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Nebraska AD Eichorst Fired

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Nebraska has fired athletic director Shawn Eichorst, citing his failure to improve “on-field performance” by the Cornhuskers.

Chancellor Ronnie Green announced the move Thursday. Eichorst joined Nebraska in October 2012, and has about $1.7 million remaining on a contract that runs through June 2019.

Green praised Eichorst but says his “efforts have not translated into on-field performance. Green says winning “can and often does happen in concert with well-run, quality college programs.”

Eichorst and football coach Mike Riley have been under increased scrutiny with the continued mediocrity of the program. Eichorst hired Riley in 2014, replacing Bo Pelini.

Riley is just 16-13 at Nebraska, a school that has won five national championships, went to bowl games every year from 1969-2003 but has not won a conference title since 1999. The Huskers are off to a second 1-2 start in three seasons.

Volleyball Teams Look to Get Back to Winning Ways Thursday

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It’s Thursday and there’s plenty on the sports schedule starting locally where the volleyball courts will be full with teams trying to blast through a mid-season slump and get tuned up for sub-districts in a month.

Chadron will look to snap a ten-match losing streak.  The Cards are at Scottsbluff, another team looking to get past early season struggles at 2-7.

Sidney has only lost one set in the six matches it’s won this year, and the Lady Raiders are playing well lately winning three of its last four matches overall as they get set to host a triangular tonight.

Gering and Kimball each have five wins this fall but are trying to get back into winning ways right now. Kimball has dropped three matches in a row, Gering has five losses in its last six matches.

After opening the fall with an eight-match winning streak Creek Valley has lost two of three and goes on the road to rival Garden County tonight.

Crawford and Gordon/Rushville match-up in Crawford, and Mitchell will host a triangular with Leyton and Hay Springs. Mitchell had won eight-straight and were swept in a showdown with Alliance Tuesday.  It should be a pretty good match with Leyton tonight, a Warrior team that’s won seven of its last eight.

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Softball tournament action is being held in Ogallala today: Chadron, Scottsbluff, Gothenburg, Cozad, Chase County, Gering, North Platte are all in the mix.  Chadron’s two scheduled games so far are against Gothenburg and Cozad.  The Cards have split two with Gothenburg and haven’t played Cozad yet this fall.

Rockies Stay In Playoff Spot After Milwaukee Brews Up Bad Finish

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Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood dug himself an early hole against the Giants leaving the Rockies’ lead for the second NL wild card in jeopardy after a 4-0 loss to last-place San Francisco on Wednesday, the club’s third straight defeat.

Joe Panik hit a one-out triple in the first off Chatwood (8-13) and immediately scored on Denard Span’s sacrifice fly, then Panik doubled in the third and came home on Buster Posey’s sacrifice fly.

The Rockies’ wild-card advantage had been trimmed to one game by the Brewers to begin the day.

Brandon Crawford hit a solo homer in the third to back Matt Moore (6-14), who earned his first win against Colorado after going 0-2 over his first three outings of the year.

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It was a tough night for Brewers closer Corey Knebel as he committed a game-tying error and served up a gopher ball in a 6-4 loss at Pittsburgh. Adam Frazier ended it with a two-run, walk-off blast in the bottom of the ninth, one inning after Knebel threw away a two-out grounder to allow Andrew McCutchen to score the tying run. Milwaukee wasted homers by Domingo Santana and Jesus Aguilar in staying 3 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs.

Don Beebe Stadium Groundbreaking Ceremony Follows Eagles Game Saturday

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The ceremonial groundbreaking for the football stadium portion of Chadron State College’s proposed Sports Complex will take place this Saturday, September 23, immediately following the Homecoming football game versus Adams State University, in front of the south grandstands on Elliott Field at Don Beebe Stadium.

Provided the remaining funding for the project can be secured, the physical transformation of the facility will begin following the conclusion of the Eagles’ 2017 football season.

On Saturday, the Chadron State Foundation, college administrators, benefactors, and coaches, will honor the legacy of the football facility’s 89 seasons, while symbolically turning a page in history to a new chapter for Chadron State football. Joining them will be Gary Bieganski, CSC Class of 1969, a Nebraska State College System trustee since 2006.

The honorary shovel bearers for the ceremony are as follows: Chadron State President Dr. Randy Rhine, V.P. of Administration and Finance Dale Grant, Athletic Director Joel R. Smith, Bieganksi, Head Football Coach Jay Long, Foundation board chair Linda Redfern, longtime college supporter Erma Lewellen, and CSC Athletics Hall of Fame information officer Con Marshall. Lewellen, together with late husband Verne, will be the namesake for the new hospitality area in the rebuilt facility. Marshall’s name will continue to grace the press box.

