Lincoln - Isabelle Bourne led five Huskers in double figures with a game-high 17 points to power an explosive and balanced Nebraska attack in a 108-50 women's basketball season-opening win over Maine on Tuesday afternoon in front of 4,476 fans at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska's 108-point eruption tied for the ninth-highest point total in school history and marked the first time the Huskers have reached the century mark under Head Coach Amy Williams. Overall, it was the first time the Big Red have reached 100 points since scoring 100 against Pepperdine on Nov. 15, 2014. Nebraska's 58-point victory margin over the defending America East Conference regular-season champions also matched the seventh largest in school history.

Bourne put up her 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-4 three-pointers, while adding five rebounds, three assists and a block in just over 16 minutes of action. The 6-2 forward from Canberra, Australia set the tone by scoring Nebraska's first four points in a game the Huskers never trailed.

Fellow forward Bella Cravens added 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. The 6-3 junior from Laie, Hawaii, also dished out two assists and blocked a shot for the Big Red against the Black Bears. Another Husker post player, second-year forward Annika Stewart, added 12 points and five rebounds, to help Nebraska outscore Maine 60-28 in the paint on the afternoon.

Redshirt sophomore Ashley Scoggin led Nebraska's backcourt with 12 points and a game-high six assists. She scored 10 points in the first quarter as Nebraska raced to a 28-8 lead at the end of the opening 10 minutes. 

Returning second-team All-Big Ten guard Sam Haiby did not score in the first quarter, but scored eight quick points midway through the second quarter to help the Huskers build a 52-26 halftime advantage. Haiby rounded out Nebraska's five players in double figures with 10 points, while contributed three assists.

After the break, Nebraska shot 13-for-16 (81 percent) in the third quarter to tie a school record with 30 third-quarter points and build an 82-35 lead entering the fourth quarter. 

Husker newcomer Jaz Shelley was also outstanding in her Nebraska debut, scoring eight points on 3-of-3 shooting including a pair of three-pointers, while adding five assists without a turnover. Shelley also led the Big Red with two blocks and two steals.

Freshman Allison Weidner from Humphrey, Neb., pitched in nine points, four rebounds and two assists without a turnover in a strong collegiate debut, while fellow Nebraskan Alexis Markowski contributed eight points and seven rebounds. Australian Ruby Porter added seven points, four assists and three rebounds in a strong effort, while Kendall Coley contributed six points. All 12 Huskers who saw action scored for the Big Red, including four points from Whitney Brown and two points from freshman Kendall Moriarty.

Nebraska dominated Maine in all phases, shooting 61.2 percent from the floor (41-for-67), including 53.3 percent (8-15) from three-point range. The Huskers were also 18-of-22 (.818) from the free throw line, while controlling the glass, 43-20. Nebraska committed just six turnovers while forcing 16 on Maine, as the Huskers put up a 26-to-6 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team.

Anne Simon led the Black Bears with 14 points, while adding three rebounds and three assists. Maeve Carroll pitched in 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds and five assists, while point guard Alba Orois added eight points and a team-high six assists. 

Nebraska held Maine to 39.6 percent (21-53) shooting from the field, including just 21.7 percent (5-23) from long range. 

The Husker performance followed the Nebraska Life Skills Sportsmanship Rally, which was attended by nearly 1,600 middle grade students from 30 schools across the Cornhusker state. The 6th through 8th-grade students came from as far away as Kimball, and from all parts of the state from Northeast Nebraska, central Nebraska and the southeast corner of the state.

The students heard inspirational and educational messages from Director of Athletics Trev Alberts, Coach Amy Williams and Sam Haiby along with volleyball players Madi Kubik and Kenzie Knuckles, baseball players Max Anderson and Brice Matthews, All-America bowler Cassidy Ray.

Nebraska returns to action at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Thursday, when the Huskers play host to Prairie View A&amp;M. The Panthers return their top three scorers from last season. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. with live video available to B1G+ subscribers with the audio provided by the Huskers Radio Network.

By NU Athletic CommunicationsLincoln - Isabelle Bourne led five Huskers in double figures with a game-high 17 points to power an explosive and balanced Nebraska attack in a 108-50 women's basketball season-opening win over Maine on Tuesday afternoon in front of 4,476 fans at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Nebraska's 108-point eruption tied for the ninth-highest point total in school history and marked the first time the Huskers have reached the century mark under Head Coach Amy Williams. Overall, it was the first time the Big Red have reached 100 points since scoring 100 against Pepperdine on Nov. 15, 2014. Nebraska's 58-point victory margin over the defending America East Conference regular-season champions also matched the seventh largest in school history.Bourne put up her 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-4 three-pointers, while adding five rebounds, three assists and a block in just over 16 minutes of action. The 6-2 forward from Canberra, Australia set the tone by scoring Nebraska's first four points in a game the Huskers never trailed.Fellow forward Bella Cravens added 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. The 6-3 junior from Laie, Hawaii, also dished out two assists and blocked a shot for the Big Red against the Black Bears. Another Husker post player, second-year forward Annika Stewart, added 12 points and five rebounds, to help Nebraska outscore Maine 60-28 in the paint on the afternoon.Redshirt sophomore Ashley Scoggin led Nebraska's backcourt with 12 points and a game-high six assists. She scored 10 points in the first quarter as Nebraska raced to a 28-8 lead at the end of the opening 10 minutes. Returning second-team All-Big Ten guard Sam Haiby did not score in the first quarter, but scored eight quick points midway through the second quarter to help the Huskers build a 52-26 halftime advantage. Haiby rounded out Nebraska's five players in double figures with 10 points, while contributed three assists.After the break, Nebraska shot 13-for-16 (81 percent) in the third quarter to tie a school record with 30 third-quarter points and build an 82-35 lead entering the fourth quarter. Husker newcomer Jaz Shelley was also outstanding in her Nebraska debut, scoring eight points on 3-of-3 shooting including a pair of three-pointers, while adding five assists without a turnover. Shelley also led the Big Red with two blocks and two steals.Freshman Allison Weidner from Humphrey, Neb., pitched in nine points, four rebounds and two assists without a turnover in a strong collegiate debut, while fellow Nebraskan Alexis Markowski contributed eight points and seven rebounds. Australian Ruby Porter added seven points, four assists and three rebounds in a strong effort, while Kendall Coley contributed six points. All 12 Huskers who saw action scored for the Big Red, including four points from Whitney Brown and two points from freshman Kendall Moriarty.Nebraska dominated Maine in all phases, shooting 61.2 percent from the floor (41-for-67), including 53.3 percent (8-15) from three-point range. The Huskers were also 18-of-22 (.818) from the free throw line, while controlling the glass, 43-20. Nebraska committed just six turnovers while forcing 16 on Maine, as the Huskers put up a 26-to-6 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team.Anne Simon led the Black Bears with 14 points, while adding three rebounds and three assists. Maeve Carroll pitched in 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds and five assists, while point guard Alba Orois added eight points and a team-high six assists. Nebraska held Maine to 39.6 percent (21-53) shooting from the field, including just 21.7 percent (5-23) from long range. The Husker performance followed the Nebraska Life Skills Sportsmanship Rally, which was attended by nearly 1,600 middle grade students from 30 schools across the Cornhusker state. The 6th through 8th-grade students came from as far away as Kimball, and from all parts of the state from Northeast Nebraska, central Nebraska and the southeast corner of the state.The students heard inspirational and educational messages from Director of Athletics Trev Alberts, Coach Amy Williams and Sam Haiby along with volleyball players Madi Kubik and Kenzie Knuckles, baseball players Max Anderson and Brice Matthews, All-America bowler Cassidy Ray.Nebraska returns to action at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Thursday, when the Huskers play host to Prairie View A&amp;M. The Panthers return their top three scorers from last season. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. with live video available to B1G+ subscribers with the audio provided by the Huskers Radio Network.

Huskers (women) Erupt in Opener with Maine

Lincoln  – Nebraska rallied to erase two seven-point leads in the second half and led by four with less than a minute remaining, but Luka Barisic's three-pointer with 6.7 seconds remaining lifted Western Illinois to 75-74 win over the Huskers on Tuesday evening's season-opener at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska had chance to win in regulation, but Alonzo Verge Jr. missed a shot at the buzzer, allowing the Leathernecks to escape with a one-point win.  Verge posted his first career double-double in defeat with 26 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and five assists.

Freshman Bryce McGowens followed closely behind with 25 points, the most ever by a Husker freshman in his debut, and six boards, but Nebraska shot just 39 percent and was out-rebounded 57-37.

Western Illinois' Trenton Massner finished with 21 points, including four 3-pointers and eight rebounds, to pace three Leathernecks in double figures.  Barisic tallied 12 points and a team-leading nine rebounds, while Will Carius added 11 points for the winners.

Nebraska struggled offensively in the opening half, shooting just 33 percent from the field as Western Illinois took a 33-32 halftime lead after Barisic's putback to beat the first half buzzer. The Leathernecks shot just 34 percent, but grabbed 12 offensive rebounds that led to a 16-3 advantage in second chance points.

