KEARNEY BEARCAT FOOTBALL GETS SEASON UNDERWAY TONIGHT AGAINST NORTH PLATTE:
The Kearney Bearcat Football program looks to build on last year’s 10-1 season with their season opener tonight against North Platte.
Kickoff from Ron and Carol Cope Stadium is set for 7PM, with the Family Physical Therapy and Sports Center pregame show set for 6:30PM.
UNK FOOTBALL KICKS OFF SEASON TONIGHT AGAINST LONGTIME RIVAL CHADRON STATE:
The UNK defense came up with three second half interceptions, grad transfer quarterback Reagan Jones tossed two first half touchdowns and junior back Isaiah Harris ran for 121 yards to help the Lopers beat longtime rival Chadron State, 18-6, Thursday night in the panhandle.
This was the 73rd all-time between the two in a series that dates to 1921. UNK has now won the past five meetings with the Eagles and, tonight, got to take home the “Good Life” trophy. The award is new to the series with the programs slated to meet next year at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.
RH – POSTGAME COMMENTS (25 seconds)
The Lopers punted on seven straight second half possessions and racked up 105 yards on 10 penalty flags. However, UNK scored on its first possession of the season, and held CSC to 213 total yards and led from start to finish.
UNK hosts 22nd-ranked Northwest Missouri State next Saturday night. The Bearcats lost at home tonight to 13th-ranked Minnesota State, 36-22.
NOTABLE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES TONIGHT:
North Platte @ Kearney
Lincoln SE @ GISH
York @ Hastings
Holdrege @ Lexington
Broken Bow @ Chadron
Pierce @ Aurora
GICC @ Hastings St. Cecilia
Kearney Catholic @ St. Paul
Axtell @ Overton
Ansley-Litchfield @ SEM
SEVERE WEATHER POSTPONES ATHLETIC EVENTS:
Mother Nature had her hand in causing problems for Thursday night football games, postponing some contests, while delaying others for lengthy amounts of times throughout.
Both Kearney High and Kearney Catholic had their softball games postponed yesterday. The Bearcats were rained out going up against Fremont, while the Stars were set to take on Hershey.
Additionally, Nebraska Women’s Soccer had their match postponed against Omaha to a date to later be determined.
NHL PLAYER GARDREAU KILLED IN CAR/BIKE ACCIDENT:
NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey, police said Friday.
Gaudreau, 31, and brother, Matthew, 29, are Carneys Point, New Jersey, natives and were scheduled to be groomsmen at their sister Katie’s wedding that was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia.
New Jersey State police said the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind. They were pronounced dead on the scene.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.
FORMER MICHIGAN STAFFER STALLIONS ON NETFLIX, DISCUSSES SIGN STEALING SCANDAL:
Connor Stalions broke his silence on Netflix.
The former Michigan football staffer, who resigned amid a scandal last season, was heard publicly for the first time in “Sign Stealer” on Tuesday — two days after the school received a notice of allegations from the NCAA about his operation.
“If I’m a bad guy, then everyone in football is a bad guy,” Stalions said on the latest release of “UNTOLD” on the streaming service.
NCAA rules do not prohibit stealing signs, a role Stalions appeared to have on former coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the Wolverines, but the governing body does ban advance scouting.
“I did not obtain signals through in-person scouting,” Stalions told NCAA investigators during a virtual meeting that was recorded and incorporated into the film.
When investigators asked Stalions if he attended the Central Michigan-Michigan State game on Sept. 1, 2023, he said he didn’t recall.
AIYUK SIGNS WITH 49ERS:
The dramatic roller-coaster ride that has been the high-stakes contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk ended where it all began when this started more than six months ago — with the Niners and Aiyuk sticking together for the long haul.
Aiyuk and the Niners on Thursday agreed to terms on a four-year, $120 million contract extension that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2028 season, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It’s the same deal that has been on the table from the 49ers since Aug. 12, league sources told Schefter.
The extension includes $76 million guaranteed, with $47 million to be paid to Aiyuk before April 1, 2025, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
NEBRASKA FOOTBALL PLAYERS ON ROSTERS AFTER CUT DAY:
National Football League roster cuts arrived Tuesday, nullifying, or at least postponing, hundreds of professional football careers in the process. Several Nebraska football alumni, however, had their contracts continued after training camps concluded.
In Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers once again retained linebacker Lavonte David and receiver Trey Palmer as both aim to be key pieces to the reigning NFC South champions. David is coming off a 134-tackle year and entering his 13th season. Palmer wrapped a solid rookie season in 2023, snagging 39 catches for 385 yards and three scores.
The NFC North will not have a Nebraska player on a game day roster for Week 1, as the Green Bay Packers released receiver Samori Toure on Tuesday. Toure did sign on with the Chicago Bears’ practice squad.
NORTHWESTERN SET TO HIRE JACKSON AS AD:
Northwestern is targeting Villanova athletic director Mark Jackson as the school’s new athletic director, sources told ESPN.
Jackson has emerged from a field of three finalists, and a deal is expected to come together in the near future, sources said.
Jackson would take over for Derrick Gragg, who was reassigned in June. He is set to become the third athletic director for the school since Jim Phillips left to accept the ACC Commissioner job in December of 2020.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL DEFEATS KENTUCKY IN FOUR SETS:
The No. 2 Nebraska volleyball team opened its season with a 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20) win over No. 9 Kentucky in the AVCA First Serve Showcase at the KFC Yum! Center.
The Huskers posted 18 blocks, their most since 2018, and held Kentucky to a .139 hitting percentage. Rebekah Allick led the charge with 11 kills and 12 blocks, and she hit .667. Merritt Beason finished with 11 kills, eight digs and six blocks.
Andi Jackson tallied 10 kills and hit .412 with five blocks. Harper Murray had eight kills and three blocks, and Lindsay Krause added seven kills, four blocks and served three of NU’s four aces. Nebraska hit .258 for the match.
Nebraska hosts the Ameritas Players Challenge this weekend at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 7 p.m. on Friday and TCU at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
FRIDAY KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney High Football vs. North Platte, 6:45PM-8:45PM (KGFW)
