Shawn Ekwall

Sep 17, 2024 | saturdaytradition.com | Shawn Ekwall

Nebraska hasn’t started a season 3-0 since 2016. Eight, long years ago under the leadership of Mike Riley. After dispatching a pesky Northern Iowa team Saturday, the Huskers improved to 3-0. Coach Matt Rhule called the 3 wins “the preseason” portion of the schedule, emphasizing how he wants NU to have success. “We want to score, get a lead, play defense and run the football.”It may not be sexy, but it’s been effective. It certainly beats the alternative.

Sep 11, 2024 | saturdaytradition.com | Shawn Ekwall

Hope and optimism. Two terms seldom uttered in reference to Nebraska football in recent years. A quick 2-0 start once again has fans in Lincoln hopeful and optimistic. You’ve been down this road several times, Husker fans. Most times you’ve been burned. But 2024 feels different. Sure, the 2016 team under Mike Riley raced to a 7-0 start and a No. 7 ranking. But Nebraska lost 4 of its final 6 games, including a loss in the Music City Bowl to Tennessee to end the year unranked.

Sep 5, 2024 | saturdaytradition.com | Shawn Ekwall

Nebraska true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola showed poise beyond his years in his first collegiate start. A 40-7 season-opening win over UTEP Saturday at Memorial Stadium was the first test of Raiola’s young career. The stage, however, gets bigger this week. Much bigger. Coach Prime and Colorado come calling Saturday night for an epic showdown on NBC. The Buffs have won 3 straight against Nebraska, including a 36-14 rout in Boulder a year ago.

Mar 7, 2024 | gothenburgleader.com | Shawn Ekwall |Huskers Illustrated

AINSWORTH – It would be hard to find a sports fan in Nebraska who hasn’t heard of Carter Nelson. Ainsworth kid. Husker football recruit. Six-foot-5, 225 pounds. Great athlete. A household name around the state, Nelson’s the modern-day version of an early 1970s Tom Kropp from Aurora or an early 1980s Bill Jackman from Grant. Small-town kids with big-time talent. Is Nelson the real deal?

Nov 4, 2023 | hastingstribune.com | Shawn Ekwall

WAVERLY — There was arguably no hotter team in Class B over the past six weeks than the Hastings Tigers. The Tigers entered Friday’s quarterfinal contest against unbeaten and No. 4 ranked Waverly having won five of their past six games. Included in that streak was a 35-6 win over Seward last week in the opening round of the playoffs, a team the Tigers lost to earlier in the season.