Football – Page 53 – North Platte Post Archive

Pierson-El Receives Big Ten Honor

Posted on September 15, 2014

Lincoln – For the second straight week, a Husker earned the Big Ten’s top special teams’ accolade, as freshman De’Mornay Pierson-El was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the WeekMonday morning.

Pierson-El earned the honor after returning five punts for 150 yards in Nebraska’s 55-19 win at Fresno State. His performance including an 86-yard touchdown return, the longest ever for a Nebraska freshman and the longest punt return for a TD by a Husker since 2010, as well as a 51-yard return to set up another Husker score. His 86-yard punt return for a score is the longest in the FBS ranks this season. His 150 punt return yards more than doubled Nebraska’s entire 2013 team total in that category.

Pierson-El’s performance against the Bulldogs ranks ninth on the Big Ten’s single-game punt return list and marked only the second time in 30 years that a Big Ten player had at least 150 punt return yards in a single-game. He currently ranks 12^th nationally at 18.0 yards per return and is the only freshman ranked in the top-20 nationally in the category. Pierson-El was also named the College Football Performance Award’s National Punt Returner of the Week.

Sam Foltz was Nebraska’s most recent Big Ten Special Teams winner, as he earned the award for his performance against McNeese State last week.

The Huskers, who are 24th in this week’s AP poll, return to host Miami this Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and also available on the Husker Sports Radio Network.

Broncos Fend Off Chiefs 24-17 with Goal-Line Stand

Posted on September 14, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Terrance Knighton batted away Alex Smith’s fourth-and-goal pass to Dwayne Bowe with 15 seconds left, preserving the Denver Broncos’ 24-17 win over the scrappy Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

The Broncos (2-0) thought they had sealed the win twice earlier on the drive.

Aqib Talib’s pick-6 was negated by Quanterus Smith’s hold. Then, Nate Irving’s fumble recovery following DeMarcus Ware’s sack and strip was ruled an incomplete pass after a replay.

The Chiefs (0-2) converted 11 of 16 third-down opportunities overall.

They just couldn’t capitalize in the biggest moments as the Broncos defense mustered two goal-line stands for the second straight week.

Peyton Manning was 21 of 26 for 242 yards and three TDs.

Nebraska Hammers Fresno State 55-19

Posted on September 14, 2014

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw a 70-yard touchdown pass on the fourth play from scrimmage and Ameer Abdullah scored on a 57-yard run on Nebraska’s next play to lead the Cornhuskers to a 55-19 victory over Fresno State on Saturday night.

De’Mornay Pierson-El added an 86-yard punt return touchdown and Imani Cross scored on a 62-yard run for the Cornhuskers (3-0), who enjoyed a lopsided win after last week’s narrow 31-24 escape against lower-division McNeese State.

That dropped Nebraska from No. 19 in the Associated Press poll to unranked. Since the AP poll expanded to 25 teams in 1989, no team ranked as high had ever dropped out after a win.

Brian Burrell threw a TD pass and scored on a 66-yard run for Fresno State (0-3), which had its 13-game home winning streak snapped and is off to its worst start since also dropping the first three games in 1998.

Finney, Arias Lead Idaho St Past Chadron St 39-34

Posted on September 13, 2014

POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — Xavier Finney ran for a career-high 158 yards and two touchdowns and Idaho State held off Chadron State for a 39-34 win Saturday.

Justin Arias threw for 318 yards and a career-high tying four touchdowns for Idaho State (1-2).

Idaho State scored touchdowns on six out of seven possessions and opened up a 39-13 lead with 4:38 left in the third quarter.

On Idaho State’s next drive, a 27-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned 80-yards for a touchdown by Jordan Jones, pulling Chadron State within 19 and sparking a rally.

Chadron State scored on a 39-yard touchdown run by Michael Madkins and — following a fumble that was forced and recovered by Ryan Wood — a 25-yard touchdown pass from John McLain to Danny O’Boyle to make it 39-34 with 1:22 remaining.

An onside kick by Randy Wentz went out of bounds before Idaho State bled the clock.

