By The Associated Press

Iowa (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) at Nebraska (8-3, 5-2)

Radio:  KJAN AM 1220/FM 101.1 (9:00 am pre-game/11:05 kick-off)

TV:  11 a.m. CST (ABC)

Line: Nebraska by 3.

Series Record: Nebraska leads 28-12-3.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

If not Bo Pelini’s job at Nebraska, then certainly the bowl slot for both teams. Assuming Wisconsin earns an at-large BCS bid, the Cornhuskers could lock up a spot in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Buffalo Wild Wings and Gator bowls are in play for the Hawkeyes.

KEY MATCHUP

Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah vs. Iowa rush defense: With QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. (ankle) questionable, Abdullah will carry an even heavier load in the running game. Michigan State’s nation-leading defense couldn’t stop Abdullah, and now we’ll see if Iowa’s can. Abdullah has rushed for 100-plus yards in 10 of 11 games. The Hawkeyes are 20th nationally against the run and have allowed only four rushing touchdowns.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz has caught a pass in 29 straight games, the second-longest streak among active FBS tight ends. He has 23 receptions for 230 yards and a team-high five touchdowns, including a 5-yarder against Michigan last week.

Nebraska: QB Ron Kellogg III, a former walk-on who could make the first start of his career on his Senior Day. Kellogg threw the Hail Mary to beat Northwestern, and he took over for an injured Armstrong last week to lead the Huskers in their overtime win at Penn State.

FACTS & FIGURES

Iowa’s four losses are to teams that have a combined record of 42-3 (Northern Illinois, 11-0; Michigan State, 10-1; Ohio State, 11-0, Wisconsin, 9-2). All four are in the BCS top 15 … The Hawkeyes are going for their fourth road win, which would be their most since 2009 … The winner receives the Hero’s Trophy, which honors citizens in both states who have excelled at community service … Abdullah’s 1,483 yards rushing is most by a Nebraska player since Ahman Green went for 1,877 in 1997 … Nebraska’s Randy Gregory has had at least one tackle for loss in 10 straight games.

Hawkeye 10:

• Denison-Schleswig 38, Atlantic 37
• Glenwood 54, Thomas Jefferson 14
• Clarinda 73, Lenox 24
• Creston 69, Mount Ayr 58
• Kuemper Catholic 64, Carroll 18
• Lewis Central 52, Sioux City North 51
• Shenandoah 66, East Mills 38

Others:

• Adair-Casey 58, Guthrie Center 47
• Bondurant Farrar 52, Panorama 35
• West Central Valley 62, Nodaway Valley 61
• Woodbine 54, Logan-Magnolia 37
• Stanton 49, Bedford 39
• Lamoni 64, Orient-Macksburg 31

w/ Jim Field

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BOONE, IOWA – The State Wrestling Championship has been a sold out event for over 20 years and is the only IHSAA reserved ticket event. On November 19, 2011, the Board of Control of the Iowa High School Athletic Association adopted changes for the State Wrestling Tournament finals ticket distribution. Tickets are no longer purchased from and distributed by the IHSAA. Member schools who host wrestling programs and the general public now purchase their tickets through either a walk up process or online.

Under this ticketing system, schools have the first opportunity to purchase tickets. Ticket sales to IHSAA member high schools who host wrestling programs will begin Monday, December 2, 2013 at 10:00am and close Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 11:59pm. The order limit is a maximum of sixty (60) tickets per school. Complete information regarding the ticket ordering process for IHSAA member high schools hosting wrestling programs has been communicated with them.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 10:00am. The public will be able to purchase tickets at the Iowa Events Center ticket office, any Dahl’s store, online at www.dahlstickets.com or by calling 1-866-55-DAHLS. The order limit will be eight (8) tickets.

The ticket price is $8.00 per ticket, plus a convenience fee of $1.75 per ticket. There will be a $4.00 handling fee per order. A valid credit card will be needed to make an online purchase. The Iowa Events Center seating chart will be available identifying class 1A, 2A, and 3A mats. All seats will be assigned in the order the transactions are processed either at a ticketing location or online.

Anyone with questions or experiencing difficulties ordering tickets should call the Iowa Events Center ticket office at 515-564-8300. Anyone needing assistance with ADA seating should call the Iowa Events Center 515-564-8351.