Smith, Redfern, Long, and Rhine will address those in attendance in the grandstands, before the ceremonial soil is turned.

Fans in attendance at the Homecoming game are encouraged to stick around for the ceremonial groundbreaking and to join Head Coach Long for the postgame reception at Country Kitchen to follow.

Prep Sports Notebook: Alliance and Mitchell Meet in Volleyball Showdown Tuesday

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  • The most intriguing high school volleyball match tonight is Alliance against Mitchell. They’re a combined 14-2 and will play at Mitchell.

 

  • Scottsbluff will look for its third win of the fall at Cheyenne South. The Lady Bearcats have lost two straight and all seven match losses this year have come via sweep.

 

  • Hershey is at Kimball: the Longhorns have cooled a bit after winning four of five earlier this month and they’ll try to snap a two-match slide.

 

  • Bayard won its first four matches of the season but has dropped the following five since and plays at the Leyton Triangular along with Garden County. Leyton’s recent six match winning streak – which included two wins over Bayard – was snapped on Saturday by Bridgeport.

 

  • Bridgeport welcomes in Hemingford and Morrill for a triangular. Bridgeport is 10-2 and hasn’t lost a set in three straight matches.  Hemingford has seven wins and Morrill is 1-7.

 

  • Creek Valley is another team playing really well, 8-1 after their eight-match win streak was slashed by Potter-Dix Saturday. The Storm goes on the road to Perkins County with Sutherland for triangular play tonight.

 

  • Sidney is at Chase County.

 

  • On the softball diamond dirt Chadron has been playing some excellent softball – 8-2 in its last 10 games and taking two of three at the North Platte Classic over the weekend. Today the Cardinals are home to face Gering for the fourth time – Chadron has won two of three in the fall series.  Scottsbluff and Alliance are playing at Scottsbluff.

 

  • Tuesday’s high school girls golf tournament is at Ogallala.  Scottsbluff will host a tournament on Thursday.

Chadron State Punter Earns 2nd RMAC Special Teams Honor of Season

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For the second time this season, Chadron State College junior punter Zack Kozlik landed weekly recognition from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, as this week’s RMAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week

Kozlik punted eight times, landing five inside the 10 yard line and pinning WSCU deep in their own territory time and time again. Those five punts forced the Mountaineers to start drives at their own 10, 9, 9, 6, and 1 yard lines. One of those traveled 52 yards to be fair caught at the Western nine-yard line. Kozlik’s last attempt of the first quarter bounced out at the Western one-yard line, allowing an Eagles interception to start a drive at the 11.

So far this season, Kozlik is averaging 38.4 yards on 22 attempts, 15 of which have started opponent drives inside their own 20-yard line.

Coach Updates Injury Status of Broncos Top Draft Pick Bolles

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Denver Broncos coach Vance Joseph says first-round draft pick Garett Bolles’ left leg injury isn’t as serious as first feared and the left tackle ditched his walking boot Monday as he used only crutches to get around team headquarters and get treatment.

Joseph said “it’s a lower leg bruise, so we’re very lucky that it isn’t serious and he’s week to week. So, we dodged a bullet in my opinion there.”

The Broncos initially feared a torn Achilles tendon, which would have ended the rookie’s season.

Possible fill-ins include veterans Donald Stephenson, who went in when Bolles got hurt in the third quarter of Denver’s 45-17 win over Dallas, and Allen Barbre, who took the bulk of the snaps the rest of the game because he’s a better run blocker.

Joseph said Barbre played well in place of Bolles, suggesting, “he’s a guy that’s very valuable to our offensive line.”

CSC Cowboy Wins Saddle Bronc Riding at Home Rodeo

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By: Con Marshall

Led by senior Cody Trump’s first championship of his college career, members of the Chadron State College rodeo team got the 2017-18 season off to a solid start during their home rodeo this past weekend.  The rodeo, which had 566 contestants from 14 schools, opened the season in the Central Rocky Mountain Region.

Trump won the saddle bronc riding by earning 66 and 67 points during his two trips out of the chute. He was one of nine Chadron State entries to place among the top six in their events.

Three of the CSC placewinners were bull riders.  Chasen Cole, the defending Central Rocky Mountain Region champion, was the runner-up, Ethan Lesiak was third and Buck Butterfield fifth.

Kalen Anders took third for Chadron State in tie down roping and three more members of coach Dustin Luper’s team finished fourth in their events.  They are Rowdy Moon in bareback riding, Hannah Hostulter in breakaway roping and Brandi Cwach in goat tying.

