LINCOLN – Archery deer hunting season opens Sept. 1 in Nebraska.
The early opener was requested by archery hunters to allow hunting of deer when bucks are still in velvet. Opening day had been Sept. 15 for the past 35 years.
“For those who don’t mind hunting what could be warm days, with lots of leafy vegetation, this is a good time to be out in the woods, when hunter numbers can be expected to be low,” said Kit Hams, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s big game program manager.
The archery deer season runs through Dec. 31. Archery permits are valid statewide, with restrictions, and unlimited in number. The permit bag limit is one deer of any kind. To purchase permits or view the 2014 Big Game Guide, visit OutdoorNebraska.org.
Category: Sports
Manning Showing a Smell-The-Roses Approach
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning seems to be having a lot more fun this summer.
He’s still grinding through training camp like always but he’s also showing a loosey-goosey side that he rarely flashed in Indy or in his first two seasons in Denver.
One morning, he’s doing a dorky dance to “Rocky Top” during stretch time at Broncos headquarters — dancing like nobody’s watching even though he knows everybody is.
Another day he’s taking snaps from Brandon Stokley’s 10-year-old boy on the side during special teams drills.
Or letting his twin toddlers tackle him after a practice at Sports Authority Field.
Broncos Linebacker Trevathan Carted Off Field, Out 6 to 8 Weeks (Updated)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos leading tackler Danny Trevathan is out six to eight weeks after fracturing his left knee during a particularly intense padded practice Tuesday.
The Broncos said their weakside linebacker has what’s called a medial tibial impaction fracture but, fortunately, no torn ligaments.
Trevathan, who didn’t put any weight on his left leg after being carted off the field during team drills, is expected to return to the Broncos right around their bye week in late September, meaning he’d only miss three regular season games, at most.
He was hurt on an 11-on-11 run play in which center Will Montgomery rolled over him.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Weakside linebacker Danny Trevathan, the Denver Broncos’ leading tackler, has been carted off the field with a left knee injury.
Trevathan was injured during 11-on-11 drills toward the end of Tuesday morning’s workout.
There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury or how much time he’ll miss.
Earlier, Trevathan was involved in one of several scrums that erupted between the offense and defense during team drills.
Trevathan is coming off a breakout season in which he led the Broncos with 124 tackles and picked off three passes. He also led the team with two dozen tackles in the playoffs.
Chiefs Finally Building up Depth at Wide Receiver
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The past few years in Kansas City, it’s been Dwayne Bowe and everyone else at wide receiver.
Anyone else, really.
In fact, the Chiefs have basically put out “HELP WANTED” signs for pass catchers going back four head coaches. And the call has been answered by a forgettable cast of characters: Terrance Copper, Devard Darling, Will Franklin, Chris Chambers and Steve Breaston, among many others.
But for the first time since the Dick Vermeil era of the Air Coryell offense, the Chiefs just might have enough talent at the wide receiver position so that quarterback Alex Smith doesn’t fall into a deep state of depression when he steps up in the pocket and looks down field.
Bowe is the unquestionable leader of the group, but Junior Hemingway also has emerged as a big, reliable slot target. De’Anthony Thomas already has proven to be an electrifying playmaker, whether the rookie’s taking a handoff or splitting out wide. And a group that includes Donnie Avery, Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins and Frankie Hammond Jr. has all had moments of brilliance.
“All of us, as a unit, as one, we have good chemistry with one another,” Hemingway said this week, “and when we’re out there we can talk to one another through certain situations and things like that, which makes it better for us as receivers.”
Makes it better for Smith, too.
While he put some of the best numbers of his career last year, many of those yards came on dump-offs and short passes that running back Jamaal Charles turned into big plays. Smith hardly had the same kind of big, rangy targets such as Michael Crabtree that he had in San Francisco, and that was a big reason why his average of 6.29 yards per attempt was 29th among 37 quarterbacks who threw enough passes to be ranked.
With a potentially faster, more athletic group of wide receivers this season, Smith hopes to be able to stretch defenses and deliver the ball deeper down the field.
“Our whole receiver crew I think has done an excellent job and had a great offseason. They’ve kept it going in camp with the pads on,” Smith said. “Those guys come out and battle every single day. They get a lot of tough looks; they come out prepared and make a lot of plays.”
The depth was evident in the Chiefs’ preseason opener against Cincinnati. Six different wide receivers were targeted and five caught passes, a significant number considering the four Kansas City quarterbacks only attempted 18 passes in the entire game.
