McCook faces York in top-ten showdown

Thursday, September 22, 2016
McCook (4-0) at York (3-1)
Friday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m.
East Hill Field, York

When the schedules came out in February, the Bison were surprised with a new opponent in Week 5.

September 23. East Hill Stadium. York High School.

It has been since 2005 when these two teams last met, and a lot has changed since then. With the resurgence of No. 7 York's football team, this Friday's game has turned into a marquee, top-ten showdown in Class B.

"It's a fun, exciting change," said Bison head coach Jeff Gross. "It's easier to prepare for the teams you play every year, but it's fun to prepare for somebody new who's very good."

Heading into Week 5, both teams possess impressive statistics.

The Bison have averaged nearly 350 yards on offense, including an average of 297 rushing yards. Dunncan Fassler and Zach Schlager lead that department with 332 and 315 yards, respectively. Cade Cappel (205 yards) and Gabe Sehnert (167) also average over 50 rushing yards per contest.

Defense, however, is where McCook shines brightest.

Opponents have generated an average of just 152 yards of offense in McCook's first four games. That includes a paltry average 63 yards on the ground.

"That's a ridiculous number in high school football," Gross said.

The other number that stands out is 254. That's the number of total rushing yards McCook has given up this season. It's also close to the number of total passing yards (245) that McCook has thrown for so far.

"When we can allow the number of yards rushing that our team passes for then we're playing great defense," Gross said.

York has also rushed for nearly 300 yards per contest. Their average of 296 yards a game show the commitment the Dukes have to running the football.

McCook's defense will be put to the test this Friday against a York squad that's averaged nearly 40 points per game. Steve Towery/McCook Gazette.

"They've got a deadly rushing attack that's rushed for a ton of yards," Gross said. "However, (York) knows how good we are at stopping the run and that they'll have to throw it too."

Simon Otte leads the York ground game with 332 yards. Second on the team is quarterback Damon Kaliff, who has ran for 254 yards.

Kaliff has also shown efficiency passing the ball. The senior is 23-of-36 passing for 268 yards and six touchdowns thus far.

Gross knows the Dukes' passing game presents challenges, particularly with matchups.

"Their four skill players that get the ball in space run 6'3, 6'3, 6'3 and 6'5, and the players we'll have covering them run 5'8, 5'8, 5'10 and 6'0," he said. "We have to be able to combat their size with great technique and find ways to alter their offense."

Of course, the Bison will be challenged on offense too. The Dukes have given up 12 points per game, including their 34-3 loss to No. 1 Elkhorn South in Week 1, and they have a 2018 Nebraska football recruit in 6'5, 296-pound lineman Masry Mapieu.

"You gotta be aware of where (Mapieu) is," Gross acknowledged. "We'll have to double block him at times, but we're also gonna have to single block him as well."

Gross has the utmost confidence that senior Jon Coburn will go toe-to-toe with Mapieu.

"(Coburn) is up to the task," Gross said. "Other teams' centers have neutralized (Mapieu), and Jon is just as good as this guys. We're excited about the challenge and we're not gonna shy away from it."

On the injury front, safety Kyle Geisler remains the only starter out with an injury he sustained against Aurora in Week 1. Hunter Potthoff is expected to start again in his stead.

Sam Smith has continued to play on offense and defense since his injury against Sidney, but he may also resume kicking duties this week as well. Gross will make a decision on whether to start him or Trae Koetter after the release of this article.

McCook's plans for Friday night should sound familiar to Bison fans: control the line of scrimmage, control the clock, and "control the game."

"We don't necessarily have to score on every drive, but we have to get first downs," Gross said. "We would love to win the time of possession battle against these guys."

The Bison defense will also have to play like the star unit that it's been so far this year.

"If we want to have a chance in this game, we're gonna have to play great team defense," Gross said. "We've got to keep it close and give ourselves a chance to win it at the end."

A New Monarchy

The York football program has experienced a renaissance under head coach Glen Snodgrass.

