Football: Mavericks' top rusher is in doubt for finale

UNO running back Levi Terrell, the true freshman who has rushed for 1,098 yards in six games, is hopeful that his sprained ankle won't prevent him from playing in Saturday's regular-season finale at No. 21 Missouri Western.

“Maybe,” Terrell said of his chances. “Even from (Monday) to (Tuesday) there's been a big difference. The swelling has gone down a lot and it feels a lot better. I'm just taking it day to day and we'll find out.”

Terrell injured his right ankle near the end of the fourth quarter of Saturday's 31-28 overtime victory against Pittsburg State. He didn't play in the overtime.

It turned out to be a high ankle sprain — the kind that often keeps players out for several weeks and is particularly difficult for running backs to recover from because of the cutting involved at the position. Terrell watched practice Tuesday in a protective boot.

UNO coach Pat Behrns said he is disappointed that Terrell may not get the chance to finish off the regular season.

“You just get to the point where he has opportunity to get into the league statistics and then this happens,” Behrns said. “That's awfully nice for a true freshman to be able to get there. You'd like him to be able to stay in it.”

Terrell has played in 75 percent (6 of 8) of Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association games, allowing him to qualify for the league lead in rushing in MIAA games with 183 yards per game. He doesn't qualify for Division II national statistics because he has played in fewer than 75 percent of the games overall (6 of 10).

If Terrell can't play or is limited Saturday, Behrns expects to see an expanded presence from Bryce Hawthorne, who opened the season as UNO's starting tailback but has been limited by his own a high ankle sprain.

Hawthorne, who averages 6.1 yards per carry while picking up 333 yards, was injured in the fourth game, prompting UNO to pull Terrell out of a redshirt season the following week. Hawthorne missed two games, reinjured the ankle in a brief appearance the following week, then missed two more games before rushing three times for 29 yards in relief of Terrell late Saturday.

“It was good to get Bryce back in there,” Behrns said. “That poor guy, we weren't sure if he was going to be able to get healthy.”

Duane Bowen (236 yards) and Robert Wesley (109) are also available, though Wesley has battled injuries all season.

Terrell, meanwhile, is getting treatment on his injury three to four times per day.

“I'm doing everything I can to make it better,” he said.

Contact the writer:

444-1027, rob.white@owh.com