Bison have a blast in 56-0 blowout

Monday, October 24, 2016
McCook defenders surround and hit a Lexington ball carrier while allowing just 84 total yards Friday night. Photo by Steve Towery/McCook Gazette.

McCOOK, Neb. -- No punts, no points allowed and nothing but problems for upcoming opponents if the McCook Bison play like Friday's 56-0 win over Lexington.

What was perhaps the best part of this regular-season finale at packed Weiland Field?

No complaints from the coach.

"We won all three phases," coach Jeff Gross declared shortly after his team tallied 28 points in each half. "We never punted. I think we gave them one first down through most of the first half. We ran well (280 yards) and we passed (118 yards). We really never did anything wrong."

It was a tremendous tribute to the 10 seniors who finished a fourth consecutive 8-1 regular season.

Most played strong roles throughout this focused effort against the 1-8 Minutemen.

Senior Isaac Larson zoomed downfield and took a 35-yard pass from junior Zach Schlager to pigskin paradise.

Larson's touchdown followed a Schlager opening 15-yard TD run as McCook's early lead reached 13-0.

McCook's Dunncan Rogers runs past a Lex defending during Friday's game. Photo by Steve Towery/McCook Gazette.

Senior Dunncan Rogers handled those next three scores by rumbling six, seven and 15 yards.

seven and 15 yards. Seniors Easton Gillen and Sam Smith connected on a beautiful 36-yard pass to set up one of those scores.

McCook's better than 85 percent completion rate (six for seven) was a season best with the Bison averaging almost 20 yards a catch.

Sophomore Trae Koetter's third of six PAT kicks gave McCook a 35-0 lead.

The Minutemen wouldn't even come close to rushing for 35 yards against that always stout Bison defense.

Gaining three feet was even a challenge considering they totaled 21 yards on 23 carries.

It even took Lex's young squad 16 pass attempts to gain another 63.

After scoring 74 points in their three previous games, the Minutemen simply couldn't break a Bison defense that's allowed 61 points all season.

McCook continued mowing through the Lex run defense.

Sophomore Gabe Sehnert, junior Gavyn Klein and sophomore Alec Bunger all ran to second-half touchdowns.

Bison head coach Jeff Gross addresses his team following Friday's 56-0 win over Lexington. Photo by R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette.

Bunger's 18-yard burst arrived just five seconds before fireworks signaled another Bison victory.

McCook fans stayed until those final blasts, also cheering for two tremendous Paxton Terry runs covering 49 yards.

Yet again, Friday's big win was really all about those seniors.

"Everyone wanted to play well for them," Gross concluded.

The Bison now get ready to host Grand Island Northwest in Friday's playoff opener.

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