Western Illinois used an early 8-0 run, taking a 13-6 lead after a 3-pointer from Carius with 13:57 left in the half before the Huskers responded. Verge scored seven of his 13 first-half points as the Huskers used a 12-0 spurt over the next 2:12 to build a 18-13 lead.

NU stretched the margin to 24-17 with 6:54 left in the first half after Bryce McGowens recorded five-straight points. The Huskers held the lead until Western Illinois used a 9-5 run, including two second-chance layups, to grab the advantage at the half, 33-32.  WIU had 22 second chance points on its 23 offensive boards.

WIU stretched the lead to 39-32 in the first two minutes of the second half before Nebraska scored five straight to get within two, and the game remained within seven the rest of the way.  Western Illinois led 59-52 with 10:41 left, but Trey and Bryce McGowens combined for seven straight points, tying the score at 59 after a Trey McGowen free throw with 8:52 left.

Nebraska kept it close and tied it up multiple times before grabbing the lead at 70-69 on a Verge layup with 2:50 left. Nebraska eventually pushed the lead to 73-69 on a free throw from C.J. Wilcher with 35.6 seconds left, but WIU got a long 3-pointer from Massner, who went 4-of-6 from the arc, to pull within one.

Verge was then fouled with 16.6 seconds left, and split the pair to put NU up by two before Barisic's 3-pointer gave WIU the lead.

The Huskers return to action on Friday evening when they host Sam Houston. Tip-off against the Bearkats is set for 7:30 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+.

By NU Athletic CommunicationsLincoln – Nebraska rallied to erase two seven-point leads in the second half and led by four with less than a minute remaining, but Luka Barisic's three-pointer with 6.7 seconds remaining lifted Western Illinois to 75-74 win over the Huskers on Tuesday evening's season-opener at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Nebraska had chance to win in regulation, but Alonzo Verge Jr. missed a shot at the buzzer, allowing the Leathernecks to escape with a one-point win. Verge posted his first career double-double in defeat with 26 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and five assists.Freshman Bryce McGowens followed closely behind with 25 points, the most ever by a Husker freshman in his debut, and six boards, but Nebraska shot just 39 percent and was out-rebounded 57-37.Western Illinois' Trenton Massner finished with 21 points, including four 3-pointers and eight rebounds, to pace three Leathernecks in double figures. Barisic tallied 12 points and a team-leading nine rebounds, while Will Carius added 11 points for the winners.Nebraska struggled offensively in the opening half, shooting just 33 percent from the field as Western Illinois took a 33-32 halftime lead after Barisic's putback to beat the first half buzzer. The Leathernecks shot just 34 percent, but grabbed 12 offensive rebounds that led to a 16-3 advantage in second chance points.Western Illinois used an early 8-0 run, taking a 13-6 lead after a 3-pointer from Carius with 13:57 left in the half before the Huskers responded. Verge scored seven of his 13 first-half points as the Huskers used a 12-0 spurt over the next 2:12 to build a 18-13 lead.NU stretched the margin to 24-17 with 6:54 left in the first half after Bryce McGowens recorded five-straight points. The Huskers held the lead until Western Illinois used a 9-5 run, including two second-chance layups, to grab the advantage at the half, 33-32. WIU had 22 second chance points on its 23 offensive boards.WIU stretched the lead to 39-32 in the first two minutes of the second half before Nebraska scored five straight to get within two, and the game remained within seven the rest of the way. Western Illinois led 59-52 with 10:41 left, but Trey and Bryce McGowens combined for seven straight points, tying the score at 59 after a Trey McGowen free throw with 8:52 left.Nebraska kept it close and tied it up multiple times before grabbing the lead at 70-69 on a Verge layup with 2:50 left. Nebraska eventually pushed the lead to 73-69 on a free throw from C.J. Wilcher with 35.6 seconds left, but WIU got a long 3-pointer from Massner, who went 4-of-6 from the arc, to pull within one.Verge was then fouled with 16.6 seconds left, and split the pair to put NU up by two before Barisic's 3-pointer gave WIU the lead.The Huskers return to action on Friday evening when they host Sam Houston. Tip-off against the Bearkats is set for 7:30 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G+.

Huskers Fall in Final Seconds of Season Opener

By Ralph D. Russo - Associated Press

The NCAA is setting the stage for a dramatic restructuring of college sports that will give each of its three divisions the power to govern itself.

Approval of a new, streamlined constitution is expected in January with minimal consternation or conflict.

The next phase of the NCAA’s transformation figures to be more difficult: A reshaping of Division I that will tackle revenue distribution, how rules are made and enforced, access to the most-high profile and lucrative NCAA events —- such as the men’s basketball tournament — and just how big the tent should be at the top of college sports.

“So those are the things that we’re really going to have to get to the granular spot, and some of those are going to be very difficult conversations to have,” said West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who is the chairman of the Division I Council and a member of the committee that trimmed the bedrock constitution of the 115-year-old organization.

The NCAA released on Monday a draft of an 18 1/2-page constitution, cut down from 43 pages over the last three months at the direction of President Mark Emmert.

The cutting of NCAA red tape comes in a year that has brought a tempest of change to college sports. Athletes have more financial freedom than ever before. Conference realignment has swept through the most powerful leagues while also shuffling lineups deep into Division I. Meanwhile, the expansion of the College Football Playoff promises to bring yet another revenue windfall to those at the top of the NCAA food chain.

Changing the constitution is the first step in determining the NCAA’s ultimate role in the changing landscape.

“This constitution is not for today and tomorrow,” Lyons said. “It’s for 10 years from now, 20 years from now. What’s, potentially, the association going to look like?”

The rewritten constitution focuses more on the NCAA’s broad goals of athlete welfare and athletics as part of an academic experience instead of governing procedures and operations, both of which have come under increasing criticism.

The proposal specifically notes that athletes shoudl be allowed to compensated for the use of their name, image and likeness — something in place only since July — but stands fast on barring schools from paying athletes to play.

The document still needs to go to membership for feedback after next week’s constitutional convention, and it could be amended before it is put before the full membership for a vote in January.

Emmert called the constitutional convention in August, not long after the Supreme Court hammered the NCAA in a ruling that left the association vulnerable to further legal challenges and in need of deregulation.

It quickly became apparent a new constitution was merely the first part of transforming the NCAA in a way that de-emphasizes the Indianapolis-based association and gives more power to schools and conferences.

“Once we got into this, we really found out that many of the issues were at the Division I level,” Shane Lyons said.

The goal is to have changes in place in less than a year. Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and Ohio University athletic director Julie Cromer will lead the Division I Transformation Committee, which has already begun exploring ways to restructure. Lyons is also a member.

“There’s a huge gap in Division I with schools roughly with $175 million budgets and schools with $4 million budgets,” Lyons said. “A lot of times we’ve tried to legislate from an equality standpoint. Is there possibly a new division? Is there a Division Four? Do some schools break away and make a Division Four, and what is the membership requirement?”

The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, an organization of former and current college administrators, backs a restructuring of Division I that would include moving major college football out from under the NCAA umbrella.

The Bowl Subdivision of Division I is 130 schools that have access to the College Football Playoff, which brings in nearly $500 million annually that is controlled by conferences, not the NCAA. The Knight Commission recently proposed a revenue sharing model that it believes would curb the athletics arms race at the top of Division I and better support educational goals.

Knight Commissioner CEO Amy Perko said the newly proposed NCAA constitution is a good start toward reform.

“There’s a lot still clearly to be defined about Division I and how the governance will work and how the revenue distribution will work,” Perko said “The encouraging part is that the constitution does require the commitment to all of those core principles that define the educational model.”

The new constitution also calls for shrinking the NCAA’s highest governing body, the Board of Governors, from 21 members to nine and include for the first time a recently graduated athlete. The board’s duties would be narrowed to only matters that impact the entire association at the highest levels such as budgets, strategic planning and evaluation of the NCAA president.

The proposed constitution also locks in the current revenue distribution percentage to Division II (4.37%) and Division III (3.18%), which should help it garner support the majority of the NCAA”s member schools. The NCAA has 1,100 member schools, 351 that compete in Division I, and some 500,000 athletes overall.

