-7 setback to the Bison on Aurora's home turf in the third week of the 2008 regular season. Aurora avenged that loss by beating McCook 37-33 in the playoff semifinals last fall.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook quarterback Chad Stull (3) looks for running room as teammate Deon Allen blocks Aurora's Matthew Grosshans (9) Friday night in playoff action at Weiland Field. Stull ran 35 yards on this play to help set up a 35-yard field goal by Shane Wallen late in the first half.

The two teams met in the third week of the 2009 regular season at Weiland Field. Aurora built a quick 21-0 lead in the first half, scoring a touchdown on the opening kickoff, followed by a fumble return and an interception return for touchdowns. The Huskies won that game 48-10.

McCook head coach Jeff Gross and his staff figured the best way to ground the fast-paced, high-scoring Aurora offense was to play keep away from the Huskies. The McCook faithful in attendance at Weiland Field Friday were treated to a selfish Bison offense in the opening half as the hosts built a 10-7 lead at intermission. The Bison ran 38 offensive plays in the opening 24 minutes compared to 16 for the unbeaten Huskies.

McCook drove 83 yards in 19 plays for its first score midway through the second period. The Bison picked up seven first downs and consumed over 10 minutes on the march capped by Andy Smith's 2-yard touchdown run. Shane Wallen booted the extra point for a 7-0 McCook lead.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Deon Allen (21) of McCook runs behind offensive lineman Austin Huffman (74) for a big gain against Aurora.

Aurora answered with a 69-yard drive in nine plays, with quarterback Tyson Broekemeier keeping on a 1-yard sneak with 1:35 left before halftime.

The Bison weren't willing to settle for a halftime tie. Three big plays put McCook in scoring position. Quarterback Chad Stull ran 35 yards on an option keeper around right end. Smith bolted 12 yards with a nice spin move to avoid an Aurora tackler. Stull hit fullback Deon Allen on a 7-yard pass to put the ball on the Aurora 13 with less than 30 seconds left.

After a penalty and incomplete pass, Coach Gross elected to try a field goal. Wallen split the uprights for a successful 35-yard kick to give the Bison the 10-7 halftime edge.

Aurora ruined McCook's plans in the second half as the Huskies played ball control. McCook had three offensive possessions, and the Bison did not get a first down on any of the short-lived drives.

The Huskies, meanwhile, scored on its first two possessions of the second half. The first scoring drive to start the half lasted 14 plays and went 63 yards, with Broekemeier hitting Kyle McCarthy on a 4-yad TD pass. McCook went three-and-out and Aurora followed with a 13-play drive that ended early in the fourth quarter when Broekemeier connected with a wide-open James Van Pelt for a 31-yard touchdown pass and a 21-10 Huskies lead.

On McCook's next possession, Stull was hit as he threw, and the ball flopped into McCarthy's hands. The Aurora linebacker walked into the end zone for the 10-yard interception return and a 28-10 Aurora lead.

The Bison fumbled on their next play from scrimmage, and Aurora returned the loose ball to the McCook 12. Austin Smith scored on a 4-yard run four plays later to cap the scoring for the Huskies.

McCook ends the season with a 7-4 mark. Aurora, 11-0, advances to the Class B playoff semifinals Saturday, Nov. 14, against Adams Central.

Class B State High School Football Playoffs

McCook (7-4) 0 10 0 0 -- 10

MCC - Andy Smith 2 run (Shane Wallen kick).

AUR -- Tyson Broekemeier 1 run (Brockemeier kick).

MCC - FG Wallen 35.

AUR - Kyle McCarthy 4 pass from Broekemeier (Broekemeier kick).

AUR - James Van Pelt 31 pass from Broekemeier (Broekemeier kick).

AUR - Austin Smith 4 run (Broekemeier kick).

McCook statistics

Rushing -- Chad Stull 13-89, Deon Allen 13-59, Andy Smith 12-51.

Passing -- Chad Stull 3-8-1 30 yards.

Receiving -- Mark Nichols 2-23, Deon Allen 1-7.