Welker, Scandrick Remain on Suspended List

Posted on September 13, 2014

Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker won’t be suiting up on Sunday.

Neither will Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Despite the union’s approval, the NFL didn’t sign off on a new drug policy before Saturday’s roster deadline, meaning players potentially eligible for reinstatement remained on the reserve/suspended list.

That includes Welker and Scandrick, who are both serving four-game punishments.

The NFL Players Association approved a new policy Friday that would introduce HGH testing and significantly increase the threshold for positive marijuana tests. Other changes could result in suspended players seeing their punishments reduced or rescinded.

Despite the union’s OK, the NFL didn’t approve the new policy by the 4 p.m. ET deadline for the 53-man rosters to be set for Sunday’s games.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press on Friday night that significant issues remained unresolved.

Players’ Union Reps Approve HGH Testing for ’14

Posted on September 12, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Hours after the players’ union voted Friday to accept an NFL proposal on drug policy changes that included HGH testing, the league says it is not a done deal.

Player representatives to the union also voted for changes to marijuana testing, classification for amphetamines, punishment for driving under the influence, and neutral arbitration on appeals.

But NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email to The Associated Press: “There are unresolved issues. More negotiation ahead.”

Aiello did not specify which issues are not resolved, but called them “significant.”

Testing for human growth hormone was originally agreed upon in 2011, but the players have balked at the science in the testing and the appeals process for positive tests. If the proposal they voted on Friday is put into action, testing would begin for this season.

Wes Welker Could be Back on Field by Sunday

Posted on September 12, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Wes Welker has passed concussion protocol and could be back on the field as soon as Sunday if the NFL signs off on a new drug policy approved by the players’ union.

Representatives of the NFL Players Association approved the comprehensive new policy Friday that includes implementation of testing for HGH and an increase in the threshold for testing positive for marijuana.

Welker was suspended four games for amphetamine use in the offseason, but punishment for that is being switched from the performance enhancers policy to the substance abuse program — except for in-season violations.

If the league approves the agreement, the Broncos’ slot receiver could be eligible to play when the Kansas City Chiefs visit Denver on Sunday.

Chiefs Starting Lineman Allen Likely Headed to IR

Posted on September 12, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs right tackle Jeff Allen had surgery Friday on his right elbow and will likely be out the rest of the season, the latest blow to a team already ravaged by injuries and suspensions.

Allen hurt his elbow after starting Sunday’s season-opening loss to Tennessee. In the same game, Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and starting defensive tackle Mike DeVito ruptured their right Achilles tendons, ending their seasons.

Allen was supposed to be the starting left guard, but he moved to right tackle when Donald Stephenson was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Ryan Harris is expected to start at right tackle when the Chiefs visit Denver on Sunday.

Union Reps to Discuss NFL Drug Policy Again

Posted on September 12, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Player representatives to the union will discuss the NFL’s latest drug policy proposal during a second conference call.

The call is scheduled for late afternoon and a vote on the changes is possible. The 32 player reps did not vote earlier this week after holding a similar call.

On the table are changes that could provide for HGH testing, which the league and union initially agreed to when the collective bargaining agreement was reached in 2011. But the players have balked at the science in the testing, and also at the appeals process for positive tests.

The union has insisted that a satisfactory proposal to them must deal with a multitude of drug policy issues. Spokesman George Atallah said last week a “piecemeal” agreement did not interest players.

Unclear Future for Guarantee Games in Playoff Era

Posted on September 12, 2014

These first few weeks of the college football season feature dozens of smaller programs collecting big paychecks by hitting the road for games against major-conference teams.

There’s no guarantee these games — at least the ones involving Football Championship Subdivision programs — will be as common in the playoff era.

With an eye toward television audiences, the Big Ten is discouraging its teams from scheduling FCS foes. The Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference are requiring members to play at least one nonconference game against a team from the Power Five leagues.

FCS athletic directors are taking a wait-and-see approach about what could happen down the road. Chattanooga athletic director David Blackburn says he’s “preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.”