By Ralph D. Russo - Associated PressThe NCAA is setting the stage for a dramatic restructuring of college sports that will give each of its three divisions the power to govern itself.Approval of a new, streamlined constitution is expected in January with minimal consternation or conflict.The next phase of the NCAA’s transformation figures to be more difficult: A reshaping of Division I that will tackle revenue distribution, how rules are made and enforced, access to the most-high profile and lucrative NCAA events —- such as the men’s basketball tournament — and just how big the tent should be at the top of college sports.“So those are the things that we’re really going to have to get to the granular spot, and some of those are going to be very difficult conversations to have,” said West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who is the chairman of the Division I Council and a member of the committee that trimmed the bedrock constitution of the 115-year-old organization.The NCAA released on Monday a draft of an 18 1/2-page constitution, cut down from 43 pages over the last three months at the direction of President Mark Emmert.The cutting of NCAA red tape comes in a year that has brought a tempest of change to college sports. Athletes have more financial freedom than ever before. Conference realignment has swept through the most powerful leagues while also shuffling lineups deep into Division I. Meanwhile, the expansion of the College Football Playoff promises to bring yet another revenue windfall to those at the top of the NCAA food chain.Changing the constitution is the first step in determining the NCAA’s ultimate role in the changing landscape.“This constitution is not for today and tomorrow,” Lyons said. “It’s for 10 years from now, 20 years from now. What’s, potentially, the association going to look like?”The rewritten constitution focuses more on the NCAA’s broad goals of athlete welfare and athletics as part of an academic experience instead of governing procedures and operations, both of which have come under increasing criticism.The proposal specifically notes that athletes shoudl be allowed to compensated for the use of their name, image and likeness — something in place only since July — but stands fast on barring schools from paying athletes to play.The document still needs to go to membership for feedback after next week’s constitutional convention, and it could be amended before it is put before the full membership for a vote in January.Emmert called the constitutional convention in August, not long after the Supreme Court hammered the NCAA in a ruling that left the association vulnerable to further legal challenges and in need of deregulation.It quickly became apparent a new constitution was merely the first part of transforming the NCAA in a way that de-emphasizes the Indianapolis-based association and gives more power to schools and conferences.“Once we got into this, we really found out that many of the issues were at the Division I level,” Shane Lyons said.The goal is to have changes in place in less than a year. Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and Ohio University athletic director Julie Cromer will lead the Division I Transformation Committee, which has already begun exploring ways to restructure. Lyons is also a member.“There’s a huge gap in Division I with schools roughly with $175 million budgets and schools with $4 million budgets,” Lyons said. “A lot of times we’ve tried to legislate from an equality standpoint. Is there possibly a new division? Is there a Division Four? Do some schools break away and make a Division Four, and what is the membership requirement?”The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, an organization of former and current college administrators, backs a restructuring of Division I that would include moving major college football out from under the NCAA umbrella.The Bowl Subdivision of Division I is 130 schools that have access to the College Football Playoff, which brings in nearly $500 million annually that is controlled by conferences, not the NCAA. The Knight Commission recently proposed a revenue sharing model that it believes would curb the athletics arms race at the top of Division I and better support educational goals.Knight Commissioner CEO Amy Perko said the newly proposed NCAA constitution is a good start toward reform.“There’s a lot still clearly to be defined about Division I and how the governance will work and how the revenue distribution will work,” Perko said “The encouraging part is that the constitution does require the commitment to all of those core principles that define the educational model.”The new constitution also calls for shrinking the NCAA’s highest governing body, the Board of Governors, from 21 members to nine and include for the first time a recently graduated athlete. The board’s duties would be narrowed to only matters that impact the entire association at the highest levels such as budgets, strategic planning and evaluation of the NCAA president.The proposed constitution also locks in the current revenue distribution percentage to Division II (4.37%) and Division III (3.18%), which should help it garner support the majority of the NCAA”s member schools. The NCAA has 1,100 member schools, 351 that compete in Division I, and some 500,000 athletes overall.

NCAA rewrites constitution, sets stage for transformation

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/07/six-man-football-offers-hope-for-kansas-schools-struggling-with-dwindling-participation-population/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — In 2019, Greeley County High
 School suffered its worst season in years, finishing winless and 
struggling week in and week out to field a complete team.

At the time, the school was playing 
eight-man football, but dwindling interest in trying out for football 
forced a remarkable seven forfeits throughout a nine-game schedule. In 
the two games they were able to play, they lost 44-0 against Rawlins 
County and 68-20 against Cheylin.&nbsp;

After conversations about the future 
of the program, the school made the move to six-man football last year. 
This year the team finished 2-5, and while the team may not be winning a
 lot, the players are having fun again.

“At least the kids are getting to 
play there, right?” said Greeley County High School athletic director 
Greg Cook. “It keeps interest in fall activities. It allows the kids to 
still play football and get all the benefits of being part of a team.”

High school football participation 
has steadily declined over the past decade as concerns around head 
trauma and other injuries escalate. Add that to the declining population
 in rural cities and towns, and many schools across Kansas are facing 
similar challenges to Greeley County.

Six-man football first popped up in 
Kansas during the 1960s but did not gain widespread traction and 
eventually disappeared. In 2014, faced with very few options to keep 
their program afloat, Weskan became the first Kansas team to play 
six-man since 2003.

Since then, the six-man ranks have 
risen to 15 schools operating under the Six-man Football Association. 
The association culminates each year with the Wild West Bowl state 
championship game in Dodge City.

The participating schools have 
primarily been in the Northwest and Southwest parts of Kansas. Burrton, 
in central Kansas, is the furthest eastern school, but that could soon 
change.

In September, the Kansas State High 
School Activities Association officially sanctioned six-man football 
following a unanimous vote of their board of directors. According to the
 association, 26 teams will play six-man next fall.

Those schools’ total enrollment for 
ninth, 10th and 11th grade must range from 19 to 55 students, although 
some in that range have chosen to play eight-man football. In addition 
to an official schedule and playoffs, Cook said the association’s 
sanction will help smaller schools like his.

“The schools that are borderline that
 are hanging on to eight-man — if they should happen to lose some 
students or have some small classes — it’ll be easier for them to move 
down to six-man,” he said.

Altoona-Midway, Chase, Chetopa, 
Ingalls, Southern Coffey County, Centre, Peabody-Burns, Southern Cloud, 
Tescott, Waverly, Wetmore and Triplains-Brewster will all be part of the
 newly sanctioned division next year, the state high school athletics 
association announced. Many of the schools switching to the six-man 
division hail from the eastern side of the state.&nbsp;

Those teams have a combined 19 wins 
and 72 losses this fall. Chase and Chetopa took forfeits because of low 
participation, and Centre was unable to field an eight-man team and 
played some six-man games.

Peabody-Burns was exploring a six-man move this summer. Only Waverly had a winning record last season.

“The game of football is great for 
kids, it’s great for communities and it is safer than it’s ever been,” 
said Mark Lentz, assistant executive director for the state High School 
Activities Association.

A full high school schedule is nine football games. Last year, six-man squads averaged 6.2 games.

In states like Colorado, Texas and 
Nebraska, the six-man modifications to the standard 11-man rules have 
resulted in high-scoring games. This trend has held true in Kansas so 
far.

The games are heavy on offense and, 
like eight-man football, can be extremely high scoring, with some games 
eclipsing 200 combined points scored. Besides the score and shorter 
field (80 yards vs the normal 100 yards) six-man is unique to both 
eight-person and 11-person football.&nbsp;

However, the aim of the game is still the same, Lentz said.

“Football is football,” he said. “It 
just looks a little bit different when you have six players on a side 
versus 11 but it’s still all about blocking and tackling and the 
fundamentals that you learn from playing a team sport.”

One noticeable rule change is that to
 advance the ball forward on a run play, the ball must be exchanged 
between players at least once. As a result, the running back will 
oftentimes receive the snap and immediately toss the ball to the 
quarterback, giving them the choice to either run or pass the ball.

Rather than the typical 10 yards needed for a first down, six-man football requires teams to advance the ball 15 yards.

Scoring is also unique, with extra 
points worth two when kicked as opposed to one. Field goals are worth 
more as well — four points earned during a successful kick versus the 
typical three.

The other big rule change: Everyone 
on the field is eligible to receive the ball. That includes the center. 
Though three players must be on the line of scrimmage on many calls the 
center will be the lone lineman — and the defense will still have to 
wonder if he’s going out to receive a pass.

“It’s taken me four years to finally 
figure out some of the little nuances about the game of six-man,” said 
Jon Schnable, football head coach and athletic director for Rolla High 
School. “At first, I thought if you have a big-sized team, you can get 
away with a lot of things, but if you look at the six-man schools, their
 kids’ size isn’t a priority, it’s speed. If you’ve got some speed on 
your team, you can win a lot of ballgames.

While the number of players and 
various rules may differ, advocates of the six-man variety will take 
what they can get, especially when participation numbers continue to 
drop across the country.

According to data from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/">Aspen Institute</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://nfhs.org/">National Federation of State High School Associations</a>,
 from 2008-19 to 2018-19 the total number of youths aged 6 to 18 playing
 tackle football fell by more than 620,000. Participation nationwide now
 sits at just over 1 million high school players.

Over that same decade attendance at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncaa.org/championships/statistics/ncaa-football-attendance">college</a> and professional football also declined.

However, there is optimism among some
 that the annual declines in participation appear to be leveling off for
 now. While COVID-19 made data for 2020 difficult to collect, in 2019 
high school football participation only dropped by 2,489 students.

Previous years saw declines of 23,311, 20,540 and 30,829 students playing football.

“These (2019) numbers suggest to us 
that parents are appreciative of the risk minimization efforts that have
 been put in place,” said Karissa Niehoff, director of the National 
Federation of State High School Associations. “Every state has enacted 
rules that limit the amount of contact before the season and during 
practice, and every state has established concussion protocols and 
laws.”