While there is plenty of talent in the group, there is also plenty of inexperience, and that may be the biggest reason why questions still surround the Chiefs’ wide receivers.
Jenkins has only caught eight passes in his first two seasons. Williams has caught 47 balls over four injury-plagued years. Hammond was on the Chiefs’ practice squad a year ago, and Thomas and fellow rookie Albert Wilson are just getting their feet wet in the NFL.
So what exactly is offensive coordinator Doug Pederson looking for in his pass catchers?
“First of all, they have to understand our offense,” he said. “We move them around so much. Dwayne is not always on the outside, he’s on the inside. Tight ends are not always inside; they are outside. Same with running backs. So you look for the mental capacity.
“Having the ability to defeat bump-and-run” is critical,” Pederson continued, “because in the National Football League, you have to defeat bump-and-run first and foremost. And then can they sustain down the field — meaning blocks, routes, top routes, creating separation and understanding coverage. Those types of things create a receiver that we can use in this system.”
The next few weeks will determine just how many wide receivers fit that description. But so far in training camp, the Chiefs appear to have more than in any recent season.
“I’ve seen some good things,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “We’ll play the best guys.”
Notes: Pro Bowl S Eric Berry (right heel tendinitis) left practice Tuesday. It’s unclear how long he’ll be out. … DE Mike Catapono (illness) missed practice after briefly returning this week. … K Ryan Succop (groin inflammation) remained out of practice.
Nebraska-Florida State Tip-off Time Set
Lincoln – The Big Ten and ESPN announced Tuesday the tip-off times and television information for the 2014 ACC/Big Ten Challenge Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Nebraska’s game at Florida State on Monday, Dec. 1, will tip off at 6 p.m. (central) and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
The Huskers’ game with the Seminoles is one of two games on the ESPN family of networks that evening, as Rutgers will take on Clemson on ESPNU with a 6 p.m. tip. The remainder of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge will feature six games on Tuesday, Dec. 2, and Wednesday, Dec. 3, with doubleheaders on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Tuesday’s announcement is the second announcement in the past week about non-conference television and start times. The Huskers’ Diamondhead Classic opener against Hawaii will be on ESPNU while other tournament games will also be on ESPN2, ESPNU or online on ESPN3.com.
Monday, Dec. 1
Nebraska at Florida State, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Rutgers at Clemson, 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Pittsburgh at Indiana (6 p.m., ESPN2)
Minnesota at Wake Forest (6 p.m., ESPNU)
Syracuse at Michigan (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
NC State at Purdue (8 p.m., ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Illinois at Miami (8 p.m., ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Ohio State at Louisville (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Michigan State at Notre Dame (6:15 p.m., ESPN2)
Virginia Tech at Penn State (6:15 p.m., ESPNU)
Iowa at North Carolina (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
Virginia at Maryland (8:15 p.m., ESPN2)
Georgia Tech at Northwestern (8:15 p.m., ESPNU)
Duke at Wisconsin (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
FCC’s Pai Supports Repeal of NFL TV Blackout Rules
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission says it’s time to repeal NFL television blackout rules.
Ajit Pai says the FCC needs to “be on the side of sports fans” regarding league rules that prevent games that are not sold out from being broadcast in the home team’s market.
Pai is one of five FCC commissioners, and was in Buffalo on Tuesday to make the announcement alongside congressman Brian Higgins, who has urged the FCC to change the rules. The FCC has spent the past year seeking public input regarding blackout regulations.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said there is no reason to change the blackout policy put in place in 1975. Goodell says repeal could affect future TV contracts and lead to fewer games broadcast for free.
Chiefs’ Eric Berry Leaves Practice with Heel Pain
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry left the Chiefs’ practice for the second time this training camp on Tuesday as he continues to be bothered by tendinitis in his right heel.
Berry missed a few days of practice last week with the heel injury. He eventually returned to workouts but did not play in the Chiefs’ preseason opener against Cincinnati.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that the team will continue to monitor Berry and rest him as needed, though it’s unclear when he’ll return. Kansas City plays at Carolina on Sunday.
Defensive end Mike Catapano also left practice with the same illness that has sidelined him for much of training camp. Kicker Ryan Succop remained out with groin inflammation.
First-Place Royals? Better Start to Believe It
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — When the Royals rolled out of bed Tuesday morning and glanced at the standings, they saw something that hadn’t been the case since many of them were in junior high school.
Kansas City was sitting atop the AL Central and the playoffs were closer than opening day.
