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WNCC WINS 14TH CONSECUTIVE TRIP TO NATIONAL TOURNEY

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MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team will be making a 14th straight trip to the national tournament after sweeping past Northeastern Junior College 25-19, 25-10, 25-17 in the championship of the Region IX tournament in McCook on Saturday.

Not only did the Cougars earn another regional championship, the team also picked up plenty of individual honors. Yoro Tovar, who pounded home nine kills in the win Saturday, was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.

Also earning all-tournament honors was Danika Youngblood, who pounded home a match-high 14 kills, and Luiza Martins, who was also named the Region IX Setter of the Year as well as Region IX Freshman of the Year.

Four Cougars were also named to the All-Region team in Youngblood, Martins, Alex Rivera and Kat Agson. WNCC coach Giovana Melo, who was tabbed the Coach of the Year, said this is a pretty special team, considering how far they have come from a bad showing in the Regis University scrimmage in August to now.

“They are a pretty good group. We have come a long ways from that Regis scrimmage to now and it is a really different team,” Melo said. “We knew we had talent. We knew it would take a well. We knew where we were able to get and it was just a matter of time. This group is a really good group and they work really hard. They know what they want.”

The Cougars moved to 37-2 on the season and have won 31 straight matches. There last loss came on Sept. 1 against North Idaho College.

Saturday’s encounter with Northeastern Junior College was a battle in the first set, but afterwards, the Cougars put on the afterburner to pick up the championship trophy. Melo said it feels great to bring home a regional title to this storied program.

“It is obviously a great feeling and just not about this year but the success we have had in the program overall,” she said. “It shows how hard the girls have been working this year and it obviously feels really good to go home with another title.”

Well the opening set was close, after that Melo said the players stepped up their game.

“They were pretty anxious and excited and there was a little bit of emotions in the beginning of the match,” she said. “But once we got past the first game, it was obvious how much they wanted it.”

WNCC jumped to a 13-7 lead at one time only to watch NJC slice the lead to 19-17 late, but Tovar finished off the set with a hammering kill.

The second set was all WNCC as Martins served four straight points to start the contest and the Cougars went up 15-7. After an Agson kill, Priscila Mendes served five points for a 21-8 lead. Tovar then served the final two points for the 25-10 win.

Martins started the third set off with four straight points for a 5-1 lead. After NJC cut the lead to 9-7, WNCC put on the afterburner with three points, including two aces, from Alex Rivera followed by Martins getting two points for a 19-9 lead. WNCC led 24-12 before the Plainswomen put together a four-point run, but Youngblood finished off the match with a championship kill.

WNCC pounded the ball with authority, registering 37 total kills. Youngblood had 14, Agson 13, Tovar nine, Mendes seven, and Megan Johnson four.

Melo thought all the hitters stepped up in different situations and hitting rotations.

“I thought all the hitters got pretty involved,” she said. “We have been working on distributing the ball a little bit more. We told our setters to distribute the ball because we do have a lot of options with a lot of kids that are doing a good job in putting the ball away for us.”
Martins, Region IX South’s setter and freshman of the year, finished with a triple-double with 15 points, 40 set assists, and 15 digs. She also had one ace. Also for the Cougars, Rivera had seven points, five set assists, and 15 digs; Youngblood had 12 digs; Mendes had nine digs, two blocks, and two aces; and Tovar had two blocks, seven digs, and six points.

With the win, the Cougars will now take part in the national tournament with hopes of capturing its second national championship in three years. They last won the title in 2010. WNCC first won a national title in 2007.

Melo said this team can compete for a national title, but they need to eliminate the little mistakes that they are making and become more consistent.

“We make some errors on certain plays where we really don’t have to,” she said. “I think we will have to work really hard for that because we can’t mistakes that we are making against really good teams when it comes down to one or two points. When we are at nationals, everybody that we will be playing will be up to our level. Hopefully we can get them ready for nationals in the next week.”

The national tournament will be played Nov. 15-17 in West Plains, Mo. Pairings for the tournament should be out this week.

COUGAR MEN FALL TO GILLETTE

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GILLETTE, Wyo. — Willie Mangum and Charles Ward combined for 75 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team fell in overtime to Sheridan College 107-104 Saturday at Gillette, Wyo.