Kansas has also seen the drop in 
participation level off recently with football participation hovering in
 the high 14,000-student range since 2016. In 2020, however, the state 
high school activates association recorded the first notable decrease in
 participation since that year.

Still, other research shows <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953618307202">increasing parental concerns about concussion risks</a>. This raises concerns for future participation across the country and in Kansas.

For example, some have suggested implementing age-based restrictions on physical contact in the sport.

In a <a target="_blank" href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/143/5/e20182402?casa_token=1LUpwzsJF8YAAAAA%3AIoCBCMFs-5IuTjXhBPM5J-856x44gwgkAH0bpE87Wa07EiwZ-rBHOppsO-dK9xeibl-yl2YhsMif">2019 study of the favorability of an age cap</a>,
 several researchers wrote, “US parents are willing to accept age limits
 on tackling in youth football.” They added that the organizations 
responsible for shaping public discourse about the topic, like the 
American Academy of Pediatrics, “may find it useful to consider US 
parents’ attitudes regarding age limits on tackling, alongside research 
quantifying the risk of tackling, when they revisit this topic.”

As the first team to bring six-man football back to Kansas, Weskan has seen it evolve and grow over the years.

Brett Clow, athletic director and 
head coach of Weskan’s football team, said he expects six-man football’s
 growth to continue. Like any changes to a sport with deep roots in many
 communities across the state, six-man football has its doubters who 
believe only 11-man football to be “real football,” but Clow said with 
the sport under the pressure it is, six-man is an important alternative.

“When you look at… some of these 
small towns fighting to keep football, this is now another option,” he 
said. “If a school is thinking about it, I would only say how great it’s
 been for us and that it is worth at least giving it a shot.”

Clow also said he was excited to see 
the influx of new teams after the state association sanctioned the 
six-man games and hopes there could be as many as 40 such teams in the 
state one day.

The format, he said, can help schools
 that haven’t experienced much past success, like Natoma High School, 
which won the six-man state title this year after not having won a 
single playoff game for 47 years.

“It’s really cool for teams like that
 and schools like that to have success for the first time,” Clow said. 
“I think once people do see it and schools start participating in it, 
they’ll realize how much fun it is and that the kids really enjoy it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636408798030.png" alt="Rolla High School Football players line up against Burton High School earlier this year in a six-man football game. The Kansas State High School Activities Association has officially sanctioned six-man games for 2022, which means a full slate of games and playoffs. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rolla High School Football players line up against Burton High School earlier this year in a six-man football game. The Kansas State High School Activities Association has officially sanctioned six-man games for 2022, which means a full slate of games and playoffs. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/11/07/six-man-football-offers-hope-for-kansas-schools-struggling-with-dwindling-participation-population/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — In 2019, Greeley County High
 School suffered its worst season in years, finishing winless and 
struggling week in and week out to field a complete team.At the time, the school was playing 
eight-man football, but dwindling interest in trying out for football 
forced a remarkable seven forfeits throughout a nine-game schedule. In 
the two games they were able to play, they lost 44-0 against Rawlins 
County and 68-20 against Cheylin.&nbsp;After conversations about the future 
of the program, the school made the move to six-man football last year. 
This year the team finished 2-5, and while the team may not be winning a
 lot, the players are having fun again.“At least the kids are getting to 
play there, right?” said Greeley County High School athletic director 
Greg Cook. “It keeps interest in fall activities. It allows the kids to 
still play football and get all the benefits of being part of a team.”High school football participation 
has steadily declined over the past decade as concerns around head 
trauma and other injuries escalate. Add that to the declining population
 in rural cities and towns, and many schools across Kansas are facing 
similar challenges to Greeley County.Six-man football first popped up in 
Kansas during the 1960s but did not gain widespread traction and 
eventually disappeared. In 2014, faced with very few options to keep 
their program afloat, Weskan became the first Kansas team to play 
six-man since 2003.Since then, the six-man ranks have 
risen to 15 schools operating under the Six-man Football Association. 
The association culminates each year with the Wild West Bowl state 
championship game in Dodge City.The participating schools have 
primarily been in the Northwest and Southwest parts of Kansas. Burrton, 
in central Kansas, is the furthest eastern school, but that could soon 
change.In September, the Kansas State High 
School Activities Association officially sanctioned six-man football 
following a unanimous vote of their board of directors. According to the
 association, 26 teams will play six-man next fall.Those schools’ total enrollment for 
ninth, 10th and 11th grade must range from 19 to 55 students, although 
some in that range have chosen to play eight-man football. In addition 
to an official schedule and playoffs, Cook said the association’s 
sanction will help smaller schools like his.“The schools that are borderline that
 are hanging on to eight-man — if they should happen to lose some 
students or have some small classes — it’ll be easier for them to move 
down to six-man,” he said.Altoona-Midway, Chase, Chetopa, 
Ingalls, Southern Coffey County, Centre, Peabody-Burns, Southern Cloud, 
Tescott, Waverly, Wetmore and Triplains-Brewster will all be part of the
 newly sanctioned division next year, the state high school athletics 
association announced. Many of the schools switching to the six-man 
division hail from the eastern side of the state.&nbsp;Those teams have a combined 19 wins 
and 72 losses this fall. Chase and Chetopa took forfeits because of low 
participation, and Centre was unable to field an eight-man team and 
played some six-man games.Peabody-Burns was exploring a six-man move this summer. Only Waverly had a winning record last season.“The game of football is great for 
kids, it’s great for communities and it is safer than it’s ever been,” 
said Mark Lentz, assistant executive director for the state High School 
Activities Association.A full high school schedule is nine football games. Last year, six-man squads averaged 6.2 games.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636408905030.png" alt=" Rolla High School football coach and athletic director Jon Schnable said he’s learned how the rules of six-man football prioritize speed over size in many instances. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rolla High School football coach and athletic director Jon Schnable said he’s learned how the rules of six-man football prioritize speed over size in many instances. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Rule differences</h2>In states like Colorado, Texas and 
Nebraska, the six-man modifications to the standard 11-man rules have 
resulted in high-scoring games. This trend has held true in Kansas so 
far.The games are heavy on offense and, 
like eight-man football, can be extremely high scoring, with some games 
eclipsing 200 combined points scored. Besides the score and shorter 
field (80 yards vs the normal 100 yards) six-man is unique to both 
eight-person and 11-person football.&nbsp;However, the aim of the game is still the same, Lentz said.“Football is football,” he said. “It 
just looks a little bit different when you have six players on a side 
versus 11 but it’s still all about blocking and tackling and the 
fundamentals that you learn from playing a team sport.”One noticeable rule change is that to
 advance the ball forward on a run play, the ball must be exchanged 
between players at least once. As a result, the running back will 
oftentimes receive the snap and immediately toss the ball to the 
quarterback, giving them the choice to either run or pass the ball.Rather than the typical 10 yards needed for a first down, six-man football requires teams to advance the ball 15 yards.Scoring is also unique, with extra 
points worth two when kicked as opposed to one. Field goals are worth 
more as well — four points earned during a successful kick versus the 
typical three.The other big rule change: Everyone 
on the field is eligible to receive the ball. That includes the center. 
Though three players must be on the line of scrimmage on many calls the 
center will be the lone lineman — and the defense will still have to 
wonder if he’s going out to receive a pass.“It’s taken me four years to finally 
figure out some of the little nuances about the game of six-man,” said 
Jon Schnable, football head coach and athletic director for Rolla High 
School. “At first, I thought if you have a big-sized team, you can get 
away with a lot of things, but if you look at the six-man schools, their
 kids’ size isn’t a priority, it’s speed. If you’ve got some speed on 
your team, you can win a lot of ballgames.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636408949648.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Dwindling participation</h2>While the number of players and 
various rules may differ, advocates of the six-man variety will take 
what they can get, especially when participation numbers continue to 
drop across the country.According to data from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/">Aspen Institute</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://nfhs.org/">National Federation of State High School Associations</a>,
 from 2008-19 to 2018-19 the total number of youths aged 6 to 18 playing
 tackle football fell by more than 620,000. Participation nationwide now
 sits at just over 1 million high school players.Over that same decade attendance at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncaa.org/championships/statistics/ncaa-football-attendance">college</a> and professional football also declined.However, there is optimism among some
 that the annual declines in participation appear to be leveling off for
 now. While COVID-19 made data for 2020 difficult to collect, in 2019 
high school football participation only dropped by 2,489 students.Previous years saw declines of 23,311, 20,540 and 30,829 students playing football.“These (2019) numbers suggest to us 
that parents are appreciative of the risk minimization efforts that have
 been put in place,” said Karissa Niehoff, director of the National 
Federation of State High School Associations. “Every state has enacted 
rules that limit the amount of contact before the season and during 
practice, and every state has established concussion protocols and 
laws.”Kansas has also seen the drop in 
participation level off recently with football participation hovering in
 the high 14,000-student range since 2016. In 2020, however, the state 
high school activates association recorded the first notable decrease in
 participation since that year.Still, other research shows <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953618307202">increasing parental concerns about concussion risks</a>. This raises concerns for future participation across the country and in Kansas.For example, some have suggested implementing age-based restrictions on physical contact in the sport.In a <a target="_blank" href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/143/5/e20182402?casa_token=1LUpwzsJF8YAAAAA%3AIoCBCMFs-5IuTjXhBPM5J-856x44gwgkAH0bpE87Wa07EiwZ-rBHOppsO-dK9xeibl-yl2YhsMif">2019 study of the favorability of an age cap</a>,
 several researchers wrote, “US parents are willing to accept age limits
 on tackling in youth football.” They added that the organizations 
responsible for shaping public discourse about the topic, like the 
American Academy of Pediatrics, “may find it useful to consider US 
parents’ attitudes regarding age limits on tackling, alongside research 
quantifying the risk of tackling, when they revisit this topic.”<h2>‘Fighting to keep football’</h2>As the first team to bring six-man football back to Kansas, Weskan has seen it evolve and grow over the years.Brett Clow, athletic director and 
head coach of Weskan’s football team, said he expects six-man football’s
 growth to continue. Like any changes to a sport with deep roots in many
 communities across the state, six-man football has its doubters who 
believe only 11-man football to be “real football,” but Clow said with 
the sport under the pressure it is, six-man is an important alternative.“When you look at… some of these 
small towns fighting to keep football, this is now another option,” he 
said. “If a school is thinking about it, I would only say how great it’s
 been for us and that it is worth at least giving it a shot.”Clow also said he was excited to see 
the influx of new teams after the state association sanctioned the 
six-man games and hopes there could be as many as 40 such teams in the 
state one day.The format, he said, can help schools
 that haven’t experienced much past success, like Natoma High School, 
which won the six-man state title this year after not having won a 
single playoff game for 47 years.“It’s really cool for teams like that
 and schools like that to have success for the first time,” Clow said. 
“I think once people do see it and schools start participating in it, 
they’ll realize how much fun it is and that the kids really enjoy it.”