After they won their eighth straight game Monday night, against AL West-leading Oakland no less, the Royals assumed control of their division at the latest point in a season since 2003.
Perennial powerhouse Detroit had been relegated to second place, at least for a day, and an entire city that has been starved for winning was able to relish the moment.
Dawson County Raceway Results – August 10
The racing action was smoking hot at Dawson County Raceway in Lexington, Nebraska on Sunday as competitors jostled for position with limited events remaining, seeking the most points possible to snare post season accolades and the honor of winning the Jeremy Trompke Memorial hardware.
Earning trips to the winners circle on Sunday evening to take home the coveted Trompke trophies were: Colton Osborn, Chad Dolan, Kevin Safranek, Mike Nichols, Dillon Thompson and Brad Bayne.
Leading the final five laps was enough for Colton Osborn of Cozad to claim the checkered flags in the IMCA Modified Feature event. Osborn started in the fourth row and was able to work his way into contention just past the halfway point of the race. Leading the most laps in the event was the runner-up finisher Cale Osborn of Cozad. Cale grabbed the lead on the fifth lap and was the point until his brother Colton snared the lead on the 15th circuit. Cale Osborn put the pressure on Colton Osborn for the waning laps, but was forced to settle for second place. The Eddyville Flyer Chuck Stryker started on the front row and staying in contention throughout the event to earn third place honors. Jay Steffens of North Platte and Cozad’s Steve Aitken were the earlier in the evening heat race winners.
Hitting a hot streak, Gibbon’s Chad Dolan darted to the lead on the opening lap from his fourth row starting position and never looked back, despite the abundance of caution flags that flew during the IMCA Northern Sport Modified Feature. Dolan led all 20 laps of the feature to earn the victory. Jamey Kennicutt of Gothenburg drove from the fifth row starting position to earn a podium finish, along with putting heavy pressure on eventual victor Dolan in the waning laps. Kennicutt crossed the stripe in second place overall. The ‘Ageless Wonder’ Denny Egge of Kearney was high on the steering wheel to drive his hotrod to a third place finish, coming from the fifth row starting position. Dolan and Hunter Cantrell were the heat race winners in the division.
Powering his way to the front and showing great driving prowess was veteran wheelman Kevin Safranek of Merna to win the Grand National Late Model checkered flag. Safranek claimed the lead on the 14th lap and he never looked back to earn the victory. Finishing with the fury to put the pressure cooker on Safranek was Dylan Schmer of Aurora, who was forced to settle for second place honors. Early leader Brandon Leonard of Gibbon paced the field for the initial 13 circuits, fell off the pace of the leaders, but recovered quite nicely with a third place finish. Josh Leonard of Gibbon and Hastings hotshoe Jarred Hackler won the earlier heat races in the division.
Wasting no time to get to the front and pace the field was Mike Nichols of Harlan Iowa as he earned the victory in the IMCA Stock Car Feature in fine fashion. Nichols drove his way to the lead on the third lap and he was able to remain in front throughout the remainder of the event. Casey Werkmeister of Maywood was the runner-up finisher as he worked through traffic to earn the second place honor, after starting in the rear of the field at the onset. Coming home third overall and earning a podium finish was the ‘Flying Farmer’ Kyle Clough of Wallace. Clough started in the fourth row and was able to dart into contention early and avoid incidents to earn the trip to the podium. Nichols was joined by Lexington’s Darin Racek in claiming heat race victories.
Earning the big payday in the Jeremy Trompke Memorial event was Dillon Thompson of Campbell, as he won the IMCA Feature in the Hobby Stock division. Thompson was able to drive his way to the lead on the fifth lap and despite heavy pressure from challengers was able to hold down the fort and earn the victory. Early leader Robert Leonard of Gibbon was second overall after leading the first four laps. Beatrice hotshoe Adam Armstrong started in the third row and he was able to show great consistency to avoid incidents and earn a show position finish on the podium. Sal Hernandez of Columbus and Colton Pfeifer of Stockton, Kansas rounded out the top five finishers in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Nearing the halfway point, the time was now for Brad Bayne of Greeley, Colorado to power his way to the lead and never relinquish the lead and earn the Outlaw Vintage Lites Series victory at Dawson County Raceway. Bayne was inside the top five from the onset, but it wasn’t until the sixth lap that he drove to the point and never looked back. Crossing the stripe second overall was Brandon Vantine of Milford. Vantine led a trio of laps in the early going and didn’t waver in earning the podium finish. Doug Pollock of Tekamah was third overall. Brad Bayne and his father Duane Bayne earned heat race wins in the division. Greeley, Colorado veteran driver Duane Bayne went for a wild ride, rolling numerous times off of turn four during the feature event.
