Friday, 8.17.12 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net sports PRESS DAKOTAN SPORTS DEPARTMENT: [email protected] 7A Huskers Seek End To 12-Year League-Title Drought BY ERIC OLSON not a bad year. 8-4 is not a bad year. It’s a “I feel like our defense is going to be top AP Sports Writer good year. We’re tired of being good.” 10 in the nation, just because of the depth,” Any shot Nebraska has at achieving great- defensive end Jason Ankrah said. “Our LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A year after being ness likely hinges on what happens against younger guys are stepping up from D-line to picked by many to win the Big Ten in its first Michigan and Michigan State, the consensus the secondary. We know the ins and outs of season in the conference, Nebraska isn’t even top two teams in the division. the defensive plays.” the favorite in its division. The Huskers believe their spread-option The Huskers also have a better idea what In fact, the proud program has gone 12 offense will be sharper under second-year co- the opposition is like in the Big Ten. years without a league championship — its ordinator Tim Beck. Taylor Martinez is going “There’s one thing seeing it on film. longest drought since 1941-62. into his third year as starting , There’s another thing living it and seeing it in Coach Bo Pelini has won at least nine Rex Burkhead has been one of the nation’s person, firsthand,” Pelini said. “I think it will games each of his first four years, but last most productive running backs for two years help us going into year two. It’s not going to season’s 9-4 campaign and the third-place fin- and leading receiver Kenny Bell is coming off win any football games for us, but I think it ish in the Legends Division was considered a a strong finish to 2011. will be a little bit easier.” step back. Turnovers, penalties, dropped The defense, which has a new coordinator The conference schedule is front-loaded, passes and soft defensive play sabotaged the in John Papuchis, is confident it can stop its with four of the first five games against teams Cornhuskers. slide in the national rankings the past two that could be ranked in the Top 25. The “We’ve had good years here in the past,” years despite having a lineman, linebacker offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles said. “9-4 is and cornerback taken in the NFL draft. HUSKERS | PAGE 8A

P&D FILE PHOTO TUNING UP FOR 2012 Yankton senior Sarah Santos returns a shot during a match in the 2011 season. Santos is the lone senior for the Gazelles, who open the 2012 season today (Friday) at home against Rapid City Stevens. Gazelles Open Season Today BY JAMES D. CIMBUREK hard work to continue. [email protected] “Having 12 players in compe- tition means that anybody could With just one senior and one step up and challenge for a var- junior among the dozen girls in sity position,” she said. “It’s practice for the Yankton going to make everyone better Gazelles, the squad won’t take a knowing that someone could lot of experience to the court challenge for their spot.” when they open the girls’ tennis The lineup for today’s team today (Friday). But coach matchup with Stevens — and Ginger Larsen expects that the Saturday’s matchups with Wa- experience the Gazelles gain — tertown and Vermillion — will along with the experience they probably not look like the lineup return — will get them ready to that takes the court for the state go by the time state rolls around tournament, Oct. 4-6 in Rapid in early October. City. JAMES D. CIMBUREK/P&D The Gazelles open today “This weekend is going to be against Rapid City Stevens, the a test weekend,” Larsen said. ABOVE: USD running back Jasper Sanders, 5, finds running room during Thursday morning's practice in Vermillion. Sanders and veteran Marcus Sims opening match of a two-day “The first couple of weeks are are expected to be the main weapons in the Coyote running game this season. quad at the YHS/SAC tennis BELOW: USD head coach Joe Glenn addresses the crowd during the Coyotes’ media day Thursday afternoon. The Coyotes will begin their first sea- going to be a feeling out period. son under Glenn Sept. 1 at the University of Montana. courts. We’re looking for continued im- “We have a tough team provement and a good attitude ahead in Stevens,” Larsen said. when they step on the court.” “They’re probably the second- The Gazelles will be looking best team in the state.” to build back the squad after Senior Sarah Santos, junior RB’s Sims, Sanders Set To Shine graduating four players from a Taylor Rothenberger and sopho- team that placed eighth in the BY JEREMY HOECK to making the ‘wow’ plays. more Sarah Rockne return with state tournament a year ago. [email protected] “You don’t want to be satis- experience from last year’s “We were about the only fied, you always want to get bet- squad. Rockne finished third at team that lost a big chunk of its VERMILLION — Seated to- ter every day,” Sims said. “When flight five singles, and teamed lineup,” Larsen said. “We’ll see gether at a small table inside the Jasper makes a play, I want to do with Rothenberger to advance where we’re at after this week- University of South Dakota stu- the same thing, but even better. I to the consolation finals at flight end.” dent center, Marcus Sims and think that helps us both.” three doubles. Santos competed Yankton plays Stevens today Jasper Sanders appeared to be Sims, at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, at flight six singles. at 4 p.m., preceded by a closer to brothers than they are led the Coyotes in rushing last “We’ve got a good nucleus,” matchup between