Six-man football offers hope for shrinking Kansas schools

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636424161001.jpeg" alt="MNAC all conference.jpg" />
 <figcaption>MNAC all conference.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>

Area Volleyball: MNAC All Conference team announced

The storyline this year has been Husker Head Coach Scott Frost and his 12-20 (now 15-27) record for the University of Nebraska. Questions surrounded Coach Frost as he entered his 4th season as Head Coach and if it would be his last.&nbsp;

This year has shown growth on the field for the Huskers, and though it has yet to reflect in the record, many believe that the team is on the cusp of returning to relevance.&nbsp;

However, national pundits don't share the same faith, pointing out the fact that Coach Frost and his team are still making the same mistakes that has plagued the team throughout Frost's tenure.&nbsp;

This has led to many wondering if the program will make a change either during the season or after the conclusion.&nbsp; On Monday, Athletic Director Trev Alberts ended that narrative, at least for now:&nbsp;

"In my four months at Nebraska, I have closely observed our football team, and had several productive discussions with Coach Frost. Scott has laid out a clear plan and vision for the future of Nebraska Football and has agreed to a restructured contract. I am excited to continue to work together with Scott. We share a love of Nebraska and this football program and want nothing more than Nebraska Football to again compete for championships. "We all recognize our record has not been what anyone wants it to be. I have been clear that I have been looking for incremental progress, and I have seen that in several key areas this season. Our team has continued to compete at a high level and the young men in our program have remained unified and shown great resiliency, which is an important reflection of the leadership of Coach Frost and his staff."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also chiming in was Scott Frost after the announcement was made:&nbsp;

"I appreciate the confidence Trev Alberts has shown in me to continue to lead this program. I love this state, this football program and am honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve as the head coach at my alma mater. Our immediate focus is on the two games ahead against Wisconsin and Iowa, and the opportunity in front of us to build momentum heading into the offseason and 2022. I understand we have not won at a high enough level, but I am confident our football program will continue to take steps forward."

Along with bringing Scott Frost back the University has restructured his deal:&nbsp;

Finally Scott Frost has made some changes to his coaching staff:&nbsp;

UPDATE AT THE BOTTOMThe storyline this year has been Husker Head Coach Scott Frost and his 12-20 (now 15-27) record for the University of Nebraska. Questions surrounded Coach Frost as he entered his 4th season as Head Coach and if it would be his last.&nbsp;This year has shown growth on the field for the Huskers, and though it has yet to reflect in the record, many believe that the team is on the cusp of returning to relevance.&nbsp;However, national pundits don't share the same faith, pointing out the fact that Coach Frost and his team are still making the same mistakes that has plagued the team throughout Frost's tenure.&nbsp;This has led to many wondering if the program will make a change either during the season or after the conclusion.&nbsp; On Monday, Athletic Director Trev Alberts ended that narrative, at least for now:&nbsp;"In my four months at Nebraska, I have closely observed our football team, and had several productive discussions with Coach Frost. Scott has laid out a clear plan and vision for the future of Nebraska Football and has agreed to a restructured contract. I am excited to continue to work together with Scott. We share a love of Nebraska and this football program and want nothing more than Nebraska Football to again compete for championships. "We all recognize our record has not been what anyone wants it to be. I have been clear that I have been looking for incremental progress, and I have seen that in several key areas this season. Our team has continued to compete at a high level and the young men in our program have remained unified and shown great resiliency, which is an important reflection of the leadership of Coach Frost and his staff."&nbsp;&nbsp;Also chiming in was Scott Frost after the announcement was made:&nbsp;"I appreciate the confidence Trev Alberts has shown in me to continue to lead this program. I love this state, this football program and am honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve as the head coach at my alma mater. Our immediate focus is on the two games ahead against Wisconsin and Iowa, and the opportunity in front of us to build momentum heading into the offseason and 2022. I understand we have not won at a high enough level, but I am confident our football program will continue to take steps forward."UPDATE - 7:20 PMAlong with bringing Scott Frost back the University has restructured his deal:&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Scott Frost will make $4 million in 2022 (was set to make $5 million) and his buyout goes from $15 million to $7.5 million.&mdash; Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sean_Callahan/status/1457863668172038147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Finally Scott Frost has made some changes to his coaching staff:&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Scott Frost annoucnes four changes to his offensive coaching staff on Mondy, as he&#39;s parted way with OC Matt Lubick, OL coach Greg Austin, RBs coach Ryan Held and QBs coach Mario Verduzco: <a href="https://t.co/nfDYgxnH0Q">https://t.co/nfDYgxnH0Q</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Huskers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Huskers</a>&mdash; Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sean_Callahan/status/1457831881567834120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Frost future is secure, for now - UPDATED 7:20

Boys Cross Country:&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636393450699.png" alt="2021 Boys' Cross Country Super State All-State.png" />
 <figcaption>2021 Boys' Cross Country Super State All-State.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Girls Cross Country:&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636393475895.png" alt="2021 Girls Cross Country Super State All-State.png" />
 <figcaption>2021 Girls Cross Country Super State All-State.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Girls Golf:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636393500201.png" alt="2021 Girls Golf All-State Selections.png" />
 <figcaption>2021 Girls Golf All-State Selections.png</figcaption>
 </figure>

Area Sports: Area Athletes make Super/All state in Golf and Cross Country

The No. 9 Nebraska volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-27, 21-25, 23-25) to No. 7 Ohio State Saturday night at the Covelli Center. The Huskers are now 17-6 (11-3 Big Ten) on the year, while the Buckeyes improve to 19-5 (9-5).

Madi Kubik led all players with 18 kills on .400 hitting, adding seven digs, two blocks and a service ace.

Lexi Sun had seven kills and four blocks. Lauren Stivrins finished with a match-high seven blocks alongside three kills.

Nicklin Hames totaled 28 assists with seven digs, three blocks and two kills. Lexi Rodriguez and Keonilei Akana each had 10 digs for NU.

As a team, the Huskers hit .203 to Ohio State's .230. OSU had the advantage in digs (58-50) and assists (41-35), and NU outblocked the Buckeyes 11-9. The two teams had two aces apiece.

Ohio State was led by 15 kills on a .500 night from Rylee Rader. Gabby Gonzalez (10 kills, 10 digs) and Mac Podraza (39 assists, 10 digs) each had a double-double, and Kylie Murr had a match-leading 16 digs. Emily Londot and Arica Davis finished with six blocks each.

After the Buckeyes took an early lead, two short 4-0 runs helped NU inch within one. The Huskers finally regained the lead on a Kayla Caffey kill that made it 15-14.

The set tied again at 17-all, but the Huskers scored on four straight -- with two OSU errors and kills from Stivrins and Knuckles spotting them a 21-17 advantage. After reaching set point at 24-22 on a Stivrins/Sun block, the Buckeyes outscored NU 5-1 down the stretch to take it 27-25.

NU outblocked OSU 6-3, including four from Stivrins and three from Sun. Kubik had six kills at a .353 clip to pace NU, which hit .204 as a team. Mia Grunze had six for OSU, which came in at .204 as a team.

