Saturday Morning Sports – Kearney Football Dominates Rockets, Lopers Face Hornets at Home, Husker Volleyball Handles Penn State, Husker Football at Purdue, Local Sports Schedule

KEARNEY FOOTBALL DOMINATES ROCKETS, CEMENTS PLAYOFF SPOT:

The Bearcat Football team crushed Lincoln Northeast Friday night at Foster Field, controlling the contest from start to finish with a 48-0 win. 

Kearney improves to 6-2 on the season, essentially locking in their playoff position before heading to Norfolk in the final regular season contest of the year. 

LOPER FOOTBALL BACK AT HOME TO BATTLE HORNETS:

It’s another nationally-ranked game for the Nebraska Kearney football team when fast-paced Emporia State visits Ron & Carol Cope Stadium this Saturday afternoon.

Kickoff between the #22/13 Lopers (5-1) and Hornets (4-2) is set for 1 p.m. at Foster Field.

Last year in Kansas UNK rallied from deficits of 14-0 and 21-7 to win 42-35. The Hornets ran 109 offensive plays – most by a Loper opponent in 10 years — and churned out 609 yards but saw four drives end inside the Loper 26-yard line (one interception and three turnovers on downs).

The Blue & Gold lead the all-time series 19-12 and have taken the last two games, both held in Kansas.

UNK is 18-4 dating back to December 2019 and currently leads the MIAA in all four rushing categories

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL HANDLES PENN STATE:

The Nebraska Volleyball team handled Penn State Friday night to earn another conference victory over the Top 25 rated Nittany Lions. 

The Huskers return home Sunday to take on Northwestern. Northwestern is off to a 13-5 start this season with a 2-4 record in Big Ten play entering a home match on Friday vs. Maryland. The Wildcats have already exceeded their win total from last year (12-19). 

LOPER VOLLEYBALL EDGES UCO:

Outside hitter Emersen Cyza had 28 kills, three shy of tying the school-record, and eighth-ranked Nebraska Kearney went on a 5-0 run midway through the fifth set to get past No. 19 Central Oklahoma Friday evening in Edmond.

The Lopers (21-2, 11-2) wins its fourth match in a row and sweeps the season series from the Bronchos (19-3, 9-3). Washburn and UCO are now tied for second in the MIAA standings.

UNK heads to Newman today at 1 p.m. to face the Jets (7-14, 2-9). 

UNK CROSS COUNTRY WINS MEET HOSTED BY UNO & CREIGHTON:

The nationally-ranked Nebraska cross country teams both came in first at the inaugural Platte River Rumble Friday afternoon in Ashland.

This new meet, held at Mahoney State Park, was co-hosted by Creighton, Nebraska Omaha and the Omaha Sports Commission. It marked CU’s first home cross event in a decade.

The 22nd ranked Loper women had five place in the top 17 to tally 50 points with the 24th-ranked men having four of the top 16 scorers to tally 42 points. Both squads beat CU, UNO, South Dakota and MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State

The Blue & Gold’s next two meets are both in Joplin, Mo., in the MIAA Championships (Nov. 5) and the NCAA Central Region Championships (Nov. 19).

HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – MICKEY JOSEPH:

JOSEPH – GREAT WEEK PREPARING FOR PURDUE:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph opened up his comments after Thursday’s practice saying it was a great week of getting better for the Big Red…

Nebraska is currently listed as eleven point underdogs to the Boilermakers. 

JOSEPH – PURDUE’S EXPERIENCE GIVES THEM AN EDGE:

Nebraska Football’s interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph was asked what stands out about Saturday’s opponent in Purdue…

Nebraska will try to keep a high-flying offensive attack from the Boilermakers at bay when battling Purdue Saturday night.

JOSEPH – FOCUS ON ANTHONY GRANT’S WORKLOAD:

One of the offensive bright spots for the Huskers so far has been running back Anthony Grant. Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph said that Grant’s workload has to be managed moving forward…

Grant is currently one of college football’s leading rushers at over 640 yards rushing and 5 scores on the season.

JOSEPH – FIDONE LIKELY DONE FOR SEASON:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph was asked by media members on Thursday about the status of young tight end Thomas Fidone…

The former four star recruit suffered his second consecutive knee injury in the off-season after just recovering from a separate injury in 2021. 

NEBRASKA BASEBALL WRAPS UP FALL SCHEDULE AT KANSAS:

Nebraska baseball concludes its fall schedule with a road exhibition at Kansas on Saturday. The Huskers and Jayhawks are set to play 14 innings, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence.

Nebraska returns 21 players from 2022, including All-Big Ten honorees Emmett Olson and Garrett Anglim. Olson was named All-Big Ten Second Team, while Anglim was chosen to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis: DAY 2 STATE @ Koch Tennis Center
    • KHS = STATE RUNNER UP
  • Football: v. Lincoln Northeast @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium
    • KHS 48-0

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Volleyball: @ Newman – 1 PM
  • Football: v. Emporia State @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 1 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Football @ Purdue (2:30 PM – 1:30 AM) – KGFW
  • Nebraska Football @ Purdue (5:45 PM – 11:45 PM) – HITS 106/KQKY

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Soccer: v. Missouri Southern – 12 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • N/a