Bison ready to face usual punishing Bearcats

McCook sophomore Canyon Hosick (above) bulldozed past one Panhandle opponent when the Gering Bulldogs invaded Weiland Field last weekend. The Bison overpowered Gering, 28-9, but face an even stronger test at Scottsbluff Friday night. In other words, though it makes good halftime entertainment, there won’t be a lot dancing (below) recommended between these tough district foes.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — What better way to get the McCook Bison state playoff-ready than a foe averaging 51 points in its last four wins?

Yessiree, the Bison get this opportunity as district heavyweight Scottsbluff awaits at Bearcat Stadium Friday night.

The Bearcats (5-2 record) annually make really old football fans feel like they’re seeing Barry Switzer and that classic Oklahoma ground attack.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Scottsbluff’s averaging 325 rushing yards per game topped with 54 carries for 455 in a 49-7 win at Lexington last weekend.

The top three Bearcats all average than 7.7 yards a rush, and sophomore Sebastian Boyle’s nearing 1,000 yards through seven contests (131 for 935 yards).

“I’d say that Sebastian Boyle is as good a running back as we are going to face,” Bison coach Joe Vetrovsky observed.

When the Bearcats do slip in a pass play, they often find receivers running open like old Keith Jackson during those O.U. glory days.

The NFL tight end Jackson, not our late great “rumblin’-bumblin’-stumblin” college football TV announcer.

Anyways, Scottsbluff’s top four pass catchers average anywhere from 16 to more than 31 yards per reception.

“Their quarterback is also a pretty good player,” Vetrovsky noted about 6’3” junior Braden Stull.

Scottsbluff hasn’t lost since a 43-22 to Aurora on Sept. 10. The season really picked up speed with a 43-36 victory over Northwest in Grand Island two weeks later.

“That was definitely a legit win,” Vetrovsky confirmed.

Yet this isn’t much different than most every McCook-Scottsbluff late-season collision.

Last year’s showdown was a three-point Bison win, and then-No. 1 Scottsbluff triumphed 21-20 at Weiland Field two weeks ago.

McCook’s expecting another tough battle beginning at 8 p.m. CDT on Friday.

Bison coaches love how linebackers Alex Anthony, Garrett Kaps.Branson McDonald, Leyten Bortner and others are attacking opposing ballcarriers.

A lot also depends on how Bison D-linemen Teegan Rice, Eloy Carbal, etc., occupy those massive Bearcat blockers.

McCook victory would certainly help secure another Class B state playoff berth. The regular season ends next week.

Anticipated starting lineups:

McCOOK Bison

Captains: Nathan Renner and Maxwell Weimer

Offense

Defense

ILB 7 Branson McDonald 5-11 165 Sr.

S 28 Logan Havlicek 5-9 150 Sr.

Special Teams

Holder 4 Canyon Hosick 5-7 165 So.

SCOTTSBLUFF Bearcats

Offense

Defense

Special Teams