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McCook, Roncalli to collide
If the McCook High School Bison football team wants to bring home a second straight Nebraska Class B state championship, they will have to step it up in all phases of the game.
That's because Omaha Bishop Roncalli Catholic excels on on offense, defense and special teams, said Bison head coach Jeff Gross.
"They are a very good football team -- a team with very few weaknesses. They're solid on offense, defense and special teams. They have put themselves in a position to win."
Both McCook and Roncalli enter Saturday's Class B title game with 12-0 records. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is 7 p.m.
The Bison are looking to repeat as state champions. McCook, with a 25-game winning streak on the line, defeated Ralston 39-14 in last year's title game.
McCook returns 42 players from last year's state championship roster.
The Bison advanced to the title game with wins in the playoffs over Grand Island Northwest (42-14), York (9-0) and Ogallala (28-7).
Roncalli defeated Ralston (34-21), Waverly (27-13) and Gretna (34-20).
"Everyone talks about offense and their defense," Gross said. "But I think it's a matchup of our defense against their offense. They like to use the clock and go 16-17 plays and we would never see the ball. We have to play good defense.
"When we have the ball, we have to keep the chains moving. Both teams have the same game plan coming in."
Gross said the Bison should benefit from playing in the state title game last year.
"We've been here. We have 42 kids that ran out of that tunnel last year and that experience will help us. For us to win this ball game, we have to get off to a good start."
Gross said depth could also play a factor in the outcome. The Bison don't use as many two-way players (offense and defense) as the Crimson Pride use.
"Thirteen players play on both sides of the ball. They don't rotate players like we can. Because of that, I think we're going to wear them down in the third and fourth quarters. They don't have tremendous numbers."
The Pride will be without starting I-back Jason Huck, who was injured late in the season. He rushed for 1,266 yards and 23 touchdowns. Nicholas Chandler has 698 yards and 16 TDs.
Craig Thommes, who will start at I-back in Huck's place, has 298 yards rushing and two TDs.
Quarterback Matthew Bowers, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior, was referred to by Huskerland Prep Report as the "Roncalli Rifle.
Bowers, who will play baseball at Creighton University next year, has thrown for 1,297 yards and 14 TDs. He has also rushed for 631 yards and six TDs.
Brian Hanson is the Pride's leading receiver with 28 grabs and six TDs. Michael Burley has 25 catches and three TDs.
Hanson leads the Pride in tackles with 228, followed by Nathan Weathers 158, Thommes 148, Jake Rauterkaus 136, Nicholas Haniszewski 104 and Paul Roh 91.
Haniszewski has seven interceptions and Thommes four.
The Bison feature two 1,000-yard rushers and another closing in 1,000 yards.
Sophomore Brendan Liess has 1,605 yards rushing and 18 TDs. Three of his 10 catches have also gone for TDs.
Kyle Bedore, who ran for 192 yards in the Bison win over Ogallala last week, has 1,301 yards and five TDs. He also has 10 catches.
Trent Lyons, featured in the Omaha World-Herald earlier this week, has rushed for 945 yards and has passed for 918. He has 16 rushing TDs and has thrown for seven more.
Lyons has also made 7-of-12 field goal attempts, 32-of-37 extra points and averages 43.13 yards per punt.
Allan Shiers leads the Bison receivers with 14 catches, followed by fellow tight end Brooks Snyder with 12. The duo has combined for five TDs.
Snyder leads the Bison in tackles with 99, followed by Shiers with 94. Jeremy Young 85 and Trevor Bourg 84. Bourg has 16 sacks, Young 15 and Shiers seven.
Lyons has six interceptions, followed by Derek Ruppert with three. Rico Quezada has blocked three kicks and Bedore has recovered three fumbles.
McCOOK BISON (12-0)
VS. OMAHA BISHOP
RONCALLI CATHOLIC
CRIMSON PRIDE (12-0)
Class B state
championship game
Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CST
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln
Radio: KICX 96.1-FM (Rich Barnett, Ken Wellman, Bob Gaulke)
Radio pre-game show: 6 p.m. CST
TV: NETV
STARTING LINEUPS
McCOOK OFFENSE
WR -- Sean Cappel (84), 6-1, 165, sr.
WR -- Cade Lines (24), 6-7, 150, sr.
WR -- Matt Beckenhauer (2), 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.
or Jeff Lyster (63), 6-1, 185, jr.
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 -- Drew Wilson (10), 5-9, 180. jr.
DB -- Derek Ruppert (6), 6-0, 170, jr.
DB -- Rico Quezada (12), 5-7, 155, jr.
NB -- Tony Purvis (5), 6-1, 155, so.
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.
Tony Purvis (5), 6-1, 155, so.
David McCorkle (23), 5-9, 145, jr.
Drew Wilson (10), 5-8, 180, jr.
RONCALLI OFFENSE
Z-back -- Roy Lehn (12), 5-8, 165, sr.
WR/TE -- Nick Haniszewski (6), 6-1, 180, jr.
TE -- Brian Hanson (5), 6-1, 205, sr.
TE -- Mike Burley (15), 5-9, 160, sr.
LT -- Matt Geilenkieken (77), 6-2, 225, sr.
LG -- Nate Weathers (52), 6-0, 215, jr.
C -- Paul Roh (54), 6-1, 250, sr.
RG -- Joe O'Niel (60), 5-11, 205, sr.
RT -- Jake Rauterkus (76), 6-0, 230, sr.
QB -- Matt Bowers (4), 6-3, 200, sr.
FB -- Nick Chandler (37) 6-3, 200, sr.
IB -- Craig Thommes (22), 6-0, 170, sr.
RONCALLI DEFENSE
LDE -- Nick Chandler (37) 6-3, 200, sr.
LDT -- Paul Roh (54), 6-1, 250, sr.
NG -- Jake Rauterkus (76), 6-0, 230, sr.
RDT -- Joe O'Niel (60), 5-11, 205, sr.
RDE -- Matt Bowers (4), 6-3, 200, sr.
DL (sub) -- Matt Geilenkieken (77), 6-2, 225, sr.
ILB -- Brian Hanson (5), 6-1, 205, sr.
ILB -- Nate Weathers (52), 6-0, 215, jr.
OLB (in 4-4) -- Roy Lehn (12), 5-8, 165, sr.
CB -- Mike Burley (15), 5-9, 160, sr.
CB -- Nate Mausbach (90), 5-9, 140, sr.
SS -- Nick Haniszewski (6), 6-1, 180, jr.
FS -- Craig Thommes (22), 6-0, 170, sr.