Monday Afternoon Sports – Lopers Climb Coaches Poll, Statue Vandalized at Memorial Stadium, Frost Monday Practice Comments

LOPER FOOTBALL CLIMBS TO No. 16 IN COACHES POLL

The UNK Football team has risen to No. 16 in the latest D2 Coaches Poll. After winning their first three games, including on the road at Pittsburg State and last week over then No. 29 Washburn, the Lopers jumped from No. 23 to seven spots up in the poll.

UNK prepares for a trip to Warrensburg as the Lopers take on Central Missouri on Saturday.

LEGACY STATUE VANDALIZED OUTSIDE OF MEMORIAL STADIUM

The Legacy Statue depicting a host of football players tackling a ball carrier outside of Memorial Stadium was subjected to vandalism via a white spray paint covering the faces of the players and white spray painted smiley faces on their backs. 

In a statement, Lincoln Police captain John Backer said that the vandalism could be related to vandalism that was reported at the Phi Gamma Delta – or FIJI – fraternity house that also had been spray-painted white. The incidents occurred around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday. 

The damages done to the statue have been estimated at $2000.

FROST – ALMOST THERE IN RUNNING GAME

Nebraska had a solid performance against a top rated Oklahoma team on Saturday. Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost added in Monday’s post-practice press conference that he felt the Huskers were right in line with the Sooners…

Frost continued that he wants his offensive line to be aggressive but remove the penalties that led to stalled drives.

FROST – CONTINUE TO BE AGGRESSIVE WITHOUT PENALTIES

Head Coach Scott Frost met with the media after Monday’s practice and was asked about if he had spoke with center Cam Jurgens following his two personal fouls due to continued blocking after the whistle. 

Frost added that he wants his lineman to keep up the attitude…

The Huskers were penalized 8 times for 70 yards against the Sooners.

COOK – TEAM DID NOT PERFORM AS EXPECTED VERSUS LOUISVILLE

The Huskers Volleyball team has lost three straight matches to Top 20 opponents – Utah, Stanford, and Louisville Saturday night. Head Coach John Cook spoke to the media on Monday and was asked for his thoughts when reviewing the film over the losses..

The Huskers begin Big Ten play this week with a trip to Evansville to take on Northwestern on Wednesday.

LOPER FOOTBALL DOWNS WASHBURN, OVERCOMES 4th QUARTER DEFICIT

Quarterback TJ Davis ran for an eight-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left, and redshirt junior safety Darius Swanson picked off a Washburn pass to help No. 23 Nebraska-Kearney down No. 29 Washburn, 28-24, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

The Lopers improve to 3-0 for the first time since the NCAA Playoff year of 2011 and earn its first home win over the Ichabods since 1985. WU came in having won 10 of the last 11 in the series.

UNK travels to Warrensburg, Missouri to battle the winless Central Missouri Mules on Saturday.

UNK VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO No. 3 WASHBURN AT HOME

The third-ranked Washburn Ichabods had four players tally at least 13 kills to beat top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney in four sets Saturday night at the Health and Sports Center.

After downing Emporia State on Friday night, UNK lost their first match of the season now at 9-1. 

UNK hosts Hastings College Monday at 5:30 to close out a seven-match home stand.

MARTINEZ – NO MORAL VICTORIES WITH LOSS TO OKLAHOMA

Quarterback Adrian Martinez spoke to the media following the loss to Oklahoma. When asked if there were any moral victories gained in the loss, Martinez added his team is focused on wins on the field…

Martinez and the Huskers offense had a solid performance, but were unable to overcome missed field goals and penalties that left points on the board against the Sooners.

FROST – PENALTIES MUST BE FIXED

Head Coach Scott Frost was asked about the number of penalties that were dropped on the Huskers in the 23-16 loss to Oklahoma Saturday.

Frost says that the mistakes must be corrected, regardless of circumstances…

The Huskers were flagged for 8 penalties for 70 yards. 

MARTINEZ – HUSKERS BELIEVED WE COULD WIN

Nebraska nearly pulled off the upset of the weekend Saturday but fell to Oklahoma 23-16 in Norman.

Huskers quarterback Adrian Martinez never doubted his team could not keep up with the Sooners… 

The Huskers open as underdogs to Michigan State this Saturday as Nebraska hits the road to East Lansing for the Big Ten matchup.

FROST – PROUD OF TEAM, GOALS STILL AWAIT HUSKERS

Head Coach Scott Frost spoke to the media after the Huskers 23-16 loss to Oklahoma. Frost admired the way his team competed against the No. 3 team in the nation…

Frost added that it was great to see his skill players healthy in the contest, and noted that they make a difference every game when they are able to compete. 

STORM COMPLETE PRESEASON, AWAIT FALL CLASSIC

The Tri-City Storm completed preseason play Friday night at the Viaero Center in a 3-2 loss to the Omaha Lancers.

