McCook vs. Holdrege Round 2: Nebraska Class B state title game berth at stake

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette McCook High School's Brock Hubert (65) and BrandonKotschwar (25) block during the fourth quarter of the Bison team's 57-0 victory at Ogallala Monday in the Nebraska Class B state football quarterfinals.

The second showdown between McCook and Holdrege takes place Saturday at Weiland Field, and a Nebraska Class B state championship berth at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln is the big prize.

Kickoff for the state semifinal football game at Weiland Field is 5 p.m. CT.

McCook won Round 1 Oct. 30 in the final regular season game for both teams by a 31-21 count.

The Bison defense, which has allowed just 35 points total this season, handed the Dusters their only loss in 11 games.

McCook, ranked No. 1 in Class B with an 11-0 record, is the two-time defending Class B state champions. The Bison will put a 37-game winning streak on the line.

McCook football coach Jeff Gross, whose team has posted nine shutouts in their last 12 games (including the 21-0 win over Omaha Bishop Roncalli in the state title game last year and eight this season), said fans should not expect anything fancy because of the four days of practice between Monday's quarterfinal game and Saturday's semifinal.

"When you play someone twice, you have got to make sure all your bases are covered," said Gross, whose defense has limited opponents to just 158.1 total yards per game. "Both teams have had just four days of practice. You can't afford to change things defensively.

"Holdrege is still scary. Tyler Van Eperen is still a great quarterback. Their offensive line is so good we could not put pressure on the quarterback. They have some very dangerous receivers.

"They are a very good offensive team. Defensively we got some big plays against them. As many things as they did to hurt us, we did a lot of things to hurt them. Holdrege is the most talented team we play this year."

The Holdrege defense will try to focus on the Bison's triple threat in the backfield.

The Bison, who have scored 465 points and average 453.9 yards of total offense a game, are led by junior tailback Brendan Liess, who has rushed for 1,711 yards and scored 25 rushing TDs (27 overall).

Senior fullback Alex Beam has 1,017 yards rushing and 11 TDs.

This is the third year in a row that McCook's tailback and fullback have each passed the 1,000-yard mark.

Junior quarterback Tony Purvis has passed for 713 yards and rushed for 614. Purvis has scored nine TDs and thrown five TD passes.

Liess has 10 catches for 145 yards and Brian Winder nine for 172.

"It's the playoffs -- the state semifinals," Gross said. "I don't think us beating them before gives us a distinct advantage. Our experience in big games helped us the first time we played them.

"We're going to face a better team than we played two weeks ago. I still believe it could be a lower scoring game."

The winner advances to the Class B state title game Nov. 20. Kickoff for the championship is 7 p.m.

The other state semifinal game features Waverly (10-1) at Lincoln Pius X (11-0) at 1 p.m.

In quarterfinal games Monday it was Holdrege 25, Aurora 21; Lincoln Pius X 28, Omaha Skutt 0; McCook 57, Ogallala 0; Waverly 42, Elkhorn 33.

HOLDREGE DUSTERS (10-1)

@ McCOOK BISON (11-0)

Class B state semifinals

Date: Saturday, Nov. 13

Kickoff: 5 p.m. CT

Last matchup: McCook 31, Holdrege 21 (Week 9 Oct. 30).

Last week's scores: McCook 57, Ogallala 0; Holdrege 25, Aurora 21.

Radio pre-game show: 3 p.m. CT.

Radio: KICX (96.1-FM McCook)

Play-by-play: Rich Barnett.

Analysis: Ken Wellman, Bob Gaulke

McCook stats

Offense (5681 total yards)

Rushing (531-4275): Brendan Liess 172-1711, Alex Beam 145-1017, Tony Purvis 102-614, Craig Fritz 33-377, Jeff Klug 51-311, Joel Arterburn 8-169, Brad Ackermann 2-25, Drew Wilson 6-23, Ryan Bedore 7-17, Mitch Hazlitt 2-8, Nate Berry 2-2, Austin Gessleman 1-1.

Passing (40-80-3-713): Tony Purvis 40-80-3-713 (50 percent).

Receiving (34-632): Brian Winder 9-172, Brendan Liess 10-145, Jeremy Young 5-120, Alex Beam 4-75, Jeff Klug 2-72, Derek Ruppert 2-48, Mark Rogers 3-41, Zach Volquardsen 2-29, Drew Wilson 1-5.

Returns (39-901): Brendan Liess 19-532, Rico Quezada 5-203, Jeff Klug 6-156, David McCorkle 7-51, Paul Kenny 3-28, Josh Cherry 2-48, Jayce Dueland 1-30, Ryan Bedore 1-8, Derek Ruppert 1-4.

Scoring (465 points): Brendan Liess 162 (27 TDs), Alex Beam 72 (11 TDs, 3 PAT2s), Josh Cherry 59 (47-54 PAT1s, 4-9 FGs), Tony Purvis 56 (9 TDs, 1 PAT2), Jeff Klug 36 (6 TDs), Craig Fritz 30 (5 TDs), Joel Arterburn 12 (2 TDs), Brian Winder 12 (2 TDs), Derek Sailors 6 (1 TD), Derek Ruppert 6 (1 TD), Rico Quezada 6 (1 TD), Jeremy Young 6 (1 TD), Jared Muehlenkamp 2 (1 PAT2).

STARTING LINEUPS

McCOOK OFFENSE

WR 31 Brian Winder, 6-3, 165, sr.

WR 6 Derek Ruppert, 6-1, 170, sr.

TE 1 Zach Volquardsen, 6-5, 215, sr.

TE 87 Jeremy Young, 6-3, 210, sr.

T 64 Jayce Dueland 6-0, 210, sr.

G 56 Ryan Saalfeld 6-1, 195, sr.

C 62 Karl Shaddock, 6-2, 215, sr.

G 63 Jeff Lyster, 6-1, 195, sr.

T 55 Tony Aguilar, 5-10, 220, sr.

FB 32 Alex Beam, 5-10, 180, sr.

TB 44 Brendan Liess, 6-1, 175, jr.

QB 5 Tony Purvis, 6-1, 160, jr.

DEFENSE

DE 62 Karl Shaddock, 6-2, 215, sr.

DT 55 Tony Aguilar, 5-10, 220, sr.

DT 64 Jayce Dueland 6-0, 210, sr.

DE 87 Jeremy Young, 6-3, 210, sr.

ILB 63 Jeff Lyster, 6-1, 195, sr.

ILB 32 Alex Beam, 5-10, 180, sr.

OLB 44 Brendan Liess, 6-1, 175, jr.

OLB 10 Drew Wilson, 5-9, 180, sr.

CB 19 Paul Kenny, 5-10, 155, sr.

CB 12 Rico Quezada, 5-7, 145, sr.

DB 6 Derek Ruppert, 6-1, 170, sr.

NB 3 Jeff Klug, 5-10, 165, jr.

FS 5 Tony Purvis, 6-1, 160, jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K 2 Josh Cherry, 6-1, 150. so.

P 31 Brian Winder, 6-3, 165, sr.

H 7 Joel Arterburn, 6-0, 155, jr.

LS 62 Jayce Dueland, 6-0, 210, sr.

KR 44 Brendan Liess, 6-1, 175, jr.

KR 3 Jeff Klug, 5-10, 165, jr.

KR 19 Paul Kenny, 5-10, 155, sr.