Sports – Page 654 – North Platte Post Archive

Gregory Glenn Miller

Posted on November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

Gregory Glenn Miller, 56, of Hershey, NE, passed away at home on Sunday, November 24, 2013.

Greg was born July 22, 1957, to Connie Henry and Glenda Mae Winner Miller in McCook, NE and grew up in Cambridge, NE. In 1976 Greg graduated from Cambridge High School then attended Nebraska Wesleyan College to play football. He graduated with a degree in education then started his teaching/coaching career in Hershey where he was the K-12 PE teacher and coached in all sports in his 30 years at Hershey Public School. He also started the Hershey Elementary Basketball Program.

On August 1, 1986, Greg married Tracy Michele Haist in Oak Harbor, WA and they made their home in Hershey where they raised three daughters. He was a member of Maria Lutheran Church and the Nebraska Coaches Association.

Survivors include his wife, Tracy, and daughters, Shaylyn, Daynlee and Treyann Miller, all of Hershey; his mother, Glenda Miller, of North Platte; his brother, Scott (Stacey) Miller, of Temecula, CA; an uncle, Jack (Pat) Winner, of Lancaster, TX; his niece, Chelsea Miller, of Omaha, NE; a nephew, John Miller, of Temecula, CA; and other cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Connie.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, November 30, 2013, at the Hershey High School gym with Vicar JA Welsh of Maria Lutheran Church and Pastor Scott Mustion of the First Church of God in North Platte officiating. Burial will follow in the Trinity Cemetery south of Hershey. The casket will not be open at the school. Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established at Hershey High School for a scholarship in Greg’s name. Condolences may be shared online at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Big Ten Football Players of the Week

Posted on November 25, 2013

Following Big Ten football games on Nov. 23, the offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week and freshman of the week in the Big Ten were announced this morning. Below are this week’s honorees:

Offensive Player of the Week

Steve Hull, Illinois

Sr., WR, Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore

• Caught a career-high 10 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, helping Illinois defeat Purdue 20-16 on Saturday

• Recorded his third straight 100-yard receiving game, totaling 498 yards and five touchdowns during that span

• Found the end zone on a three-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter before notching his second score on a 30-yard grab in the second quarter

• Records the first Offensive Player of the Week award of his career

• Last Illinois Offensive Player of the Week: Nathan Scheelhaase (Sept. 2, 2013)

Defensive Player of the Week

Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

Jr., LB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation

• Achieved a pair of program records against Indiana, recording 16 solo tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss in the victory

• Finished the day with a career-best 20 tackles, which included a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup

• Became the first Buckeye with 20 tackles since A.J. Hawk in 2004, matched the 16 solo stops set by Tom Cousineau in 1978 and tied the 5.0 TFLs held by four other Buckeyes, achieved most recently by John Simon in 2012

• Tied the Big Ten record for most career Defensive Player of the Week honors (five) and most in a single season (three)

• Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: Ryan Shazier (Nov. 18, 2013)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Pat Smith, Nebraska

Sr., K, Quincy, Ill./Notre Dame

• Kicked the game-tying and game-winning field goals in Nebraska’s 23-20 overtime road victory against Penn State last Saturday

• Connected on a 19-yard try in the fourth quarter to even the score at 20-20 before booting a 42-yarder in overtime to give the Huskers the victory

• Also converted on a 39-yarder late in the third quarter and made both extra point tries

• Claims his first career Special Teams Player of the Week honor

• Last Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Week: Brett Maher (Nov. 12, 2012)

Co-Freshmen of the Week

Ralphael Green III, Indiana

DT, San Antonio, Texas/Sam Houston

• Finished with four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack against nationally ranked Ohio State last Saturday

• Recorded his first career sack and forced his first career fumble on the same play late in the opening quarter

• Wins his first Freshman of the Week award

• Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Nate Sudfeld (Sept. 17, 2012)

