Friday Morning Sports – 9/1/2023

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL DROPS SEASON OPENER AT MINNESOTA:

A new coach resulted in a similar feeling to start the 2023 season. The turnover bug bit too many times on Nebraska, resulting in a 13-10 loss for the Huskers on Thursday night.

Four turnovers – including an interception to end the first half on Minnesota’s six yard line – doomed Nebraska in Matt Rhule’s opening contest leading the Big Red. 

The final blow came with less than a minute to play as the Huskers Jeff Sims’ tossed his third interception, giving the Gophers the chance to win the game with time expired on a last second field goal.

Nebraska dropped another one score game, and is now 0-1 to start the Matt Rhule era. The Huskers have a chance to lick their wounds and even their record at Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 11 AM.

A full recap and photo gallery will be available later at KGFW and Central Nebraska Today.

HUSKER FOOTBALL POSTGAME COMMENTS – MATT RHULE:

RHULE – DISAPPOINTING, BUT “NO CLOSE LOSSES”

Matt Rhule, Nebraska Football Head Coach, tried to turn out some positives to his team in his opening postgame media comments after Thursday night’s loss at Minnesota…

9323 – MRCLOSELOSSES – 27 sec. “Think we can be”

Nebraska had four turnovers in the contest – including two in the final three minutes. 

RHULE – FIRST GAME CAN BECOME A LEARNING EXPERIENCE:

Nebraska Football dropped another one score game, and first year Husker Head Coach Matt Rhule stated at the postgame presser that this is just a building block for later success…

9324 – MRLEARNINGEXPERIENCE – 16 sec. “Overcome”

Nebraska has not won a season opener since 2019, and hits the road to Colorado next week.

RHULE – EVALUATION OF JEFF SIMS FIRST PERFORMANCE:

Nebraska Football not only trotted out a new head coach on Thursday, but also a new quarterback. Head Coach Matt Rhule gave his evaluation of Jeff Sims from his first day in the Scarlet and Cream…

9325 – MRSIMSPERFORMANCE – 21 sec. “Not what we need”

Sims ended with three interceptions, but led the team in rushing yards and threw a touchdown pass for the Huskers lone touchdown of the contest.

RHULE – END OF GAME PREPARED TO PLAY FOR OVERTIME:

The Nebraska Football team broke their fans’ collective hearts on Thursday night, dropping another late contest in the fourth quarter in a conference game 13-10 at Minnesota. Matt Rhule was asked what the plan was heading into the final drive for the Huskers in the fourth quarter…

9326 – MRENDOFGAME – 18 sec. “That happened, so”

Rhule continued that late turnovers kept Nebraska from winning, but that his team continued to fight and played high level football keeping the contest within reach.

RHULE – HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 WITH GRANT FUMBLE:

Nebraska Football Head Coach Matt Rhule gave further explanation in his postgame comments regarding placing Anthony Grant in the contest prior to his fourth quarter fumble…

9329 – MRGRANTFUMBLE – 24 sec. “Football”

Nebraska had two fourth quarter turnovers that allowed Minnesota to tie, then take the lead in the final five minutes of the contest. 

RHULE – ROBINSON EJECTION; DEFENSE EXPECTED OVERTIME:

Head Coach for Nebraska Football Matt Rhule gave his perspective on the Ty Robinson ejection from Nebraska’s team mentality, and had an evaluation of his defense’s role from Thursday night’s loss…

9330 – MRROBINSONANDDEFENSE – 19 sec. “Able to do it”

The Huskers out-rushed Minnesota but faltered late due to offensive turnovers giving Minnesota momentum and short field to tie and take the lead in the final stretch.

UNK FOOTBALL’S LATE MISTAKES COST SEASON OPENER; FALL IN EDMOND:

The Central Oklahoma Bronchos ran 29 more offensive plays, had a 54-yard pick six and used a last-minute roughing the punter penalty to hold off Nebraska-Kearney, 24-21, Thursday night in Edmond.

This was the season-opener for both squads with UCO stopping a two-game losing streak to UNK. They now lead the all-times series by a 7-5 margin.

