POST 52 FALLS TO GRAND ISLAND TO WRAP UP SEASON AT STATE:
Kearney couldn’t overcome early mistakes and fell for the second straight day Tuesday afternoon with a 6-2 loss to Grand Island Five Points Bank. The loss moves Post 52 to 23-25 on the season and wraps up their summer at Memorial Field.
UNK FOOTBALL VOTED 2nd IN MIAA POLLS:
The MIAA has released preseason football coaches and media polls for the upcoming 2022 season.
The polls were released Tuesday morning (July 26) as a part of MIAA Media Day in Kansas City. Note head coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team in the coaches’ rankings.
The Lopers were tabbed second in both polls, its highest preseason ranking since joining the conference in 2012. Just six short years ago in 2017, the program was ranked 12th in both polls.
UNK went 10-3 last season, tying for second place in the MIAA, winning an NCAA playoff game for the second time in school history and finishing the year ranked 15th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll. Lynn and an experienced coaching staff welcome back 15 starters (six defensive, five offensive and four special teams) including 10 All-MIAA selections.
LOPER FOOTBALL MIAA MEDIA COMMENTS:
LYNN – EXPECTATIONS HAVE RISEN FOR LOPERS:
The UNK Football team has risen in the MIAA rankings each year under 6th year Head Coach Josh Lynn. At the conference’s media days Tuesday, Lynn added that with each year has garnered new expectations for the team…
The Lopers are also a pre-season favorite entering the year in the D2 Top 25 as well as finishing second in the MIAA Media Pre-season poll. UNK finished last season with a second round exit in the D2 Playoffs after earning their first postseason win in a decade.
DAVIS – UNK CAN’T STOP MOMENTUM:
UNK Football brings back a full offensive arsenal after the best season in recent memory, finishing 10-3 in 2021. A big reason for the Lopers success was Harlon Hill trophy finalist and first team All-American quarterback TJ Davis, who spoke at the MIAA Media Days that Kearney will have to continue this momentum…
Davis finished last season with over 2,200 passing yards and topping 1,100 yards rushing with 39 touchdowns scored. The Lopers begin their season at Missouri Southern on September 1.
SWANSON – NEW LOPER STANDARD? UNDEFEATED:
The Loper Football team carried a high octane offense to a 10-3 record last season, but also flexed a stingier defense than seen in previous seasons. All-American safety for the Lopers Darius Swanson added at the MIAA Media Days Tuesday that last year wasn’t good enough…
The Lopers best season in a decade came in 2021 with a playoff berth and victory, falling to Angelo State in Texas in the second round of the D2 Playoffs.
HUSKER FOOTBALL AT BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS:
FROST – BIG TEN CONTINUES TO BE AHEAD OF CHANGES TO CFB:
Head Coach for the Huskers Scott Frost spoke at Big Ten Media days on Tuesday morning and was asked about his thoughts on college football expansion and where the Big Ten currently stands…
The Big Ten added USC and UCLA from the PAC-12 earlier this summer, with their full transition coming in 2024.
FROST – COMPETITIVE LAST YEAR, CREATING PROGRESS:
The Husker Football team looks to make amends from last season finishing 3-9 and firing most of the offensive coaching staff in the process. Head Coach Scott Frost spoke with the media at the first day of Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, adding the process is still ongoing…
Frost and his new coaches also brought in multiple transfers from the portal to boost the talent on the roster. The Huskers open the season in Ireland against Northwestern on August 27.
FROST – HUSKERS MUST FIND KILLER INSTINCT:
Head Coach for the Huskers Scott Frost spoke at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday morning and reiterated that his team must find the killer instinct to close out games for wins rather than one score losses…
The Huskers have a more favorable schedule in 2022 than in 2023, including their Week Zero matchup in Ireland against Northwestern on August 27.
MATHIS NAMED TO NAGURSKI WATCHLIST:
Nebraska edge rusher Ochaun Mathis was one of 85 players nationally named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list announced Tuesday. The Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s defensive player of the year.
Mathis will play his first season for the Huskers this fall after spending the last four years at TCU. He played in 38 games with the Horned Frogs and started all 34 contests over the last three seasons. In his TCU career, Mathis recorded 135 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks with four pass breakups.
Mathis was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in both 2020 and 2021. Last season at TCU, Mathis started all 12 games and totaled 45 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss.
HUSKER FOOTBALL MINI PLAN TICKETS AVAILABLE:
Nebraska Athletics announced Tuesday the launch of two new football ticket mini plans for the upcoming season. The ticket plans are available now at //Huskers.com/tickets.
The first plan is the “OU + 2 Mini Plan” and includes tickets to all three of Nebraska’s non-conference games against North Dakota, Georgia Southern and Oklahoma. The $270 ticket plan includes one ticket to the matchup against Oklahoma on Sept. 17, and two tickets to the Huskers’ home opener against North Dakota on Sept. 3 and the Sept. 10 matchup with Georgia Southern.
Nebraska is also now offering a “Big Ten Mini Plan” which includes tickets to each of the four Big Ten games at Memorial Stadium. The $200 package includes one ticket to games against Indiana (Oct. 1), Illinois (Oct. 29), Minnesota (Nov. 5) and Wisconsin (Nov. 19).
Seating locations for both of the ticket packages are located in the North and South end zones.
HUSKER HOOPS TO FACE OKLAHOMA:
One of Thanksgiving’s traditional matchups moves to the hardwood this November, as Nebraska will face Oklahoma in the opening round of the ESPN Events Invitational.
Nebraska will face Oklahoma at 4 p.m. (central) at the HP Fieldhouse on the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex just outside Orlando. The game will be carried by ESPN and also the Huskers Radio Network.
The matchup between the Huskers and Sooners will be the first in men’s basketball between the two schools since February of 2011. Oklahoma holds a 104-83 in the all-time series, as the two programs were conference rivals from 1921 until 2011, when Nebraska joined the Big Ten Conference.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
TUESDAY:
- POST 52 Juniors: JUNIORS STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT @ Memorial Field
- Post 52 Kearney v. Grand Island Five Points Bank
- Grand Island Five Points Bank 6 – 2 Post 52 Kearney
- Post 52 Kearney v. Grand Island Five Points Bank
WEDNESDAY:
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
THURSDAY:
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
SATURDAY:
- N/a
SUNDAY:
- N/a