WNCC head coach Russ Beck said his team did everything right to get back in the game and had chances to win, but the Generals made the final bucket to win the game.

“After battling back from 17 points down early in the first half to make it a game we took a five point lead in late in the second half,” Beck said. “A late Sheridan run tied the game and Sheridan had the ball with the shot clock off. A Cougar defensive stop forced overtime.”

Beck said the five minute overtime period was intense.

“In overtime, it once again came down to a tie with Sheridan with the ball and the shot clock turned off,” he said. “After running the clock down, Sheridan’s Ron Mvoulka took a three over a contested hand and hit the three with .9 tenths of a second left in the game. After a timeout for WNCC, the full court desperation shot was unsuccessful.”

The Cougars played without sophomore Tahir Little, who was out with an injury. Still, Beck praised how hard his team played in the game.

“We sure could have used his [Tahir’s} defense,” he said. “I loved how we competed.”

The Cougars had plenty of top performances, but nothing that Mangum and Ward accomplished. Mangum lead the Cougar players with 38 points, while Ward finished with 37 points.

Also for the Cougars, Quantee Cooley had nine points, Chad Calcaterra had six points, Rich Williams had five points, and Youssoupha Kane had eight points.

Cody Johnson pulled down nine rebounds to lead the team, while Kane had five rebounds.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Cougars as they will take on last year’s national champions South Plains College on Tuesday on the road.

CHADRON STATE 45, FORT LEWIS 20

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DURANGO, Colo. – Both Nathan Ross and Glen Clinton scored two touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers that were converted into points as the Chadron State College football team defeated Fort Lewis 45-20 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game here Saturday.

The Eagles are now 8-2 for the season and 6-2 in the RMAC with only a home date with Colorado Mines this Saturday remaining on the regular season schedule. A win over the Orediggers would put the Eagles, who are ranked third in the Super Region 4, in the Division II playoffs.

Although the Eagles jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the opening period, Fort Lewis cut the margin to 14-13 early in the second quarter. However, the Eagles soon took control and scored 31 points unanswered points before the Skyhawks added a touchdown in the final minute.

Fort Lewis, which is winless in nine games, opened the scoring on a 32-yard field goal after the Skyhawks’ Mike Campbell picked off a Chadron State pass. That was the Eagles’ only turnover.

Chadron State retaliated almost immediately after Ross returned the ensuing kickoff 42 yards. Two plays later, CSC inside receiver Chapman Ham, who was a quarterback at Central High School in Rapid City, took a handoff on a reverse and threw a pass over the Fort Lewis defense that Ross caught and turned into a 48-yard touchdown.

Ross finished with six catches for 130 yards.

Trelan Taylor, who also came up with two interceptions and recovered a Fort Lewis fumble, set up the Eagles’ second touchdown when he swiped a Fort Lewis pass after it had glanced off the intended receiver’s hands and he returned the theft 15 yards to the Skyhawks’ 30. Quarterback Jonn McLain scored three plays later on a four-yard run.

Fort Lewis capped an 80-yard drive on the opening play off the second quarter when Doyle Bode caught a six-yard pass from quarterback Jason Fitzgerald.

The Eagles went three plays and out, leading to a 22-yard field goal by Andrews that cut CSC’s lead to a single point.

But CSC scored on its final three possessions before halftime to take a 31-13 lead.

The first two scores were set up by Fort Lewis fumbles.

Linebacker Kevin Lindholm claimed the first bobble at the Skyhawks 23. Following an incomplete pass, Clinton broke free for a touchdown.

Taylor soon recovered a Fort Lewis fumble that CSC converted into a 36-yard field goal by Alex Ferdinand. The Eagles also scored on 43-yard pass from McLain to Ross with 67 seconds left before halftime.

Clinton carried on seven consecutive plays for 69 yards and a touchdown on his four-yard jaunt midway in the third quarter. He finished the game with 14 carries for 109 yards to give him 1,180 yards rushing this season.

CSC added a three-yard touchdown run by Michael Madkins with 6:06 left in the final period. The 38-yard drive was preceded by Taylor’s second pass interception and his 25-yard return.

Fort Lewis concluded the scoring with a nine-play, 72-yard drive that saw Fitzpatrick run the final three yards. Fitzpatrick started at quarterback in place of senior standout Tim Jenkins, who suffered a shoulder injury the previous week.

