HUSKERS FAIL TO OVERCOME MISTAKES, FALL TO ILLINOIS
Nebraska rallied from a 21-point deficit late in the third quarter and had the ball with a chance to tie in the game’s final minute, but Illinois held on for a 30-22 season-opening victory.
The Huskers produced more yards of total offense (377-326) than the Fighting Illini, but a pair of pivotal second-quarter plays contributed to the outcome. A Nebraska fumble late in the second quarter led to a 41-yard scoop-and-score touchdown that provided the momentum Illinois used to build a 30-9 lead late in the third quarter.
However, just 13 seconds after Illinois took its three-touchdown lead, Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez sprinted 75 yards into the end zone to spark a late Husker rally.
The Big Red went to the fourth quarter trailing 30-16, before Martinez engineered a 19-play, 91-yard drive capped by his four-yard touchdown pass to Oliver Martin with 2:41 left in the game.
The Nebraska defense, which played solid football throughout the day, got a crucial stop with one minute left in the game to give Martinez and the offense one last shot to send the game to overtime. But Nebraska was unable to mount a scoring drive as time expired.
Nebraska falls to 0-1 on the season and in Big Ten play as the Huskers look to even their record while coming to Memorial Stadium for the home opener this Saturday against Fordham.
NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS COLGATE, DOWNS K-STATE IN SEASON OPENER
The No. 5 Nebraska volleyball team opened the 2021 season with its first match of the Husker Invitational Friday evening, sweeping Colgate 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-11) in front of 7,913 at the Devaney Center. With the win, the Huskers improve to 1-0 on the season, while Colgate concludes the tournament at 0-2.
Saturday was a much different test, as the Huskers rallied in the fourth set to finish off Kansas State 3-1 (25-17, 27-25, 11-25, 25-22). The Huskers are now 2-0 on the season, while the Wildcats drop to 1-1.
Nebraska improves to 23-4 in the all-time series with K-State, including 23-3 in the John Cook era.
Nebraska plays host to the Ameritas Players Challenge, Sept. 3-4, at the Devaney Center with a field that includes Georgia, Arizona State and Omaha. The Huskers open the tournament on Friday with Omaha at 11 a.m.
BEARCATS SNEAK PAST ISLANDERS WITH BIG PLAYS
The Kearney Bearcats were able to win the turnover margin Friday night, and with some help from senior Kaden Miller won the annual rivalry matchup with Grand Island 38-35.
Punctuated by seven Islander turnovers, the Kearney defense placed its offense in winning position with two running scores by quarterback Riley Miller along with two passing touchdowns. Kaden Miller intercepted a Kytan Fyfe pass with less than two minutes to play to seal the contest.
Kearney improves to 1-0 and will face Omaha Burke on the road for the first travel game of the season.
High School Results & Schedules:
– Friday Football Results:
– Kearney Catholic 52 – Wood River/Shelton 12
– Kearney High 38 – Grand Island 35
– Saturday Sports Results:
– Kearney High Softball @ Lincoln Invite
– Skutt Catholic 8 – Kearney 0
– Kearney 6 – Lincoln Southeast 5
– Beatrice 10 – Kearney 0
– Kearney Catholic Softball @ Holdrege Invite
– GAME 1: KCHS 7 – McCook 2
– GAME 2 (Semifinals): KCHS 10 – Holdrege 9
– GAME 3 (Championship): KCHS 15 – Adams Central 8
– Kearney High Volleyball @ Norfolk Invite
– Kearney defeated Bennington (2-1)
– Kearney defeated South Sioux City (2-0)
– Kearney Catholic Volleyball @ Hastings St. Cecilia Triangular
– KCHS wins over Aquinas Catholic (2-0)
– KCHS wins over Hastings St. Cecilia (2-1)
THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
- Kearney High Volleyball Girls Golf Shootout @ Lincoln Pius – 9 AM
- Kearney High Boys Tennis v. Grand Island @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
- Kearney High Softball DH v. GI Northwest @ Patriot Park – 5 PM
- Kearney High Volleyball @ GI Northwest – 7 PM
- Kearney Catholic Girls Golf v. Cozad Dual @ Meadowlark – 1 PM
- Kearney Catholic Triangular @ GICC (KCHS, GICC, Minden) – 5:30 PM
THURSDAY:
- Kearney High Boys Tennis v. Lincoln Southwest @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
- Kearney High Softball @ Lincoln High – 5 PM
- Kearney High Volleyball @ Lincoln Southwest – 6:30 PM
- Kearney Catholic Girls Golf @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
- Kearney Catholic Boys Tennis @ Adams Central – 4 PM
- Kearney Catholic Softball @ Twin River Triangular – 4:30 PM
- Kearney Catholic Cross Country @ Lexington Invite – 5 PM
- Kearney Catholic Volleyball @ Hershey – 5 PM
FRIDAY:
- Kearney High Girls Golf @ Grand Island Invite – 9 AM
- Kearney High Football @ Omaha Burke – 7 PM
- Kearney Catholic Boys Tennis @ Crete Invite
- Kearney Catholic Football @ Gothenburg
SATURDAY:
- Kearney High Cross Country @ Omaha Walnut Grove Park – 8 AM
- Kearney High Softball @ Norfolk Invite – 9 AM
- Kearney High Boys Tennis Invite @ Harmon Park – 9 AM
