Friday Morning Sports – 10/6/2023

BEARCAT VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS NORTH PLATTE:

The Bearcat Volleyball team’s hot streak continued Thursday night, handling the North Platte Bulldogs at Kearney High School in the 3-0 victory.

Kearney (9-16) earned the sweep, winning 25-21, 25-16, and 25-16.

Kearney had big contributions from Sophie Vanderbeek and Addison Helmbrecht, each finishing with twelve kills and two blocks.

Both teams head to the Lincoln Northeast varsity quad on Saturday, as both squads will face Lincoln Northeast and Southeast.

BIG RED HEADS TO CHAMPAIGN TO REGAIN WINNING WAYS:

The Nebraska Football team (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) looks to even their overall record and record their first conference win of the Matt Rhule era tonight, playing a rare Friday night contest in Champaign, Illinois against the Fighting Illini. 

Illinois is favored by 3.5 according to Vegas. Both teams are 2-3 on the year and hold anemic offenses, as neither team holds a Top 100 offense in the FBS. 

Kickoff is set for 7 PM with pregame coverage at 3 PM on KGFW and 6:15 PM on HITS 106-KQKY. Full photo galleries and a recap will be available at KGFW and Central Nebraska Today. 

Hear the Huskers on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com. Nebraska Football can also be heard on HITS 106-KQKY, the free HITS 106 mobile app, and online at KQKY.com.

HUSKER FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES FUTURE BIG TEN SCHEDULE FOES:

The Big Ten Conference announced on Thursday the football opponents for the 2024 through 2028 seasons. The Big Ten will maintain a nine-game conference schedule with the expansion of the conference to 18 schools beginning with the 2024 season.

Nebraska will continue to play Iowa each year in the new scheduling cycle, with the Heroes Game one of 12 protected annual matchups across the conference.  The Big Ten’s scheduling model also ensures that all 18 schools play each conference opponent at least twice—one home and one away—in the five-year period. Nebraska faces eight teams twice in the five-year cycle and eight opponents three times in addition to the annual matchups with Iowa.

In the first season of the five-year schedule in 2024, Nebraska will play host to Illinois, Rutgers, UCLA and Wisconsin in Big Ten home games, while traveling to Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Purdue and USC.  The game dates for the 2024 Big Ten Conference schedule are expected to be announced later this fall.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK SEVEN KICKS OFF TOP TEN MATCHUPS:

A big weekend of matchups across all classes kickoff Week Seven of the high school football season for the state of Nebraska tonight. 

In Class A, a Top Five matchup takes center stage at Foster Field as the Kearney Bearcats host defending state champion Omaha Westside. Grand Island also heads to Elkhorn South for another Top Ten matchup.

Class C1 has Adams Central hosting Aurora, and in Class C2 Kearney Catholic travels to Ord. 

Each contest will have a full photo gallery available at KGFW and Central Nebraska Today tonight. The Kearney Catholic, Grand Island, and Kearney High contests will each have full game recap stories also. 

Y102-KRNY will have Kearney Football on the airwaves tonight on 102.3 FM, on the free Y102-KRNY mobile app, and online at KRNY.com as pregame coverage begins with the high school football preview show at 6 PM, live pregame at 630, and kickoff at 7 from Kearney’s Ron & Carol Cope Stadium. 

HUSKER FOOTBALL WEDNESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS – MATT RHULE:

RHULE – YOUNG TALENT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP:

Matt Rhule, Nebraska Football head coach, addressed the media on Wednesday as the Huskers prepare for Illinois Friday night. Rhule spoke on his young talent and how they are developing…

The Huskers have one of the younger rosters in the Big Ten, but the majority of their starting lineup is dotted with veteran players.

RHULE – MUST CREATE ENERGY ON THE ROAD:

Nebraska Football head coach Matt Rhule spoke during his Wednesday press conference about the importance of getting his team’s energy up during road contests…

The Huskers face their second weekday crowd of the season so far, playing in Champaign on Friday night. 

RHULE – ILLINI’S NEWTON EXCELLENT PLAYER:

Johnny Newton, Illinois defensive tackle, is well regarded as one of the best players in the conference. Head Coach for the Huskers Matt Rhule gave high praise to the potential top draft pick…

The junior Newton was a first team preseason All-American after earning second team All-American honors last year.

RHULE – HUSKERS WON’T WORRY ABOUT BYE WEEK:

Nebraska Football head coach Matt Rhule was asked at his Wednesday press conference about his team looking ahead to their first bye week of the year…

The Huskers bye week is followed by their six remaining contests of the year. 

RHULE – TEAM’S DEVELOPMENT STUNTED BY LACK OF PRACTICES:

Nebraska Football has not seen a bowl game since 2016 – the longest streak for any Power Five football team. Matt Rhule, Huskers head coach added Wednesday the lack of added practices have hurt the Big Red…

Rhule continued that the team will worry about its bye week plans after the game at Illinois on Friday night. 

LOPER TENNIS EARNS AT-LARGE BID TO ITA CUP:

The Nebraska Kearney tennis team will have a second entry in the 2023 ITA Cup Oct. 12-14 in Rome, Ga.

