Snow delay can't slow Bison in playoff romp over Ogallala

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook wide receiver Mark Nichols looks for the sideline as he hauls in a pass from quarterback Chad Stull during Class B high school football playoff action at Ogallala Saturday. Nichols controlled the ball before he went out of bounds on this 20-yard reception.

OGALLALA -- McCook used a strong rushing attack, with a great effort from senior quarterback Chad Stull, to advance in the Class B state high school football playoffs.

The Bison kept Ogallala's offense out of the end zone in a 13-2 victory Saturday in the first round of the Class B playoffs.

The playoff contest was originally scheduled for Friday night. But heavy snow in the Ogallala area helped school officials to postpone the game one day.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Bison quarterback Chad Stull is covered with mud as he looks to the McCook bench during the 13-2 Bison win at Ogallala Saturday afternoon.

The weather was ideal Saturday, with sunny skies and temperatures near 60 degrees. Ogallala officials pushed a foot of snow off the field, and the Indians turf was a soggy, muddy mess.

The mud bog didn't slow the McCook rushing attack. The Bison ran for 259 yards on 52 attempts, according to unofficial Gazette statistics. Stull ran the Bison option attack very well, with 137 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Ogallala was held to just 38 plays from scrimmage. The Indians picked up 128 yards through the air, but the Bison defense put the clamps on a potent Ogallala rushing attack. The Indians had just 39 yards on 23 carries. Ogallala running back Derek Blessing, the leading rusher in the state's Class B ranks, was averaging nearly 150 yards per game. But McCook held Blessing to just 39 yards on 23 attempts, according to the Gazette's unofficial totals.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook fullback Deon Allen fights to escape the grasp of an Ogallala defender in the 13-2 Bison win Saturday.

McCook held Ogallala on downs on the first possession of the game and forced a punt. On McCook's third play from scrimmage, Stull snuck around the right side and ran virtually untouched 49 yards for a touchdown. Shane Wallen's conversion kick gave the Bison a 7-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.

Ogallala drove deep into McCook territory early in the second quarter. The Bison stopped quarterback Trent Neill for consecutive losses, then Jesse Barnes missed a 30-yard field goal for the Indians.

On Ogallala's next possession, the Bison held again and forced a punt. Casey Woken handled a high snap and blasted a 60-yard kick that was downed at the Bison 1-yard line. Fullback Deon Allen was ruled stopped in the end zone -- after it looked like he stretched the ball across the goal -- for a safety to pull the hosts within 7-2 with just over four minutes left in the first half.

McCook ran out the clock to take the five-point lead into the locker room at halftime. The Bison opened the third quarter with a 57-yard scoring drive that took 11 plays and over six minutes. Stull ran 1 yard for the touchdown, and the PAT run was stopped short as the Bison led 13-2.

Ogallala used a 42-yard pass from Neill to Andy Faesser to move the ball to the McCook 22. But the Indians could not gain a yard and gave the ball back to the Bison as Stull tipped the pass away from Ogallala receiver Gatlin Moul for an incomplete pass on fourth down.

The Bison then went on a 13-play drive that ate up yardage and clock. The march featured a steady diet of Stull keeping on the option mixed with runs by fullback Deon Allen and tailback Andy Smith. McCook drove to the Ogallala 30 to start the fourth quarter before two straight incomplete passes ended the threat.

The hosts used the passing of Neill to drive to the Bison doorstep. Neill completed four straight passesto move the ball to the McCook 9. On second down, Neill found a hole and headed for the goal line. Smith came up from his defensive back spot and blasted Neill 1-yard short of the end zone. The Ogallala quarterback had to leave the game for a play. Garrett Folchert came on, and he lost the ball on a sneak. The pigskin squirted out of the pile, and Stull fell on it to help seal the Indians fate with just over five minutes remaining.

The Bison picked up four first downs and moved the ball to the Ogallala 43 before the clock ran out.

Ogallala had defeated McCook 13-7 in overtime in the regular-season finale for both teams Friday, Oct. 23 at Weiland Field.

The Bison, 7-3, advance in the Class B playoffs, with undefeated and top-ranked Aurora coming to McCook next Friday. The Huskies, 10-0, ran past Alliance 54-18 in first-round playoff action Saturday.

Aurora beat McCook 48-18 in a Sept. 11 meeting at Weiland Field.

Ogallala ends the season with a 7-3 mark.

McCook 7 0 6 0 -- 13

Ogallala 0 2 0 0 -- 2

MC -- Chad Stull 49 run (Shane Wallen kick).

OGA -- Safety, Ogallala tackled Deon Allen in end zone.

MC -- Stull 1 run (run failed).

McCook statistics (unofficial)

Rushing -- Chad Stull 22-137, Andy Smith 13-66, Deon Allen 17-56.

Passing -- Chad Stull 2-6-0 30 yards.

Receiving -- Mark Nichols 2-30.

Ogallala statistics (unofficial)

Rushing -- Derek Blessing 23-39, Trent Neill 8-(-5).

Passing -- Trent Neill 8-15-0 128 yards.

Receiving -- Gatlin Moul 3-40, Andy Faesser 1-42, Trevor Neill 2-25, Derek Bless