×
Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

KGFW Thursday Afternoon Sports – 8/17/2023

By Austin Jacobsen Aug 17, 2023 | 3:02 PM

BEARCAT ATHLETICS BEGIN FALL SPORTS ACTION:

The Kearney High Fall Athletics begin their seasons today and tomorrow, as varsity competition and organized scrimmages are set across the area. 

The Bearcat Girls Golf team begins competition today at Jackrabbit Golf Course in Grand Island in their season opening triangular. Action is set to start at 4 PM. The triangular also features Grand Island Senior High and Columbus.

Likewise, the Kearney Softball team hosts Lincoln Pius in varsity action today from Patriot Park. The doubleheader against the Thunderbolts starts at 5 PM with the second game scheduled for a 7:30 PM start time. 

Finally, Bearcat Volleyball heads to Broken Bow High School for their jamboree preseason matchups as Kearney takes on North Platte at 6:30 PM. The Bearcats then face the host school at 7 PM. 

The annual Kearney Football scrimmage held at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium is also set for Friday evening. 

For a full schedule of Kearney Athletics and to see the KGFW Sports Broadcast calendar for this fall, visit KGFW.com.

 

UNK FOOTBALL’S HARPER LEADS LOPERS AS HEAD COACH FOR A DAY:

A new head coach held the whistle at UNK football practice Wednesday morning.

First-year head coach for the Lopers Ryan Held handed over responsibilities to assistant coach Moses Harper for yesterday’s session. The Lopers passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach was given the role as part of an effort to elevate the program’s minority coaches and players.

Held was inspired by Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, both of whom deferred to a minority coach for a preseason practice recently.

 

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TUESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS – TE COACH JOSH MARTIN & PLAYERS:

MARTIN – SUPPORT HAS BEEN HUGE FROM TEAM, STAFF:

Newly minted interim tight ends coach for Nebraska Football Josh Martin spoke to the media for the first time after Tuesday’s practice. He added that it has been a busy few weeks, but the support has never wavered…

The Huskers named Martin the new tight ends coach for the season after the resignation of Bob Wager due to a suspected DUI in Lincoln prior to the start of fall camp.

 

MARTIN – RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN STRONG WITH TIGHT ENDS:

Assistant coach Josh Martin stated after Tuesday’s practice he was already very comfortable stepping into the tight end room prior to his announcement as the next tight ends coach for Nebraska…

The Huskers are hoping Martin can elevate the play of oft-injured Thomas Fidone and are still awaiting an eligibility announcement from Arik Gilbert, the talented Georgia transfer.

 

MARTIN – WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT THOMAS FIDONE:

Interim tight ends coach Josh Martin was asked his impressions of Thomas Fidone, the uber-talented Council Bluffs native who has struggled to be on the field due to sustained injuries the past few seasons…

The Huskers lost Fidone for most of his freshman season and the entirety of last season due to knee injuries. Fidone was the top rated tight end in the 2020 recruitment class.

 

FIDONE – RHULE RELATIONSHIP IS GREAT:

Tight end Thomas Fidone stuck with Nebraska Football despite back-to-back knee injuries, losing seasons, and a coaching change. The Council Bluffs native spoke on his relationship with Matt Rhule after Tuesday’s practice…

Rhule has reiterated several times – including one of his introductory pressers – that Fidone was a key piece for the Huskers and his relationship was a high priority.

 

FIDONE – WHATEVER HUSKERS NEED, I CAN DO:

Thomas Fidone was the top rated tight end in the Class of 2020 out of Council Bluffs, but has not had a chance to show off due to sustained injuries the last two years. Fidone added after Tuesday’s practice he’s willing to do whatever is needed for Nebraska this year…

The Huskers aim to use Fidone to the full extent in offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s new huddle oriented, tight end and fullback based scheme.

 

GRANT – FULLY ADJUSTED TO BIG TEN:

Running back Anthony Grant was a newcomer last season to the Big Red, stating after Tuesday’s practice that he needed some time to adjust to the Power Five conference…

Grant added he’s comfortable with the speed and size of the conference after his first year, and is looking forward to continuing to compete for the starting position after leading the Huskers with over 900 rushing yards last season.

 

USWNT HEAD COACH STEPS DOWN AFTER DISAPPOINTING WORLD CUP:

U.S. women’s national team coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned as of Wednesday.

The move comes less than two weeks after the Americans were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup earlier than ever before.