Christian Hackenberg, Penn State

QB, Palmyra, Va./Fork Union Military Academy

• Accounted for three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground, against Nebraska last Saturday

• Threw for 217 yards, including touchdown passes of two and 46 yards, and now has 2,616 yards passing this season, which ranks fifth on Penn State’s single-season list

• Also rushed for a seven-yard score in the third quarter

• Wins his fourth Freshman of the Week award, which is tied for second since the award began in 2010

• Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Christian Hackenberg (Oct. 14, 2013)

USA Outlasts Tri-City 3-2

Posted on November 24, 2013

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A tying third period tally wasn’t enough for the Tri-City Storm (5-11-2) as Team USA (14-6-0) got the final goal from Jeremy Bracco and won 3-2 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Sundayafternoon.

The Storm got goals from forwards Joel L’Esperance and Chris Wilkie and goaltender Jacob Johansson made 31 saves in the loss.

Tri-City opened up a 1-0 lead on an outstanding passing play executed by Wilkie, who got the puck to L’Esperance in front with an open net. The Brighton, Mich. native didn’t miss and picked up his third goal in his last two games. Forward Garrett Gamez got the second assist on the play, recording his first point of the season.

After 20 minutes the Storm led 1-0, despite being outshot 17-7 by Team USA.

In the second period the Under-17 Team came back and beat Johansson twice to take a 2-1 lead. Forwards Michael Floodstrand and Jordan Greenway each found the back of the net in under two minutes and Team USA had taken control of the game.

The Storm tied the game at the 7:15 mark of the final frame when Wilkie found a rebound in front and put it past USA goaltender Luke Opilka to make it 2-2. Assists on the goal were credited to both Gamez and Christian Horn.

In a back-and-forth third period with both teams generating chances, Team USA got the final score of the game from Bracco with 6:57 remaining on the clock.

Tri-City fought hard and had opportunities in the final minutes, but fell short.

The Storm will return home on Nov. 29-30 for a weekend series with the Omaha Lancers at the Viaero Event Center. Friday’s game gets underway at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s contest starts at 7:05.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Joey DiBenedetto and Dan Labosky, along with defensemen Sean Lang.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance (Chris Wilkie, Garrett Gamez) 8:05

2nd Period

Team USA – Luke Kunin (Luke Kirwan) 12:14

Team USA – Jordan Greenway (Jeremy Bracco) 13:36

3rd Period

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Garrett Gamez, Christian Horn) 7:15

Team USA – Jeremy Bracco (Colin White, Jordan Greenway) 13:03

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Steven Haydon – (Elbowing), 2 min, 4:29

Tri-City – Cutler Martin – (Boarding), 2 min, 10:58

Team USA – Nick Boka – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:52

Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance – (Slashing), 2 min, 14:52

2nd Period
Team USA – Colin White – (Hooking), 2 min, 4:08

Tri-City – Thomas Aldworth – (Hooking), 2 min, 19:00

3rd Period

Team USA – Noah Hanifin – (Holding), 2 min, 0:51

Tri-City – Tory Dello – (Holding), 2 min, 8:01

Team USA – Nick Boka – (High Sticking), 2 min, 19:11

Power Play

Tri-City – 0/3

Team USA – 0/4

Shots

Tri-City: 7, 5, 13 = Total: 25

Team USA: 17, 13, 4 = Total: 34

Saves

Tri-City – Jacob Johansson – 31/34

Team USA – Luke Opilka – 23/25

Huskers Storm Past Southern, 87-64

Posted on November 24, 2013

Lincoln – Jordan Hooper poured in 23 points and Emily Cady added a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds to fuel No. 11 Nebraska to an 87-64 women’s basketball victory over Southern Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 on its new home court in front of a crowd of 5,454, while the preseason SWAC favorite Jaguars slipped to 2-3 overall.

Sophomore point guard Rachel Theriot added a strong effort with 13 points and eight assists, while junior guard Tear’a Laudermill contributed 12 points and four rebounds in her second straight start to help the Huskers.