The Eagles finished with 419 yards in total offense. McLain, who directed CSC’s third period touchdown drive then retired to the bench along with many of the other CSC starters, completed 11 of 15 tosses for 241 yards

Fitzpatrick hit on 15 of 25 passes for 99 yards while tailback Josh Beacham carried 13 times for 111 yards to account for a bulk of their team’s 293 yards of total offense.

CSC        14 17 7 7 – 45
FLC         3 10 0 7 – 20

First Quarter
FLC—Stephen Andrews 32 field goal.
CSC—Nathan Ross 48 pass from Chapman Ham (Alex Ferdinand kick)
CSC—Jonn McLain 4 run (Ferdinand kick)
Second Quarter
FLC—Doyle Bode 6 pass from Jason Fitzpatrick (Andrews kick)
FLC—Andrews 22 field goal
CSC—Glen Clinton 23 run (Ferdinand kick)
CSC—Ferdinand 36 field goal
CSC—Ross 43 pass from McLain (Ferdinand kick)
Third Quarter
CSC—Clinton 4 run (Ferdinand kick)
Fourth Quarter
CSC—Michael Madkins 3 run (Ferdinand kick).
FLC—Fitzpatrick 3 run (Andrews kick)

COUGAR WOMEN 89, NEBRASKA ALL-STARS 29

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The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team put three players in double figures and connected on seven 3-pointers in opening the season with an 89-29 win over the Nebraska All-stars on Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace.

Jess Samorodova paced the Cougars with 13 points followed by Mikayla Brower with 12 points. Gritt Ryder also chipped in 10 points in the win. Brower paced the team with two of the seven three-pointers.Idil Ozbayrak and Lauren Rivera each added nine points.

WNCC coach Dave Harnish, who is starting his 25th year as head coach, said while it was nice to get some playing time for his 11 freshmen, he saw lots of room for improvement.

“I thought we struggled because we didn’t stop the ball because they did a good job penetrating on us and we didn’t do a good job of rotating to stop the ball,” Harnish said. “We really didn’t rebound the ball that well; we were out-rebounded in the first half.

“But the transition was good with a lot of steals and we generated most of our points off transition. But we struggled a little bit offensively to get into the offensive sets. Overall, though, it was a good game for us. It was a first game for the freshmen. It is a good situation where they get to put the uniforms on, people are here to watch, and we can get the first-game jitters out and get ready to play down in Colby.”

WNCC controlled the tempo from the get-go, but the Nebraska All-stars battled for the entire game. The Cougars held a 40-37 rebound advantage over the All-stars that consisted of a number of former Cougar players and high school basketball stars who graduated within the past two years.

WNCC jumped out to an 16-3 lead as Samorodova had eight early points while Rider scored five straight points. The All-stars made a slight comeback, scoring four straight points to cut the lead to 16-7 on three points from former Gering High and WNCC Cougar Yoda Woods, but the Cougars would go on a 9-0 and later an 8-0 run. Both runs were highlighted by freshmen players as Brower connected on seven points, including a 3-pointer. Kate Kerkhoff also had four points.

The Cougars led 48-14 at halftime on two field goals each by Alyssa Yates, Ozbayrak and Maurissa Ortega.

The Cougars shot 48 percent from the field, including making 18 of 22 free throws. WNCC also connected on 7 of 19 treys. The Cougars defense also limited the All-stars to just 16 percent shooting. The all-stars, however, were sizzling from the free throw line, connecting on 12 of 18 charity shots.

WNCC also shared the ball well, dishing out 31 assists. Ryder, the sophomore transfer from the University of Alaska Anchorage, had seven assists followed by Ortega with six assists. Ryder also had four steals while Ortega had six steals.

The Nebraska All-stars were led by Ashley (Burns) Guzman and Woods with eight points each.

WNCC, 1-0, will next be in action next weekend when they travel to Colby, Kan., for a 3-day tournament.

Harnish said this was a good tune-up for his young team heading into the rest of the season.

“This is the first game for 11 kids and I am sure they were nervous,” he said. “This was a good chance for them to get the butterflies out and hopefully they will play better when we go down to Colby.”