The four-time tournament champions struggled throughout the World Cup. A victory over Vietnam to kick off the group stage was followed by a pair of draws against Netherlands and Portugal — barely enough to get the team into the knockout stage,

The 46-year-old Andonovski was named coach of the United States in October 2019, taking over for Jill Ellis, who led the United States to back-to-back World Cup titles. He finished 51-5-9 during his time with the team, and was 3-2-5 in major tournaments.

 

NFL PRESEASON SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY SCHEDULE:

Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles – 4:30 PM

 

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY SCHEDULE:

Seattle Mariners @ Kansas City Royals

Boston Red Sox @ Washington Nationals

Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Guardians – 4:15 PM

New York Mets @ St. Louis Cardinals – 4:15 PM

Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Diego Padres – 6:40 PM

Milwaukee Brewers @ Los Angeles Dodgers – 7:10 PM

 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS

THURSDAY:

High School Sports:

  • KEARNEY HIGH:
    • Girls Golf: Varsity Triangular @ Grand Island Jackrabbit Course – 4 PM
    • Softball: Varsity Doubleheader v. Lincoln Pius X @ Patriot Park – 5 PM
    • Volleyball: Varsity Jamboree @ Broken Bow – 6:30 PM / 7:30 PM
  • KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
    • N/a
  • AMHERST:
    • Volleyball: @ Adams Central – 5 PM
  • PLEASANTON:.
    • N/a
  • GIBBON:
    • N/a
  • SHELTON:
    • N/a
  • ELM CREEK:
    • Volleyball: Scrimmage @ Elm Creek High School – 5 PM
    • Cross Country: Scrimmage – 6:30 PM
    • Football: Scrimmage @ 7 PM
  • RAVENNA:
    • N/a

College Athletics:

  • UNK LOPERS:
    • N/a
  • HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
    • N/a
  • NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
    • Women’s Soccer: @ Creighton – 6 PM

KGFW Sports Schedule:

  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

 

FRIDAY:

High School Sports:

  • KEARNEY HIGH:
    • N/a
  • KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
    • PoweAde Scrimmages @ KCHS
    • Softball: v. Ord – 4:30 PM
  • AMHERST:
    • Softball: v. Ord @ Patriot Park – 4:30 PM
    • Football: Varsity Scrimmage – 6:30 PM
  • PLEASANTON:.
    • Volleyball: Scrimmage – 5 PM
    • Football: Scrimmage – 7 PM
  • GIBBON:
    • N/a
  • SHELTON:
    • Football: Scrimmage @ Shelton High School
    • Volleyball: Scrimmage @ Shelton High School
  • ELM CREEK:
    • N/a
  • RAVENNA:
    • Volleyball: Scrimmage – 4 PM
    • Football: Scrimmage – 5 PM

College Athletics:

  • UNK LOPERS:
    • N/a
  • HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
    • N/a
  • NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
    • N/a

KGFW Sports Schedule:

  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

 

SATURDAY:

High School Sports:

  • KEARNEY HIGH:
    • N/a
  • KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
    • Boys Tennis: @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
    • Softball: @ Holdrege Invite – 9 AM
    • Volleyball: @ Bill Marshall Classic – 12:30 PM / 4:30 PM
  • AMHERST:
    • N/a
  • PLEASANTON:.
    • N/a
  • GIBBON:
    • N/a
  • SHELTON:
    • N/a
  • ELM CREEK:
    • N/a
  • RAVENNA:
    • N/a

College Athletics:

  • UNK LOPERS:
    • N/a
  • HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
    • N/a
  • NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
    • Volleyball: v. Red-White Scrimmage @ Bob Devaney Sports Center – 6 PM

KGFW Sports Schedule:

  • Nebraska Volleyball v. Red-White Scrimmage (5 PM – 8 PM)

 

SUNDAY:

High School Sports:

  • KEARNEY HIGH:
    • N/a
  • KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
    • N/a
  • AMHERST:
    • N/a
  • PLEASANTON:.
    • N/a
  • GIBBON:
    • N/a
  • SHELTON:
    • N/a
  • ELM CREEK:
    • N/a
  • RAVENNA:
    • N/a

College Athletics:

  • UNK LOPERS:
    • N/a
  • HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
    • N/a
  • NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
    • Women’s Soccer: v. Baylor @ Kansas City – 1:05 PM

KGFW Sports Schedule:

  • N/a