By Con Marshall
Nebraska-Kearney drove 86 yards in eight plays on the game’s 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 after the NCAA decided in January to allow teams not in the same conference, but in close proximity of one another to play an early-season game during what is being called Week 0.
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 4 ½ 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 Tavis Maloy. Benefitting from a pair of 15-yard penalties against the visitors, Chadron State’s 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, Maloy took the snap from center and ran 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 alternate quarterback, Miguel Larios. completed four of five passes during a 60-yard drive as the clock was winding down.
Larios 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.
However, in the second half, 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 with 24 carries for 121 yards. Jake Marschall rushed 18 time for 78 yards to pace the Eagles. Jones completed 12 of 20 passes for 180 yards. Anderson made three of the catches for 81 yards.
The Lopers finished with 348 total yards, but managed only 75 in the second half. The Eagles finished with 214 yards.