The Harlan Community School District has approved a contract to develop and design the new Merrill Field. During their meeting Monday, the board of education agreed to a contract with FEH Associates out of Sioux City. The Harlan Community Education Foundation gifted the school district $600,000 during the board meeting. The Foundation has collected $950,000 in the bank for the $1.5 million project. However, the rest of the money has been donated but not collected. Superintendent Justin Wagner said the rest of the donations are guaranteed by a local bank. “The Education Foundation has taken out a loan, which it can do, with Farmer’s Trust and Savings and what it does is the bank guarantees the additional pledges that are still hanging out there.”

The $600,000 was given at the moment because that’s what the school can liquidate and that money will be set inside the school’s coffers and accounts in the next 7 to 10 days. Now that the money is close at hand, the board approved the contract with the designer FEH to get the drawings and specifications completed for the project. Wagner and other school officials met with the designer earlier on Monday to discuss the contract before presenting it to the board.

The contract states FEH Associates will be responsible for the overall coordination of the project, field verification as well as construction documents such as demolition around the bleacher areas, bleacher replacement and new fencing around the track. EDA Inc, Sundquist Engineering and Midwest Tennis and Track are also named as contractors for the Merrill Field renovation project. Each entity is in charge of certain aspects such as the field lighting, new drainage system and the entire track and field area. The Harlan Community School district will be responsible for the scoreboard installation, new ticket booth and coordinate site drainage issues with the City of Harlan.

Wagner told the board the designer fee is normally around 5 percent of the whole project and the contract states FEH Associates fee will not exceed $100,000. He said the actual design plans and specs will come at the December 20^th school board meeting. The final say on the design will ultimately be approved by the school district but Wagner said the education foundation hopes to give a recommendation to the board.

Wagner says in the next 60 days or so the school board should see the plans and design, determine the cost and move forward with bids. The school district plans to begin the project on March 1^st, 2014.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A man who has performed as the Kansas City Chiefs’ mascot since 1989 is recovering in a hospital after being injured while practicing a skit for Sunday’s game against San Diego.  Chiefs spokesman Ted Crews confirmed Monday that Dan Meers, who performs as KC Wolf, was injured Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Crews declined to say what Meers was doing when he was hurt, the extent of his injuries or the hospital where he was taken.

According to the website mascothalloffame.com, Meers formerly performed as the St. Louis Cardinals’ mascot “Fredbird,” and before that was “Truman Tiger,” the University of Missouri’s mascot.  Crews says Meers’ prognosis is good and he is expected to make a full recovery.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Abraham Lincoln 43, Atlantic 24

Creston 58, Orient-Macksburg 18

Earlham 72, Iowa Christian Academy 29

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (AP) — Nate Buss came off the bench to score 23 points and grab 12 rebounds, both career highs, to lead Northern Iowa to a 65-50 win over La Salle and a third-place finish in the Paradise Jam tournament. The Panthers, who lost to Maryland in the semifinals Sunday night, led by three after a half, but went on a 12-2 run early in the first half. La Salle fell to Providence in the other semifinal.

La Salle (3-4) did not score for more than six minutes at a stretch twice in the second half – during Northern Iowa’s run and again from the 7:12 mark of the half until Steve Zack converted a pair of free throws with :59 left.

Seth Tuttle had 15 points for Northern Iowa (3-3). Zack finished with 13 points to lead the Explorers, with 10 points from Tyrone Garland

AMES, Iowa (AP) — DeAndre Kane had 20 points and eight rebounds, and 17th-ranked Iowa State trounced Missouri-Kansas City 110-51 Monday night for its fifth straight win. Sherron Dorsey-Walker added 17 points for the Cyclones, who used a 27-0 run midway through the first half to put away the Kangaroos.

Iowa State, which was hosting a game as a ranked team for the first time in eight years, held UMKC scoreless for 7½ minutes and led 52-17 at halftime. The Cyclones also finished with their most points under fourth-year coach Fred Hoiberg.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self wants fans to quit yelling “Chiefs” at the end of the national anthem before games that the Jayhawks play at historic Allen Fieldhouse. Fans of the nearby NFL franchise traditionally bellow “Chiefs” rather than “brave,” the final word in the national anthem, before games played at Arrowhead Stadium. But for some reason, many do the same thing before games played in other area venues. Among them are Allen Fieldhouse and Kauffman Stadium, the home of the Royals.

Self said Monday that “out of respect for what it really stands for and the men and women that have sacrificed so much, I think that we should stay true to what it is.” Other local coaches have made similar pleas over the years.