CHADRON, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney drove 86 yards in eight plays on its opening possession for its first touchdown and connected on a 50-yard bomb in the second quarter for the game's only other TD en route to topping Chadron State 18-6 when those teams opened Nebraska's 2024 college football schedule Thursday night in Chadron.
The outcome gave the Lopers first possession of the Good Life Trophy that will go to the winner of what is slated to be an annual rivalry.
All the scoring took place in the first half. Kearney's opening drive was sparked by runs of 24 and 14 yards by sophomore tailback Isaac Harris before quarterback Reagan Jones connected with Shane Dailey on a 24-yard pass in the end zone with four-and-a-half minutes gone off the clock.
Each team scored on both of its possessions in the second period. The Lopers drove 62 yards before settling for a 25-yard field goal by Trey Pritchard. Chadron State benefitted from a pair of 15-yard penalties against the visitors to move down the field before
Wilson Yee booted a 39-yard field goal soon afterwards.
The Lopers' second TD came next. It featured the 50-yard pass from Jones to a wide open Reggie Anderson. Instead of kicking the extra point, Pritchard scored on a trick play, catching a pitch from the holder and running for two points to make the score 18-3.
The Eagles' Yee kicked another field goal, this one a 38-yarder, on the final play of the first half. It came after Chadron State's backup quarterback,
Miguel Larios, completed four of five passes during a 60-yard drive as the clock was winding down.
Larios, a junior college transfer from Victor Valley College in California, was rushed into the game on the Eagles' second possession when starting quarterback D.J. Ralph, who had completed his only three passes, left the game with an apparent shoulder injury. Larios also displayed amazing accuracy, connecting on nine of 10 tosses in the first half.
In the second half, however, Kearney intercepted three of Larios' passes to blunt the Eagles' efforts to catch the Lopers. Parker Wise, Jamere Jones and Jabea Tilong made the picks. Those were the game's only turnovers.
Harris was the game's leading rusher for the Lopers, finishing with 24 carries for 121 yards. Lopers quarterback Reagan Jones completed 12 of 20 passes for 180 yards while Anderson made three of the catches for 81 yards.
Chadron State's
Jake Marschall rushed 18 times for 78 yards to pace the Eagles. The Lopers finished with 348 total yards, but managed only 75 in the second half. The Eagles ended with 214.
The Eagles will play at home again next week against the University of Jamestown on Thursday, September 5. Kickoff for that game is slated for 6:00 p.m. Jamestown lost 23-6 to the University of Mary on Thursday.