In addition, Prestyn Novak was a member of the fifth place team roping entry.

Led by the all-around winners, Gillette College won both team titles by wide margins.

The Gillette cowgirls rolled up 405 points while Eastern Wyoming was the runner-up with 205 points, Colorado State-Pueblo was third with 160 and Chadron State fourth with 105.

The Gillette cowboy finished with 560 points, Laramie County Community College was second with 410 and Chadron State third with 370, five more than Sheridan College.

Gillette’s Quincy Segelke was the breakaway roping winner with a pair of 2.5-second runs and also placed in both goat tying and barrel racing to reap the all-around cowgirl honors.  Seth Anderson placed second in tie down roping and was on the fourth place team roping duo to take the all-around cowboy title.

Besides Trump, other cowboys who won events are Hunter Carlson of Sheridan, bareback riding; Austin Hurlburt of LCCC, tie down roping;  Thomas Davis of Central Wyoming College, steer wrestling;  Kody Aldrich of Otero College, bull riding; and Kellan Johnson of Gillette and Trey Yates of Casper College, team roping.

Cowgirls winning monogrammed jackets in addition to Segelke in breakaway roping were Riley Addington of Gillette in barrel racing and Jacey Thompson of Eastern Wyoming in goat tying.

A freshman at the Torrington college, Thompson lived in the Whitney area until about two years ago when her family moved across the state line into Wyoming.  The Thompsons now have a Yoder address.

The top six in each of the events follows:

Men’s team standings—1, Gillette College, 560 points; 2, Laramie County, 410; 3, Chadron State, 370; 4, Sheridan College, 365; 5, Casper College, 320; 6, Central Wyoming, 315.

Bareback riding—1, Hunter Carlson, Sheridan, 73-76, 149 points; 2, Brock Wahlert, Wyoming, 70-72, 142; 3, Cole Reiner, Sheridan, 68-72, 140; 4, Rowdy Moon, Chadron, 70-69, 139; 5, Chance Ames, Sheridan, 65-71, 136; 6, Thomas Davis, Central Wyoming, 65-71, 131.

Saddle bronc riding—1, Cody Trump, Chadron, 66-67, 133 points; 2, Carter Elshere, Gillette, 66-65, 131; 3, K’s Thompson, Sheridan, 67-60, 127; 4, Mason Mardesich, Otero, 64-61, 125; 5, Houston Brown, LCCC, 73-0, 73; 6, Hayden Petsch, LCCC, 71-0, 71.

Tie down roping—1, Austin Hurlburt, LCCC, 9.8-10.4, 20.2 seconds; 2, Seth Andersen, Gillette, 9.5-11.2, 20.7; 3, Kalen Anders, Chadron, 9.6-12.1, 21.7; 4, Myles Kenzy, Gillette, 12.2-11.7, 23.9; 5, JD Kirwin, Gillette, 12.4-11.6, 24.0; 6, Jace Staudt, Northeast, 12.4-12-4, 24.8.

Steer wrestling—1, Thomas Davis, Central Wyoming, 4.9-5.4, 10.3 seconds; 2, Tate Mathis, LCCC, 6.1-5.6, 11.7; 3, Brady Thurston, Central Wyoming, 4.8-7.6, 12.4; 4, Taylor Davidson, Central Wyoming, 6.3-6.2; 12.5; 5, Braydon Kalkowski, LCCC, 5.4-7.4, 12.8; 6, J.D. Draper, LCCC, 6.6-7.2, 13.8.

Team roping—1, Kellan Johnson, Gillette, and Trey Yates, Casper, 6.3-6.0, 12.3 seconds; 2, Wheaton Williams and Jerren Johnson, Casper, 5.7-7.8, 13.5; 3, Bryer Wadhams and Trevor Schnaufer, Eastern Wyoming, 9.7-5.9, 15.6; 4, Cooper White and Seth Anderson, Gillette, 7.2-11,7, 18.9; 5, Jon Peterson, Gillette, and Prestyn Novak, Chadron, 11.7-10.9, 22.6; 6, Canton Afdahl and Logan Milligan, Eastern Wyoming, 7.7-0, 7.7.

Bull riding—1, Kody Aldrich, Otero, 85-0, 85 points; 2, Chasen Cole, Chadron, 84-0, 84; 3, Ethan Lesiak, 80-0, 80; 4, Ty Bertrand, Casper, 77-0, 77; 5, Buck Butterfield, Chadron,  73-0, 73; 6, Dillon Micheel, Otero, 65-0, 65.