Stevens and teammates. season with 660 yards — 5.2 Larsen said. “They’ve come in Watertown at 1 p.m. On Satur- The duo, though two years yards per carry — and four with great attitudes. We do not day, Stevens will play Vermillion apart, boast a similar build at 5- touchdowns. He emerged as an have a lot of experience, but and Watertown will play Yank- foot-10, nearly 200 pounds. This every-down threat when last we’ve got great leadership.” ton, each starting at 9 a.m. fall, they will also share duties as year’s top back, Chris Ganious, The Gazelles have proven Matches to follow will include the top running back on the foot- was injured. willing to put in hard work to Watertown against Vermillion, ball field. “It’s great to have another guy improve, even volunteering to followed by Yankton against Ver- Sims, a senior, and Sanders, a in here that complements my have two-a-day practices during million. sophomore transfer, both said game, but he really pushes me,” the first week of the preseason. Wednesday during USD’s football Sims said. “Every day it’s a battle; In addition, Rockne and Rothen- You can follow James D. Cim- media day in Vermillion that they in the weightroom, on the field, berger have both been working burek on Twitter at relish the competition between to rehab major injuries from the twitter.com/ aceman904 them — especially when it comes off-season. Larsen expects that BACKS | PAGE 8A Nebraska Falls At Little League World Series; Japan, Calif. Win Summit League Secures SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Nebraska will play Connecticut on Sat- giving up a first-inning home run to Biagio “It’s been amazing, it’s just so exciting TV Deal With Midco SN, After a hard-earned win Thursday, the urday in an elimination game. No matter Paoletta. to play with teams all around and now team from Petaluma, Calif., got two days what happens, Kearney’s kids are already “You can’t be nervous in these games. we’re in the same position,” Paretti said. Fox College Sports off to get ready for its next game at the Lit- stars back home. You’re one of the top 16 teams ... in the “Just seeing them (at the tournament) and ELMHURST, Ill. — The Summit tle League World Series. The mini-mashers from the Midwest world,” Smith said calmly. “So I was think- now we’re in the same position, it’s really League along with Midco Sports Net- Thirteen-year-old Austin Paretti had have been receiving emails and text mes- ing, ‘What do I have to be nervous about?”’ awesome.” work and Fox College Sports have other plans. sages all week from family, friends and He felt much better in the third after Connecticut outfielder Ryan Meury left reached an agreement that will provide “Swimming,” the outfielder exclaimed new-found baseball fans from all over Ne- hitting a 2-0 curveball deep to left-center the game with a bloodied lip after getting at least 20 men’s and women’s basket- with eyes wide open in anticipation. braska. Football is king in Nebraska, but that just eluded outfielder Matt Clarkin’s by a pitch, but got an ovation after walking ball games to a national cable televi- The pint-sized Paretti and his team- the boys from Kearney might just be chal- glove and just cleared the fence 225 feet back to the dugout. A Little League sion audience during the 2012-13 mates earned a little down time at the Lit- lenging the Cornhuskers as the state’s away for a two-run homer and 3-1 lead. spokesman said Meury needed a couple season. tle League complex pool after a 6-4 victory most popular team. Smith also struck out seven over four in- stitches to close the gash. It was unclear if Thursday over Fairfield, Conn., on a sun- Some players have been wearing Ne- nings. Meury would be ready for Connecticut’s Midco Sports Network will produce splashed opening day. braska Cornhuskers T-shirts in practice. But California couldn’t shake Connecti- next game Saturday. and air eight Summit League matchups Japan also won its early game, 7-0 over “I think we do personally (have more cut. Will Lucas tripled home a run before JAPAN 7, CURACAO 0: Kotaro Kiyomiya and Noriatsu during the regular season and all men’s Curacao, while Taiwan routed a team from fans) right now,” coach Monte Dakan joked scoring on a passed ball to get Connecticut Osaka combined for a two-hitter for Tokyo in the opening and women’s quarterfinal and semifinal Ramstein Air Base in Germany, 14-1. this week. “I’m hoping we have.” within a run in the bottom of the fifth. game of the Little League World Series. Kiyomiya didn’t games from The Summit League Cham- In the late game, Goodlettsville, Tenn., California starting pitcher Bradley Connecticut threatened again in the allow a hit and struck out seven in 2 2-3 innings. Osaka pionships in March. Each of those 20 finished on the mound in relief with seven strikeouts. games will be simulcast to a national beat Kearney, Neb., 12-1, behind 12-year- Smith made an impression, too, after strik- sixth, but reliever Andrew White got a dou- A team from Japan has won the World Series interna- old pitcher Brock Myers, who struck out ing out seven and going 4 for 4 at the plate ble play and strikeout to end the game. tional title the last two seasons. This year’s Japan region audience by Fox College Sports. As eight in 4 1-3 innings and helped himself at with a homer and three RBIs to help the The 12-year-old lefty pumped his fist after champs, from Tokyo, took control early with three runs in many as five additional games will be the plate with a two-run homer in the fifth. West region champs hold on against Con- he left the mound to be greeted by giddy each of the first two innings. announced in