Bison football give fans first good look of 2021

McCook junior Adam Dugger (above) gets set to launch a pass behind good protection while sophomore Mitchel Cole (26, below) does his best to shake the tackle of classmate Colby Evans (81) during Saturday’s scrimmage at Weiland Field.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — The journey’s only beginning but some good signs were already appearing Saturday morning at Weiland Field.

“We’re nowhere near we want to be,” coach Joe Vetrovsky said following the first McCook Bison football scrimamge of 2021. “But I really love the effort and from an assignment-schematic standpoint, they didn’t do a bad job.”

Vetrovsky noted the offense “on all levels” got better as Saturday’s scrimmage moved along.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

Remember, the Bison only return three starters from last year’s 6-3 Class B state playoff time in juniors Jacob Gomez-Wilson, Lucas Gomez-Wilson and lineman Eli Kehler.

Bison fans saw good running from backs like senior Logan Havlicek and J. G-W.

Junior Adam Dugger continued to lead the quest for McCook’s starting quarterback spot.

The Bison showed some ability to connect on long pass plays, but also didn’t that many easy paths against McCook’s traditionally stout defense.

“A lot of times in the first scrimamge, the tackling isn’t real good,” Vetrovsky said. “After just one week of practice, I thought tackling wasn’t too bad at all today (Saturday).”

McCook’s preparing for an Aug. 27 season opener — just 10 days away now — when the Hastings Tigers invade Weiland Field to play that 7 p.m. varsity game.

Two years ago, Hastings players posed on McCook’s famous “M” behind the Weiland Field scoreboard following a 30-7 Tiger win.

The Bison were closer last season until a pivotal end-zone fumble recovery turned momentum in Hastings’ 35-14 victory.

All those memories should help fuel the McCook motivation for that Aug. 27 home debut.

Before then, the Bison play their second and final intrasquad scrimmage at Weiland Field Thursday evening.