Prior to Snodgrass' arrival in 2011, the Dukes had won a total of nine games from 2004 until 2010. That included two winless seasons and two more one-win campaigns.

The Dukes went 2-7 in Snodgrass' first season at the helm, but have since recorded a 36-13 record. This year's York senior football players have experienced a 30-8 record over their four years in the program.

"Our goal was to establish consistency year-in and year-out, and the model of that has to be McCook," said York head coach Glen Snodgrass. "McCook is always going to be in the running and that's what we wanted too."

Situated an hour west of Lincoln, the Dukes are used to playing teams from all corners of the Class B territory. This year, they started with the toughest team you could find: the top-ranked, defending state champion Elkhorn South.

After trailing just 7-3 at half, the Dukes lost their three best players. It was only a matter of time before the deficit got larger. After a few late scores, the Storm secured what looked like a comfortable 34-3 victory at York.

"That (Elkhorn South) final score was not indicative of that game," Snodgrass said. "I felt like we outplayed them in the first half. It was a nailbiter until midway through the third quarter when we had all those injuries. Things just went downhill after that."

But the Dukes have bounced back with three big wins, including a 58-14 demolition at Holdrege. Snodgrass called that game one of the best he's seen since he's arrived in York.

"Our guys played fantastic in all three phases, so I'm pretty happy with where we're at right now."

Snodgrass stressed the importance of playing a clean game against a well-coached team, like McCook.

"Against teams like McCook, any mistake we make is gonna be amplified and they're gonna take advantage," Snodgrass said. "We have to eliminate any mistakes, like we did against Holdrege."

"We have to win the turnover battle," Snodgrass continued. "Whoever wins that is gonna have a big advantage."

Final Thoughts

This could very well be McCook's toughest test in the regular season. The Bison play tough teams every year, like Scottsbluff and Aurora, but this is a new opponent that has played their own tough schedule.

Both coaches have put this game into perspective. Regardless of the outcome, these two teams will still have plenty of football left to play before the playoffs in November.

"Before the Elkhorn South game, I told our boys, 'if we win this it's not the state championship, and if we lose our season's not over,' and it's the same thing this week," Snodgrass said. "Our kids know when we're playing Elkhorn South or McCook, but we're doing our best to just look at it as the next game on the schedule."

Those words echoed the message Gross shared this week.

"The ultimate goal is winning in November, but this game is a great judging tool," he said. "When the game's over, both teams are gonna know where they stand."


Projected Starting Lineups

McCook Bison

Offense

Pos.No.Player NameHt.Wt.Class
WR 7Hunter Potthoff6-4140Jr.
WR 3Isaac Larson5-11175Sr.
WR 9Sam Smith6-2160Sr.
TE24Jaret Matson6-3220Sr.
T57Hunter Hays6-3275Jr.
G75Andrew Eschliman5-10225Sr.
C51Jon Coburn6-0240Sr.
G69Eric Langan5-10200Sr.
T56Justin Barenberg6-1215Jr.
RB 33Cade Cappell5-8185Sr.
RB 22Dunncan Fassler5-10175Sr.
QB 4Easton Gillen5-9 155Sr.

Defense

Pos.No.Player NameHt.Wt.Class
DE 24Jaret Matson6-3220Sr.
DT 62Kaleb Taylor6-4225Jr.
DT 55Colin Giron6-2230So.
DE 69Eric Langan5-10200Sr.
ILB88DJ Gross6-2205So.
ILB 1Zach Schlager6-2200Jr.
OLB15Ben Bradley6-0190Sr.
OLB22Dunncan Fassler5-10175Sr.
CB 9Sam Smith6-2 160Sr.
CB 3Isaac Larson5-11175Sr.
S4Easton Gillen5-9155Sr.
S29Kyle Geisler6-2175Sr.