Quarterback TJ Davis hit a 29 yard touchdown toss in the opening moments, but UCO ran over the Lopers out gaining UNK by nearly 150 yards. 

UNK hosts Northeastern State on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium/Foster Field. NSU hosted Fort Hays State tonight and lost, 56-0.

BEARCATS HEAD TO FREMONT; KEARNEY CATHOLIC AT HERSHEY TONIGHT:

Friday night football action returns across the state as Week 2 of high school football kicks off this evening. 

The Kearney Bearcat Football squad aims to take their 1-0 mark to Heedum Field in Fremont for a matchup with the 0-2 Tigers. Hear the game on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com with Austin Jacobsen and Ford Clark on the call. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 PM.

Meanwhile, the Kearney Catholic Stars face their first road test at Hershey tonight hoping to keep their hot start going. Find a full recap and photo galleries from area games at KGFW and Central Nebraska Today tonight.

LOPER WBB SETS NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

The 2023 non-conference opponents for UNK Women’s Basketball were officially listed Thursday morning.

UNK will start their year on Nov. 10 facing the University of Minnesota-Crookston, followed by a Saturday matchup at Southwest Minnesota State as part of the NSIC/MIAA Challenge in Marshall, Minn.

The Lopers will also take on the College of St. Mary, Nebraska Wesleyan, and Chadron State prior to beginning their conference schedule. 

A full schedule and more can be found at KGFW and Central Nebraska Today.

HUSKERS’ TOMINAGA AIDS JAPAN IN FIBA WIN:

Keisei Tominaga and Japan moved one win away from qualifying for the 2024 Olympics with an 86-77 win over Venezuela Thursday morning at the FIBA World Cup.

Tominaga had five points, one rebound and an assist in 14 minutes for Japan, which won its second game in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Japan can clinch a berth in the Paris Olympics on Saturday when it takes on Cape Verde. 

STORM ANNOUNCE PRESEASON SCHEDULE:

The Tri-City Storm has announced the organization’s exhibition schedule ahead of the 2023-2024 USHL Regular Season.

The Storm will play five preseason contests prior to opening the sixty-two-game regular season campaign at the USHL Fall Classic in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, September 20th in a showdown against the reigning Clark Cup Champion Youngstown Phantoms.

The Storm will compete in three preseason games at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in an exhibition showcase hosted by the Omaha Lancers on Friday, September 8th, Saturday, September 9th, and Sunday, September 10th. Tri-City will battle the Sioux Falls Stampede at 1:30pm CT in the team’s opening game of the event on Friday, September 8th. The Storm will play the Waterloo Black Hawks at 4:00pm CT on Saturday, September 9th, before closing out the Lancers Bowl preseason event at 12:00pm CT on Sunday, September 10th in a game against the defending Anderson Cup Champion Fargo Force.

Tri-City will conclude exhibition play with a pair of games against the Omaha Lancers on Wednesday, September 13th, and Saturday, September 16th. 

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY SCHEDULE:

Chicago Cubs @ Cincinnati Reds – 12:10 PM

Chicago Cubs @ Cincinnati Reds – 5:40 PM

Miami Marlins @ Washington Nationals – 6:05 PM

Tampa Bay Rays @ Cleveland Guardians – 6:10 PM

Seattle Mariners @ New York Mets – 6:10 PM

Minnesota Twins @ Texas Rangers – 7:05 PM

Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox – 7:10 PM

Boston Red Sox @ Kansas City Royals – 7:10 PM

New York Yankees @ Houston Astros – 7:10 PM

Philadelphia Phillies @ Milwaukee Brewers – 7:10 PM

Pittsburgh Pirates @ St. Louis Cardinals – 7:15 PM

Toronto Blue Jays @ Colorado Rockies – 7:40 PM

Baltimore Orioles @ Arizona Diamondbacks – 8:40 PM

San Francisco Giants @ San Diego Padres – 8:40 PM

Los Angeles Angels @ Oakland Athletics – 8:40 PM

Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers – 9:10 PM

Buffalo County Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN BUFFALO COUNTY SPORTS:

THURSDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis: v. GISH Dual @ Harmon Park – KHS 7-2 GISH
  • Girls Cross Country: @ Concordia Varsity Invite – KHS 3rd
  • Softball: @ Lincoln High @ Doris Blair Softball Complex – KHS 25-0 LHS
  • Volleyball: @ Lincoln Southwest – LSW 3-0 KHS
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Softball: @ Twin River:
    • GAME 1 v. Twin River: KCHS 1-0 TR
    • GAME 2 v. Aquinas: Aquinas 11-1 KCHS
  • Volleyball: v. Hershey – KCHS 3-0 Hershey
• AMHERST:
  • Volleyball: Triangular @ Loup City
    • GAME 1: Amherst 2-0 Kenesaw
    • GAME 2: Amherst 2-0 Arcadia/Loup City
  • Softball: @ Twin River:
    • GAME 1 v. Twin River: KCHS 1-0 TR
    • GAME 2 v. Aquinas: Aquinas 11-1 KCHS
• PLEASANTON:.
  • Volleyball: @ Loomis:
    • GAME 1 @ Loomis: Pleasanton 2-1 Loomis
    • GAME 2 v. Overton: Overton 2-0 Pleasanton
• GIBBON:
  • Volleyball: @ Sandhills Triangular (Gibbon/Sandhills/Ravenna) – 5 PM
    • GAME 1 @ S/T: Sandhills-Thedford 2-0 Gibbon
    • GAME 2 v. Ravenna: No score reported
• SHELTON:
  • Volleyball: @ Harvard Quad
    • GAME 1 v. Red Cloud: Shelton 2-1 Red Cloud
    • GAME 2 v. Franklin: Shelton 2-0 Franklin
    • GAME 3 @ Harvard: Shelton 2-0 Harvard
• ELM CREEK:
  • Volleyball: v. Axtell – Axtell 3-1 Elm Creek
• RAVENNA:
  • Volleyball: Triangular @ Sandhills (Gibbon/Sandhills/Ravenna) – 
    • GAME 1 v. Gibbon: No score reported
    • GAME 2 @ Sandhills/Thedford: S/T 2-0 Ravenna

College Athletics:

• UNK LOPERS:
  • Football: @ Central Oklahoma @ Edmond, OK – UCO 24-21 UNK
• NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
  • Football: @ Minnesota – Minnesota 13-10 Nebraska
  • Women’s Soccer: v. Missouri – Nebraska 5-0 Missouri

FRIDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Golf: @ Grand Island Invite @ Jackrabbit Run Golf Course – 9 AM
  • Football: @ Fremont @ Heedum Field – 7 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 6:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Tennis: @ Crete Invite – 9 AM
  • Football: @ Hershey – 7 PM
• AMHERST:
  • Football: @ Hastings St. Cecilia @ Duncan Field – 7 PM
• PLEASANTON:.
  • Football: v. Cambridge – 7 PM
• GIBBON:
  • Football: v. Wood River – 7 PM
• SHELTON:
  • N/a
• ELM CREEK:
  • Football: v. Bertrand – 7 PM
• RAVENNA:
  • Football: v. Southern Valley – 7 PM

College Athletics:

• UNK LOPERS:
  • Volleyball: v. Oklahoma Christian @ Salt Lake City, UT – 10 AM
  • Volleyball: v. Texas Woman’s @ Salt Lake City, UT – 3 PM
  • Cross Country: @ Griffon Twilight @ St. Joseph, MO – 7 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
  • Women’s Golf: @ Minnesota State-Makato – 10 AM
  • Volleyball: @ Labor Day Classic @ Olathe, KS v. Columbia, MO – 2:30 PM
  • Cross Country: @ Augustana Twilight @ Sioux Falls, SD – 8:30 PM
• NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
  • Cross Country: @ Augustana Twilight @ Sioux Falls, SD – 8:30 PM

KGFW Sports Schedule:

• KGFW High School Football Preview Show (6 PM – 6:30 PM)
• Kearney High Football @ Fremont (6:30 PM – 10 PM)