After trailing early, the Huskers knotted it five times up to 13-13. Five early serving miscues proved costly, and OSU gained a 17-13 edge. NU twice got within two, but a Davis kill and a Davis/Londot block gave OSU a four-point lead once more as the Huskers took a timeout.

Caffey and Krause teamed up for a block out of the break, and kills from Caffey and Kubik trimmed it to 22-20 and prompted a Buckeye timeout. Two Gonzalez kills and an NU attack error finished the game at 25-21 and gave OSU a two-set lead.

Kubik, hitting .429, had accounted for 13 kills after the first two sets. NU hit .243 in game two.

Ohio State got the first two points of the set before NU took the lead on a Callie Schwarzenbach kill. It was part of a 5-1 run for the Huskers, who led 5-3 before a 6-0 run put the Buckeyes back on top. The Big Red worked back to a 10-10 tie with the help of two kills an ace from Kubik, as well as a Sun/Stivrins stop. Kills from Stivrins and Sun put NU in front 13-11.

The Husker lead swelled to 19-16 on a Kubik/Stivrins block before OSU called for a timeout. The Buckeyes then managed to tie at 21-21 after a service error and an attack error by the Huskers. NU and OSU traded the next four points before a Rader kill brought it to set point and forced a Husker timeout. Rader terminated a final time to cap it, 25-23.

OSU hit .306 in the set while holding NU to .167.

-Tonight was Nebraska's fifth of five straight matches against ranked foes.

-Madi Kubik has led the Huskers in kills in 14 consecutive matches.

-Keonilei Akana had double-figure digs for the fourth straight match.

-Nebraska still leads the all-time series with Ohio State 17-9, including 11-6 in the John Cook era.

-Tonight was only OSU's second win over the Huskers in Columbus. NU had previously won the last three, and tonight's contest was its first trip to Columbus since 2018.

Nebraska welcomes Maryland on Friday, Nov. 12, with first serve set for 6 p.m. at the Devaney Center. The match will be televised in a statewide broadcast on Nebraska Public Media, and John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will have the radio call on Huskers Radio Network.

By NU Athletic CommunicationsThe No. 9 Nebraska volleyball team fell 3-0 (25-27, 21-25, 23-25) to No. 7 Ohio State Saturday night at the Covelli Center. The Huskers are now 17-6 (11-3 Big Ten) on the year, while the Buckeyes improve to 19-5 (9-5).Madi Kubik led all players with 18 kills on .400 hitting, adding seven digs, two blocks and a service ace.Lexi Sun had seven kills and four blocks. Lauren Stivrins finished with a match-high seven blocks alongside three kills.Nicklin Hames totaled 28 assists with seven digs, three blocks and two kills. Lexi Rodriguez and Keonilei Akana each had 10 digs for NU.As a team, the Huskers hit .203 to Ohio State's .230. OSU had the advantage in digs (58-50) and assists (41-35), and NU outblocked the Buckeyes 11-9. The two teams had two aces apiece.Ohio State was led by 15 kills on a .500 night from Rylee Rader. Gabby Gonzalez (10 kills, 10 digs) and Mac Podraza (39 assists, 10 digs) each had a double-double, and Kylie Murr had a match-leading 16 digs. Emily Londot and Arica Davis finished with six blocks each.Set 1After the Buckeyes took an early lead, two short 4-0 runs helped NU inch within one. The Huskers finally regained the lead on a Kayla Caffey kill that made it 15-14.The set tied again at 17-all, but the Huskers scored on four straight -- with two OSU errors and kills from Stivrins and Knuckles spotting them a 21-17 advantage. After reaching set point at 24-22 on a Stivrins/Sun block, the Buckeyes outscored NU 5-1 down the stretch to take it 27-25.NU outblocked OSU 6-3, including four from Stivrins and three from Sun. Kubik had six kills at a .353 clip to pace NU, which hit .204 as a team. Mia Grunze had six for OSU, which came in at .204 as a team.Set 2After trailing early, the Huskers knotted it five times up to 13-13. Five early serving miscues proved costly, and OSU gained a 17-13 edge. NU twice got within two, but a Davis kill and a Davis/Londot block gave OSU a four-point lead once more as the Huskers took a timeout.Caffey and Krause teamed up for a block out of the break, and kills from Caffey and Kubik trimmed it to 22-20 and prompted a Buckeye timeout. Two Gonzalez kills and an NU attack error finished the game at 25-21 and gave OSU a two-set lead.Kubik, hitting .429, had accounted for 13 kills after the first two sets. NU hit .243 in game two.Set 3Ohio State got the first two points of the set before NU took the lead on a Callie Schwarzenbach kill. It was part of a 5-1 run for the Huskers, who led 5-3 before a 6-0 run put the Buckeyes back on top. The Big Red worked back to a 10-10 tie with the help of two kills an ace from Kubik, as well as a Sun/Stivrins stop. Kills from Stivrins and Sun put NU in front 13-11.The Husker lead swelled to 19-16 on a Kubik/Stivrins block before OSU called for a timeout. The Buckeyes then managed to tie at 21-21 after a service error and an attack error by the Huskers. NU and OSU traded the next four points before a Rader kill brought it to set point and forced a Husker timeout. Rader terminated a final time to cap it, 25-23.OSU hit .306 in the set while holding NU to .167.Noting Tonight's Match-Tonight was Nebraska's fifth of five straight matches against ranked foes.-Madi Kubik has led the Huskers in kills in 14 consecutive matches.-Keonilei Akana had double-figure digs for the fourth straight match.-Nebraska still leads the all-time series with Ohio State 17-9, including 11-6 in the John Cook era.-Tonight was only OSU's second win over the Huskers in Columbus. NU had previously won the last three, and tonight's contest was its first trip to Columbus since 2018.Up NextNebraska welcomes Maryland on Friday, Nov. 12, with first serve set for 6 p.m. at the Devaney Center. The match will be televised in a statewide broadcast on Nebraska Public Media, and John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will have the radio call on Huskers Radio Network.

Huskers Fall at Ohio State, 3-0

By Daniel Stinman -&nbsp;Area Director of Marketing and Public Information

North Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College women's basketball team finishes the weekend sweep of Wyoming teams by defeating the Lancers of Eastern Wyoming College on Saturday afternoon, 70-57.

"We had another great defensive effort today," said head coach Jeff Thurman. "I thought we made some good adjustments in the second half that lifted us to the win."

Knights fell behind early as the Lancers jumped out to a two-point advantage in the opening twenty-eight seconds of the first quarter. Janay Brauer answered for the Knights after receiving the pass from Jordyn Moon, drilling a three to give the Knights their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Eastern Wyoming quickly retook the lead and used a 7-1 run to take a five-point lead into the media timeout midway through the first quarter. Out of the timeout, Diamond Moore-Heath added her name to the stat sheet by grabbing her own offensive rebound and completing the old school three-point play to pull the Knights back within two, 7-9. North Platte and Eastern Wyoming continued to battle on the offensive end and traded buckets over the final 3:45 of the first quarter.

North Platte reversed the momentum by mounting an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter to recapture the lead, as Kayla Pope capitalized on her two free throw attempts, 23-22. Eastern Wyoming retook the lead just thirty-two seconds later, but the Knights would not be denied down the stretch and mounted a 14-5 run to close the quarter with the eight-point advantage, 37-29.

To start the third quarter the Lancers cut the deficit down to five, but the Knights quickly extended their lead to nine as Moore-Heath turned two offensive rebounds into points, 41-32. Eastern Wyoming answered with a short 4-0 run to cut the deficit back down to five with 6:16 to play in the third quarter.  

Brauer had the answer for the Knights and drilled a corner three to push the lead back to eight. On the Knights next possession, Fumnaya Ijeh gave the Knights their largest lead of the contest thus far by getting her off balance floater to fall just before the media timeout, 46-36. Out of the timeout, the Knights kept their momentum rolling and pushed their lead to thirteen as Moore-Heath connected on a bucket inside the paint, 53-40.

Eastern Wyoming temporarily halted the momentum with a bucket inside twenty seconds to play, but Moore-Heath answered and beat the buzzer to extend the Knights lead to twelve at the end of the third quarter, 55-43.

In the final ten minutes, the Knights had to fend off multiple runs including a 5-0 run by the Lancers to start the fourth quarter. Brauer found Moon cutting to the basket for an open layup in transition to temporarily halt the momentum shift. The Knights managed to extend their lead out to ten, but the Lancers wouldn't go away easily and quickly cut the deficit back to seven with 5:33 remaining.

Defenses tightened up over the next three minutes, before the Knights shook off the rust and closed the game on a 7-2 run to seal their second win of the season.

"It's always good to start the year off on a positive note," said Thurman. "We still have a lot of work to do but we are extremely happy with our results this weekend."

Moore-Heath added another double-double to her name tallying 19 points to accompany her 15 rebounds. Pope and Brauer joined their teammate in the double-digit scoring column with 18 and 15 points, respectively.

