Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney football team heads South this weekend to face the Lincoln University Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, Mo.

It's Homecoming at Lincoln so the contest starts at 2:00 p.m. The natural grass surface of Dwight T. Reed Stadium could be a bit sloppy as thunderstorms are in the forecast.

As usual, Dave Jenner will have the call on KRNY 102.3 FM. Fans can keep track of the game with live stats. For a price, the game can be watched live on America One Sports.

Both the Lopers and Blue Tigers enter the game with identical 0-6 (0-6 MIAA) marks. However, both have played very tough schedules to date; UNK's first five opponents are a combined 31-5 with four ranked in the nation's Top 25 this week. LU's first five opponents are 29-5 with three in the national poll.

Lincoln, one of the nation's HBCUs (Historically Black College Universities), rejoined the MIAA last season. The Blue Tigers were a part of the league from 1970-89. 

Looking to stop a 16-game losing streak. LU is led by second-year head coach Mike Jones. The former Missouri running back is best known for making "The Tackle," a stop at the one-yard line in the Super Bowl XXXIV that helped the St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans.

Jones played 12 years in the NFL as a linebacker with the Rams, Raiders and Steelers.

The Blue Tiger offense, scoring 19.2 points per game, is completing 48% of its passes behind 6-2 junior QB Lewis Larson (47 of 94 with three TD's and two INT's) and 6-3 sophomore Jacob Morris (61 of 129 with five TD's and six INT's).  Morris also has four of the team's seven rushing scores.

Converting 22% on third down, Lincoln's offense also features a pair of 5-10 receivers in junior Maurice Woodard (29 recep., 413 yds., four TD's) and senior Andre Borney (24 recep., 224 yds.).

The ground attack is led by 5-7 senior Donald Malone (31.8 avg.) and 5-9 junior Morris Henderson (27.6 avg., two TD's). Finally, Lincoln's opponents have managed to record 21 sacks for a loss of 138 yards.

A young defense includes four freshman starters and thus this young unit is giving up 43 points and 418 yards per week. The opposition has been successful on third down, converting 46% of the time, and in the passing game, averaging nearly 240 yards.
    
Senior corner O'Hara Fluellen leads in tackles (40) and also has two INT's and 12 PBU's. Senior LB Khalif Stanten has a team-high 8.5 TFL with senior end Cecil Frison forcing two fumbles.

Fluellen is also a dangerous kick returner, already with 433 yards (21.6 avg.).

This will be the second straight game UNK has the services of senior RB/WR Tommy Flanagan (Golden, Colo.) and sophomore RB Ricky Trinidad (Trinity, Fla.).

Both came off the disabled list last Saturday against Truman State with Flanagan having his fourth career 100 yard receiving day (102) and Trinidad having his third career 100 yard rushing effort (110).

With its multitude of ailments, the Lopers have used a ton of different players on offense. Fourteen players have carried the ball at least once, eight have thrown at least one pass and 16 UNK players have a reception.

Defensively, Kearney shut out Truman in the second half as the d-line racked up 24 tackles and four QB hurries.

Individually, senior FS Sam Kuck (219), senior box safety Pete Kropp (169) and junior ILB Kellen Werner (159) are now among UNK's all-time tackle leaders. Kuck also is tied for sixth in the MIAA in stops (53) with redshirt freshman OLB Greg Sherwood 12th in sacks (3.5).

UNK returns home next week to face the Southwest Baptist Bearcats. That game will start at either 11:00 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.