Tri-City will play three regular season games away from the Viaero Center to begin play in the 2021-2022 season before returning home for the Home Opener against the Waterloo Black Hawks on October 8.

NEBRASKA BASEBALL TOPS CREIGHTON IN EXHIBITION

The Nebraska baseball team played its first of two fall exhibitions Friday evening, defeating Creighton 11-9 in a pre-planned 12-inning game at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

The Huskers won despite not having head baseball coach Will Bolt due to a positive COVID-19 test. 

Nebraska continues fall play on Saturday, Oct. 2 with Wichita State at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. First pitch is set for Noon, and the 14-inning exhibition will be open to the public with free admission.

UNK WOMEN’S TENNIS DOMINATE IN COLORADO

The Nebraska-Kearney women’s tennis team easily swept both Colorado State-Pueblo and Colorado Mesa, 7-0, Friday afternoon in Pueblo.

This is the Lopers annual fall trip to Colorado to start the season. UNK (3-0) beat Metro State, 6-1, Thursday in Denver.

Kearney didn’t lose a single match on Friday. UNK heads to Creighton next weekend for the Bluejay Invitational.

NFL SCORES:

SUNDAY:

Chicago 20 – 13 Cincinnati

Los Angeles Rams 27 – 24 Indianapolis

New England 25 – 6 New York Jets

Cleveland 31 – 21 Houston

San Francisco 17 – 11 Philadelphia

Denver 23 – 13 Jacksonville

Las Vegas 26 – 13 Pittsburgh

Carolina 26 – 7 New Orleans

Buffalo 35 – 0 Miami

Tampa Bay 45 – 28 Atlanta

Dallas 20 – 17 Los Angeles Chargers

Arizona 34 – 33 Minnesota

Tennessee 33 – 30 Seattle OT

Baltimore 36 – 35 Kansas City

Monday: 

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

SATURDAY RESULTS:

• KEARNEY HIGH:

• • • Softball Invite @ Papillion-La Vista
      • FRIDAY RESULTS:
        • GAME 1: Gretna 7-1
        • GAME 2: Omaha Burke 2-0
      • SATURDAY RESULTS:
        • GAME 1: Millard North 5-4

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:

• • • Volleyball @ Gothenburg Invite
      • FRIDAY RESULTS:
        • GAME 1: KC 2-0 over Aurora
        • GAME 2: KC 2-0 over Minden
        • GAME 3: KC 2-1 over Ogallala
      • SATURDAY RESULTS:
        • GAME 1: KC 2-0 over Gothenburg
        • GAME 2: KC 2-1 over St. Paul
        • GAME 3: KC 2-1 over York
    • Softball @ North Platte Tournament
      • GAME 1: KC 4-1 over Gering
      • GAME 2: KC 9-4 over Lexington
      • GAME 3: North Platte 14-0

• UNK:

• • Football v. Washburn
    • UNK 28-24
  • Volleyball v. Washburn
    • Washburn 3-0

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis @ Papillion-LaVista Invite – 9 AM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Softball @ Hastings St. Cecilia – 4:30 PM

• UNK:

• • Women’s Golf @ Golden Bear Classic
  • Volleyball v. Hastings College – 5:30 PM

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Golf Dual v. Lincoln Pius X @ Meadowlark – 2 PM
  • Softball v. Lincoln Southwest (DOUBLEHEADER) – 5 PM
  • Volleyball @ Lincoln High – 7 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Golf @ Gibbon Scramble – 10 AM
  • Boys Tennis @ GICC Triangular (GICC, Hastings)  – 2 PM
  • Cross Country @ Franklin Invite
  • Volleyball @ Centura – 6:30 PM

• UNK:

• • Women’s Golf @ Golden Bear Classic

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Golf @ Lincoln Invite – 9 AM
  • Boys Tennis Dual v. Alliance @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
  • Softball v. Grand Island @ Patriot Park (DOUBLEHEADER) – 5 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball Triangular v. Lexington, GI Northwest – 5 PM
  • Softball @ Lexington – 5 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis @ Hastings Invite – 9 AM
  • Football v. Bellevue West @ Ron and Carol Cope Stadium – 7 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Tennis @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
  • Girls Golf @ Centennial Conference – 9 AM
  • Football v. Minden – 7 PM (Homecoming)

• UNK:

• • Women’s Tennis @ Bluejay Invite (Omaha)
  • Women’s Soccer @ Emporia State – 3 PM
  • Volleyball @ Newman – 6 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball @ Lincoln Southeast Invite – 9 AM
  • Volleyball @ Seaman Invite – 9 AM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball @ Aurora Invite – 9 AM
  • Softball @ Adams Central Invite – 10 AM

• UNK:

• • Women’s Tennis @ Bluejay Invite (Omaha)
  • Softball, Blue/Gold Scrimmage – 1 PM
  • Football @ Central Missouri – 1 PM
  • Volleyball @ Central Oklahoma – 3 PM