Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

GIBBONBUFFALOES
By: Justin Biegel
Gibbon football coach Mark
McLaughlin begins his ninth
season at the helm of the
Buffalo this fall. He’ll look to
bounce back after a 2-7 finish
to the 2016 season. Gibbon lost
five in a row to open the year,
scoring only 12 points and
getting shutout twice. But the
team then went on to win backto-back
games versus Sandy
Creek and Wood River at home
before losing their final two.
In order to get back to the
promised land, McLaughlin
said his boys will have to avoid
the injury bug.
“We have to stay relatively
healthy early in the year,” he
said. “Last season we lost four
players for four games or more
within the first three games of
the season. Injuries happen, but
we need to avoid major injuries
all-together, especially early.”
The Buffalo will return 20
letterwinners, including five
starters on offense and six on
defense. One of those key guys
will be senior running back and
linebacker Jacob Tracy. Listed
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Buffaloes
Class: C2
2016 Record: 2-7
Playoff Appearances: 16
Head Coach: Mark McLoughlin
Career Record: 40-33
Assitant Coaches: Jeff Montgomery,
Steve Bristol, Jaxson Kenton, Geoff
Carnahan
as only 5-foot-9, 170 pounds,
Tracy turned a number of heads
as a junior, rushing for 1,312
yards and 11 touchdowns.
He’s also projected to start at
linebacker.
Alongside Tracy will be
senior Wyatt Kee, an all-state
selection who has 366 career
tackles. McLaughlin also has
high praise for Adam Hyde,
a standout wide receiver and
defensive back. Hyde led the
Gibbon defense with three
interceptions in 2016, and
hauled in 25 receptions for 446
yards and three scores.
Overall, the Buffalo will have
a ton of depth, something
McLaughlin’s team has lacked
in recent years. “We fought low
numbers last season,” he said.
“We need to get our roster size
into the high 30s or 40s.”
At one point, Gibbon dressed
only 21 kids for a game last
year.
The season kicks off Aug. 25
at Hershey, one of four teams
on the schedule that made
the C2 playoffs a year ago.
McLaughlin knows the road to
the postseason will not be easy
in 2017.
“St. Paul, St. Pats, and St.
Cecilia will be the best three
teams we play,” he said. “I
expect all three to be playoff
teams. I also expect Crofton,
Battle Creek, Central City,
Wilber-Clatonia, Centennial,
Sutton, Valentine, Oakland-
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Hershey
9/1 Minden
9/8 North Platte St. Patrick’s
9/15 @ St. Paul
9/22 Southern Valley
9/29 @ Sandy Creek
10/6 @ Wood River
10/13 Doniphan-Trumbull
10/20 @ Hastings St. Cecilia
Craig, and Yutan to be good.”
But McLaughlin understands
he can only control his team
and thinks they have the talent
to get the job done. “[If] the
boys are willing to put the
time and work in to get better,
we have some very talented
players on our roster.”
Key Players:
Jacob Tracy (5’9”, 170 lbs) Sr.
RB/LB
Adam Hyde (6’1”, 160 lbs) Sr.
RB/LB
Wyatt Kee (6’0”, 205 lbs) Sr.
RB/LB
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