Shiers, Snyder key Bison success from both sides of the football Shiers, Snyder key Bison success from both sides of the football

Neither Brooks Snyder nor Allan Shiers would have or could have dreamt this season.

Neither of the seniors thought that one year after the McCook Bison football team rolled through its opposition en route to a state title that this year's team would be in a similar position.

"I didn't think we were going to have as good a year as last year -- I didn't think we would be 9-0," said Snyder, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder who mainly played junior varsity football last season.

He played sparingly on the Bison varsity as it capped a 13-0 campaign with a 39-14 win over Ralston in the Class B state title game.

"When we played junior varsity, we knew we would be good," said Shiers, a 6-2, 185-pounder. "Our expectations got higher as the year went along."

Snyder, Shiers and their Bison teammates will start the postseason portion of their state title defense at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Weiland Field against Grand Island Northwest.

The Bison drilled the Vikings Friday night 33-7. Despite a 4-5 record, GINW claimed the final wild card playoff berth in Class B.

The McCook-GINW winner will play the York-Chadron winner Saturday.

Snyder and Shiers key the Bison offense as the two tight ends in a double-tight formation and spearhead the McCook defense from their inside linebacker spots.

Behind Snyder, Shiers and a dominant offensive line of Talon Darling, Jeff Lyster, Kip Bradley, Karl Shaddock, Richard Smock and Trevor Bourg, the Bison offense has rolled up 260 points and 3,198 yards rushing.

The Bison feature sophomore Brendan Liess, who has gained 1,265 yards rushing; senior fullback Kyle Bedore, 870 yards; and senior quarterback Trent Lyons, 681 yards rushing and 768 passing.

In addition to their blocking talents, Snyder and Shiers can also catch the ball. Shiers has 11 catches for 212 yards. Snyder has 11 catches for 168.

Defensively, Snyder and Shiers are fifth and sixth on the team in defensive points with 116 and 113.

The Bison defense has allowed 79 points all season and has pretty much limited opponents to one drive per game.

Snyder said he prefers defense to playing tight end.

"I like defense -- I get to hit people," he said. "I get to beat up people and not in get in trouble."

When he plays on the offensive side, Snyder prefers catching the football.

"I like catching footballs. Blocking is like the dirty work. It has to be done."

Shiers is the opposite of Snyder.

"I actually like tight end more," he said. "Blocking is dirty work -- it's something you have to do. You might as well do it well. It's nice when those guys (the backs) appreciate what you do."

McCook head football coach Jeff Gross said he certainly appreciates the hard work, skill and intelligence of Snyder and Shiers.

"Allan and Brooks have never been pulled from the game until things are decided," Gross said. "We knew were were going to have a lack of experience on offense.

"We went to a double tight end formation and forced defenses to be balanced. Last year, we ran one tight end because we had a lot of receivers. We had a dominant side (with one tight end) and a weak side.

"These two guys have shown a lot of ability as blockers and pass receivers. Allan has a little more speed and is able to stretch us a little more. Brooks is a more solid straight-ahead blocker. He is a little bigger than Allan.

"Defensively when you run a 4-4, the team is built around the inside linebackers. We try to get them in proper position for them to make plays. The two inside linebackers and free safety are the quarterbacks of the defense."

"Allan is like a coach on the field. He has been around McCook football since he was a kid. He was a ball boy. His dad (Dan) is a coach. Both can make adjustments on the field.

"Brooks is someone we knew we could count on. He has really improved his game from a year ago. He has started playing to his strengths. What helps a team win is kids who know football."

Déja vu

all over again

vs. Vikings

Gross said the Bison, the No. 1 seed in the West bracket, caught a bit of break with playing GINW for the second time in six days.

"The prep time is a little less than if we had to play Beatrice," Gross said. "But we expect them to close the gap (from 33-7).

"We're going to have to play a tough football game. It's tough to play a team twice in one season, let alone twice in six days.

"It's only halftime -- we've got four more quarters. We had a lot of success running the ball against them (448 yards). We will have to adjust on the run."

The Bison are relatively healthy, said Gross.

The same cannot be said for the Vikings, who lost leading receiver and free safety Travis Peters with a dislocated elbow during the first half of Friday's game.

He will be replaced by Nate Doud at the free safety spot.

GINW VIKINGS (4-5)

AT McCOOK BISON (9-0)

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. CST

Location: McCook's Weiland Field.

Radio: KICX 96.1-FM

Pre-game show: 3:30 p.m. CST.

STARTING LINEUPS

McCOOK OFFENSE

WR -- Sean Cappel (84), 6-1, 165, sr.

WR -- Cade Lines (24), 5-7, 150, sr.

WR -- Matt Beckenhauer, 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 -- Brendan Liess (44), 6-0, 170. so.

or Drew Wilson (10), 5-9, 180, jr.

RCB -- Paul Kenny (19), 6-0, 155, jr.

or Derek Ruppert (6), 6-0, 170, jr.

LCB -- Rico Quezada (12), 5-7, 155, jr.

Nickel -- 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.

David McCorkle (23), 5-9, 145, jr.

GINW OFFENSE

X -- Brandon Harrington (86), 6-3, 190, jr.

Z -- Nate Doud (30), 5-10, 170, jr.

TE -- Brian Preisendorf (87), 6-1, 210, sr.

LT -- Joel Mettebrink (53), 6-2, 205, jr.

LG -- Seth Reher (58), 5-10, 200, sr.

C -- Dan Roehrich (64), 6-0, 200, jr.

RG -- Dennis Johnson (50), 6-2, 205, sr.

RT -- Devin Roush (68), 6-3, 230, jr.

QB -- Nolan Miller (14), 5-11, 185, sr.

FB -- Michael Frederick (41), 5-11, 190, sr.

HB -- Aaron Cooksley (26), 5-10, 175, jr.

GINW DEFENSE

E -- Brian Preisendorf (87), 6-1, 210, sr.

T -- Seth Reher (58), 5-10, 200, sr.

T -- Devin Roush (68), 6-3, 230, jr.

E -- Dustin Greenwalt (72), 5-11, 200, sr.

OLB -- Dennis Johnson (50), 6-2, 205, sr.

ILB -- Justin Kolb (33), 6-0, 195, sr.

OLB -- Jeff Eynetich (47), 6-1, 190, jr.

LCB -- Dustin Roth (21), 5-9, 175, sr.

RCB -- Nolan Miller (14), 5-11, 185, sr.

SS -- Brandon Harrington (86), 6-3, 190, jr.

FS -- Nate Doud (30), 5-10, 170, jr.