Hooper’s 23 points pushed her into ninth place on Nebraska’s all-time scoring list ahead of Kathy Hagerstrom (1,778 points, 1980-83). The 6-2 senior All-American from Alliance, Neb., closed the day with 1,779 points.

Cady, who notched her 10th career double-double and second of the season, finished 5-of-6 from the field and 8-of-11 at the free throw line, while Theriot went 4-of-6 and 4-of-4 at the line. Laudermill added a 4-for-7 effort from the floor and a 4-for-4 day at the stripe.

Nebraska shot a season-best 54.2 percent (26-48) from the field and connected on 29-of-44 free throws to overcome the hot shooting of Southern guard Kendra Coleman. The 5-7 junior erupted for 30 points, including 7-of-12 shooting from three-point range. Coleman, who entered the game just 3-of-25 from long range through the first four games of the season, knocked 3-of-4 threes in the first three minutes.

“We knew Southern was an explosive team and a really well-coached team coming into the game,” Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. “No. 23 got hot for them, but we found ways to score and got good contributions from a lot of players.”

Nebraska took a 38-32 lead to the locker room at halftime despite 15 first-half points from Coleman. She shot SU to a 16-10 lead, before Nebraska rallied.

Hooper scored five straight points to cap a 7-0 NU run to give the Big Red a 36-29 with 3:12 left in the half. Hooper led the Huskers with 11 points and five boards in the opening half, while Cady added six points and six boards. Theriot contributed six points and five assists in the opening period, as NU shot 56 percent (14-26) from the field, but just 2-for-7 from three-point range. The Huskers also hit just 8-of-16 free throws in the first half. NU was outrebounded 21-19 by the Jaguars, and matched SU with six first-half turnovers.

Southern hit just 36.4 percent (12-33) of its first-half shots, but knocked down 4-of-12 three-pointers. SU was also 4-of-7 at the line.

The second half belonged to the Huskers, as NU outscored the Jaguars, 49-32 and posted a plus-10 rebound margin on the glass. Nebraska’s lead grew as large as 25 points late in the game, before settling for the 23-point win.

The Jaguars finished the game 36.9 percent (24-65) from the field and 8-of-21 from long range. Nebraska outscored SU, 29-8, at the free throw line and won the turnover battle, 13-12.

Sophomore guard Sadie Murren continued her hot shooting for the Huskers by going 2-of-3 from long range and finishing with eight points. Hannah Tvrdy added five points off the bench for the Big Red.

The Huskers continue their four-game home stand on Wednesday night, when they take on UMass-Lowell. Tip-off between Nebraska and the Riverhawks is set for 7 p.m., with tickets available now at Huskers.com. A free live Internet audio broadcast of the game will be available from the Husker Sports Network on Huskers.com. No over-the-air broadcast of the game will be available in Lincoln or Omaha because of conflicts with Nebraska volleyball and Sports Nightly.

Official Basketball Box Score

Southern vs Nebraska

11/24/13 2:06 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)

——————————————————————————–

VISITORS: Southern 2-3

TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS

## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN

15 Jefferson, Jasmine.. f 3-4 0-0 1-1 2 3 5 5 7 0 2 0 0 26

10 King, Jasmine……. g 1-5 0-0 0-0 0 3 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 17

23 Coleman, Kendra….. g 9-16 7-12 5-7 0 2 2 1 30 1 2 0 0 31

24 Sanders, Adrian….. g 6-13 0-2 0-0 3 2 5 3 12 2 2 0 1 26

30 Purnell, Cortnei…. g 0-3 0-0 0-0 2 3 5 2 0 1 1 1 0 17

01 Fuller, Yasmin…… 2-8 0-3 0-2 0 3 3 3 4 0 0 0 0 12

04 Litmon, Shaquandria. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

05 Brundidge, Jadea…. 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 4 0 0 2 0 0 8

11 Scott, Quitesha….. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 4 0 1 2 0 0 17

12 Nelson, Yasmine….. 0-4 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 1 16

20 Parrish, Keonia….. 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 5

21 Washington, Britney. 3-10 1-4 2-2 1 1 2 1 9 0 1 1 1 15

32 Willix, Zeneka…… 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

TEAM……………. 2 2 4

Totals………….. 24-65 8-21 8-12 11 23 34 31 64 6 13 2 3 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-33 36.4% 2nd Half: 12-32 37.5% Game: 36.9% DEADB