NE All-stars        14 15 – 29

WNCC (1-0)        48 41 – 89

NEBRASKA ALL-STARS

Rebecca (Hughes) Martinez 4, Tera (Schmid) Segelke 2, Ashley (Burns) Guzman 8, Kelsey Kudrna 1, Shantel Muniz 2, Samantha Sanders 3, April Olson 1, Yoda Woods 8.

WNCC

Mikayla Brower 13, Lauren Rivera 9. Kelsey Doddridge 3, Gritt Ryder 10, Shalisa Moffitt 3, Katie Kerkhoff 6, Maurissa Ortega 7, Idil Ozbayrak 9, Michelle Brassard 3, Alyssa Yates 6, Ashley Stevens 2, Jessica Aratani 4, Jess Samovodova 13.

HUSKERS 28, SPARTANS 24

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East Lansing, Mich. – Another fourth-quarter road rally. Another Big Ten win.

In its most dramatic in a series second-half comebacks in conference play, No. 21 Nebraska rallied from 10 points down in the final eight minutes to knock off Michigan State, 28-24, at Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Junior quarterback Taylor Martinez lofted a heavenly pass to the left side of the end zone for sophomore wide receiver Jamal Turner from five yards out with six ticks left on the clock to secure Nebraska’s fourth conference win.

In the latest in a series of historic come-from-behind victories, Martinez’s clutch connection with Turner moved the 2012 Huskers to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. It also secured NU’s third double-digit, second-half comeback in four Big Ten victories, following a 12-point fourth-quarter rally at Northwestern on Oct. 27, and a 17-point third-quarter comeback against Wisconsin in NU’s Big Ten home opener on Sept. 29.

The pass also completed a monster day for the junior quarterback from Corona, Calif., against one of the nation’s stingiest defenses. The Spartans entered the contest allowing just 91.2 rushing yards per game through the first nine contests and only 267 yards of total offense and 15 points per contest.

Martinez personally accounted for 205 rushing yards and two scores, while throwing for 160 yards and two more touchdowns against the Spartans. Sophomore I-back Ameer Abdullah accounted for another 110 yards on the ground for the Big Red, his fifth 100-yard rushing effort of the season, as Nebraska amassed 313 rushing yards against MSU for the day.

The Huskers rolled up 473 total yards against the Spartans for the game, including 214 in the fourth quarter alone. Michigan State finished with 361 total yards, but just 30 in the final period.

Despite accounting for 365 yards of total offense and having a hand in all four of Nebraska’s scores, Martinez’s day was full of ups and downs. He went just 16-for-36 through the air against MSU, and was victimized by three interceptions, including two in the second half by Darqueze Dennard.

But as Martinez has proven time and time again over the past month in Big Ten play, he has the ability to overcome adversity and lead the Huskers to victory.

On Nebraska’s second offensive drive of the day, Martinez marched the Huskers to the Michigan State 21, but on 2nd-and-22 from the MSU 33, he was picked off by Kurtis Drummond. The Spartans converted the interception into points, rolling 68 yards in 10 plays capped by Le’Veon Bell’s 11-yard rumble into the end zone. Bell finished the day with 188 yards on 36 carries to go along with two touchdowns.

Michigan State took a 7-0 lead with 4:28 left in the quarter and did not trail in the game until Nebraska’s final offensive play of the game.

It didn’t take long for Martinez to atone for the interception. After Abdullah rushed for 12 yards on the first play of the ensuing drive, Martinez sprinted 59 yards to the MSU 4 on the next play – his first of three long runs on the afternoon. Martinez then connected with Abdullah on a two-yard touchdown pass two plays later to tie the score with 2:07 left in the first quarter.

Martinez marched the Huskers again on their opening drive of the second quarter, but the Huskers stalled at the MSU 13, and Brett Maher uncharacteristically missed on a 30-yard field goal attempt to keep the score tied.

But not for long, as MSU’s battering ram running back Bell carried three times for 49 yards on the first three plays of MSU’s ensuing drive. Then Spartan quarterback Andrew Maxwell hit Tony Lippett on a 46-yard strike between double-coverage in the end zone to put MSU back up 14-7 with 6:56 to play in the half. Maxwell completed just 9-of-27 passes for 123 yards on the afternoon, but did not throw an interception.