the coming weeks with Myers’ big-league performance spoiled necticut. teammates. Not bad for a Japan team that hadn’t played since July Midco Sports Network holding an op- a historic moment for Nebraska — it was The 13-year-old Smith strikes an impos- The 5-foot Paretti, the smallest player 7. tion to include up to three exclusive re- the first time a team from the state had ad- ing pose with his 6-foot-3 frame. But he on his team, came up big with a two-run gional telecasts and FCS to select two vanced to South Williamsport. had some early jitters on the mound after single in the fifth. LLWS | PAGE 8A more games for national availability. All nine Summit League men’s bas- ketball teams will have at least one na- tionally-televised game during the regular season with additional opportu- : Northwestern Aiming High Again nities during the tournament. The first broadcast comes Nov. 29, the opening on the arm and legs of quarter- Whoever lines up behind cen- running back Treyvon Green was night of Summit League play, when 2012 USD Faces Wildcats On Sept. 22 back . One of the Big ter figures to have plenty of tar- taken from the practice field in an tournament finalist Western Illinois EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — All chip on their shoulder after a dis- Ten’s most versatile players, he gets even if the Wildcats lost ambulance after a hit to the travels to South Dakota. A three-game Northwestern can see is the po- appointing 6-7 season that began steps in as the No. 1 quarterback their top two receivers from last chest. A few hours later, team- January slate ends with defending Sum- tential. Limits are out of sight. with a Heisman Trophy campaign now that Persa is gone, and the season in Jeremy Ebert (1,060 mates learned he should be ready mit League champion South Dakota The Wildcats are talking big as for quarterback and Wildcats are hoping he can build yards) and Drake Dunsmore (522 for the opener at Syracuse on State hosting South Dakota in a clash of another season approaches and ended with their fourth bowl loss on a promising sophomore sea- yards). Demetrius Fields leads a Sept. 1. intrastate rivals on Jan. 31. The final insisting this could be the year in as many seasons. That put son. balanced group that includes Green is expected to play a regular season broadcast comes on they finally win a bowl game, Northwestern’s postseason He shared some of the load at Southern California transfer Kyle big role after he appeared in all March 2, the last day of league play, maybe a Big Ten championship. record at 1-9, the lone win coming quarterback with Persa still re- Prater, a Chicago-area product 13 games and ran for 362 yards as covering after rupturing an who got a waiver from the NCAA a true freshman last season. when Summit League newcomer “I know it’s been, what, 300- when the 1948 team beat Califor- Omaha hosts North Dakota State. plus years since our last one?” nia in the Rose Bowl. Achilles tendon the previous sea- and will not have to sit out this The Wildcats, meanwhile, are son and saw time at receiver. The year. eyeing something big. Now, it’s The 2012-13 national television quarterback said. “We’re proud to have gone to schedule includes a Dec. 30 women’s Well, not quite. It just seems four straight bowl games, but result was this. He threw for 673 “I think everyone knows what up to them to deliver. yards, ran for 654 and caught 43 direction we’re trying to take this “We have a big chip on our contest featuring three-time defending that way. that’s not the destination for our Summit League champion South Dakota It has been more than six program,” coach passes for 466 yards. thing,” Siemian said. “We’re try- shoulder just because we want Now, all eyes are on Colter. ing to be Big Ten champs and go that Big Ten championship,” run- State hosting North Dakota State. decades since Northwestern won said. “You walk in to our team Saturday, March 9 marks the begin- a bowl game, and the current room to my right in our dressing Fitzgerald said he’s “extremely to the Rose Bowl. Last year, ning back Venric Mark said. players were in elementary room would be our goals. The confident” in him and pointed out (there was) maybe a little uncer- “That’s all that we want. You can ning of The Summit League Champi- school when the 2000 team cap- first one is to consistently pre- he has more experience than tainty with Dan and how his always say that, but it’s about ac- onships and the first of three days of tured a share of the conference pare. The second is to win our di- and Persa did going Achilles was coming and if and tion. What are you doing to all-day coverage from Sioux Falls. title, the most recent one for the vision. The third is to win the Big into their junior seasons. when he was going to be able to achieve that goal? ... This is best Women’s doubleheaders will air during program. Ten championship. The fourth is “He’s a very dynamic quarter- start the opener and a couple that I’ve ever seen this team the afternoon with men’s doublehead- That’s something the Wildcats to win our bowl game.” back,” the coach said. games after that. I think this year, come together, chemistry-wise. ers each evening. Quarterfinal games hope to change this year. Whether Northwestern And if Colter stumbles, we have a really confident team.” It’s the best I’ve ever seen this are set for March 9-10 with the semifi- They’re coming in with a big reaches those goals could hinge Fitzgerald believes they have an- Already, Northwestern has en- team practice together, and we’re nals on March 11. other viable option in Siemian. dured one huge scare. Last week, moving fast.”