Monday Morning Sports – Chiefs Win Super Bowl; Mahomes MVP, Husker Women Fall at Michigan, Kearney Wrestling Qualifies Twelve; Stars Three for State, Nebraska Men Field OT Comeback Over Wisconsin, Loper Basketball Splits with Lincoln, Weekend Sports Recap, Local Sports Schedule

CHIEFS WIN SUPER BOWL; MAHOMES MVP:

Patrick Mahomes was magical when the Kansas City Chiefs desperately needed him to pull off another Super Bowl comeback.

Playing on an injured ankle, Mahomes threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and scrambled 26 yards on the go-ahead drive before Harrison Butker kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to give the Chiefs a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

The Chiefs won their second NFL title in four years and two-time NFL MVP Mahomes earned his second Super Bowl MVP award.

Coach Andy Reid, who couldn’t win the big game in Philadelphia, beat his former team to earn his second ring with Mahomes and the Chiefs.

With the score tied at 35-35, the Eagles tried to let the Chiefs score a touchdown with under two minutes left so they could get the ball back after a defensive holding call on cornerback James Bradberry on third-and-8 gave Kansas City a first down. But Jerick McKinnon slid at the 2, forcing the Eagles to use their last timeout.

The Chiefs have now won two Super Bowls in the last four years, and have included three AFC Championships in that span. 

HUSKER WOMEN FALL LATE TO MICHIGAN:

Alexis Markowski and Jaz Shelley each produced double-doubles, but No. 12 Michigan outlasted Nebraska 80-75 at the Crisler Center on Sunday afternoon.

Markowski led Nebraska with 18 points and tied her career high with 18 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double and 13th of the season.

Nebraska continues Big Ten road action on Wednesday night when the Huskers travel to Minnesota. 

BEARCAT WRESTLING DISTRICT RUNNER-UP, QUALIFIES 12; STARS QUALIFY THREE:

The Kearney wrestling program fielded another successful District Tournament, punching twelve Bearcat tickets to the State Tournament this week while also ending as A-1 District Runners-Up in the North Platte District on Saturday.

Kaden Kowalek earned a district championship at 120 pounds. 

Bearcats qualifying for the State Tournament include: Jack Sponenburgh (106); Tavean Miller (113); Kaden Kowalek (120); Jackson Lavene (126); Kaedun Goodman (132); Seth Philippi (138); Perry Swarm (145); Sam Nachtigal (152); Ethan Kowalek (160); Taj Wilson (170); Lane Kovarik (195); and Trent Buescher (220). 

Kearney Catholic also qualified three individuals: Clay Rasmussen (126); Sam Luther (132); and Jase Blattner (160). 

State Wrestling begins on Thursday from the CHI Health Center in Omaha as Classes A and D begin action in the opening session. 

NEBRASKA MEN FIELD OVERTIME COMEBACK OVER WISCONSIN:

Derrick Walker had six of his 18 points in overtime, as Nebraska rallied from a 17-point second half deficit to defeat Wisconsin, 73-63, in overtime Saturday afternoon in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska (12-14, 5-10 Big Ten) trailed 63-61 after a Tyler Wahl basket with 4:09 remaining in the extra period but it was all Nebraska the rest of the way.

The Huskers sealed the game by going 6-of-6 from the line, while Wisconsin went 1-of-8 from the field in overtime.

Bellevue West alum Chucky Hepburn ended with 19 points for the Badgers. 

The Huskers hit the road on Tuesday night as they travel to No. 24 Rutgers.

LOPER BASKETBALL SPLITS WITH LINCOLN:

Redshirt junior forward Shiloh McCool reached 1,000-career points and redshirt sophomore wing Meg Burns had another career-night to help 11th-ranked Nebraska Kearney fight off Lincoln, 76-66, Saturday afternoon at Buckle Court.

UNK (24-3, 17-2) pushes its win streak to 11 straight and its home court win streak to 18. The Lopers are also in first place by a full game over Missouri Western (22-5, 16-3).

Lincoln University posts Kevin Kone and Sai Witt combined for 25 points and 29 rebounds to help the Blue Tigers get past Nebraska Kearney, 63-49.

UNK drops to 5-19 overall and 3-15 in the MIAA. 

The Lopers head to Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. 

UNK WRESTLING FALLS AT CENTRAL OKLAHOMA:

The top-ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos used five decisions and a fall to beat third-ranked Nebraska Kearney, 21-13, Sunday afternoon in Edmond.

With the win, the Bronchos (13-1, 4-0) secure the 2023 MIAA regular season title. The banged-up Lopers finish the dual season at 11-7 (3-1).