After both defenses produced three-and-outs, Martinez struck again, racing 71 yards for a touchdown down the right sideline on 2nd-and-8 from the NU 29, tying the score at 14 with 3:11 left in the half.

The two teams went to the locker room tied at half, and the Huskers had already accounted for a game’s worth of total offense against the vaunted Spartan defense. Martinez rushed for 156 yards on just eight first-half carries, while completing 8-of-16 passes for 52 yards, accounting for 208 total yards. The Huskers totaled 263 yards on 37 first-half plays.

Bell also had a big half, rushing for 105 yards on 14 carries, while Maxwell completed 6-of-14 passes for 89 yards and a score, as MSU produced 208 total yards against the Blackshirts.

Michigan State regained a measure of control by marching 68 yards in 11 plays on the opening drive of the third quarter. The Blackshirts stiffened to keep MSU out of the end zone, holding on 3rd-and-Goal at the NU 7. Dan Conroy, who had missed a 48-yard field goal early in the first quarter – converted on a 25-yarder to give the Spartans a 17-14 lead with 10:21 left in the third quarter.

The defenses dominated the rest of the quarter, and Dennard provided one of the game’s biggest plays when he made a highlight-reel interception on a pass from Martinez intended for Quincy Enunwa deep down the middle of the field. Dennard hauled in the interception at the MSU 32 and quickly spun around before returning the catch 30 yards to the NU 38.

Bell carried six times for 18 yards on the ensuing drive, bulling his way into the end zone from one yard out with 14:20 left in the game to put the Spartans up 24-14. Bell’s second touchdown came on his 29th carry of the game and pushed his rushing total to 164 yards.

The Spartans controlled the third quarter, amassing 122 yards of total offense while holding the Huskers to minus-four total yards. But while Michigan State won the third quarter, Nebraska owned the fourth.

On the following possession, Martinez marched Nebraska into scoring position, driving all the way to the MSU 5. But on 2nd-and-Goal Dennard struck again, jumping a Husker route before dodging and weaving his way to the end zone for what appeared to be a game-clinching touchdown and a 31-14 Spartan lead. But near the spot of the interception, Michigan State was flagged for a personal foul, putting the Spartans 1st-and-10 at the MSU 10.

The Blackshirts stepped up and forced a three-and-out. After the MSU punt, Martinez regained his composure and drove the Huskers 58 yards in just six plays, capped by his 35-yard touchdown run to narrow the gap to 24-21 with 7:02 left. Martinez and Abdullah accounted for all 58 yards on the ground for the Huskers.

The Blackshirts forced another three-and-out, and after Tim Marlowe’s 19-yard return of a 60-yard Mike Sadler punt, Martinez and the Huskers started with solid field position at the NU 39. The Huskers picked up one quick first down, but a one-yard pickup by Abdullah and back-to-back incompletions, the Huskers were faced with 4th-and-9 at the MSU 44. Martinez hit Enunwa on a short completion, but it was not enough for a first down and Michigan State took over at its own 40 with just 3:12 left in the game.

Like they had done all day, the Spartans turned to Bell and the bruising back rumbled 13 yards on his first two carries to pick up a first down and push the ball into NU territory. The Spartans went to Bell two more times, setting up a 3rd-and-6 at the NU 43. MSU handed to Bell one more time, but he came up with just four yards and no first down. Nebraska spent its final timeout with 1:27 left, but Martinez and the Huskers would get the ball back one more time.

Sadler booted his punt 39 yards into the end zone for a touchdown, but the Huskers needed 80 yards in 1:20 with no timeouts to keep their hopes of a Big Ten title alive.

Martinez hit Enunwa with a 22-yard strike on the sideline to start the drive, but after a rush for no gain and back-to-back incompletions, the Huskers were faced with 4th-and-10 at the NU 42 with 40 seconds left.

In one of the most clutch throws of his career, Martinez connected with senior tight end Kyler Reed for a 38-yard strike to put NU 1st-and-10 at the MSU 20. Two more incompletions left the Huskers 3rd-and-10, and Martinez’s pass to Kenny Bell in the right side of the end zone fell incomplete. However, Michigan State was flagged for pass interference, keeping NU’s drive alive at the MSU 5. For the game, Michigan was penalized nine times for 100 yards, while Nebraska was flagged nine times for 72 yards.

