Monday Morning Sports – Loper Football Wins Late, Volleyball Falls at UCO, Husker Post Game Comments from Michigan State, Local Sports Schedule

LATE GAME HEROICS SAVE LOPERS, CONTINUE UNDEFEATED SEASON

Redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis ran in from a yard out with 22 seconds left to help No. 16 Nebraska-Kearney rally past Central Missouri, 31-28, Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg.

The “Last Minute Lopers” improve to 4-0 and snap a seven-game losing streak to the Mules. UNK also wins a second straight game in the final minute.

UNK is at Fort Hays State next Saturday night. The Tigers (2-2) downed Missouri Southern State today, 42-21.

LOPER VOLLEYBALL DOWNS NEWMAN, FALLS TO UCO IN UPSET

The fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney swept Newman University Friday night in Wichita.

The two will meet again on Oct. 23 in the Health & Sports Center.

Central Oklahoma downed fourth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney in four sets Saturday afternoon in Edmond.

The Bronchos improve to 10-2 (3-1) while the Lopers fall to 11-2 (2-2). UCO records its third all-time win over UNK at home while pushing its 2021 home mark to 6-0.

The Lopers host nationally-ranked Northwest Missouri State Friday night and then face Missouri Western State on Saturday afternoon.

UNK PREPARES FOR HIGH SCHOOL TRACK INVITE

The annual UNK High School Cross Country Invitational will be held on Monday at the Kearney Country Club.

The meet allows teams from around Nebraska a chance to run the state championship course. Around 130 schools and close to 2,000 runners are expected to take part this year. This year’s state meet is Oct. 23rd.

Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens (10 & under free). All proceeds go to benefit UNK cross country and track. 

FROST – SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE FOR HUSKERS TO WIN

Head Coach of the Huskers Scott Frost was asked during his post-game press conference what needs to change for the Huskers to start getting wins in close games after falling in overtime to Michigan State…

Frost added that if it takes an entire week of practice to fix the special teams unit, he feels that would be necessary to correct the mistakes from the beginning of the season.

FROST – HUSKERS SICK OF LOSING

Head Coach of the Huskers Scott Frost mentioned in his post game press conference after the loss to Michigan State that his team is tired of falling in close contests…

Under Frost’s regime, the Huskers are 5-15 in one score contests. All three of Nebraska’s losses this season have been by one score or less. 

FROST – SPECIAL TEAMS NEEDS TO STEP UP

The Huskers special teams faltered once again in the loss to Michigan State, allowing a punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 20 sending the contest to overtime where Nebraska would fall to the Spartans.

Head Coach Scott Frost says you can’t blame just one player or area of the unit, however…

The special teams did have some success in knocking down two field goals from Connor Culp.

MARTINEZ – NEED TO KEEP MAKING PLAYS

At the post-game press conference after the loss to Michigan State, Huskers quarterback Adrian Martinez spoke about how the Huskers continued to fight even through adversity against the Spartans…

Martinez led a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that gave the Huskers a 20-13 lead until the Spartans returned a punt for a touchdown to tie the game at 20. Nebraska would let the regulation time expire then threw an interception in overtime. 

FROST – DEFENSE PLAYING WELL ENOUGH TO WIN GAMES

Head Coach Scott Frost was asked on his thoughts on his defense through the first four contests of the season, adding he feels the Blackshirts have done their part…

Nebraska’s defense held Michigan State to 18 plays for 36 yards after halftime, including 15 plays for 14 yards in the second half. Michigan State’s only first down after halftime came on the first play of overtime.

FROST – WANTED TO PLAY FOR OVERTIME

The Huskers fell to Michigan State on Saturday night, but had a chance to win the contest in regulation with two timeouts and less than a minute to play. 

Head Coach Scott Frost discussed why the Huskers instead chose to play for overtime…

The Huskers would throw an interception on their possession of overtime followed by a game-winning field goal from Michigan State. 

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS IOWA

The No. 12 Nebraska volleyball team swept Iowa 3-0 Saturday afternoon at the Devaney Center, picking up its second straight conference win. The Huskers are now 8-3 on the season, while the Hawkeyes drop to 2-10.

Nebraska continues its three-match home stand with Michigan on Friday, Oct. 1. First serve is set for 6 p.m. at the Devaney Center.

STORM WIN BACK-TO-BACK OVERTIME THRILLERS

The Tri-City Storm posted a 3-2 overtime season-opening victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints to begin play in the 2021-2022 season on Thursday. Gavin Brindley scored two goals for the Storm, including the game-winning goal in overtime.

The Tri-City Storm posted a 2-1 (OT) victory over the Madison Capitols Friday afternoon to improve to 2-0 on the season. Jeremy Wilmer netted the Storm’s game-winning goal in overtime.

The Storm hit the ice again on Friday, Oct. 1 in a road game against the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop for the game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

NEBRASKA SOFTBALL WINS TWICE OVER OMAHA

The Nebraska Softball team swept a doubleheader Sunday afternoon against Omaha in front of more than 400 fans at Bowlin Stadium. The Huskers won the first game 5-2 and the second game 9-0.

