Kearney, Neb. - Something will have to give when the 7th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team plays Adams State Saturday afternoon at Rex Field in Alamosa, Colo.

The Lopers (4-0, 2-0 RMAC) are looking for its first 5-0 start in 44 years while the Grizzlies, who will be playing in front of a Homecoming crowd, look to avoid a third straight league loss (2-2, 0-2 RMAC).

Kickoff is at 2:00 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.

Adams has long being known for its defensive prowess and nothing is different in 2011. The Grizzlies lead the league in total (228 ypg) and pass (111 ypg) defense while not allowing more than 20 points in any game this year.

By contrast, UNK is averaging 53 points and 645 yards per game, including 300 through the air.

Last Saturday, the Grizzlies led Chadron State 13-7 before a long kickoff helped the Eagles eventually move ahead 14-13. A last second, 38-yard field goal misfired and Adams found themselves 0-2 in RMAC play.

A week earlier, ASC lost at home to No. 14 CSU-Pueblo, 20-11. In that game, CSUP tallied just six second half points. Individually, senior LB Rocco DeLorenzo (29 tackles, 6.5 TFL) and junior safety James Ackel (16 tackles) are Grizzlies to watch. 

Offensively, a very experienced unit features lefty QB Trevor Eggleston (216 ypg, 61% completion pct. ), the 2009 RMAC Freshman of the Year, senior RB Terjean Saffold (99.8 ypg) and a trio of strong receivers, including Dustin Bolt (62 ypg).

Adams has struggled a bit on 3rd down (26% conversion rate) and in the red zone (six TD's in 17 trips).
UNK has had success against the Green & White, winning six straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings to grab a 12-5 series edge. Last year in Kearney, the Lopers led just 7-3 after three quarters before scoring two TD's in a minute span to open up a 17-point cushion.

Saffold then got hot, finishing with 166 all-purpose yards, as UNK eventually posted a 27-17 win.

This week, UNK will again not have the services of senior RB Rustin Dring (Kearney), who also missed last year's Adams game. He ran for 263 yards and four TD's in wins over ASC in 2008 and 2009.

In Dring's absence, senior Riley Newcomer (43.5 ypg), sophomore Stephan Rush (37.2 ypg) and true freshmen Ricky Trinidad (173 total yards) will share carries with senior QB Jake Spitzlberger (116.0 ypg).

Still leading Division II in total offense (382.8 ypg), Spitzlbereger and his fellow QB's, Kevin Romero & Zach Thenell, have combined to complete passes to an astonishing 17 different players. Junior Tommy Flanagan (Lakewood, Colo.) currently leads in this area with 16 receptions for 250 yards and four scores.

Defensively, UNK looks to keep an opponent under 20 points for a fourth straight week. The Lopers have allowed only five TD's, all through the air, this fall while racking up 10 sacks, nine INT's and 27 pass breakups.

True sophomore ILB Kellen Werner (Grand Island) currently leads in tackles (26), TFL (5.0) and pass breakups (six) with senior corner Arthur Hobbs (Sand Diego, Calif.) having 19 stops, five PBU's and four INT's for 274 return yards.

UNK hosts long time foe Chadron (2-2, 2-0 RMAC) next Saturday and then Pueblo (4-0, 2-0 RMAC) comes to town for another big game. The Lopers will then travel to New Mexico Highlands on October 22nd.

Highlands (4-0, 2-0 RMAC) is currently the suprise team of Division II, winning two games in the final 10 seconds and another in overtime.