Special Teams

Pos.No.Player NameHt.Wt.Class
K9Sam Smith6-2160Sr.
K*8Trae Koetter5-9135So.
P22Dunncan Fassler5-10175Sr.
H19Bryceton Trew5-9 140Sr.
L. Snap62Kaleb Taylor6-4 225Jr.
S. Snap88DJ Gross6-2 205So.
RET 3Isaac Larson5-11 175Sr.
RET 15Ben Bradley6-0 190Sr.

_

York Dukes

Offense

Pos.No.Player NameHt.Wt.Class
WR15Brady Danielson6-3180So.
WR34Garrett Snodgrass6-3200So.
TE49John Erwin6-5205Sr.
T61Gage Sinsel6-0250Sr.
G79Jaiden Verhage5-11265Jr.
C59Robert Nguyen5-10235Sr.
G75Douglas Lazo5-10255So.
T70Masry Mapieu6-5296Sr.
FB 44Alex Kowalski6-0205Sr.
TB 20Simon Otte6-1180Sr.
QB 17Damon Kalif6-0205Sr.

Defense

Pos.No.Player NameHt.Wt.Class
DE65Hunter Smith6-2235Jr.
NT70Masry Mapieu6-5296Sr.
DE72Ben Mophorn6-0200Jr.
OLB17Damon Kalif6-0205Sr.
MLB34Garrett Snodgrass6-3200So.
MLB44Alex Kowalski6-0205Sr.
OLB49John Erwin6-5205Sr.
CB18Jorre Luther5-10165Jr.
CB12Sam Wallick6-1190Sr.
S80Tyler Cast6-3170Jr.
S20Simon Otte6-1180Sr.

Special Teams

Pos.No.Player NameHt.Wt.Class
K18Jorre Luther5-10165Jr.
P84Mayson Conner6-2155Jr.
LS34Garrett Snodgrass6-3200So.
RET20Simon Otte6-1180Sr.
RET80Tyler Cast6-3170Jr.

McCook head coach Jeff Gross

On preparing for a new opponent

"It's a fun, exciting change, because you're going up against one of the best in the state. It's easier when you play the team you play every single year."

"The ultimate goal is winning in November, but this game is a great judging tool and it's exciting because it's somebody new. It's always exciting to play somebody good, and that's someone we won't ever back away from."

Goals for Friday

"If we want to have a chance in this game, then we're gonna have to play great team defense. We've got to keep it close and give ourselves a chance to win it at the end."

"On offense, we don't want a bunch of 3-and-outs. We don't want to put that pressure on our defense. We don't have to score on every drive, but we have to get some first downs on every drive. We would love to win the time of possession battle against these guys."

On gameplanning against Masrey Mapieu, a 2018 Husker recruit

"You gotta be aware of where Masrey is, he's 6'5 and almost 300 pounds. He already holds a D1 offer, and he wouldn't have that if he didn't have skill. You have to double block him at times, but you also gotta be able to single block him. Jon Coburn's up to the task, he's a good lineman."

York head coach Glen Snodgrass

On the season so far

"I'm really happy with where we're at right now. The final score of the Elkhorn South game was not indicative of that game. I felt like we outplayed them in the first half. It was a nailbiter until about midway through the third quarter, when we had all those injuries. From there we bounced back pretty fast. Against Holdrege, our guys played fantastic in all three phases, so i'm pretty happy with the momentum we have."

Goals for Friday

"McCook is a very well-coached team. I've known Coach Gross for a long time....we coached together in the Shrine Bowl and we used to take our Overton boys down to a lineman camp in McCook. I know that they're gonna be as well-coached and prepared as anybody. I told our guys, against teams like this, any mistake we make is gonna be amplified and they're gonna take advantage. If we don't get lined up correctly on defense, if we don't make a blocking assignment on offense, a well-coached team like McCook will take advantage. "

"We just want to do our best to play a clean game and eliminate any mistakes. I feel like we've been doing a great job of that. On defense, being ready for all the different things they're gonna throw at us with their option game. And then, the same thing I say every week: win the turnover battle. Whoever wins that is gonna have a big advantage. So we definitely want to try to take it from them and not give them anything."

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