Kearney, Neb. - The 11th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team starts conference play with a road game at Colorado Mesa this Saturday in Grand Junction.

The Lopers (2-0) will face the Mavericks (1-1) at 1:00 p.m. Central. As usual, KRNY 102.3 FM in Kearney is carrying the game live (HERE) while live stats will be available HERE. 

Finally, fans can watch the game live (for a price) via America One.

Through the first two Saturdays, the UNK offense has run roughshod over the competition. The Lopers are averaging a staggering 53.0 points and 662.0 yards per game with the ground attack galloping for 425.5 yards a week. 

Colorado Mesa (formerly known as Mesa State) has always had a solid defense and, last week at Dixie State (UT), they led the way in a 52-30 win. The Mavs returned three INT's for scores and also set up its offense with a short field in a 28-point fourth quarter.

Junior FS Trent DeBraga had two of the INT returns and is a threat in the return game (31.7 kick return avg.) as well. Up front, senior end Connor Wright leads the team in tackles (23), including six sacks.

Overall, Mesa is giving up 29.5 points and 449.5 yards per game, most of that through the air (368.5). Offensively, a run-first attack is producing 260.5 yards per game with two QB's combining to average 87.0 yards through the air.

UNK's defense has been stout against the run, holding four straight opponent under 100 yards until Northeastern State, thanks to some late runs in a 55-point loss, went for 142 yards last Saturday.

The Lopers have had success against Mesa, leading the series 16-3. Winning six of the last seven meetings, UNK is 6-2 all-time at Stocker Stadium.

Stocker, owned by the City of Grand Junction, is going  under renovations that should be done by next year.