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 quarterback, 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.