Women’s team standings—1, Gillette College, 405 points ; 2, Eastern Wyoming, 205; 3, Colorado State-Pueblo, 160; 4, Chadron State, 105. 5, Northeastern Junior College, 90; 6 tie, LCCC and Central Wyoming, 80.

Breakaway roping—1, Quincy Segelke, Gillette, 2.5-2.5, 5.0 seconds; 2, Teisha Coffield, CSU-Pueblo, 2.7-2.7, 5.4; 3, Sydney Graff, LCC, 2.9-2.7, 5.6; 4, Hannah Hostulter, Chadron, 2.8-3.3, 6.1; 5, Caydee Johnson, LCC, 3.0-12.4, 15.4, 6, Deni Lou Johnson, Central Wyoming, 2.7-0, 2.7.

Barrel racing—1, Riley Addington, Gillette, 16.56-16.35, 32.91 seconds ; 2, Emmy O’Connell, Gillette, 16.93-16.71, 33.64; 3, Siarra Johnson, Casper, 17.64-16.51. 34.15; 4, Karson Bradley, Central Wyoming, 17.40-16.80, 34.20; 5, Megan Turek, LCCC, 17.49-16.98, 34.47; 6, Quincy Segelke, Gillette, 17.26-17.29, 34.55.

Goat tying—1, Jacey Thompson, Eastern Wyoming, 7.0-7.3, 14.3 seconds; 2, Taylour Latham, Gillette, 7.0-8.0, 15.0; 3, Faith Hoffman, Northeastern, 7.8-7.5, 15.3; 4, Brandi Cwach, Chadron, 7.9-8.1, 16.0; 5, Quincy Segelke, Gillette, 7.5-8.7, 16.2; 6 tie, Teisha Coffield, CSU-Pueblo, 7.8-8.5, 16.3, and Ashten Marchant, Lamar, 7.4-8.9, 16.3.

Pile of Turnovers Builds Mountain of Points in CSC Blowout Over Mountaineers

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The Chadron State College defense came up with six takeaways and converted five of them into touchdowns here Saturday afternoon while romping past the Western State Mountaineers 49-7 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest.

The Eagles, now 2-1, scored two touchdowns in the opening quarter and four times in the second period, three of them in the final 76 seconds, to build a 42-0 halftime bulge.

Both teams scored one TD in the second half, when the Eagles gave nearly all 60 members of their travel squad playing time at the line of scrimmage.

“Both our offense and defense did really well today,” Chadron State head coach Jay Long said.   “The defense had some big hits that caused fumbles and created lots of momentum.  We were in the attack mode.”

Safety Ryan Wood caused two of the fumbles that led to touchdowns.  He initially stripped the ball from a Western receiver and also recovered it at the Mountaineers’ 31. Tailback Kevin Coy had consecutive carries of 11 and 20 yards to the end zone.

Also in the first quarter, Woods’ twin brother, Brian, also a safety, tipped a Western State pass that linebacker Merritt Crabtree caught at the Mountaineers’ 11.  Another CSC tailback, Derek Jackson, scored in two plays.  Brian Wood passed to tight end Colton Wright for a two-point conversion.

As the first period was winding down, CSC quarterback Dalton Holst connected with inside receiver Colt Foster on a 57-yard pass play to the Western State three.  The quarter ran out before the Eagles scored, but Jackson scored from the two on the second play in the second stanza.

There were lots of fireworks as the first half was winding down.

Ryan Wood caused another fumble that was recovered by cornerback Trey Mosley, who was credited with a 39-yard touchdown jaunt, but may have run twice that far while avoiding would-be tacklers and scoring with 76 seconds left.

On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, CSC defensive tackle Truett Box forced a fumble that was claimed by Brian Wood at the Mountaineers’ 36. Holst’s first pass was incomplete, but he hooked up with wide receiver Stevann Brown on the next one for another touchdown.

On that kickoff, the Eagles’ Zech James forced another fumble on the return that Colton Wright recovered at the hosts’ 35. Holst needed five passes to cash in the chips but Tevon Wright, no relation to Colton, made the scoring grab from 16 yards away with two seconds left on the clock.

Western State got its only touchdown with three minutes remaining in the third period by going 33 yards in five plays following a shanked CSC punt.  Quarterback Dylan Jacob went the final 10 yards.

The Eagles answered with a 75-yard drive that was culminated on the second play of the fourth period on Coy’s eight-yard burst.  Jackson’s 40-yard gallop ignited the drive.

The Eagles finished with 19 first downs and 387 total net yards. They rushed for 168 yards and passed for 189.  Coy carried 15 times for 70 yards and Jackson 13 times for 63.