North Platte (2-0) will get a few days off from regular season action before returning to the hardwood for the Cobblestone Hotel &amp; Suites Classic in McCook on Friday, November 12. Tip is set for 5:30pm at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

By Daniel Stinman -&nbsp;Area Director of Marketing and Public InformationNorth Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College women's basketball team finishes the weekend sweep of Wyoming teams by defeating the Lancers of Eastern Wyoming College on Saturday afternoon, 70-57."We had another great defensive effort today," said head coach Jeff Thurman. "I thought we made some good adjustments in the second half that lifted us to the win."Knights fell behind early as the Lancers jumped out to a two-point advantage in the opening twenty-eight seconds of the first quarter. Janay Brauer answered for the Knights after receiving the pass from Jordyn Moon, drilling a three to give the Knights their first lead of the game, 3-2.Eastern Wyoming quickly retook the lead and used a 7-1 run to take a five-point lead into the media timeout midway through the first quarter. Out of the timeout, Diamond Moore-Heath added her name to the stat sheet by grabbing her own offensive rebound and completing the old school three-point play to pull the Knights back within two, 7-9. North Platte and Eastern Wyoming continued to battle on the offensive end and traded buckets over the final 3:45 of the first quarter.North Platte reversed the momentum by mounting an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter to recapture the lead, as Kayla Pope capitalized on her two free throw attempts, 23-22. Eastern Wyoming retook the lead just thirty-two seconds later, but the Knights would not be denied down the stretch and mounted a 14-5 run to close the quarter with the eight-point advantage, 37-29.To start the third quarter the Lancers cut the deficit down to five, but the Knights quickly extended their lead to nine as Moore-Heath turned two offensive rebounds into points, 41-32. Eastern Wyoming answered with a short 4-0 run to cut the deficit back down to five with 6:16 to play in the third quarter. Brauer had the answer for the Knights and drilled a corner three to push the lead back to eight. On the Knights next possession, Fumnaya Ijeh gave the Knights their largest lead of the contest thus far by getting her off balance floater to fall just before the media timeout, 46-36. Out of the timeout, the Knights kept their momentum rolling and pushed their lead to thirteen as Moore-Heath connected on a bucket inside the paint, 53-40.Eastern Wyoming temporarily halted the momentum with a bucket inside twenty seconds to play, but Moore-Heath answered and beat the buzzer to extend the Knights lead to twelve at the end of the third quarter, 55-43.In the final ten minutes, the Knights had to fend off multiple runs including a 5-0 run by the Lancers to start the fourth quarter. Brauer found Moon cutting to the basket for an open layup in transition to temporarily halt the momentum shift. The Knights managed to extend their lead out to ten, but the Lancers wouldn't go away easily and quickly cut the deficit back to seven with 5:33 remaining.Defenses tightened up over the next three minutes, before the Knights shook off the rust and closed the game on a 7-2 run to seal their second win of the season."It's always good to start the year off on a positive note," said Thurman. "We still have a lot of work to do but we are extremely happy with our results this weekend."Moore-Heath added another double-double to her name tallying 19 points to accompany her 15 rebounds. Pope and Brauer joined their teammate in the double-digit scoring column with 18 and 15 points, respectively.North Platte (2-0) will get a few days off from regular season action before returning to the hardwood for the Cobblestone Hotel &amp; Suites Classic in McCook on Friday, November 12. Tip is set for 5:30pm at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

Knights win battle over Lancers

North Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College men's basketball team prevailed over the Lancers of Eastern Wyoming College on Saturday afternoon, 85-72.

The Knights had a battle on their hands early, as the Lancers jumped out to a 4-7 lead in the opening 2:41 of the first half. North Platte answered as German Plotnikov found a cutting Trevon Dennis for the one-handed jam to bring the Knights back within one, 6-7.

Lancers pushed their lead to five with 13:51 remaining in the half, but the Knights continued to stay around cutting the deficit back to one just a minute later, on a floater by Mitar Cakovic. Knights and Lancers continued to trade baskets for the next four minutes as the deficit never climbed over five points during that span.

Inside the final eight minutes, the Knights captured their first lead of the game on a reverse layup by Dennis, 20-19. It took nearly two minutes for Eastern Wyoming to respond, as they managed to retake the lead and extend their advantage to five as the clock moved inside six minutes.

Despite being down by five, the Knights continued to chip away at the lead cutting the deficit to one possession multiple times over the next five minutes, before closing out the half on a 4-1 run. During the run, Plotnikov energized the Knights with a steal and a layup in transition, before Butler's mid-range jumper jumper gave the Knights a one-point advantage at the break, 37-36.

North Platte stretched their lead to five in the opening two minutes of the second half on another mid-range jumper by Butler and a layup by Timur Krupalija, 41-36. Eastern Wyoming trimmed the deficit down to three, before the Knights launched a 14-0 run over the next four minutes to extend their lead to seventeen, 60-43.

North Platte continued to apply the pressure defensively and stretched their lead to nineteen as the clock moved inside ten minutes to play on a contested layup by Butler, 70-51. Eastern Wyoming attempted to swing the momentum cutting the Knights lead down to fourteen inside the final four minutes.

The North Platte defense continued to force the Lancers into some tough looks at the basket over the remaining minutes and closed out Eastern Wyoming for their second win of the season.

Plotnikov paced the Knights in scoring with a season high 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. Caleb Horne finished the afternoon as the Knights top rebounder collecting seven boards in thirty-one minutes of action.

North Platte (2-2) will look for redemption on Wednesday against Colby Community College. The Knights and Trojans met during the opening week of the 2021-22 season, with Colby defeating the Knights, 84-72. Tip is set for 7pm at the Colby Events Center in Colby, Kan.

By Daniel Stinman -&nbsp;Area Director of Marketing and Public InformationNorth Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College men's basketball team prevailed over the Lancers of Eastern Wyoming College on Saturday afternoon, 85-72.The Knights had a battle on their hands early, as the Lancers jumped out to a 4-7 lead in the opening 2:41 of the first half. North Platte answered as German Plotnikov found a cutting Trevon Dennis for the one-handed jam to bring the Knights back within one, 6-7.Lancers pushed their lead to five with 13:51 remaining in the half, but the Knights continued to stay around cutting the deficit back to one just a minute later, on a floater by Mitar Cakovic. Knights and Lancers continued to trade baskets for the next four minutes as the deficit never climbed over five points during that span.Inside the final eight minutes, the Knights captured their first lead of the game on a reverse layup by Dennis, 20-19. It took nearly two minutes for Eastern Wyoming to respond, as they managed to retake the lead and extend their advantage to five as the clock moved inside six minutes.Despite being down by five, the Knights continued to chip away at the lead cutting the deficit to one possession multiple times over the next five minutes, before closing out the half on a 4-1 run. During the run, Plotnikov energized the Knights with a steal and a layup in transition, before Butler's mid-range jumper jumper gave the Knights a one-point advantage at the break, 37-36.North Platte stretched their lead to five in the opening two minutes of the second half on another mid-range jumper by Butler and a layup by Timur Krupalija, 41-36. Eastern Wyoming trimmed the deficit down to three, before the Knights launched a 14-0 run over the next four minutes to extend their lead to seventeen, 60-43.North Platte continued to apply the pressure defensively and stretched their lead to nineteen as the clock moved inside ten minutes to play on a contested layup by Butler, 70-51. Eastern Wyoming attempted to swing the momentum cutting the Knights lead down to fourteen inside the final four minutes.The North Platte defense continued to force the Lancers into some tough looks at the basket over the remaining minutes and closed out Eastern Wyoming for their second win of the season.Plotnikov paced the Knights in scoring with a season high 31 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. Caleb Horne finished the afternoon as the Knights top rebounder collecting seven boards in thirty-one minutes of action.North Platte (2-2) will look for redemption on Wednesday against Colby Community College. The Knights and Trojans met during the opening week of the 2021-22 season, with Colby defeating the Knights, 84-72. Tip is set for 7pm at the Colby Events Center in Colby, Kan.

Knights close opening weekend with win over Lancers

11.5.21 NPHS Football vs Omaha North QUARTERFINALS - LIVESTREAM

The No. 9 Nebraska volleyball team got back on track Thursday night, sweeping No. 25 Illinois 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-21) at Huff Hall. With the road victory, the Huskers improve to 17-5 (11-2 Big Ten) while stopping UI's four-match win streak and drop them to 16-8 (8-5).

Madi Kubik and Lexi Sun finished with an identical 11 kills to lead Nebraska offensively. Sun returned to the starting lineup for one of her best performances of the season, hitting .303 with just one attack error while adding four digs and two blocks. Kubik hit at a .250 clip and chipped in eight digs.

With her first assist of the night, Nicklin Hames set Nebraska's rally-scoring era record for career assists and now sits at 4,160, which passed Kelly Hunter's 4,125 from 2013-17. Hames also ranks second all-time behind Fiona Nepo (4,824 from 1995-98). The senior collected her 15th double-double of the season -- and seventh straight -- on 35 assists and 10 digs with three blocks.