After an incompletion intended for Reed in the back of the end zone, Martinez hit Turner on the winning pass with six seconds left to secure another come-from-behind victory, while giving the Huskers their first lead of the game.

Coming into the 2012 campaign, a storied Nebraska program that now has more than 850 all-time victories, had produced just four double-digit, fourth-quarter comebacks in school history. The Huskers have now done it twice in back-to-back road games.

The last time the Huskers took to the road, they matched the biggest fourth-quarter rally in school history, clawing their way back from a 28-16 deficit with six minutes to go in a 29-28 win at Northwestern.

Nebraska notched its first conference home win and its first of three momentous comebacks in the Big Ten home opener against Wisconsin on Sept. 29. The Huskers trailed the Badgers 27-10 with less than nine minutes to play in the third quarter, before tying the game at 27 by the end of the third. A Maher fourth-quarter field goal completed the 17-point rally, which tied for the second-largest comeback in school history.

Nebraska returns home for the first of back-to-back games at Memorial Stadium, when the Huskers take on always-tough Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 10. Kickoff between the Huskers and Nittany Lions is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT) with live national television coverage on ABC and ESPN2.

Scoring Summary
Final: No. 21 Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012
Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, Mich.)

First Quarter (7-7)
MSU – 4:28 – Le’Veon Bell 11 run (Dan Conroy kick) – 10 plays, 68 yards, 5:02 (MSU, 7-0)
NEB – 2:07 – Ameer Abdullah 2 pass from Taylor Martinez (Maher kick) – 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:21 (7-7)

Second Quarter (14-14)
MSU – 6:56 – Tony Lippett 46 pass from Andrew Maxwell (Conroy kick) – 4 plays, 80 yards, 2:02 (MSU, 14-7)
NEB – 3:11 – Martinez 71 run (Maher kick) – 2 plays, 73 yards, 0:51 (14-14)

Third Quarter (MSU, 17-14)
MSU – 10:21 – Conroy 25 FG – 11 plays, 68 yards, 4:39 (MSU, 17-14)

Fourth Quarter (NEB, 28-24)
MSU – 14:20 – Bell 1 run (Conroy kick) – 8 plays, 38 yards, 3:43 (MSU 24-14)
NEB – 7:02 – Martinez 35 run (Maher kick) – 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:03 (MSU 24-21)
NEB – 0:06 – Jamal Turner 5 pass from Martinez (Maher kick) – 9 plays, 80 yards, 1:20 (NEB, 28-24)

Final: No. 21 Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24
Attendance: 73,522
Time of Game: 3:52
Game Start: 2:30 p.m. (central)

CHADRON, SIDNEY, TO COMPETE AT STATE VOLLEYBALL

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The Nebraska State High School Volleyball Tournament will take place Nov. 8-10 in Grand Island.

In Class B, Sidney meets Norris at the Heartland Events Center at 6:30 p.m.

In Class C-1, Chadron battles Ogallala at Grand Island High at 4 p.m.

In Class D-2, Leyton meets Cedar Valley at 4 p.m. at Grand Island Central Catholic.

In Class D-2, Mullen battles Humphrey at 8:30 p.m. at Grand Island Central Catholic.

Complete brackets can be viewed at www.nsaahome.org

EAGLE FOOTBALL AT FORT LEWIS SATURDAY

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CHADRON – Sporting a 7-2 seasonal record and a 6-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference log, the Chadron State football makes its seventh and final trip of the regular season to Durango, Colo., to play Fort Lewis on Saturday.  Kickoff will be at 1 p.m., and will be broadcast live on Double Q Country Radio.

Despite having some capable players, the Skyhawks are struggling.  They are 0-8 overall and 0-7 in the conference.

New Mexico Highlands dealt Fort Lewis a 50-0 setback in the season opener while Division I-AA Northern Arizona won 69-0 the next week.

The Skyhawks then played what may have their best game of the season, falling by just 42-34 to Western New Mexico. The other scores have been CSU-Pueblo 50-21, Colorado Mines 58-15, Colorado Mesa 36-12, Western State 18-6 and Adams State 55-9.

Chadron State coaches say Fort Lewis has an outstanding weapon in quarterback Tim Jenkins.  Both head coach Jay Long and defensive coordinator Jeff Larson believe Jenkins is among the best signal callers in the conference.

