Kearney, Neb. - Junior QB Jake Spitzlberger threw for a career high 410 yards, and senior receiver Kyle Kaiser had a career-high 282 receiving yards and three TD's, as the 13th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team beat Colorado State-Pueblo 38-24 Saturday afternoon in Pueblo.

UNK (6-1, 5-0 RMAC) wins a 15th straight RMAC game and sends a talented ThunderWolves team (5-2, 4-2 RMAC) to a second straight loss.

To reach his total, Spitzlberger (Lakewood, Colo.) went 22 of 31 and threw TD passes of six, 29, 71 and 73 yards. Kaiser (Broomfield, Colo.) had the last three TD grabs with his yardage total the second most in school history, trailing only a 317 yard effort by Richie Ross in 2003.

The three TD catches also tie a school record; Kaiser had previously three scoring grabs last year vs. Western New Mexico and in 2008 at Western State. Next, he joins Richie Ross ('05) and Trevor Weston ('00) as UNK receivers to reach 3,000 career receiving yards (now 3,030).

Finally, Spitzlberger is the fourth different Loper QB to throw for 400 yards in a game with his total being the 10th highest.

UNK moved ahead for good, 17-14, with five minutes left in the 3rd quarter when Spitzlberger threw his second TD pass of the day, a 29 yarder to Kaiser, that capped an eight play, 80 yard drive.

A dropped pass, on 3rd and 1 from the Kearney 33-yard line, ended Pueblo's next drive. The defense then changed the momentum with a fourth down stop.

The Lopers took advantage of that third down mistake with a 10 play, 66 yard drive that was topped off with a one yard plunge by junior RB Rustin Dring (Kearney).

The T-Wolves tried to get back into the game with a 52 yard kick return from Marquise Enoch. However, the UNK defense stiffened and held Pueblo to a field goal, making it a 24-17 game with about 11 minutes to play.

UNK then began its big play offense as Spitzlberger had two TD passes of 70 yards or more over the next five minutes. Both scoring plays came on 3rd and short with the first TD toss "threading the needle" between two Pueblo defenders and into the hands of Kaiser.

In a 2009 win over Pueblo, the Bear Creek grad had four scoring passes that combined for 273 yards.

In between the big passes, Pueblo had a potential scoring drive squandered with a fumble at the Loper one yard line. That ball went out of the end zone, giving UNK the ball at its own 20 yard line. Three plays after the turnover, Kaiser caught his final scoring pass, making it a 38-17 game.

Dring, with a long gallop of 46 yards, finished with 133 yards on 25 carries. Pueblo almost out rushed the Lopers, 177-175, as diminutive Jesse Lewis had 154 yards on 19 carries. Most of his production (71 yards) did come on a 1st quarter scoring run.

In the air for Pueblo, big Ross Dausin (6-5, 230 lbs.) was 23 of 41 for 232 yards, two TD's and no INT's. He also was sacked three times for a loss of 13 yards.

Before today, Kaiser's career best catch total was eight, which came last year vs. UNO. He came into the game with 26 receptions over the first six games. Showing his versatility, Kaiser also threw a pass on a fake field goal (incomplete) and had 23 kick return yards.

Also in the passing game, Colorado Springs junior Eli Hammond returned home and had four catches for 38 yards with McCook senior Brendan Liess having three grabs for 40 yards and one TD.

Defensively, sophomore ILB Ethan Kuhlmann (Athol, Kans.) and safety Sam Kuck (Central City) each had 11 tackles with freshman corner Kenny Hill (San Diego, Calif.) having nine tackles and two pass breakups.

UNK hosts New Mexico Highlands next Saturday.