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Bison set record and get some kicks out of edging Bulldogs
GERING, Neb. — The five biggest heroes of McCook’s Friday evening probably should have lifted their kicker on some shoulders at Bulldog Stadium.
In a district opener where every point seemed more important than ever, Bison sophomore Gunner Kaps made all three PAT kicks and one huge 36-yard fourth-quarter field goal.
So when Gering’s final kick attempt missed its target, the Bison could suddenly celebrate one exciting 24-23 victory.
“Gunner Kaps had a great night kicking,” Bison coach Joe Vetrovsky confirmed about McCook’s first game all season that was decided by less than 13 points. “He was a big reason we were able to come out on top.”
Actually, there were several clearly larger reasons why McCook dropped surprising Gering from the unbeatens.
Both teams are now 4-1 as the regular season enters its second half.
Senior lineman Beckett Heskett, Davien Hanson and Quentin Terry joined junior center Trey Tiller and tackle Simon Garcia on McCook’s heroic offensive line.
Terry was sadly injured during the opening quarter so other Bison stepped up to create more wide-open space than even most Panhandle football fans ever see.
Junior Tristan Campbell certainly enjoyed the view. Often with just one or two quick moves, McCook’s leading rusher was running so open that it almost felt like he should be watching for deer or elk lounging across those speed lanes.
Campbell shimmied, galloped and sometimes even coasted past little traffic to his career-best 259 yards on 26 carries — exactly 9.9 per tote.
The Bison’s golden sports car is now at 831 yards rushing with still four regular-season games remaining.
“Our offensive line did a great job blocking Friday night,” former O-lineman Vetrovsky confirmed. “Tristan did a great job finding the holes that they were opening up for him.”
Campbell’s first touchdown run of 19 yards featured him zooming right around a final block from junior receiver Miles Pollmann.
Kaps’ first kick created the early 7-7 tie.
Yet McCook could have trailed 10 or 14-zip if Kaps not tackled Gering’s opening kickoff returner just beyond the 40-yard line.
The Bulldogs still led 7-0 when they fell on a fumbled punt in McCook’s end zone.
They soon picked off a Bison pass, but sophomore Tripp Raile’s answering interception also stopped Gering momentum while helping set up that first Bison score.
Gering took a 10-7 lead only to see the Bison rumble again.
After the dreaded holding call erased Campbell’s 75-yard run, he promptly went 42 yards on that next play to move McCook across midfield.
Tiller’s lead block allowed T.C. to gain 11 more yards and reach Gering’s 40.
The Bison still faced third down-and-four so they found another way to score.
Junior quarterback Trenton Raile dropped back and lofted one perfect pass into Pollmann behind two defenders.
Pollmann didn’t have to jump or even stretch until celebrating his fourth TD reception in five games.
Kapps kicked his second PAT for a 14-10 Bison lead.
McCook stopped Gering just before halftime with sophomore Ty Junker doing his usual strong one-on-one pass coverage.
The Bison suffered another tough break when Gering’s second-half kickoff died at their one-yard line.
No problem.
McCook marched 99 yards and even overcame another holding penalty.
Garcia and junior Gabe Roberts made clearing blocks to reach Gering’s seven.
Though they eventually faced fourth down, Campbell still scored from the one and Kapps made McCook’s lead 21-10.
The Bulldogs showed whey they were 4-0, though, because their own strong drive ended on quarterback Rece Knight’s one-yard TD plunge.
Leading 21-17, the kickoff became exciting again when senior Ethan Schmidt dropped that football.
Schmidt calmly recovered and didn’t stop running until he nearly reached Gering’s 25.
A penalty pushed those Bison back again to midfield, but they drove to the 39 mostly on more Campbell moves. Kaps’ field goal forged the 24-17 lead.