Luke Mullin and Amie Just are ready to project a win total for the Huskers in 2024. Plus, volleyball and soccer talk. CHADRON — Put a check in the win column, and the Good Life Trophy in the trophy case.
Holding Chadron State to two field goals and scoring on a pair of pass plays, the University of Nebraska at Kearney won the first game of a renewed rivalry, 18-6, Thursday night at Chadron State's Don Beebe Field. "At the end of the day, we won the game and that was the No. 1 thing, to get that trophy then find a way to get better," UNK coach Ryan Held said.
UNK won three games last year, Held's first year as the Lopers' head coach, and was picked to finish last in the MIAA. While Thursday's victory came in a non-conference game, the win carried plenty of significance for Held. "You've got to learn how to win.
It's not easy coming up to these places. Chadron is tough. Their kids played hard.
But so did ours," Held said. UNK marched 86 yards on its opening drive, overcoming two penalties, and scoring on a 24-yard pass from Reagan Jones to Shane Dailey Jr. — Jones from Missouri Western and Dailey from Idaho State.
"That was a big drive. We ran the ball really well and made some throws," Held said. "We can really be good offensively, we just have to continue to be aggressive when we need to be aggressive," Held said.
Jones completed 12 of 21 passes for 180 yards and found Reggie Anderson for a 50-yard touchdown late in the second half. Isaiah Harris, a transfer from Nebraska.