LOPER FOOTBALL HEADS TO TAHLEQUAH SATURDAY:
The Nebraska Kearney football team heads to Tahlequah, Okla., for the first time in four years when it faces the Northeastern State RiverHawks this Saturday.
The season-finale for both teams kicks off at 2 p.m. from Gabe Field at Doc Wadley Stadium.
UNK (7-3) has averaged 46 points in taking the last four meetings with NSU (1-9) to lead the all-time series by a 7-4 margin. Three of those wins came in Kearney including last year’s 56-10 decision. The Lopers scored 21 points in both the first and second quarters as part of a 557-yard day.
This ‘Hawks team is an improved outfit as they led both Missouri Western and Washburn entering the fourth quarter before falling. NSU is coming off a 27-14 road loss at Fort Hays State and will honor its seniors prior to kick off.
With a win in Tahlequah, UNK could get an invitation to the Farmers Bank & Trust Live United Bowl in Texarkana, Ark., or the Heritage Bowl in Corsicana, Texas.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEMIFINAL RESULTS; STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SET:
State Football Championship matchups have been set for all classes at the conclusion of the semifinal round on Friday night across the state of Nebraska.
In Class A, Omaha Westside dominated Grand Island and sets up a rematch of the 2021 championship as Gretna outmatched Creighton Prep.
Class B had Bennington control Waverly, while Omaha Gross Catholic used a late pick-six to seal a win over Scottsbluff.
C1 Has the top two seeds facing off as Aurora will battle Pierce.
Class C2 sees a Cinderella story approaching with #12 Cedar Catholic upsetting Battle Creek and faces #3 Norfolk Catholic.
In 8-Man, Class D1 matches up Neligh-Oakdale and Clarkson/Leigh. Class D2 has Howells-Dodge and Hitchcock County facing off after dominating semifinal round wins.
Finally in the 6-Man championship in Kearney next Friday Parkview Christian landed a spot winning in a revenge game against SEM, while Pawnee City continues their unlikely run taking down Pawnee City.
Full championship details, game times, and kickoffs can be found at the NSAA website.
LOPER VOLLEYBALL TAKES DOWN PITT; HEADS TO MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP:
Outside hitter Emersen Cyza had 20 kills and 12th-ranked Nebraska Kearney recorded nine blocks and served up nine aces to beat Pittsburg State in four sets Friday night in a MIAA Tournament semifinal match in St. Joseph, Mo.
The second-seeded Lopers (28-4) advance to Saturday’s championship match at 6 p.m. against 20th-ranked and fifth-seed Washburn (22-8).
The Ichabods, who swept the season series from UNK, downed top-seed Northwest Missouri tonight in four sets. They upset fourth-seed and 21st-ranked Central Oklahoma in five sets on Thursday.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL CELEBRATES SELLOUT RECORD WITH SWEEP:
The No. 4 Nebraska volleyball team rolled to a 25-16, 25-17, 25-7 sweep in their 300th consecutive regular-season sellout on Friday night with a crowd of 8,207 on hand at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The Huskers improved to 22-2 (14-1 Big Ten) while Iowa fell to 7-19 (1-14 Big Ten). Nebraska has now swept its last five home matches in conference play.
The Huskers travel to play at No. 6 Ohio State on Sunday 3:30 p.m. CT.
STORM DROP VETS DAY MATCHUP:
The Tri-City Storm dropped a Veterans Day game against the Waterloo Black Hawks by a final score of 7-1 Friday night at Young Arena. Cameron O’Neill scored Tri-City’s only goal in the loss.
The Storm will return to action Saturday night in a rematch against the Waterloo Black Hawks at Young Arena. Puck drop for tonight’s contest is scheduled for 6:05pm CT.
HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS BLOW PAST HUSKIES:
Nebraska used a 16-0 scoring run in the first half and a 14-0 run in the second half to work its way to a 79-48 win over Houston Christian on Friday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The Huskers, who improved to 2-0 on the season, got a team-high 20 points from Allison Weidner on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor. Weidner, a sophomore from Humphrey, Neb., added seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 28 minutes of play.
Up next, the Huskers hit the road for the first time this season to take on No. 21 Creighton in Omaha. Tip time is set for 6 p.m. (CT) at D.J. Sokol Arena.
UNK WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FOLLOWS SCHMITT’S BIG NIGHT:
Redshirt junior point guard Sarah Schmitt had a career-high 18 points and eight rebounds to help No. 38 Nebraska Kearney down Minnesota Crookston, 69-49, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.
The game was part of a “MIAA/NSIC Crossover” Tournament as Northwest Missouri State outscored Southwest Minnesota State, 95-86, in the early game. UNK (2-1) battles SMSU today at 4 p.m. with Crookston facing Northwest at 2 p.m.
UNK MEN EDGED BY BEMIDJI STATE:
The Bemidji State Beavers sunk 17 three pointers and had a plus nine rebounding margin to get past Nebraska Kearney, 96-90, Friday night in Duluth, Minn.
The game was part of the annual American Family Insurance Classic. The Lopers face tourney host and 7th-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Saturday at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs rolled Southern Arkansas, 93-74, in Friday’s late game.
UNK had one of its best three-point shooting nights in school history, sinking 15 of 33 attempts. The make total is two off the school-record with four different players making at least one.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
FRIDAY:
- UNK:
- Women’s Basketball: v. Minnesota-Crookston @ Health & Sports Center
- UNK 69-49
- Men’s Basketball: v. Bemidji State @ Duluth, MN
- Bemiidji State 96-90
- Women’s Basketball: v. Minnesota-Crookston @ Health & Sports Center
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Unified Bowling: @ Grand Island Invite @ Westside Lanes – 1 PM
- UNK:
- Swimming: @ Eagle Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK – 10 AM/6 PM
- Wrestling; @ Dakota Wesleyan Open, Mitchell, SD – 9 AM
- Football: @ Northeastern State, Tahlequah, OK – 2 PM
- Women’s Basketball v. Southwest Minnesota St. @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Football @ Michigan (10:30 AM – 9:30 PM) – KGFW
- Nebraska Football @ Michigan (1:45 PM – 7:45 PM) – KQKY-HITS 106
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Swimming: @ Eagle Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK – 10 AM/6 PM
- Wrestling: v. Chadron State @ Health & Sports Center – 12 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a