Talking Sports: Looking forward to the big game

Friday night is the big game in Sidney. If you love sports, you love the big games most of all.

The Sidney Red Raiders will be hosting the McCook Bison at Weymouth Field on Friday at 7 p.m. Both teams are undefeated at 3-0, and both are considered among the best Class B teams in Nebraska. Of course, it's early in the season. So no matter who wins or loses, it's not likely to ruin – or make – their season.

Throughout the sports year, there are always times when a big game comes along - even when it's just the fourth contest of a nine-game season. In the bigger picture, both the Bison and Raiders will have bigger fish to fry when district play opens up in October. How Sidney fares against Scottsbluff, Alliance and Gering will likely have more to do with their ultimate fate than what happens in week four.

But Friday's game is big because it's a test. It's a chance for the Bison and Raiders to test how they stack up against each other. Only one team will exit Friday's contest still undefeated.

Last year, these teams were separated by a single point when the Bison defended their home field in a 20-19 win. By the skin of its teeth, McCook defended its turf to remain undefeated while the Raiders record was soiled by its first loss. Now the Bison are the team that has to make the long journey to enemy territory.

As was the case last week, Sidney fans will be too numerous to be accommodated by the home-side bleachers. They will spill out onto the track surrounding the field and held back only by a makeshift barrier. And wherever they sit – or stand – they will be loud and partisan. The Red Zone will be rockin' from the opening kickoff.

I don't put much stock in the top-10 lists, but I can't help but look. The Omaha World-Herald routinely publishes top-10 lists on their Prep Zone website. It's hard to understand how accurate a list like that could be – especially so early in the season.

For the record, the World-Herald's most recent Class B top-10 list has McCook (3-0) ranked fourth and the Sidney Red Raiders at No. 8. The entire list, in order from 1-10 includes: Omaha Skutt, Elkhorn South, Gretna, McCook, York, Aurora, Scottsbluff, Sidney, Plattsmouth and Beatrice.

Naturally, considering the population centers of Nebraska, all but Sidney, Scottsbluff and McCook are from the eastern half of the state. Perhaps it's a little provincial of me to think so, but I do think there's probably some eastern bias in these polls.

Every time I see one of these top-10 lists, I'm reminded of a conversation I overheard in the press room at state basketball last season. It was about 10 minutes before the Raiders were to play Beatrice in a second-round game. For the record, Sidney eliminated Beatrice that day.

"Are you watching the next one?" said the first reporter.

"I'm not in the mood for a blowout. I can't see Sidney staying in this one for long," responded the other.

"Yea, they can't be any good," agreed the first. "I think I'll sit this one out."

I don't really blame the scribes. What are they to think when they're watching eastern basketball all season.

But never mind all that. All that matters in basketball or football or any sport is what happens on the field or court - not what anybody thinks about it beforehand. But I think Friday's game is going to be a nail biter from start-to-finish.

Not that that matters, of course.