Dawson County Raceway is back in action this weekend with big purses being posted for the IMCA Modified’s and Northern Sport Modifieds battling for $1500 and $1000 to the victor. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the racing action is scheduled to start with the drop of the green flag at 6:30 p.m.
(Unofficial Results)
–IMCA Modified Feature: 1. 50c-Colton Osborn; 2. 6c-Cale Osborn; 3. 19-Chuck Stryker; 4. 7a-Steve Aitken; 5. XII-Jay Steffens; 6. 34jw-Cole Hodges; 7. 4c-Charley Brown; 8. 81-Mike Densberger; 9. 727-Todd Schwarz; 10. 1c-Cole Egge; 11. 2-Jeremy Herbst; 12. 0-Kyle Rohleder.
Heat Race winners: XII-Jay Steffens; 7a-Steve Aitken.
–IMCA Northern Sport Modified Feature: 1. 87d-Chad Dolan; 2. 15k-Jamey Kennicutt; 3. 1x-Denny Egge; 4. 0hp-Bryan Herrick; 5. 20-Hunter Cantrell; 6. 68-Craig Howard; 7. 12j-Kerry Jones; 8. 23mm-Casey Clausen; 9. 20b-Brandon Clough; 10. 15j-Herb Slough; 11. 15r-Robbie Kosmacek; 12. 2c-JR Ewing.
Heat Race winners: 87d-Chad Dolan; 20-Hunter Cantrall.
–Grand National Late Models Feature: 1. 28-Kevin Safranek; 2. 5s-Dylan Schmer; 3. 88-Brandon Leonard; 4. 85-Josh Leonard; 5. 55-Jake Neighbors; 6. 85x-Robbie Leonard; 7. 3h-Jarred Hackler; 8. 83-Denton Duncan; 9. 51-Les Siebert; 10. 13t-Tyler Andreasen; 11. 1s-Chris Stevens.
Heat Race winners: 85-Josh Leonard; 3h-Jarred Hackler.
–IMCA Stock Car Feature: 1. 63-Mike Nichols; 2. 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 3. 11k-Kyle Clough; 4. 72-Robert Walker; 5. 77-Jed Williams; 6. 24-Bob Chalupa; 7. 49-Zach Zentner; 8. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 9. 09h-Bob Hoing; 10. 25-Jared Brooks; 11. 00-Sarah Klein; 12. 57x-Scott Stoll.
Heat Race winners: 63-Mike Nichols; 31-Darin Racek.
–IMCA Hobby Stock Feature: 1. 11-Dillon Thompson; 2. 85-Robert Leonard; 3. 6a-Adam Armstrong; 4. 04-Sal Hernandez; 5. 71-Colton Pfeifer; 6. 2x-Travis Kernick; 7. 54p-Kyle Pfeifer; 8. 98z-Zach Olmstead; 9. 26-Ryan Gardine; 10. 5-Chuck Ledbetter; 11. 30a-Adam Morgan; 12. 95b-Tiffany Bittner.
Heat Race winners: 0-Kyle Bond; 88j-Jacob Olmstead.
–OVLS Feature: 1. 3b-Brad Bayne; 2. 11b-Brandon Vantine; 3. 12s-Doug Pollock; 4. 1taz-Terry Vantine; 5. 70-Larry Fox; 6. 70n-Ben Bohuslavsky; 7. 21t-Taylor Pollock; 8. 51-Derek Benes; 9. 3r-Duane Bayne; 10. 15-Brandon Spanjer.
Heat Race winners: 3b-Brad Bayne; 3r-Duane Bayne.
Solarte’s 2-Run Homer Lifts Padres to 4-3 Win
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Yangervis Solarte hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres beat the last-place Colorado Rockies 4-3 Monday night for their ninth win in 12 games.
Solarte’s third shot with the Padres, and ninth overall this season, came an inning after Colorado’s Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer to give the Rockies a 3-1 lead.
Yonder Alonso hit a solo homer in the fourth for the Padres, who improved to 14-8 since the All-Star break.
Solarte homered to left with one out in the seventh on a 1-0 pitch from Boone Logan (2-3), who came on to start the inning. Pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte hit a leadoff double and was sacrificed by Will Venable ahead of Solarte’s shot.
Nick Vincent (1-2) pitched two perfect innings for the win.