“It seems like nearly everybody in the conference has a great quarterback and they throw the ball about 80 times a game,” Larson said. “The Fort Lewis quarterback is one of the best.  He’s big and strong, experienced and he throws the ball well.”

A 6-foot-3, 220-pound graduate of Thunder Ridge High in the Denver area, Jenkins has completed 161 of 301 passes for 1,817 yards and eight touchdowns.  He’s also thrown eight interceptions.

Six Fort Lewis players have caught at least a dozen passes, led by junior Doyle Bode, who has 43 catches for 475 yards. The leading rusher is Van Gramann, a 5-11, 170-pound sophomore. He has carried 85 times for 347 yards.

Particularly on defense, the Skyhawks are the smallest team physically in the RMAC.  None of the four defensive linemen weighs more than 235 pounds and one linebacker is listed at 180 pounds and the other at 200.

The opponents have rushed for 1,800 yards against Fort Lewis, which has gained just 561 yards on the ground. The foes also have thrown for 25 touchdowns.

Senior Jonathan Price, who has 31 pass receptions for 251 yards, is averaging 9.9 yards on punt returns and 23.6 yards on kickoff returns.

Despite Saturday’s win, the Eagles still haven’t cracked the American Football Coaches Association top 25. However, they remain third in the all-important Super Region 4 rankings, which mean the most at this juncture in the season.

Undefeated Ashland of Ohio and CSU-Pueblo lead the way in the ratings, both at 9-0. CSC and Indianapolis, both at 7-2 for the season and 7-1 in Division II, are third and fourth.

Chadron State, which is 24-3 all-time against the Skyhawks, also recently moved to 19th in the D2football.com Top 25 poll.

COLORADO SPRINGS DOWNS CSC VOLLEYBALL

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CHADRON – The Chadron State College women’s volleyball team won the first set during Friday’s match with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs but the Mountain Lions rebounded and won the final three en route to their 21-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-15 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory.

Three UCCS players had double-digit kills led by Nikki Kinzer’s match-high 16. Kim Catlett and Jordan Banich each had 10 kills apiece and Amy Einspahr and Amanda Bloom chipped in seven apiece.

In the opening set, Chadron State, now 4-22 overall and 2-15 in the RMAC, hit .310 but the Eagles’ offensive numbers diminished in each following set.

For the match, UCCS hit .322 while the Eagles managed to hit .166.

Four Chadron State players had at least eight kills. Erika Roybal finished with a team-high 12 kills,Mallory Irvine and Lexi Hoagland, who hit. 400, had nine and Mollie Jones finished with eight.

Both squads blocked well, finishing with 10 total blocks. Kinzer led UCCS with four and Irvine also had four for Chadron State.

Also for Chadron State, Justine Ackie and Alyssa Bauer combined for 37 set assists and Kristina Harter had a team-high 14 digs.

WNCC MEN OPEN CAGE SEASON WITH WIN

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GILLETTE, Wyo. — Trey Moore popped in seven 3-pointers and the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team started the season off with a bang by dropping Gillette College 98-78 Friday night at Gillette, Wyo.

Moore, the freshman from Papillion-La Vista, Neb., had a huge contest, finishing with 25 points, six assists, and was 7 of 9 from the 3-point area.

Also netting double figures was Willie Mangum had 21 points, while Cody Johnson had 14 points and seven rebounds.

WNCC coach Russ Beck said this all 12 Cougars that saw action scored.

“This was a great team win,” he said. “The bench production was awesome. We need to improve our defense and limit our turnovers. We are taking everything we do one game at a time.”

The Cougars also received nine points from Quante Cooley, five points from Tahir Little, eight points from Chad Calcaterra, five points from Zach Clemens, three points from Rich Williams, five points from Youssoupha Kane, and two points each from Isaiah Castellaw and Doudou Gueye.

WNCC will be back in action Saturday when they face Sheridan. Beck said Sheridan is a salty ball club.

“Sheridan is talented and coach [Steve] Smiley does a great job,” he said. “We need a better defensive game tomorrow [Saturday] if we want to get the win.”

