Bison know No. 5 Scottsbluff will be best test yet

SCOTTBLUFF, Neb. — McCook Bison say bring on that entire line of 280-poundish Scottsbluff Bearcats Friday night!

McCook boys know they must beat the best to be district football champions — and few Class B teams have been better than these Bearcats in 2024.

Scottsbluff (6-1 record) owns seven wins all by more than 24 points with the closest victory margin being 31-6 over Grand Island Northwest on opening night (Aug. 30).

The Hastings Tigers celebrated around McCook’s “M following their win at Weiland Field two weeks ago.

Last week, the Tigers played host to Scottsbluff — and fell 41-6.

“Scottsbluff has done a great job this year being a ball-control offense and playing solid defense,” Bison coach Joe Vetrovsky confirmed. “ Their only loss on the year is to Seward by one point (28-27).”

Oh by the way, those Seward Bluejays are 7-0 and No. 2 in Class B power points.

The Bearcats are No. 5 behind four-time defending state champ Bennington (7-0), Seward, No. 3 Elkhorn North (6-1) and No. 4 Omaha Skutt (6-1).

McCook (5-2) currently ranks No. 8 which means a win over the Bearcats could possibly at least one Class B state playoff game at Weiland Field on Nov. 1.

The Bison only have one more regular-season game home vs. 1-6 Lexington next week.

Since McCook shares No. 8 with Norris, a loss might mean the Bison will be traveling.

Waverly (5-2) currently holds No. 6 and Gering (5-2) No. 7.

McCook split road trips against those two foes earlier this season.

The big Bison goal will be to keep Scottsbluff close as one-score games have been a consistent theme when both have been Class B. McCook won the last meeting during 2021.

Vetrovsky offered some more insights about the Bearcats.

“Offensively they are led by their quarterback No. 5 Nate Kelley and running back No. 6 Desmonde Smith. They carry the football a lot.

Their offensive line has some impressive size averaging 280 pounds from tackle to tackle with solid tight ends who can block and catch.

Stopping the run has been a big point of emphasis this week in practice with our defense

Defensively, their two defensive ends No. 21 Lucas Lively and No. 23 Braxton Burford really like to cause havoc. Their LB’s No. 7 Jhett Webb and No. 11 Emilio Cervantes are aggressive and tackle well.

Their secondary does a good job not giving up the big play and are led by safety No. 5Nate Kelley.

The challenge for our offense will be to attempt to keep Scottsbluff off balance and limit their aggression.”