The Iowa Hawkeyes take a 7-4 record into their Black Friday contest under the lights against Nebraska. Under second year coach Matt Rhule the Huskers are 6-5 and bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Led by running back Kaleb Johnson the Hawkeye run game is averaging just over 213 yards per game. Herentz says the Husker defense will be a tough challenge.

With top corner Jermari Harris sidelined Iowa’s defense will have its hands full against a young but talented Nebraska offense led by quarterback Dylan Raiola (rye-oh-luh).

Kickoff in Kinnick Stadium is 6:30. the game will be televised by NBC. You can also hear the game on KJAN after the Kansas City Chiefs football game.

(Radio Iowa) – A 57-year-old Iowan who has run the Boston Marathon three times recently ran a 100 mile long endurance race through California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. For nine years, Julie Moffitt of Iowa City entered the lottery for the annual “Western States” race and won a spot in this year’s race.

Moffitt finished the 100 mile course in just under 30 hours. The race begins in the California ski slopes where the 1960 Olympics were held and then runners descend into canyons and cross the north fork of the American River.

Moffitt plans to continue running more ultra marathons.

Moffitt is a former college professor who’s currently working for an international company that does medical research.

The Exira-EHK Boys’ Basketball team is ready to kick off another season. However, this year will be a little different. After finishing second in the Rolling Valley Conference and making it to the regional semi-finals, Head Coach Tony Santistaben says the Spartans will have a bit of a new look.

Despite the loss of the seniors, Exira-EHK does have some promise in their returners. This includes senior Josh Nelson, who was third on the team in scoring last year (11.6 PPG) while being their most effective field goal shooter (58.8%) and the team’s best rebounder (7.5 RPG). In addition to stats on a scoresheet, Nelson along with Austin Rasmussen and Owen Juhl, have stepped up to help lead the younger players.

As with any young team, there will always be some kinks to iron out. From reads, shot selection, and pace of play, there are aspects of the game that one needs to see in order to better understand. However, Santistaben was pleased with what he saw during their jamboree on Tuesday.

Figuring out who you are as a team and what a particular group does well is almost always an important stepping stone to success for any team, but especially a young one. As the season is fast approaching the concept is near the top of Santistaben’s mind.

Exira-EHK will open up the season at home next Tuesday against the Woodbine Tigers.

The 2024 CAM Girls basketball has had a productive off season as they are reeling from an efficient 2023 campaign that included 21 wins and a regional final appearance. One of the strengths of last season’s squad was an experienced starting five all being seniors. Now a year later, CAM head coach Joe Wollum is having to start over with a new starting roster, filled with some familiar faces. Coach Wollum noted that the Cougars practices have been efficient and filled with a hunger to succeed.

Graduating five seniors is a tough task to overcome, but this CAM team has the right mindset heading into the season as the team strives to stay positive. Coach Wollum enjoys the attitude of this group but is honest about the growing that they need to do.

The 2024 Cougar team has seen some strong leadership from athletes like sophomore Ada Hansen and senior Maddie Richter. Hansen had 28 assists and scored over 100 points a year ago. Richter a transfer from Atlantic shot 30% from beyond the arc and tallied 143 points in 2023.

One hurdle for CAM this year will be their lack of size on the floor. Coach Wollum explained that his team will have to be creative with ways of defending the rim.

The expectations for Cougar basketball are to see continual growth throughout the season. The early part of the season will be dedicated to building chemistry, so the second half of the year will bring close games and wins.

CAM is 0-1 to start the year as they suffered a 54-51 loss to AHSTW this past Tuesday.

The Griswold Tigers volleyball team has a lot to be proud of when they look back at their 2024 season. The Tigers fought their way through a grueling schedule en route to finishing with a 17-16 record. Out of their 16 losses, 11 of them were to teams that made it to the regional semi-finals or finals.  Although the Tigers would’ve liked to see a better record, coach Jody Rossell thinks there is a lot to be proud of.

There were a lot of great moments for the Tigers this year. Senior Gabbie Greieman broke the record for the highest kill efficiency in a season (.332). A record that was set back in 1982.

Griswold’s season also included bounce-back wins versus very difficult teams in the Southwest Valley and ACGC.  Although the Tigers had lost teams to both in a tournament,  Griswold would secure wins against both. Rossell was very pleased with the amount of resiliency that her group showed. Although one of the Tigers’ resiliency, Rossell says the lessons go well beyond the game.

Unfortunately for Griswold, the Tigers graduated nine seniors this season. Although things might look a little different next season, there are plenty of girls who are ready to step up and fill in the gaps left by the outgoing seniors.

Although the Tigers wanted a few more wins, it is hard to say that a resilient team that fought through a difficult schedule, met goals and broke some records along the way a record along the way a way, would be unsuccessful.

Fifth ranked Iowa State raced away from a nine point halftime lead and crushed Colorado 99-71 in the fifth place game at the Maui Invitational. Milan Momcilovic led the way with 24 points ands Curtis Jones finished with 19 as ISU finished the tournament with a 2-1 record.

The Cyclones shot 60 percent for the game and forced 17 Colorado turnovers.

That’s ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger who felt the bench performed well as the tournament progressed.

The Cyclones are 5-1.

Wartburg opens the NCAA Division III playoffs at home on Saturday against Wisconsin-Platteville. These teams scrimmaged in the preseason and Wartburg coach Chris Winter says both teams have matured since then.

Winter says the style of play from Wisconsin-Platteville will be the same they saw in the scrimmage.

These teams have been scrimmaging in the preseason for more than a decade.

Winter says Wartburg’s playoff experience should help them manage what is expected to be cold conditions.

The Knights have made it to the national semifinals in each of the last two seasons.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa linebacker Ed Miles will serve as honorary captain when the Hawkeyes host Nebraska in the Pioneer Heroes Game on Friday on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. (CT) and the contest will be televised on NBC and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Miles was a four-year letterman from 2003-06. While on the squad, the Hawkeyes won a Big Ten Championship (2004) and competed in four bowl games, including bowl wins in the Outback (2004) and Citrus (2005).

After redshirting in 2002, Miles played special teams and was recognized as an All-Big Ten freshman by Sporting News in 2003. He started two games at linebacker and was recognized as Iowa Special Teams Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2004. He was a starting linebacker his final two seasons, finishing his career with 186 tackles and four sacks.

Miles had a three-stint in the National Football League following graduation. He signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent in 2007. After playing 18 games with the Dolphins, he was on the New York Giants roster in 2008 and Atlanta Falcons in 2009.

The native of Tallahassee, Florida, just concluded his third season as head football coach at Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School. He previously served as assistant coach at Linn-Mar from 2016-20.

Miles will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Friday’s pregame coin toss. He will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game.

The UNI women’s basketball team is in the Virgin Islands and will play Auburn Thursday afternoon in the Paradise Jam. The Panthers are 3-1 and have been off since last week’s victory over then eighth ranked Iowa State.

That’s Panther coach Tanya Warren who says her team is ready to move on to the next challenge.

The Panthers will play three games in three days.

Iowa’s improved offense looks for a good finish at home against Nebraska. Sophomore Jackson Stratton is listed as the starter at quarterback after leading the Hawkeyes to a 29-13 win at Maryland and says he felt calm in making his first college start.

Stratton says he had a lot of help from his teammates in getting ready to be the starter.

Senior Masaon Richman gets ready for his final home game. Richman is a rare four year starter at left tackle.

Richman says a big part of running back Kaleb Brown’s success this season is his maturity on and off the field.