Senior lefty Jazmin Zamorano (Mexico) automatically qualified for the national tournament by winning the Central Region singles title the weekend of Sept. 22-24 in Edmond, Okla.

On Sept. 15-17 in Topeka, freshman Maksym Kulish (Ukraine) went 4-1 and reached the Central Regional semifinals. His quarterfinal victory over nationally ranked Tim Hammes of Washburn was enough to earn him an at-large bid to Georgia.

Kulish joins UNK Hall of Famer William Jacome as the only Lopers to reach the ITA Cup/Small College Championships in singles.

FITZGERALD SET TO SUE NORTHWESTERN FOR $130 MILLION:
Former Northwestern University football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing the school for $130 million, saying his alma mater wrongfully fired him in the wake of a hazing and abuse scandal that has engulfed the athletic department.

The announcement by Chicago-based attorney Dan K. Webb on Thursday comes nearly three months after Fitzgerald was suspended and then fired after 17 years as head coach of the Wildcats.

Webb said that Fitzgerald would also be seeking additional money for “infliction of emotional distress,” future lost income and punitive damages. The $130 million includes $68 million remaining in owed salary plus $62 million in future lost income.

BEARS, NFL LEGEND DICK BUTKUS PASSES AWAY AT 80:

Dick Butkus, a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears whose speed and ferocity set the standards for the position in the modern era, died Thursday, the team announced. He was 80.

According to a statement released by the team, Butkus’ family confirmed that he died in his sleep at his home in Malibu, California.

Butkus was a first-team All-Pro five times and made the Pro Bowl in eight of his nine seasons before a knee injury forced him to retire at 31. He was the quintessential Monster of the Midway and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. He is still considered one of the greatest defensive players in league history.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCHEDULE/SCORES:

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

Chicago Bears 40-20 Washington Commanders

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY WILD CARD SCHEDULE:

N/a – Division Series Begins Saturday

Buffalo County Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN BUFFALO COUNTY SPORTS:

THURSDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Cross Country: @ HAC Championships @ Kearney Country Club
    • GIRLS: 3rd overall (96)
    • BOYS: 9th overall (233)
  • Volleyball: v. North Platte @ Kearney High School – KHS 3-0 NP
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: @ Centennial Conference Tournament
    • GAME 1: KCHS 2-0 Aquinas Catholic
    • GAME 2: KCHS 2-0 GICC
• AMHERST:
  • Volleyball: Triangular @ Pleasanton
    • GAME 1: Amherst 2-0 Axtell
    • GAME 2: Amherst 2-0 Pleasanton
  • Football: @ Centura – Centura 16-7 Amherst
• PLEASANTON:.
  • Football: v. Riverside – Riverside 52-14 Pleasanton
  • Volleyball: v. Pleasanton Triangular
    • GAME 1: Pleasanton 2-1 Axtell
    • GAME 2: Amherst 2-0 Pleasanton
• GIBBON:
  • Volleyball: v. Elm Creek – Elm Creek 3-0 Gibbon
• SHELTON:
  • Volleyball: @ Kenesaw – No score reported
• ELM CREEK:
  • Volleyball:@ Gibbon – Elm Creek 3-0 Gibbon

FRIDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis: @ HAC Tennis Championships @ Woods Tennis Center – 9 AM
  • Football: v. Omaha Westside @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 7 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 6:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Football: @ Ord – 7 PM
• AMHERST:
  • N/a
• PLEASANTON:.
  • N/a
• GIBBON:
  • Football: @ Doniphan-Trumbull – 7 PM
• SHELTON:
  • Football: @ Wilcox-Hildreth – 3 PM
• ELM CREEK:
  • Volleyball: @ Twin Loup – 5 PM
  • Football: @ Twin Loup – 7 PM
• RAVENNA:
  • Football: @ Riverside – 7 PM

College Athletics:

• UNK LOPERS:
  • Women’s Swimming: v. Blue/White Scrimmage @ Kearney High School
  • Women’s Golf: v. Nebraska Intercollegiate @ Awarii Dunes
  • Women’s Soccer: v. Central Oklahoma @ Foster Field – 2 PM
  • Softball: v. Iowa Western CC @ Patriot Park – 4 PM
  • Volleyball: v. Missouri Western @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
  • Women’s Golf: @ Nebraska Intercollegiate @ Awarii Dunes – 10 AM
  • Men’s Golf: @ Nebraska Intercollegiate @ Awarii Dunes – 10 AM
  • Volleyball: v. Dordt (IA) @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 7:30 PM
• NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
  • Swimming & Diving: v. Scarlet v. Cream Intrasquad – 4 PM
  • Volleyball: @ Michigan State – 6 PM
  • Football: @ Illinois – 7 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 3 PM

KGFW Sports Schedule:

• Nebraska Football @ Illinois (3 PM – 2 AM) – KGFW
• Nebraska Football @ Illinois (6:15 PM – 12:15 AM) – HITS 106-KQKY
• KGFW High School Football Preview Show (6 PM – 6:30 PM) – Y102-KRNY

Kearney High Football @ Grand Island (6:30 PM – 10 PM) – Y102-KRNY