Chadron State hosts this year’s Super Region IV meet set for February 25. 

LOPER SOFTBALL DROPPED IN COLORADO SPRINGS:

The Colorado-Colorado Springs Mountain Lions rallied late in game one and got a complete game five-hitter in the night cap to sweep a double header from Nebraska Kearney, 8-7 and 7-1, Sunday afternoon in Colorado.

The two teams will meet again today at 12 p.m. Central for another double header. UNK (3-3) beat the Mountain Lions (2-5), 4-3, last weekend in Texas.

HUSKER SOFTBALL CLOSES OUT HOUSTON WEEKEND:

Courtney Wallace recorded her third shutout of the weekend as the Nebraska softball team (4-1) finished the weekend with a 2-0 victory over Virginia (4-1).

Mya Felder led the Huskers on offense with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Wallace also led NU on offense going 2-for-2 at the plate. 

The Huskers return to action Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Clearwater Invitational. NU will face No. 3 Oklahoma State and No. 2 UCLA at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. (CT).

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Softball: @ Colorado Springs – 12 PM
  • Softball: @ Colorado Springs – 2 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • High School Coaches Show (5 PM – 6 PM)
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: v. Fremont – 5:30 PM @ Kearney High School
    • KGFW Pregame at 5:15 PM
  • Boys Basketball: v. Fremont – 7:15 PM @ Kearney High School
    • KGFW Pregame after KHS GBB
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Basketball: C1-11 SUBDISTRICTS
    • #3 KCHS @ #2 Broken Bow – 7 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. Fremont (5:15 PM – 7:15 PM)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. Fremont (7:15 PM – 9:15 PM)

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • JV Men’s Basketball: v. Midland @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 4 PM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Midland @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 6 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: v. Midland @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 7:45 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 6:45 PM)
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball @ Minnesota (6:45 PM – 10 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Wrestling: STATE WRESTLING @ CHI Health Center
  • Girls Basketball: @ Lincoln Southwest – 5:45 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 5:30 PM
  • Boys Basketball: @ Lincoln Southwest – 7:30 PM
    • KGFW Pregame after KHS GBB
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Basketball: C1-11 SUBDISTRICT FINAL
    • #3 KCHS @ TBA
  • Wrestling: STATE WRESTLING @ CHI Health Center
• UNK:
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Missouri Southern @ Joplin, MO – 5:30 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Missouri Southern @ Joplin, MO – 7:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball @ Lincoln Southwest (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball @ Lincoln Southwest (7:30 PM – 9:30 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Wrestling: STATE WRESTLING @ CHI Health Center
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Wrestling: STATE WRESTLING @ CHI Health Center
  • Boys Basketball: v. Adams Central – 5:30 PM
• UNK:
  • Softball: @ Southern Nazarene @ Bethany, OK – 10 AM
  • M/W T&F: @ Nebraska Tune Up @ Lincoln, NE – 12 PM
  • Softball: v. Southern Arkansas @ Oklahoma City, OK – 1:30 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ Loper Tune Up @ Cushing Coliseum – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ GPAC Indoor Championships – 1 PM
  • Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Championships @ Doane – 10 AM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 7:30 PM)
  • Nebraska Baseball @ San Diego (7:30 PM – 12 AM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Wrestling: STATE WRESTLING @ CHI Health Center
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Wrestling: STATE WRESTLING @ CHI Health Center
• UNK:
  • Softball: v. SE Oklahoma State @ Bethany, OK – 12:30 PM
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Pittsburg State – 1:30 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Pittsburg State – 3:30 PM
  • Softball: v. Arkansas Tech @ Edmond, OK – 6 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ GPAC Indoor Championships – 10 AM
  • Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Championships @ Doane – 9 AM
  • Baseball: v. Graceland @ Joplin, MO – 9:30 AM
  • Softball: @ Bethany, KS – 1 PM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Northwestern @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2 PM
  • Baseball: v. Central Methodist, MO @ Joplin, MO – 2:30 PM
  • Softball: @ Bethany, KS – 3 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: v. Northwestern – 3:45 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Iowa (12:45 PM – 3:45 PM)
  • Nebraska Baseball @ San Diego (6:30 PM – 11 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Softball: v. SW Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma City, OK – 10:30 AM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Baseball: v. Dakota State @ Joplin, MO – 10 AM
  • Men’s Tennis: v. Baker, KS – 12 PM
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Baker, KS – 12 PM
  • Softball: @ Kansas Wesleyan – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Kansas Wesleyan – 3 PM
  • Baseball: v. Columbia, MO – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Maryland (3 PM – 6:45 PM)