Kearney, Neb. - The 13th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team heads out on the road again this weekend and will have another stern test in the form of the Colorado State-Pueblo ThunderWolves.

Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. Central. Fans can listen to the action on KRNY 102.3 FM or at lopers.com. Live video, via America One, is also available (for purchase) as is live stats.

The third-year T-Wolves (5-1, 3-1 RMAC) were ranked 25th nationally last week before suffering a heart breaking loss at Colorado Mines, 19-16. After a 4th down stop, Pueblo celebrated an apparent 16-13 win. However, a penalty gave Mines another chance and they scored with four seconds left.

Based on that win, the Orediggers (5-1, 4-0 RMAC) are now ranked 24th in this week's AFCA poll.

Two years ago in Pueblo, the Lopers (5-1, 4-0 RMAC) used a school-record 98-yard TD run from running back Rustin Dring (Kearney) and a fumble recovery for a score from defensive linemen Josh Rohde (Eddyville) to beat the T-Wolves, 41-10.

UNK also forced five turnovers (three INT's and two fumbles) in victory.

Last year at Cope Stadium, with Pueblo doing everything to stop Dring and the run game, junior QB Jake Spitzlberger (Lakewood, Colo.) threw four long TD passes in a 44-12 victory.

The TD passes combined to go for 273 yards and corner Ozzie Smith also brought back a fumble 41 yards for six points.

UNK, winners of 14 straight RMAC games, will face a more experienced Pueblo squad this time around. The ThunderWolves lead the league in scoring defense (16.7 ppg) as teams are having a hard time scoring once they reach the red zone.

In addition, Pueblo has an RMAC-best 15 interceptions. Offensively, the T-Wolves prefer to run behind junior RB's Jesse Lewis (111.2 ypg, six TD's) and Jamaal Johnson (67 ypg, three TD's).

UNK is glad to have Dring (130.2 ypg, three TD's; 16 recep., 188 yards, two TD's) back in the lineup with senior Brendan Liess (174 all-purpose yards, three TD's) now pulling double duty as a starting receiver and as the No.2 running back.

Liess missed all of September due to injury with Dring not playing at Western State or against Adams State because of his own ailments.

Defensively, the Lopers are giving up just 17.7 ppg and that number is skewed a bit by two blocked punt returns for scores by the opposition.

Like Pueblo, UNK is tough in the red zone, giving up eight TD's in 30 chances (27 percent).

Nest Saturday, New Mexico Highlands visits Kearney.