Holst, who played only the first half, completed 10 of 23 passes for 161 yards.  Foster led all receivers with three catches for 77 yards.

Western State, now 0-3, had nine first downs and 181 total yards.  Box led the Eagles with 10 tackles, Crabtree had nine, Brian Wood and linebacker Keenan Johnson seven apiece and Ryan Wood six.

The Eagles will host Adams State on Homecoming next Saturday. The Grizzlies are also 2-1 after edging Fort Lewis 34-27 on Saturday.

CSC WSCU
First Downs 19 9
Total Net Yards 357 181
Rushes, Yards 46-186 39-80
Passing Yards 189   101
Passing 13-29-0 12-28-1
Return Yards    44      68
Punts, Average 8-37.5 8-43.4
Fumbles, Lost 3-1   8-5
Penalties, Yards 9-116 5-49

Chadron State     15         27        0        7      —49
Western State       0           0        7         0    —–7

CSC—Kevin Coy 20 run (Will Morgan kick)
CSC—Derek Jackson 3 run (Colton Wright pass from Brian Wood)
CSC—Jackson 2 run (Morgan kick)
CSC—Trey Mosley 39 fumble return (Morgan kick)
CSC—Stevann Brown 26 pass from Dalton Holst (Morgan kick)
CSC—Tevon Wright 16 pass from Holst (Morgan kick)
WSCU—Dylan Jacob 10 run (Max Smith kick)
CSC—Kevin Coy 8 run (Morgan kick)
Rushing:  CSC—Kevin Coy 15-70, Derek Jackson 13-63, Brad Johnston 10-29, Stevann Brown 1-10, Jackson Dickerson 1-7, Dalton Holst 2-minus 2, Matt Vinson 4-minus 9. WSCU—Justice Macneal-Young 16-32, Devon Quiroz 4-11, Rico Tipton 6-17, Easton Bruere 1-4, Ty Leyba 2-3, Dylan Jacob 10-2.
Passing: CSC—Dalton Holst 10-23-0, 161 yards, 2 TDs; Matt Vinson 3-6-0, 28 yards.  WSCU—Dylan Jacob 12-28-1, 101 yards.
Receiving: CSC—Colt Foster 3-77, Stevann Brown 2-41, Jackson Dickerson 3-20, Tevon Wright 1-16, Colton Wright 1-13, Derek Jackson 1-12, Kevin Coy 1-7, Brian Fullerton 1-3.  WSCU—Anthony Fletcher 1-36, Max Novak 3-24, Zach Manchester 4-19, Elijah Gilbert 1-11, Jordan Barton 2-10, Zach Griggs 1-1.

Eagles Return Saturday With Inspired Competitiveness in Battle With Metro

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Chadron State College dropped a 3-1 volleyball match to Metropolitan State University of Denver that was harder fought than the score would suggest. The Eagles went into the third set after outhitting the defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champ .370 to .333, but fell short in the third and fourth sets to go to 3-7 (0-2 RMAC) to begin conference play. MSU Denver, who lost to Regis on Friday night, is now 4-6 (1-1 RMAC).

CSC Head Volleyball Coach praised the middle frontcourt players once again, but said the team needs to play like they did in the second set more often.

“I’m not disappointed that we went out and played toe-to-toe with one of the top two teams in the league,” said Mullis. “We showed tonight that we wanted to compete. Nae [Aijahnae Springs) was exciting to watch tonight, but we’re just one hitter away from winning that match, and when Gaby [Varela] returns we’re a much better team.”

The Roadrunner hitters were on point all night, and CSC started out with a few flubs in the opening volleys to give the visitors a cushion. The Eagles soon settled in and controlled mistakes for the rest of the first set while MSUD cruised to a 1-0 lead.

The second set was the highlight for Chadron State who saw junior Springs and middle hitter Timmi Keisel take over the match in spurts. Springs finished with 11 kills and only four hitting errors to lead the team in points. Keisel and fellow middle McKenna Hartigan each scored six kills to tie for second. Keisel was also part of the Eagles’ only block along with right side hitter Dominika Senkerikova.

However, the Roadrunners’ offensive surge couldn’t be stopped, as they had a .339 hitting percentage for the four sets of the match and rolled to wins in sets three and four.

MSU Denver’s Santaisha Sturges (14), Vasati Fiatoa (11) and Taylor Duryea (10) all finished with double-digit kills, and setter Alyssa Svalberg had a stellar 45 assists for 11.25 per set.

The Eagles are on the road next weekend at Western State Colorado University and Colorado Mesa University at 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively on Friday and Saturday.