LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska honored fallen former punter Sam Foltz in the first quarter of its season-opening 43-10 win Saturday at Memorial Stadium by lining up in formation without a player at his position.The Cornhuskers, in a scoreless tie with Fresno State, took a delay-of-game penalty on their first possession after just 10 players took the field to punt from their own 32-yard line with 13:30 on the clock.The sellout crowd of more than 90,000 responded with a roar as Foltzs family looked on minutes after an emotional pregame ceremony.It was an incredible feeling, Nebraska quarterback?Tommy Armstrong Jr. said, knowing how much he meant not only to us, but to the community and the fans out there.Fresno State declined the penalty before freshman Caleb Lightbourn delivered a 29-yard punt.Foltz, a 22-year-old senior named in 2015 as the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year, died July 23 in a car crash in rural Wisconsin after attending a kicking camp. Former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler also was killed. LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye survived the accident.Several hundred people attended Foltzs July 29 funeral in Grand Island, Nebraska, and his legacy continues to grow. A former walk-on, Foltz was known for his dedication to community service and academics.A sign with Foltzs last name and No. 27 jersey hung Saturday at field level from the student section in the southeast corner of the stadium. Another sign in the stadium Saturday read A Season for Sam.Before kickoff, many fans entered the stadium in T-shirts that displayed Foltzs number.Just to honor him, said Sheri Leffler of West Point, Nebraska, who traveled to Lincoln with her husband, Dann Leffler, and grandsons, Preston Johnson, 15, and Creighton Johnson, 12. Hes a role model for these kids. They look up to him for the things he did, just a small-town Nebraska guy.The season opener marked the first game for Creighton Johnson.He worked hard, and he made it, Dann Leffler said about Foltz. Any child out there has got to follow his steps, his footprints. I really appreciate what he did for our program. Were here to honor him.Before the game, Foltzs parents, Gerald and Jill Foltz, presented Nebraska kicker Drew Brown with the Sam Foltz Memorial Scholarship, to be awarded annually to a member of the football program who embodies Foltzs leadership traits -- a commitment to service and an ability to encourage and empower others.Its just quite an honor to afford Drew with an honor that exemplifies what Sam was on and off the field, Jill Foltz said.Brown and Foltz were close friends. Foltz doubled as Browns holder. Brown also attended the July camp in Wisconsin. He led the Huskers onto the field before kickoff in step with Foltzs two young nephews, both of whom wore their uncles jersey.Brown and kicker Spencer Lindsay carried Foltzs jersey from the locker room to the field for warm-ups two hours before kickoff. After that moment, Brown said, he planned nothing. It all happened naturally.Sam was a guy I would do anything in the world for to model myself after, Brown said. He was my best friend. Im never going to forget this night.Nebraska used a swinging-gate look on extra points Saturday, a formation it added in spring practice to capitalize on Foltzs athleticism. He was replaced as holder by Zack Darlington, who scored on a two-point conversion out of the new set in the fourth quarter.Each time he saw the formation, Nebraska special-teams coordinator Bruce Read said it evoked emotions.I thought it was hard, Read said. It was sad. This is a tight-knit group. We all miss Sam.Jill Foltz said her family has been overwhelmed by the support offered nationally and in Nebraska.Sam Foltz also was featured Saturday in the Huskers pregame tunnel-walk video shown on the scoreboards at Memorial Stadium. Additionally, receiver Alonzo Moore and offensive guard Sam Hahn served as captains against Fresno State in honor of Foltz.Hahn announced his hometown as Small Town, USA in recorded introductions, echoing the words of Foltz from past seasons.Nebraska coaches wore patches with the SF27 logo Saturday. The same emblem will adorn the Huskers helmets all season.In April, 27 student-athletes at the school will be presented with the Sam Foltz Hero 27 Leadership Award. Custom Buffalo Sabres Jerseys Cheap . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Discount Custom Hockey Jerseys . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. http://www.hockeyjerseyscustom.com/custom-minnesota-wild-jerseys-cheap-483k . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Custom Jerseys Clearance . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Custom Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Cheap . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. NEW YORK -- After losing twice on goals in the closing minutes during their recent road trip, the New York Islanders were relieved to get a late win after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period.Anders Lee scored the tiebreaking goal with 27 seconds remaining to lift the Islanders to a 5-3 victory over the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.Thomas Hickey took a pass from Johnny Boychuk and fired a slap shot from the point that deflected off Lees stick and past goalie Matt Murray.We had that puck luck, Lee said. We just have to grind it out. Tonight we were able to come through with a game-winning goal. Was a great shot and I was able to tip in. Weve faced enough adversity for a season. Tonight we were able to find a way.Hickey called it relief more than elation, adding, It was nice to get something to go our way. ... It was a great pass by Johnny and a great tip by Anders.Then, with Murray pulled on the ensuing faceoff, Nikolay Kulemin scored into the empty net 3 seconds later to seal the win and give the Islanders consecutive victories for the second time this season.Boychuk, Jason Chimera and Casey Cizikas also scored, and Thomas Greiss made 31 saves.New York, which lost twice on goals in the final 3 minutes of regulation at Los Angeles and San Jose last week before beating Calgary at home in overtime on Monday, has won three of five.Conor Sheary, Justin Schultz and Evgeni Malkin scored in the first 13:08 of the third period to tie the score for the Penguins. Murray finished with 25 saves.Sometimes you can try to work your way back but it doesnt always work out that way, Pittsburghs Sidney Crosby said. We were able to tie it up and unfortunately not at least force overtime.The Islanders had not scored more than two goals in their last eight games -- including a 3-2, 14-round shootout win at Anaheim on Nov. 22.Trailing 3-0 after two periods, the Penguins came out aggressive in the third and quickly got on the scoreboard when Sheary knocked in a rebound past Greiss 32 seconds in.Phil Kessel had a breakaway a minute later but was stoned by Greiss.Schultz pulled the Penguins within one when he skated in across the left faceoff circle and fired a shot top shelf with 9:20 remaining. Malkin then tied it with a wrister past Greiss 2:28 later withh his ninth of the season.ddddddddddddThe Islanders made it 2-0 at 2:10 of the second on a goal credited to Chimera. Scott Mayfield fired a shot from the right slot and the puck bounced off several players before hitting Chimeras skate and off Murray and slowly trickling over the line before the goalie could stop it. It was Chimeras second of the season.Pittsburgh was called for two penalties seconds apart about 8 minutes into the second. After being whistled for too many men, Matt Cullen was called for a delay of game faceoff violation for falling on the puck on the ensuing faceoff. The Islanders managed six shots on the two-man advantage, including a diving glove save by Murray on a shot by John Tavares from the right side.You knew that after the 2-minute 5-on-3 where we didnt score, it always comes back to haunt you a little bit, New York coach Jack Capuano said. Our guys battled right to the end and we found a way to win.Cizikas made it 3-0 with 2:39 left in the second with his third, tipping in the deflection of a shot by Andrew Ladd.Boychuk got the Islanders on the scoreboard first, firing a slap shot from outside the right faceoff circle into the left side of the night on Murrays blocker side with 13 seconds left in the opening period. It was Boychuks third of the season, and first since Oct. 23.Game notes Patric Hornqvist returned for the Penguins after missing six games due to a concussion. ... Pittsburgh was 0 for 3 on the power play and has not scored in 16 opportunities over the last five games. ... The Penguins won the first two meetings, 4-2 at home on Oct. 27 and 3-2 in OT here on Nov. 18. The teams final matchup will be March 24 at Pittsburgh. ... Islanders F Ryan Strome returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous two games. ... D Adam Pelech was out after sustaining an upper body injury in Monday nights OT win over Calgary. Mayfield took his place and appeared in his second game of the season.UP NEXTPenguins: Host Dallas on Thursday night in the opener of a three-game homestand.Islanders: At Washington on Thursday night before a three-game homestand.---Follow Vin Cherwoo at www.twitter.com/VinCherwooAP ' ' '