3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-12 33.3% 2nd Half: 4-9 44.4% Game: 38.1% REBS

F Throw % 1st Half: 4-7 57.1% 2nd Half: 4-5 80.0% Game: 66.7% 1

——————————————————————————–

HOME TEAM: Nebraska 5-0

TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS

## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN

03 Sample, Hailie…… f 1-3 0-0 2-8 2 4 6 2 4 2 2 1 1 34

23 Cady, Emily……… f 5-6 0-1 8-11 4 10 14 3 18 2 3 1 1 33

35 Hooper, Jordan…… f 7-18 3-9 6-11 1 7 8 1 23 0 2 0 2 32

01 Laudermill, Tear’a.. g 4-7 0-1 4-4 1 3 4 3 12 1 1 0 1 21

33 Theriot, Rachel….. g 4-6 1-3 4-4 0 3 3 3 13 8 1 0 1 31

10 Tvrdy, Hannah……. 1-2 0-0 3-4 0 1 1 2 5 0 0 0 1 16

11 Ramacieri, Esther… 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

14 Simon, Katie…….. 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4

21 Murren, Sadie……. 2-3 2-3 2-2 0 1 1 1 8 0 1 0 0 17

22 Havers, Allie……. 1-2 0-1 0-0 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 11

TEAM……………. 2 2 1

Totals………….. 26-48 6-18 29-44 9 33 42 16 87 14 12 2 7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-25 56.0% 2nd Half: 12-23 52.2% Game: 54.2% DEADB

3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-7 28.6% 2nd Half: 4-11 36.4% Game: 33.3% REBS

F Throw % 1st Half: 8-16 50.0% 2nd Half: 21-28 75.0% Game: 65.9% 5

——————————————————————————–

Officials: Felicia Grinter, Jeff Cross, Missy Brooks

Technical fouls: Southern-None. Nebraska-None.

Attendance: 5454

Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total

Southern…………………. 32 32 – 64

Nebraska…………………. 38 49 – 87

No. 16 NPCC Lady Knights Drop Contest at Doane JV

Posted on November 24, 2013

Crete – The No. 16 North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (3-5) dropped a contest Sunday afternoon to the Doane College JV by a final score of 68-66 in Crete.

The Lady Knights were led by DaVontaye Merritt who scored 14 points and Courtney Widick who finished with 13. April Stull was the Lady Knights third leading scorer with nine points. Merritt and Stull were in foul trouble most of the night and each finished with four fouls.

“We competed hard,” said head coach Richard Thurin “but we didn’t play defense well enough to win.

The Lady Knights are now off until after Thanksgiving break when they welcome the Colby Community College Lady Trojans (1-7) to McDonald-Belton Gymnasium on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. The Lady Knights travelled to Colby earlier this year and emerged victorious 55-43. The Lady Knights then travel to York to face the York College JV on Dec.6 and host Lamar Community College Dec.6 and Northeastern Junior College Dec. 11 to finish out the fall semester.

Huskers Cruise to 36-6 Win Over Jackrabbits

Posted on November 24, 2013

Brookings, S.D. – The No. 11 Nebraska wrestling team won nine weight classes en route to a 36-6 victory over South Dakota State at Frost Arena on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Head Coach Mark Manning picked up his 200th career victory.

