Tuesday Afternoon Sports – Huskers Lose Ervin for Season, Lopers Down Hastings, Nebraska Prepares for Michigan State, Local Sports Schedule

HUSKER FRESHMAN OUT FOR SEASON

Head coach Scott Frost announced Monday that freshman running back Gabe Ervin had suffered an injury to his right patellar tendon. Running Backs coach Ryan Held confirmed Tuesday that Ervin had surgery on the knee and will be out for the rest of the season.

The timetable for return is around six months.

HUSKER QUARTERBACK COMMIT TEARS ACL

Nebraska quarterback commitment Richard Torres announces on Twitter that his season has ended after an injury on Friday night.

Torres had his team competing in the middle of the third quarter when he was tackled on an option to the right side.

Following the social media release, Torres stated that the ACL tear was the only injury to the knee and that there was no damage to the meniscus or to any of the other ligaments in the knee.

UNK VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS HASTINGS 

The now fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team had kills from seven different players to sweep Hastings College Monday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UNK improves to 10-1 while the Broncos remain at 11-6 as this was an exhibition match per NAIA rules. The Lopers also moved to 52-8-1 all-time against their longtime rivals.

UNK heads to Newman and Central Oklahoma this weekend.

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.

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR BIG TEN OPENER

The No. 12 Nebraska volleyball team turns its attention to Big Ten play this Wednesday, visiting Northwestern. First serve is set for 8 p.m.The match can be seen on BTN and heard on the Husker Radio Network on KGFW with pregame starting at 7:30 p.m.

Nebraska plays host to Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 25, with first serve set for 2 p.m. at the Devaney Center.

LUBICK – SPARTAN DEFENSE A BIG CHALLENGE

Offensive Coordinator of the Huskers Matt Lubick met with the media after Tuesday’s practice. Lubick previews what the Husker offense will see from the Spartan Defense….

The Spartan defense has been allowing only 19 points per contest. 

LUBICK – MANNING’S CONFIDENCE HAS GROWN

Receiver Omar Manning caught his first touchdown as a Husker against Oklahoma. Manning spoke to the media Monday and spoke about overcoming mental health struggles from last season. His offensive coordinator Matt Lubick adds that this is only the start of Manning’s success…

Manning currently has seven receptions for over 130 yards and a score this season.

CHINANDER – BLACKSHIRTS MUST CLEAN UP TACKLING

After Tuesday’s practice, Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander spoke with the media. Chinander was happy with the Blackshirts tackling efforts, but felt there’s still work to do… 

Chinander’s Blackshirts have their hands full with a Michigan State offense rated in the Top 20 and led by the leading rusher in the nation Kenneth Walker. 

CHINANDER – SPARTANS OFFENSE PREVIEW

Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander previews what Michigan State’s offense brings to Saturday’s contest in East Lansing…

Chinander also mentioned that running back Kenneth Walker has been a focal point of practice discussions as Walker leads the nation in rushing yards. 

CHINANDER – DEFENSE PLAYED WELL, STILL ROOM TO GROW

Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander was asked at his Tuesday post-practice press conference about if his team was happy about their performance at Oklahoma…

Chinander and the Blackshirts have a tough test in Big Ten play against Michigan State. The Spartans average nearly 40 points per game.

FROST – MICHIGAN STATE WILL BE A FIST-FIGHT

The Huskers enter another Big Ten matchup as they prepare for Michigan State on Saturday. The newly Top 25 minted Spartans have had a fast start at 4-0.

Head Coach Scott Frost says his team is ready to get physical…

The Huskers will kick off the Big Ten matchup at 6 PM Saturday, as pregame coverage starts at 2 PM. 

FROST – HAVE TO FIX MISTAKES TO COMPETE IN BIG TEN

Head Coach Scott Frost was asked about his tolerance of mistakes in practices and games… 

The comments were made after senior Tight End Austin Allen was quoted as saying that Frost was quicker to make changes in mistakes in the week of preparation leading to Oklahoma. 

NELSON – PREPARATION COMES ONE PIECE AT A TIME

Sophomore linebacker Garrett Nelson was asked how the team is preparing for the upcoming Big Ten gauntlet. Nelson gave one of the more amusing responses of the session… 

Nelson and the Blackshirts will face a tough Michigan State squad on Saturday after limiting the Oklahoma offense to 23 points last week.

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.

COOK – TIME TO FIND SUCCESSFUL LINEUP

The Husker Volleyball team has hit a rut after being rated as high as No. 6 last week. The Huskers John Cook says with the upcoming Big Ten conference slate, he will focus on finding the right lineup for success…

Nebraska prepares for Northwestern on Wednesday.

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.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:

• • • Boys Tennis @ Papillion-LaVista Invite
      • DNP, Rain

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:

• • • Softball @ Hastings St. Cecilia
      • Hastings St. Cecilia 9-8

• UNK:

• • Volleyball v. Hastings College
    • UNK 3-0

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

• UNK:

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