Bison win 2-OT thriller over Aurora

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook running back Jake Schlager (1) tries to get away from Aurora defender Trey Allen (6) during prep football action at Weiland Field in McCook Sept. 2. Schlager had an 80-yard touchdown run and made several key defensive plays to help the Bison win a 16-13, double-overtime decision over the Huskies.

It was probably billed in some Nebraska Class B high school football fans' eyes as the game of the regular season.

Two top-ranked teams, two of the state's best in Class B year after year, engaging in a prep gridiron classic Friday night, Sept. 2, at Weiland Field in McCook.

It took two extra periods to decide the outcome, and the final decision came down to one foot -- the right one of McCook's Matt Chitwood. The senior booted a 27-yard field goal after his Bison had stopped Aurora on downs in the second overtime period to give McCook a 16-13 win.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette McCook quarterback Matt Chitwood (10) bobbles the football as he is pursued by Aurora defender Alex Brechbill (34) in high school football play Sept. 2 at McCook's Weiland Field. Chitwood kicked a 27-yard field goal in the second overtime to help give the Bison a 16-13 victory.

Momentum went back and forth across Weiland Field. With the scored tied 7-7, McCook stopped an Aurora drive and forced a punt that traveled just 19 yards to give the Bison possession on their 33-yard line. Chitwood, McCook's quarterback, drove his team downfield, as the Bison moved to the Aurora 20 with the clock more than halfway gone in the final period. But Jake Schlager couldn't handle a Chitwood pitch, and Aurora recovered.

Four plays later, Aurora quarterback Seth Schnakenberg fired a long pass intended for receiver Trey Allen. But the ball sailed over Allen's head and right to Chitwood for the interception with just under four minutes left in regulation.

McCook got a first down on Chitwood's pass to Cody Wudtke, but the Bison were forced to punt.

Schlager sacked Schnakenberg on second down with 31 seconds left, and the Huskies elected to kneel down at their own 15-yard line and go in extra play.

McCook scored first in the first overtime, with Chitwood rolling to his left, then cutting back inside for a 5-yard TD run. But the senior just missed the conversion kick outside the right upright, and the Bison led 13-7 with Aurora getting their shot from 10 yards away.

Nate Bell took an inside pitch on first down and ran untouched for a 10-yard TD. All Aurora needed was a successful conversion to win the game. But kicker Austin Barth's attempt sailed left and missed, leaving the score tied at 13-13 and sending the contest to a second extra period.

Aurora had the ball first. On second down, Bison linebacker Javier Beltran came up with perhaps the biggest defensive play of the night when he rushed in and stopped Bell for a 7-yard loss on a pass to the left flat. Schnakenberg misfired on two long passes, giving the ball to McCook for the Bison's possession in the second overtime.

There was little doubt as to what would happen next. Chitwood has long range in his kicking foot, and despite missing the first-overtime PAT, Bison head coach Jeff Gross sent the field goal team on the field to hopefully end the game. Austen Sis snapped the ball to holder Austin Cherry, who set it up for Chitwood. The ball sailed high and right through the middle of the uprights, setting off an enthusiastic McCook celebration.

The Bison had lost five straight games to the Huskies, including a 42-10 loss in early September 2009 at Weiland Field that ended McCook's historic 71-game home win streak.

Aurora had a strong first half, but McCook kept dodging bullets, and the Huskies only led 7-0 at intermission. Aurora scored early in the second quarter after a short McCook punt. Schnakenberg hit Allen for a 37-yard TD pass, and Barth kicked the extra point with 9:13 left.

The Huskies forced another punt and put together a 12-play drive. On second down from the Bison 4, Schnakenberg tried to fire pass in the right flat. But Schlager stepped in front of the ball for the interception with less than a minute remaining to keep the Bison with a touchdown.

McCook used another Aurora turnover to gain momentum early in the third quarter. Austen Sis recovered Trevor Thorell's bobble at the Bison 20. On the next play, Schlager took a pitch from Chitwood and headed around left end. The speedy junior broke free and outran the Aurora defense to the end zone on an 80-yard run. Chitwood's PAT tied the score at 7-7 with 9:03 left in the third period.

Aurora got the ball deep in McCook territory again later in the quarter. But Schlager broke through the middle and blocked Barth's 30-yard field goal attempt to end the threat.

McCook improved to 2-0 with a long road trip to Alliance Friday, Sept. 9. Aurora slips to 1-1.