No. 15 Tim Lambert opened the dual with a 9-1 major decision over the Jackrabbits’ Isaac Andrade. After a first-period takedown for Nebraska’s 125-pounder, Lambert added a reversal in the second period and two takedowns in the third period.

Newcomers Colton McCrystal (133) and Anthony Abidin (141) continued Nebraska’s momentum by each notching decisions. McCrystal, a true freshman, defeated Brance Simms of South Dakota State, 8-3, before Abidin took down Eric Orozco, 9-3.

No. 6 Jake Sueflohn (149) extended the lead to 14-0 with his 13-0 major decision over Alex Kocer before Nebraska suffered its first loss of the dual. At 157 pounds, John Svoboda was pinned by the Jackrabbits’ Cody Pack in 4:47, but the Huskers took a 14-6 lead into the halfway break.

Nebraska responded at 165 pounds as Austin Wilson grinded out a 6-2 decision over Joe Brewster. Wilson took a 2-1 lead after a first-period takedown and held the same advantage after the second period. Wilson added an additional takedown in the third period and earned a riding time point for the final score.

Junior Robert Kokesh, a Wagner, S.D. native, led from start to finish before pinning John Nething II in 6:53. Kokesh, the No. 4 wrestler in the country at 174 pounds, improves to 7-0 on the season.

At 184 pounds, TJ Dudley earned a 9-1 major decision over Ben Schwery. Dudley improves to 8-1 with the win and earned his third major decision of the season.

Spencer Johnson won at 197 pounds before Collin Jensen earned a pin at heavyweight to close out the dual. Johnson posted a 6-2 decision over Trey Hable, while Jensen, a Mobridge, S.D. native, earned his pin in 1:43.

The Huskers return to the mat on Saturday at the Stanford Duals in Stanford, Calif. Nebraska will face Utah Valley at 1 p.m. CT before taking on Stanford at 2:45 p.m. and CSU-Bakersfield at 4:30 p.m.

Results

125: #15 Tim Lambert (NEB) by major dec. over Isaac Andrade (SDSU), 9-1 (NEB 4, SDSU 0)
133: Colton McCrystal (NEB) by dec. over Brance Simms (SDSU), 8-3 (NEB 7, SDSU 0)
141: Anthony Abidin (NEB) by dec. over Eric Orozco (SDSU), 9-3 (NEB 10, SDSU 0)
149: #6 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) by major dec. over Alex Kocer (SDSU), 13-0 (NEB 14, SDSU 0)
157: Cody Pack (SDSU) by pin over John Svoboda (NEB), 4:47 (NEB 14, SDSU 6)
165: Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over Joe Brewster (SDSU), 6-2 (NEB 17, SDSU 6)
174: #4 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by pin over John Nething II (SDSU), 6:53 (NEB 23, SDSU 6)
184: TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Ben Schwery (SDSU), 9-1 (NEB 27, SDSU 6)
197: Spencer Johnson (NEB) by dec. over Trey Hable (SDSU), 6-2 (NEB 30, SDSU 6)
HWT: Collin Jensen (NEB) by pin over J.J. Everard (SDSU), 1:43 (NEB 36, SDSU 6)

Webster Fuels Nebraska’s 73-65 Win

Posted on November 24, 2013

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Tai Webster scored 13 of his 14 points in the second and Nebraska rallied to take seventh place at the Charleston Classic with a 73-65 victory over Georgia on Sunday.

The Cornhuskers (4-2) had watched close games slip away their first two days in the eight-team tournament and were trailing the Bulldogs 51-48 with under 10 minutes left. That’s when Webster led Nebraska on a 23-13 run to close the game and avoid a 0-for-3 trip to South Carolina’s coast.

Webster had seven points in the charge, including a 3-pointer with 7:44 left that put the Cornhuskers up for good.

Georgia got within a point after Marcus Thornton’s basket a possession later, but Webster followed with two foul shots and the Bulldogs got no closer. Georgia opened 1-4 for the second straight season. Charles Mann scored 16 points to lead the Bulldogs.

