Kearney, Neb. - Junior QB Jake Spitzlberger accounted for six touchdowns to lead the 9th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team to a 56-31 win over Western New Mexico Saturday afternoon in Silver City, N.M.

In winning a 17th straight RMAC game, and winning for a 24th times in the last 28 games, UNK had to overcome early deficits of 17-0 and 24-7. Two turnovers on the Lopers (8-1, 7-0 RMAC) first two drives gave Western great field position and the Mustangs took advantage both times.

However, there was plenty of time remaining and UNK tallied over 50 points against the WNMU (3-6, 2-5 RMAC) defense for a fourth straight season. This also marks the third straight season the two teams combined to score over 85 points.

In last year's win over Western, Spitzlberger (Lakewood, Colo.) threw for five scores and ran for three more. Today, after throwing an early interception, he went 21 of 30 for 298 yards and three TD's (2, 34, 38 yards) while rushing 10 times for 58 yards and three more scores (4, 8, 16 yards).

Replacing an injured Rustin Dring in the backfield, senior Brendan Liess (McCook) ran 23 times for 142 yards, his first ever 100 yard rushing day. Liess was a running back for two years before moving to wideout last season; he is now the team's second string back as junior Riley Newcomer and sophomore Ryan Skogg are out for the year with injuries.

Dring (Kearney) is expected to return to the field at some point this year. Liess has now rushed for 298 yards this year on just 51 carries (5.8 yards per carry).

Also having big days were sophomore back Alex Hutchison (Stapleton), who ran 13 times for 71 yards and two scores (5 & 8 yards), and junior receiver Shane Carraher (Franklin). He had career highs in catches (nine) and yards (123) in replacing Liess at one starting receiver spot.

Finally, Colorado senior Kyle Kaiser caught four balls for 110 yards and two scores. He is just 48 yards shy of his second 1,000 yard season; only Richie Ross (three times) has had multiple 1,000 receiving yard efforts.

This offensive production by several Lopers was needed as Western scored three TD's and made a 42-yard field goal the first four times it touched the ball. However, after amassing 140 yards on those early drives, the Ponies punted five straight times and totaled just 133 yards the rest of the way.

UNK's first three drives resulted in a pick, fumble and punt. After a nine play, 80-yard scoring drive to get on the board, the Lopers again were forced to punt. That was the last time senior Brennan Johnson (Big Springs) was needed as UNK scored seven TD's in seven straight possessions, totaling 472 yards.

On the day, Kearney out gained Western 632-273 yards with 333 of that, a season-high, coming on the ground (5.6 yards per carry).  The 632 yards is the sixth highest total in school history and the most by a Loper offense in eight years.

Western was paced by running back Kevin Breaker (14 carries for 43 yards and one TD) and QB Chris Voller (19 of 32 for 193 yards, two TD's, no INT's).

Defensively for the Lopers, senior end Alex Paicurich (Westminster, Colo.) had a team-high eight tackles and one QB hurry with true freshman ILB Kellen Werner (Grand Island) having six stops. He replaced an injured Ethan Kuhlmann (Athol, Kan.) in the starting lineup today.

UNK hosts Fort Lewis next Saturday at 12:00 p.m.