Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

MALCOLMCLIPPERS
McCOOKBISON
By: Kevin Sjuts
Every season, there seems to be a
member of the Sackett family on the
Malcolm roster. 2017 is no different.
Senior Beau Sackett will be Clippers’
starting quarterback this fall, but he also
marks the end of his family’s lineage
with the Malcolm football program.
Sackett threw for seven touchdowns and
rushed for six scores last season.
“I’ve coached a Sackett for as long as I
can remember,” head coach Scott Amen
said.
Amen, who is entering his 11th season
at the helm, describes Sackett as a smart,
well-rounded athlete. “He runs well
and is hard to bring down,” Amen said.
“He’ll get the hard yards that we need
from him.”
Sackett hopes to lead Malcolm back to
the playoffs after a 4-5 record last season.
He’ll be complimented by junior running
back Adam Stewart, who averaged more
than 10 yards per carry in 2016. “We’re
really going to rely on him a lot,” Amen
said. Stewart played on Malcolm’s
varsity team as both a freshman and a
sophomore.
Beyond Stewart and Sackett, Malcolm
has a youthful roster. The Clippers
return starters at just nine positions.
The offensive line, in particular, will be
inexperienced.
“I don’t need 250 and 280-pounders,”
Amen said. “Give me a 200-pounder and
teach him the right technique and you
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Clippers
Class: C2
2016 Record: 4-5
Playoff Appearances: 12
Head Coach: Scott Amen
Career Record: 55-51
Assistant Coaches: Matt Coufal, Chris
Dishman, Dustin Tobey, Zach Wehner,
Cole Gore, Dane Sackett, Zach Holka
can be successful.”
Amen emphasized the importance of
player development up front and said
his linemen must commit themselves to
the weight room.
“That’s a concern of mine and I’ve told
them that,” Amen said.
Perhaps the strongest of the group is
Dustin Plautz (6’1” 210 lbs), who played
in six games last fall. Plautz, along with
Haydn Deinert (5’9” 180 lbs) and Allen
Morsett (6’1” 175 lbs) figure to anchor
Malcolm’s offensive line.
Defensively, the Clippers’ strength will
be in the linebacking corps. Sackett and
Stewart both bring leadership on that
side of the ball, while Gavin Goracke
(5’10” 200 lbs) is also a returning starter.
In the defensive backfield, Dylan
Zoucha (5’10” 160 lbs) is coming off a
freshman season where he had a pair of
interceptions.
Malcolm’s season begins on Aug. 25 at
Oakland-Craig. The Clippers’ schedule
includes a match-up with Douglas
County West, which was a late addition
to the 2017 slate. Malcolm was originally
scheduled to host Omaha Brownell-
Talbot on Oct. 6, but the Raiders canceled
their football season. Malcolm had the
option of receiving a forfeit win, but
instead reached out to DC West, who
was on a bye in week seven.
“That will be a tough game,” Amen said.
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Oakland-Craig
9/1 Sutton
9/8 @ Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer
9/15 @ Centennial
9/22 Lincoln Lutheran
9/29 @ Elmwood-Murdock
10/6 Douglas County West
10/13 @ Yutan
10/20 Johnson County Central
“I’d rather play than just sit around.”
The two teams will meet in Malcolm.
Key Players:
Beau Sackett (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr. QB/LB
Adam Stewart (5’7” 165 lbs) Jr. RB/LB
Haydn Deinert (5’9” 180 lbs) Jr. OL/DL
OUR TEAM COVERING
YOUR TEAM ALL SEASON LONG
KEVIN SJUTS • SPORTS DIRECTOR
FRIDAYS AT 10 PM
By: Derek Kopp
When football season rolls around,
there is usually one certainty in the state
of Nebraska: the McCook Bison will be
gunning for a Class B crown.
The Bison are coming off their fourth
straight trip to the state semifinals,
losing a heart breaker to eventual state
champion, Elkhorn South, in doubleovertime
last season.
For head coach Jeff Gross, who is
entering his 20th season at the helm,
expectations are simple, “we expect to
be very competitive and look to push
deep in the playoffs.”
Describing the Bison’s program as
excellent since 1998 doesn’t do them
justice. The team has a record of 179-
41, two state titles, three state runnerups,
ten semifinal appearances, and
16 district titles, along with numerous
accolades. If the team wants to capture
a third title in 2017, the road will not
be an easy one. The Bison will have
six playoff teams from 2016 on the
schedule, including an opening game
against Aurora.
Overall, the team will bring back
five starters from the offense and
six starters from the defense. Maybe
none as important as the return of
senior quarterback and linebacker
Zach Schlager, a recent Colorado State
commit who had seven scholarship
offers.
“His play last year spoke loud and
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Bison
Class: B
2016 Record: 10-2
Playoff Appearances: 30
Head Coach: Jeff Gross
Career Record: 179-41
Assistant Coach: Ross Schlager
clear,” Gross said.
Last season Schlager led the way in total
tackles with 119, rushing yards with
1,134, rushing touchdowns with 16, and
as a starting quarterback added over
500 yards and six touchdowns.
Offensively, the team runs the
I-formation as its base and has done
so with success. If you catch a game in
McCook, expect a high flying, athletic
offense that can make you pay with
a ground-and-pound and option
approach as well as the home run
threats. The passing attack is dangerous
with a trio of playmakers at wide
receiver, as Hunter Pothoff, Morgan
Fawver, and James Mockry all return. In
addition, DJ Gross will hold down the
tight end position.
The offensive line will be loaded with
a blend of experience and grit led
by seniors Hunter Hays and Justin
Barenburg.
“The offensive line should be another
strength heading into the season,”
Gross said. “This group is deep and
there are a number of players that may
even push for time.”
The 4-4 defense the Bison use has been
instrumental in the success over the
years and will be a key to becoming
champs once again. The Bison will
bring back three linebackers in
Schlager, Gross, and Gabe Sehnert, who
combined racked up 284 tackles in 2016.
Up front the defensive line brings back
two starters, including senior Kaleb
Taylor, who recorded 63 tackles and
four sacks in the 2016 season.
On special teams, junior kicker Trey
Koetter returns after a sophomore
season that saw him go 38 for 45 in
extra points and five of seven in field
goals. This is in addition to two punters
that can “flat out punt,” Gross said.
“The Bison are excited to bring in a new
year and a new core of group players,”
Gross said. “A core group of 20 seniors
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Aurora
9/1 Gering
9/8 Sidney
9/15 @ Alliance
9/22 York
9/29 @ Scottsbluff
10/6 Hastings
10/13 Holdrege
10/20 @ Lexington
and 20 juniors have been developing
and waiting for their turn to lead this
proud program.”
Key Players:
Zach Schlager (6’2’’ 220 lbs) Sr. QB/LB
DJ Gross (6’2’’ 215 lbs) Jr. TE/LB
Kaleb Taylor (6’4’’ 230 lbs) Sr. DE
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