Lauren Stivrins chipped in seven kills, a team-high four blocks and two service aces. Kayla Caffey also had eight kills and a block.

Defensively, Keonilei Akana had a team-leading 15 digs and Lexi Rodriguez tallied 14 more.

As a team, Nebraska had the advantage in attack percentage (.206 to .182), kills (42-39), assists (42-34), aces (6-2) and digs (66-56). The Illini outblocked NU 7-6.

Illinois was led by a match-high 12 kills from Raina Terry. Megan Cooney had nine kills with 11 digs, and Taylor Kuper registered a match-high 18 digs.

The Huskers were quick on the draw in the opening set, leading 6-2 to start. They stretched it to 10-4 on two Illini errors and an Akana ace, then 15-6 for their largest lead. Illinois drew within two with the help of two late Cooney kills up to 23-20, but Krause and Caffey each terminated to seal it for NU, 25-20.

NU hit .278 and had three kills apiece from Caffey, Kubik and Krause.

The Illini went up 5-1 to start set two, but NU got within two at 7-5 on a Stivrins/Sun block. The Huskers trimmed it to two again at 16-14 on back-to-back kills from Kubik and Sun coupled with a UI attack error.

Sun carried NU to its first lead of the set with three kills powering a 4-0 run, and Illinois called for a timeout down 19-18. Sun punched another kill, and Kubik and Caffey combined for three more to put the Huskers in control at 23-19. They closed the set on a 6-1 run, with a solo stop by Stivrins shutting it down at 25-20.

Sun had five kills on 10 swings with no errors, and Kubik added five more kills in the set.

Down early, the Huskers rallied to tie it at 11-11 on a Sun kill. Illinois went back out to a 19-15 advantage, but a 6-0 run -- including a Stivrins ace for the go-ahead point -- flipped the script and put NU ahead 23-20. Sun and Caffey each put down a kill to finish it off, 25-21.

-Tonight's win snapped Nebraska's two-match losing skid.

-Nebraska leads the all-time series with Illinois 31-8-1, including 18-3 in the John Cook era.

-The Huskers have won six straight in the series dating back to 2018.

-Tonight was NU's fourth consecutive sweep of Illinois.

-NU has a 12-5 advantage over Illinois on the road and have won seven straight in Champaign since 2015.

-Lexi Sun returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Sept. 18.

Nebraska continues on to No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 6, with first serve set for 6 p.m. CT at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. The match will be streamed on Big Ten Network+, and John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will have the radio call on Huskers Radio Network.

By NU Athletic CommunicationsThe No. 9 Nebraska volleyball team got back on track Thursday night, sweeping No. 25 Illinois 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-21) at Huff Hall. With the road victory, the Huskers improve to 17-5 (11-2 Big Ten) while stopping UI's four-match win streak and drop them to 16-8 (8-5).Madi Kubik and Lexi Sun finished with an identical 11 kills to lead Nebraska offensively. Sun returned to the starting lineup for one of her best performances of the season, hitting .303 with just one attack error while adding four digs and two blocks. Kubik hit at a .250 clip and chipped in eight digs.With her first assist of the night, Nicklin Hames set Nebraska's rally-scoring era record for career assists and now sits at 4,160, which passed Kelly Hunter's 4,125 from 2013-17. Hames also ranks second all-time behind Fiona Nepo (4,824 from 1995-98). The senior collected her 15th double-double of the season -- and seventh straight -- on 35 assists and 10 digs with three blocks.Lauren Stivrins chipped in seven kills, a team-high four blocks and two service aces. Kayla Caffey also had eight kills and a block.Defensively, Keonilei Akana had a team-leading 15 digs and Lexi Rodriguez tallied 14 more.As a team, Nebraska had the advantage in attack percentage (.206 to .182), kills (42-39), assists (42-34), aces (6-2) and digs (66-56). The Illini outblocked NU 7-6.Illinois was led by a match-high 12 kills from Raina Terry. Megan Cooney had nine kills with 11 digs, and Taylor Kuper registered a match-high 18 digs.Set 1The Huskers were quick on the draw in the opening set, leading 6-2 to start. They stretched it to 10-4 on two Illini errors and an Akana ace, then 15-6 for their largest lead. Illinois drew within two with the help of two late Cooney kills up to 23-20, but Krause and Caffey each terminated to seal it for NU, 25-20.NU hit .278 and had three kills apiece from Caffey, Kubik and Krause.Set 2The Illini went up 5-1 to start set two, but NU got within two at 7-5 on a Stivrins/Sun block. The Huskers trimmed it to two again at 16-14 on back-to-back kills from Kubik and Sun coupled with a UI attack error.Sun carried NU to its first lead of the set with three kills powering a 4-0 run, and Illinois called for a timeout down 19-18. Sun punched another kill, and Kubik and Caffey combined for three more to put the Huskers in control at 23-19. They closed the set on a 6-1 run, with a solo stop by Stivrins shutting it down at 25-20.Sun had five kills on 10 swings with no errors, and Kubik added five more kills in the set.Set 3Down early, the Huskers rallied to tie it at 11-11 on a Sun kill. Illinois went back out to a 19-15 advantage, but a 6-0 run -- including a Stivrins ace for the go-ahead point -- flipped the script and put NU ahead 23-20. Sun and Caffey each put down a kill to finish it off, 25-21.Noting Tonight's Match-Tonight's win snapped Nebraska's two-match losing skid.-Nebraska leads the all-time series with Illinois 31-8-1, including 18-3 in the John Cook era.-The Huskers have won six straight in the series dating back to 2018.-Tonight was NU's fourth consecutive sweep of Illinois.-NU has a 12-5 advantage over Illinois on the road and have won seven straight in Champaign since 2015.-Lexi Sun returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Sept. 18.Up NextNebraska continues on to No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 6, with first serve set for 6 p.m. CT at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. The match will be streamed on Big Ten Network+, and John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will have the radio call on Huskers Radio Network.

No. 9 Nebraska Sweeps Past No. 25 Illini

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost met with members of the media following Thursday's practice. Frost talked about where the focus needs to be heading into the game against No. 6 Ohio State.

"The first thing we need to do is prepare well," Frost said. "We have done that. Then we have to go play well.  I think we have played well but we have been talking for a few weeks now about making the key play when it matters the most. If you are ever going to win a game like this you are going to have to make some key play."

Frost was asked what the key for quarterback Adrian Martinez will be on Saturday.

"I think it is the same thing I talked about with the team," he said. "He plays such good football most of the time. It is some of the key situations key plays where we have not gotten that done as a team. Sometimes that has been him. I felt bad for him Saturday. He had done a good job with turnovers and interceptions this year until that game and if you do that in a game you are not going to win it very often so that was tough. Again it is decisions and execution and key situations and we have a lot of guys capable of doing it. We have to do it."

He also discussed seeing progress in the North Stadium expansion project.

"It is just good to see the progress," Frost said. "There is going to have a lot of things come together here for Nebraska to be elite like everybody wants it to be again and that is a big part of it. I know we are grateful to the people that have contributed to make it happen."

The Huskers play the Buckeyes on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. on FOX in Lincoln, Neb. at Memorial Stadium. Radio coverage will be provided by Huskers Radio Network.

By NU Athletic CommunicationsNebraska head coach Scott Frost met with members of the media following Thursday's practice. Frost talked about where the focus needs to be heading into the game against No. 6 Ohio State."The first thing we need to do is prepare well," Frost said. "We have done that. Then we have to go play well. I think we have played well but we have been talking for a few weeks now about making the key play when it matters the most. If you are ever going to win a game like this you are going to have to make some key play."Frost was asked what the key for quarterback Adrian Martinez will be on Saturday."I think it is the same thing I talked about with the team," he said. "He plays such good football most of the time. It is some of the key situations key plays where we have not gotten that done as a team. Sometimes that has been him. I felt bad for him Saturday. He had done a good job with turnovers and interceptions this year until that game and if you do that in a game you are not going to win it very often so that was tough. Again it is decisions and execution and key situations and we have a lot of guys capable of doing it. We have to do it."He also discussed seeing progress in the North Stadium expansion project."It is just good to see the progress," Frost said. "There is going to have a lot of things come together here for Nebraska to be elite like everybody wants it to be again and that is a big part of it. I know we are grateful to the people that have contributed to make it happen."The Huskers play the Buckeyes on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. on FOX in Lincoln, Neb. at Memorial Stadium. Radio coverage will be provided by Huskers Radio Network.

Frost Shares Keys for Game on Saturday

FRIDAY NIGHT TAILGATE!!! Come out and support the NPHS Cheerleaders as they host a tailgate dinner before the state playoff game against Omaha North!!! All proceeds will go towards the NPHS Cheer Teams travel/performance at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando Florida!!! #WTMB

FRIDAY NIGHT TAILGATE!!! Come out and support the NPHS Cheerleaders as they host a tailgate dinner before the state playoff game against Omaha North!!! All proceeds will go towards the NPHS Cheer Teams travel/performance at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando Florida!!! #WTMB<figure>
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