Terran Petteway had 15 points to top Nebraska.

Nebraska Bow Instructor Training Scheduled

Posted on November 24, 2013

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has scheduled a workshop next month in centralNebraska for apprentice bow hunter education instructors.

The workshop is set to run from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Elba Community Center in Elba. The registration deadline is Dec. 12.

Smith Kicks Nebraska Past Penn State, 23-20 in OT

Posted on November 24, 2013

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — With one final kick, Pat Smith was swooped up and off for a ride on the shoulders of his Nebraska teammates.

He made the clutch kicks that Penn State’s Sam Ficken failed to make — and got the win, to boot.

Smith kicked a 42-yard field goal on Nebraska’s first possession in overtime to lift the Cornhuskers to a 23-20 win over Penn State on Saturday night.

He sent the game into OT with a tying field goal late in regulation, then had a 37-yarder in OT called back on a false start. Smith had no trouble with 5 extra yards, giving the Huskers (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten) their third win in four games.

“This is what you dream about. This is the reason I came to Nebraska,” Smith said. “It’s really unbelievable. This is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. A lot of guys have been asking me, were you nervous. I was pumped up; these are the moments you live for.”

Ficken, who missed an extra point in regulation, missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt to open overtime. The Nittany Lions (6-5, 3-4) lost for the first time in three home OT games this season.

The Huskers could have won the game late in the fourth after Ameer Abdullah, who rushed for 147 yards, sprinted for a 60-plus yard touchdown run. But wide receiver Sam Burtch was flagged for a personal foul, wiping out the go-ahead score. Nebraska chewed more time off the clock and settled for Smith’s tying 19-yard field goal.

“It was tough out there today,” he said. “It was cold and windy and late in the game. You never know; you can leave it short.”

Not a chance.

Christian Hackenberg, who threw two touchdowns and ran for a score, gave Penn State a short-lived 20-17 lead when he found James down the sideline for a 46-yard TD pass on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Nittany Lions, who beat Michigan and Illinois in OT, couldn’t send the senior class out winners in the home finale.

Hackenberg hit Robinson in the second half for a 43-yard gain, perhaps the last big home-game gain for the junior wide receiver. A semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Robinson holds Penn State single-season records for catches and yards and has put himself in prime position to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft. He has said he will wait until after the season to discuss his future.

Hackenberg threw an interception two plays later and Nebraska converted the turnover into a field goal for a 17-13 lead.

Turnovers and wasted plays on both sides defined this one.

Ron Kellogg III was stripped deep in Nebraska’s own territory, and defensive end C.J. Olaniyan was there to recover the fumble. Hackenberg quickly capitalized, fooling everyone on a fake handoff, then sprinting to his right and into the end zone for a 13-7 lead.

Snow was swirling, the band was playing, and the students who braved the cold were going wild.

Kenny Bell sucked the enthusiasm out of Beaver Stadium with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 14-13 lead. Purdue’s Raheem Mostert had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last week. PSU coach Bill O’Brien said he planned no changes to the special teams unit, and Nebraska made PSU pay.

“We’ll continue to work hard in special teams,” O’Brien said. “They’re good kids working hard.”

Kellogg got the chance to lead the Huskers in the first after Tommy Armstrong Jr. was forced out with an ankle injury. Kellogg completed four straight passes, including a 27-yard TD pass to Quincy Enunwa early in the second quarter for a 7-6 lead.

“I thought Ron did some really good things out there today. There were some really tough conditions,” coach Bo Pelini said. “He provides great leadership. He obviously made some mistakes, but he did some good things.”

With leading rusher Bill Belton out with strep throat and a bad shoulder, the Nittany Lions gave the bulk of the carries to Zach Zwinak. He carried six straight times on Penn State’s third drive and that put the ball on Nebraska’s2. Hackenberg hit Adam Breneman for the short TD pass and the 6-0 lead.

