Raiders, McCook share physical football style

With an all-day rain on Monday, it was the perfect time for the Sidney Red Raiders football team to get last Friday night's loss to second ranked Aurora out of its system. The sodden afternoon allowed coach Todd Ekart to gather his troops inside for an extended film session.

Once the lessons were learned and the film session over, there could be no more time for dwelling on the past. For what awaits Sidney at Weymouth Field this Friday night at 7 p.m. is another tough opponent in the McCook Bison. The Bison, also 3-1, have replaced the Red Raiders as the ninth rankend team on the Associated Press Nebraska Class B Top 10.

It should be another fun atmosphere at Weymouth Field on Black Out Night. All Raider fans are encouraged to show up wearing black.

"The rain on Monday was really a blessing in disguise for us," said Ekart. "There were missed responsibilities against Aurora and the extra time inside allowed us to learn from that."

Though the Bison team that defeated the Raiders 34-12 last season is very much different, it is still a high-quality opponent. While McCook has been a veteran team for several years, the 2013 squad is unusually fresh faced.

"We're very, very young. We've only got six seniors playing for us this year," said Bison Head Coach Jeff Gross. "We've usually been a senior powered team. But we have a very talented younger group. I think this is the type of team that can get better and better each week."

In week one McCook got to know the team Sidney shook hands with last week. The Bison fared little better against Aurora with a 22-7 loss. But two big mistakes by his squad led to a couple of Huskies touchdowns.

The first of the Bison miscues was a mishandled long snap by the punter deep in McCook territory. The second was a 60-yard interception returned to the McCook five. Aurora parlayed those mistakes into a 15-0 halftime lead. Bison junior quarterback Colton Sis was playing in his first career varsity football game at the time.

"Without those two mistakes I think we're going into overtime with a 7-7 tie," said Gross.

The Bison and Raiders had another common opponent. The Raiders (44-22) and Bison (41-13) both handled the Grand Island Northwest Vikings fairly easily. The other two teams McCook has beaten are district rivals and future opponents of Sidney. Gering fell to McCook 34-7 while the Bison scored a late touchdown to edge Scottsbluff 13-8.

As for the matchup between Sidney and McCook, it is likely to be another game of trench warfare. Both are physical teams that rely heavily on the run.

"They'll spread it out, use an I formation, use split backs - but they run out of all those formations," Ekart said.

Doing most of the leg work for McCook this season are Sis at quarterback, fullback Kolton Stone and running back Trevor Matson. Sis - a 6-2, 210 pounder - ran for 104 yards in the loss to Aurora. Stone, at 6-0 and 210, is not just a handfull out of the backfield, but a run-stuffing linebacker as well. Matson is 6-2 and 180 lbs. and has been productive since the loss to Aurora.

"We have to get to their outside. They did a good job stuffing the box last year against Logan (Lewis)," Ekart said.

Lewis was held to just 27 yards on 8 carries in last year's matchup. This season Lewis has not failed to gain 100 yards rushing in any game. Both he and backfield partner Chance Anglin have rushed for more that 600 yards so far in 2013.

"Lewis is someone we need to pay attention to. The whole offense builds around Logan Lewis," said Gross. "Anglin is another one we have to focus on."

Lane Harvey has also been productive when called on to keep the ball from under center. Senior Michael Deaver will spot Lewis and Anglin.

"(McCook) presents opportunities to throw at times, too, so we'll throw if we have to," Ekart said.

Lucas Rosenbaum has been a favorite target of Harvey when he turns to the air. Anglin, Deaver and Lewis out of the backfield and NIck Conger are potential targets too.

Gross commented that he sees the Raiders as being much stronger on the offensive and defensive lines.

"They have some big fellas up there," he said. "They've had some good skill kids but now those good skill kids are sprinkled in with some big, physical lineman.

"We're very similar to Sidney. I think we both would just assume rush on every play as opposed to pass. We're going to pound people, they're going to pound people. It should be a good football game," concluded Gross.