The Huskers combined for 17 hits on the day including four doubles from junior Brooke Andrews who went 5-for-6 in the doubleheader. 

The Huskers are back in action Sunday for a doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium against Missouri at Noon. Attendance for both games of the doubleheader is free.

KNAPTON NAMED NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Nebraska 2021 Female Student-Athlete of the Year Abigail Knapton was named one of 30 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award on Thursday.

A six-time Husker diving All-American, and the 2021 Big Ten Diver of the Meet, Knapton was also Nebraska’s Best Female Athlete award winner across all sports in 2020-21

On Nov. 9, during a virtual awards ceremony, the Top 30 honorees will be celebrated, and the NCAA Woman of the Year will be named.

UNK TENNIS PERFORMS WELL AT BLUEJAY INVITE

The Nebraska-Kearney women’s tennis team had a strong showing at the annual Bluejay Invitational this weekend in Omaha.

UNK got to face off against the ‘Jays on Friday and the Mavericks on Saturday.

UNK heads to Central Oklahoma next weekend for the annual Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Regionals.

UNK SOCCER DROPS MIAA OPENER

Six different players scored to help the Washburn Ichabods down Nebraska-Kearney, 6-1, Sunday afternoon in Topeka.

This was the MIAA opener for both. The Lopers fall to 1-7-0.

UNK hosts Newman (0-5-1, 0-1-0) and Central Oklahoma (5-2-1, 1-0-0) this weekend at Cope Stadium.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:

• • • Softball @ Lincoln Southeast Invite
      • GAME 1: Kearney 5 – 3 Bellevue East
      • GAME 2: Kearney 7 – 5 Lincoln Northeast
      • GAME 3: Kearney 8 – 0 Columbus

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:

• • • Volleyball @ Aurora Invite
      • GAME 1: KCHS 2-0 Bennington 
      • GAME 2: KCHS 2-0 Crete
      • GAME 3: KCHS 2-0 Waverly
    • Softball @ Adams Central Invite
      • GAME 1: Hastings St. Cecilia 13 – 2 KCHS
      • GAME 2: KCHS 10 – 6 Cozad
      • GAME 3: KCHS 10 – 3 Polk County

• UNK:

• • Football @ Central Missouri
    • 31-28 UNK
  • Volleyball @ Central Oklahoma
    • 3-1 UCO

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • UNK Cross Country Invitational @ Kearney Country Club
    • Girls – 1:30 PM
    • Boys – 2:30 PM
  • Girls Golf Varsity Dual @ North Platte

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys & Girls Cross Country @ UNK Invite @ Kearney Country Club

• UNK:
  • UNK Cross Country Invitational (High School)

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • Men’s Golf @ Omaha

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis Varsity Dual v. Hastings @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
  • Softball v. Hastings (DOUBLEHEADER) @ Patriot Park – 5 PM
  • Volleyball v. Lincoln East @ Kearney High – 7 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Golf @ Adams Central Invite
  • Boys Tennis, Kearney Catholic Invite – 10 AM
  • Volleyball @ GICC – 7 PM
  • Softball @ Alma/Southern Valley Triangular

• UNK:
  • None

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • Men’s Golf @ Omaha

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis @ Monarch Invite

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • None

• UNK:
  • None

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • Women’s Soccer v. Morningside @ Lloyd Wilson Field
  • Volleyball v. #17 College of St. Mary @ Lynn Farrell Arena
  • Men’s Soccer v. #22 Morningside @ Lloyd Wilson Field

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Golf @ HAC Championships @ Norfolk
  • Softball (DOUBLEHEADER) @ Lincoln Southeast

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Golf @ Centura Invite
  • Boys Tennis Dual @ Adams Central
  • Softball v. Minden – 5 PM
  • Volleyball @ Ord
  • Football @ Broken Bow

• UNK:
  • None

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • None

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Volleyball @ Lincoln Northeast Invite – 4 PM
  • Softball @ Lincoln High – 5 PM
  • Football @ Columbus – 7 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • None

• UNK:
  • Women’s Tennis @ Central Regionals @ Edmond, OK
  • Men’s & Women’s Cross Country @ Briar Cliff Invite
  • Softball v. WNCC @ Dryden Park – 4 PM
  • Women’s Soccer v. Newman – 6 PM
  • Volleyball v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center, 6 PM

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • Volleyball @ Mt. Marty University

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis @ HAC Tournament @ Lincoln
  • Volleyball @ Lincoln Northeast Invite
  • Softball @ HAC Tournament @ Lincoln

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball @ Columbus Lakeview Invite

• UNK:
  • Women’s Tennis @ Central Regionals @ Edmond, OK
  • Volleyball v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center, 2 PM
  • Football @ Fort Hays State – 7 PM

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:

• • Men’s & Women’s Cross Country @ Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival
  • Football @ Briar Cliff University
  • Men’s Soccer @ Briar Cliff University
  • Women’s Soccer @ Briar Cliff University