WNCC VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO PLAY FOR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

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MCCOOK — The Western Nebraska Community College volleyball team is one win away from capturing its 14th straight Region IX title after sweeping threw two matches at the Region IX South Volleyball Tournament in McCook Friday afternoon.

The Cougars opened the tournament with a dominating performance against Trinidad State Junior College 25-9, 25-19, 25-12 behind a 13-kill performance from Priscila Mendes. WNCC continued playing well in the winner’s bracket final, sweeping past Northeastern Junior College 25-9, 25-16, 25-15.

Sophomore Tasha Meyer said they played well and were focused entering the competition.

“I honestly think we did very well,” the defensive specialist said. “We came out ready to play together and didn’t let up when things got difficult. Serving is always a key factor in our game and today we just took it step by step.”

What was big in both wins was how they started, capturing the first set 25-9 against both opponents. Meyer said have one thing in mind, a trip to the national tournament.

“We were pretty focused [to start the matches],” Meyer said. “We know what we are playing for and where we want to be in the next two weeks. We’ve been practicing everyday preparing ourselves for tough competition.”

Both matches saw plenty of players step up in different fashion. In the opener against Trinidad State, Luiza Martins finished with a triple-double of 13 points, 10 digs, and 39 assists. On the offensive side, the Cougars finished with 40 total kills against Trinidad and 47 kills against NJC. Against the Trojans, Mendes pounded home 13 followed by seven from Danika Youngblood and six from Allora Tanner. Against NJC, Youngblood had 15 kills, Kat Agson nine and Mendes and Yoro Tovar with seven each.

Meyer said everyone played as a team.

“It’s definitely a big deal that everyone stepped up their game,” she said. “Volleyball is a six man sport and when we play as one team, we dominate. Today’s games showed that we have the talent to go far. I think that today showed what potential we have as a team. Like Coach G always tells us, that when we play together we are a stronger team. Preparation for our number one goal doesn’t stop here. We’re going to continue to work hard and compete so we can end up at the top.”

Against NJC, Martins had 40 set assists, eight points, eight digs, and three kills; Youngblood had 15 kills, nine points, two aces, and seven digs; Agson had nine kills and two solo blocks and two assist blocks; Mendes had seven kills and 10 digs; Tovar had seven kills, nine points, and five digs; Megan Johnson had three kills; Taylor VanderWerff had two kills; Alex Rivera had 13 points and 13 digs; and Meyer had four points and five digs.

Against Trinidad, after Martins triple-double, Agson had four kills and three digs; Youngblood had seven kills, seven points, and five digs; Mendes had 11 digs to go with her 13 kills; Tovar had three kills and four points; Megan Johnson had two kills, two points and two digs; Alex Rivera had 20 digs and six points; Meyer had nine points and seven digs; and Tanner had six kills and six digs.

WNCC, 35-2, will now play for the Region IX South title and a berth in the national tournament Nov. 15-17 in West Plains, Mo., Saturday at 12 noon against the winner of the Saturday morning contest between NJC and Otero.

Meyer said they will be ready.

“For tomorrow’s [Saturday] match, I think all we need to do is come hungry again and we cannot underestimate any of the teams,” she said. “As long as we play together and stay strong i think we can do it.”

Meyer said the key in the championship is to stay “Forever Strong,” which is the team’s motto this season.

“I know that we can do this and if we all want it bad enough, we will have it in our hands,” she said. “We need to play with heart and pride; we aren’t only playing for ourselves but for everyone who has been supporting us and stuck by our side this entire season. KIA KAHA (which is Forever Strong in Hawaii).”

 

Tournament Schedule

Thursday Matches

McCook over Otero — 17-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-11

Trinidad over Lamar — 25-18, 25-27, 25-19, 19-25, 15-12

Friday’s Matches

NJC over McCook — 25-15, 26-24, 25-12

WNCC over Trinidad — 25-9, 25-19, 25-12

Otero over Trinidad — 16-25, 18-25, 25-11. 25-21, 15-12

Lamar over McCook — 23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-16, 15-7

WNCC over NJC — 25-9, 25-16, 25-15

Otero over Lamar — 25-19, 25-16, 25-18

Saturday’s Schedule

10 a.m. — NJC vs. Otero

12 noon — WNCC vs. winner 10 a.m. match

2 p.m. — if necessary match

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