Kearney, Neb. - Senior receiver Kyle Kaiser weaved his way into the end zone from 59 yards out and the Nebraska-Kearney defense held its ground as the Lopers defeated 13th-ranked Nebraska-Omaha, 32-29, Saturday night at Al Caniglia Field.

UNK (1-1) beats UNO (0-1) for the second straight year and earns its third-ever win in Omaha. The Lopers also get to keep the "Victory Bell" for at least two more years as the teams will not meet during the 2011 season. Finally, this is the first time since the 1930 and 1931 seasons UNK has beaten UNO in two straight years.

The game's final score, capping a wild 4th quarter, came with about seven minutes left when Kaiser (Broomfield, Colo.) caught a pass from junior Jake Spitzlberger (Lakewood, Colo.) and managed to evade the Maverick defense for his 28th career receiving score.

Kaiser has saved his best games for UNO as a third of his nine 100 yard receiving games have come against the Mavericks. Tonight, he had five catches for 106 yards, in addition to 37 kick return yards.

UNO still had a chance to win the game after Kaiser's big play. Five runs and a pass play from junior Jon Daniels to TE Mike Higgins moved the ball to the Loper 34-yard line with about four minutes left.

That's when UNK stood strong, allowing just one yard over the next four plays. On 4th and nine, Daniels -- who relieved starter Jon Tiegland late in the 3rd quarter -- tried to get the ball to Higgins but several Loper defenders made sure that didn't happen.

UNK then picked up three first downs, thanks to the running of Spitzlberger (11 carries for 66 yards) and junior RB Rustin Dring (25 carries for 118 yards), to run out the clock.

With the Loper receiving corps decimated by injuries, Dring stepped up in the passing game and caught seven balls for 114 yards and two scores. The second score, from 30 yards out, came at the 10:17 mark of the 4th quarter and gave UNK its first lead of the night, 24-23.

The drive started when sophomore corner Trevor Toteve (Aurora, Colo.) popped UNO receiver Justin Coleman and senior OLB Jay Kropp (Grand Island) pounced on the loose ball.

Dring's first receiving TD came early in the 3rd quarter after Kropp picked off a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage by senior DL Josh Rohde (Eddyville). On 2nd and 10, Dring caught a swing pass one handed and raced in for a TD that cut into UNO's 23-10 lead.

Both teams finished over 400 yards of total offense and both teams had issues in the kicking game. The Mavs blocked a punt for a TD early in the 2nd half but with All-American Greg Zeurlein forced to leave the game due to injury, backup kicker Tyler Johnson missed a 30-yard field goal and had a PAT blocked by senior DE Mason Brodine (Elm Creek).

Spitlzberger finished 22 of 40 for 290 yards, three TD's and no INT's. UNO's two QB's combined to go 19 of 30 for 202 yards, one TD and one INT.

Things didn't start out well for the Lopers as the Mavs scored 10 points on its first two possessions and was going in for another score before sophomore safety Pete Kropp (Grand Island) recovered a fumble at the Loper 4-yard line after DB's Sam Kuck (Central City) and Kenny Hill (San Diego, CA) hit RB Bryce Hawthorne.

Prior to the fumble, Kearney cut into that 10-0 hole thanks to a 15 play, 83-yard drive that was capped by a two yard scoring run from Dring.

UNK also went into halftime with some momentum as, after the blocked PAT, freshman Michael Gruber (San Diego, Calif.) made a 33-yard field goal with 21 seconds to go.

Defensively, J. Kropp had a team-high nine tackles, including a sack for five yards, with junior corner Arthur Hobbs (San Diego, Calif.) having eight stops.

The Lopers have a bye week Sept. 11th and then host Mesa State the following week.