Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team hosts the Missouri Southern State Lions this Saturday (Oct. 17) at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium/Foster Field.
It is the midpoint of the season ("Fall Break") and UNK has back-to-back home games for the second time this fall. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. and can be followed via The River 93.1/106 FM, the MIAA Network ($) and live stats.
The Lions have been a thorn in the Lopers side the past three years, taking each game. UNK failed to crack 17 points in each contest and held only one lead (7:44 of game time). Overall, the Blue & Gold holds an 11-10 series lead with two games vacated per NCAA rules.
Under head coach Atiba Bradley, an MSSU football alum, the Lions are 1-5 (0-4) with a 21-19 decision over Upper Iowa to its credit. They are led by quarterback Tillman Martin (3,662 career passing yards with 22 touchdowns), the MIAA's second leading receiver in Isaiah Green (82.8 ypg; four TD's) and the league's sack leader in end Tugase Williams (4.0).
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The offense is at 15 points and 266 yards per game with most of its production coming through the air. Besides Green is 2025 All-MIAA receiver Isaiah Padello (27 catches for 318 yards). The backfield and line are young with true freshman Jake Beck starting at right guard.
Defensively, the Lions are allowing 34 points and 423 yards every week with the second quarter giving them fits (outscored 96-3). They have recorded nine sacks and forced five turnovers, but foes are converting 51% on third down and 55% on fourth. Besides Williams, end Kason Mesenger has 2.5 sacks, linebacker Riley Hammons has a team-best 47 tackles with nickel Noah Conners at two interceptions. Finally, receiver David Bethune is a dangerous returner, having a 98-yard kick return for six points against Emporia.
UNK (0-6, 0-4) enters mid-October with the MIAA's second-best, and Division II's 52nd-highest, run game (169 ypg). Veteran Isaiah Harris (4.1 ypc) and true freshman Calin Arndt (6.2 ypc) are powering an attack that has now found the end zone 10 times. In addition, junior QB Devin Tate (174.0 yards of total offense pg) returned to the starting lineup after missing two games due to injury. Backup Ziggy Harper (Belle Glade, Fla.) still saw action at Mo West last Saturday night and promptly led UNK on an 80-yard drive with 46 of those yards coming via Harper runs.
The defense dusted itself off in St. Joe and forced three second-half punts and picked off a pass. The Lopers are at 29 points and 370 yards per game with opponents 16 of 24 in red zone TD rate. UNK has forced eight turnovers and 30 punts while recording eight sacks. Individually, veteran backer Parker Wise (Kearney) is up to 189 career stops, good for 25th in school history (UNK began keeping defensive stats in 1990).
The Lopers host No. 12 Northwest Missouri next Saturday. The Bearcats (4-1, 3-1) visit Hays this Saturday night.
