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Bison lightning gets best of Broken Bow thunder
McCOOK, Neb. — Bulldozing party crasher Broken Bow’s 81 plays only led to more amazing McCook Homecoming memories than even the Bison were expecting Friday evening.
Take senior Alex Anthony with his 70-yard “pick six” touchdown return for an example.
“I didn’t think I could run that fast,” Anthony admitted after classmate Adam Dugger had sack Bow quarterback Eli Coble and popped that football into the air. “I was scared someone was going to run me down, but I’m sure most of my team was right with me. I credit my friend Adam and all the guys who stopped them (Bow).”
Anthony’s rumble was just the first of several amazing plays during a 34-20 Bison big win.
Senior Weston Walgren had never started at safety before, but was tossed into the utter madness of Bow’s relentless ground attack.
The Indians challenged McCook from every angle possible whether it was fullbacks plowing forward or quarterbacks speeding around tacklers on old-school option plays.
Yet when all the smashing hits were finished, Walgren felt even more like a post-game dance.
His 11 tackles not only led the Bison, W.W. made a fourth-down stop that kept Bow from crossing McCook’s goal line to force an inevitable 7-7 tie.
“It was crazy, there was so much excitement,” Walgren admitted. “But I just read my keys and made a play.”
Weston wasn’t even that impressed with his most heroic moment.
“It was an OK tackle,” he said. “It wasn’t super hard.”
Tough or not, the Bison soon led 14-0 instead of breaking any deadlocks.
Following McCook’s first of only seven first downs, Bow still forced another Bison punt.
Yet junior Mitchel Cole soon pounced on a fumble inside Bow’s 25.
The turnover set up more super senior moments, like Glenn Ruggles catching a “down and out” pass from Dugger.
Ruggles turned upfield to a first down near Bow’s 10. Dugger soon dove into a rushing touchdown and junior Patrick Gross’ second PAT made it 14-zip just before intermission.
“Glenn did a great job of extending the drive for us,” coach Joe Vetrovsky confirmed. “I’m just really proud of how our seniors are leading the team.”
That last remark was never more true than starting the second half.
Dugger shook free for one great run around right end.
Now it was time to complete McCook’s second big pass on Homecoming night.
Senior Lucas Gomez-Wilson sprinted downfield and ran under the throw which gained about 35 yards.
Lucas brought his usual big-play talent to help off senior Jacob Gomez-Wilson’s absence.
Walgren stepped in for JG-W, who injured his shoulder during a 117-yard rushing effort one week earlier.
“We think it’s not going to be long term and we’ll get Jacob back soon,” Vetrovsky said.
Dugger always his own running ability, and another seven-yard dash led to him splitting through Indians into that Weiland west end zone again.
Gross’ ensuing PAT suddenly made it 21-0 and capped a lightning-quick three-play touchdown drive.
“We thought that was probably the game, considering the (churning rush) offense Broken Bow runs,” the coach observed. “But they never give up. That was no shocker.”
Instead, Bow (1-2 record) retaliated with two touchdowns to make it 21-14 just moments into the final period.
Quarterback Coble topped 150 rush yards for the game and fullback Wells cleared 100.
All the successful Bow plays took a hit on that next Indian kickoff.
McCook brilliantly ran a deceptive play where junior Brett Fraker dashed upfield with few Indians in position to catch him.
Senior Adyn Meyer threw one huge block as Fraker dazzled the Homecoming crowd with his 80-yard TD return.
“We work that every day in practice and it was set up perfectly,” Vetrovsky said.
Bow still again rallied to within 28-20, but Ruggles pounded on the ensuing onside kickoff.
“That was a good onsides. Glenn just snatched it,” coach said.
Fraker then dashed 37 yards to a final clincher which made it 34-20.
McCook 34, Broken Bow 20
MHS — Alex Anthony 70-yd nterception return (Patrick Gross kick)
MHS — Adam Dugger 6 yd run (Gross kick)
MHS — Dugger 7 yd run (Gross kick)
BOW — Nathan Reynolds 3 yd run (Eli Coble kick)
BOW — Coble 2 yd run (Coble kick)
MHS — Brett Fraker 37 yd kickoff return (Gross kick)
BOW — Connor Wells 1 yd run (kick failed)
MHS — Fraker 37 yd run (kick failed)