Ficken’s point-after hit the upright and was no good, a costly miss that helped the Huskers keep the 7-6 lead at halftime.

Zwinak finished with 149 yards rushing. Robinson had eight catches for 106 yards.

The harsh penalties the NCAA levied against the program in 2012 in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal included a four-year bowl ban and scholarship cuts. The NCAA gave players an out — they could leave if they wanted without having to worry about transfer rules and play right away.

In the end, 10 players transferred, though more than 90 percent of the team stayed.

The bulk of this year’s class stuck it out, a group of players that impressed O’Brien daily with its work ethic, strong bond with the coaching staff, and ability to embrace a leadership role when the program needed them the most.

The seniors ran through a tunnel of teammates and greeted their families at midfield. They earned a video tribute that said the players, “led by your commitment, led by your loyalty, by your actions, led by example.”

“This senior class has a special place in Penn State history,” O’Brien said. “They stuck with this team in a very tough time.”

Lavigne Backstops Storm To Win

Posted on November 23, 2013

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Hayden Lavigne made 36 saves and Joel L’Esperance scored twice as the Tri-City Storm (5-10-2) earned their first win under new head coach Jim Hulton, defeating Team USA (13-6-0) by a final score of 5-2 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Saturday night.

Storm forwards Christian Horn and Thomas Aldworth also scored goals for Tri-City in the win, and Chris Wilkie added an empty netter against his former team to seal the victory in the closing minutes.

Team USA got out to an early lead in the opening period, scoring the first goal of the night just 56 seconds in. Christian Fischer took a pass from Luke Kunin and beat Lavigne to make it 1-0 in the first minute of the game.

The NTDP outshot the Storm 14-8 in the first frame and had the lead until L’Esperance scored his first tally of the night. The goal tied the game up at 1-1 at 17:54 of the period and was his sixth of the season.

Tri-City took control of the game in the middle frame, getting goals from both L’Esperance and Horn to take a 3-1 lead. Defensemen Kevin Kerr and Garrett Cecere and forward Kyle Eastman all picked up assists in the second.

In the final period, the Storm extended their lead to 4-1 on Thomas Aldworth’s third goal of the season.

USA got a late tally from defenseman Charles McAvoy to cut the lead to 4-2 in the last five minutes, but Wilkie’s empty net goal solidified the 5-2 win.

The teams won’t have much time to rest as they will meet once more tomorrow for a 3:30 p.m. ESTpuck drop.

The Storm will return home on Nov. 29-30 for a weekend series with the Omaha Lancers at the Viaero Event Center.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Ross Olsson and Ryan McMurphy, along with defensemen Sean Lang.…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Team USA – Christian Fischer (Nick Boka) 0:56
Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance (Nolan Gluchowski) 17:54

2nd Period

Tri-City – Joel L’Esperance (Kevin Kerr, Garrett Cecere) 9:23

Tri-City – Christian Horn (Kyle Eastman) 17:31

3rd Period

Tri-City – Thomas Aldworth (Chase Berger) 4:49
Team USA – Charles McAvoy (Zach Werenski) 15:05
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (empty net) (Daniel Labosky) 19:12

PENALTIES

1st Period

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 19:10

2nd Period

Team USA – Luke Kunin – (High Sticking), 2 min, 1:14
Tri-City – Daniel Labosky – (Tripping), 2 min, 6:52
Team USA – Jeremy Bracco – (Hooking), 2 min, 7:35
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Elbowing) 9:45
Tri-City – Cutler Martin – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 13:52

3rd Period

Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Tripping), 2 min, 11:55

Power Play

Tri-City – 1/2

Team USA – 0/5

Shots

Tri-City: 8, 6, 8 = Total: 22

Team USA: 14, 10, 14 = Total: 38

Saves

Tri-City – Hayden Lavigne – 36/38

Team USA – Michael Lackey – 17/21