Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney football team begins a two-game road trip when it visits Central Missouri Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg, Mo.

The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. from Audrey J. Walton Stadium. As usual, Dave Jenner will have the call on KRNY 102.3 FM. Fans can keep track of the game with live stats or watch via live video stream at www.americaonesports.com (for a price).

This will be the best attended game the Lopers (1-7, 1-7) will have all year as the Mules (5-3, 5-3) average an MIAA-best 8,650 fans. The crowd could even be bigger than normal since this is UCM's home finale.

These two schools have met on the football field only three previous times; 1960, 1972 and 1973. UCM holds a 2-1 series edge with the Lopers managing a 21-13 home win in '73.

Always one of the top clubs in the MIAA, the Mules are coming off a 24-23 loss at Northeastern State last week. To earn its first win of the year, the Riverhawks scored 17 unanswered points and shut out UCM in the second half.

Earlier this year, Central Missouri knocked of NW Missouri State, 31-21, in Warrensburg. That is the Bearcats only setback this fall.

Offensively, UCM has relied on the pass in recent seasons thanks to 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Eric Czerniewski and Tommy Corwin (34 TD passes in 2011).

This year, junior Colter Smith (6-5, 240 lbs.) is completing 62% of his passes, thrown 16 TD's, 11 INT's and averages 274 yards ypg. He also is a threat on the ground, rushing for four scores and having the second most carries (63) on the Mules.

Smith's top target is 6-3 junior "Z" receiver Ronrei Lloyd (51 recep., 804 yds., seven TD's) with 6-3 senior tight end David Cannon (22 recep., 222 yds., one TD) a 2011 All-MIAA pick.

UCM ranks 13th in the league in rushing (115 ypg) but they have 17 rushing TD's, tied for fourth most in the MIAA. Sophomore LaVance Taylor (75.0 ypg, eight TD's) is the top threat and he also has caught 24 balls for 172 yards.

The Mules brought back four starting linemen, including 6-4, 300 lbs. senior center Logan Freeman, a 2011 All-MIAA honoree.

Eight returning starters are part of a defensive unit that currently ranks sixth in the MIAA in both scoring (32.0 ppg) and total (365.0 ypg) defense. UCM has picked off 10 passes, and forced 13 fumbles, with senior ends Latavious Davis and David Bax the men to watch.

Davis (6-3, 250 lbs.) has racked up 11.5 TFL, including seven sacks for a loss of 45 yards, forced five fumbles and broken up six passes. Bax (6-3, 255 lbs.), a returning All-MIAA player, has 8.0 TFL for a loss of 42 yards.

Central Missouri also boasts one of the top punters in the conference in senior Matt Jordan (42.6 avg.) as eight of his 38 punts have gone more than 50 yards.

Also in the kick game, senior Aaron Jamieson is 7 of 11 on field goal tries, including a 4 of 6 effort between 40-49 yards. On returns, sophomore "X" receiver Anthony Kirkwood is averaging a healthy 24.6 yards on the kick return team.

UCM will certainly be looking for Loper sophomore back Ricky Trinidad (Trinity, Fla.). Now third in the league in rushing at an even 110.0 yards per game, Trinidad has had 67 carries the past two Saturday's and rushed for over 100 yards three straight weeks.

His efforts have helped make UNK the fourth best rushing team (186.2 ypg) in the MIAA. The Lopers are also good against the run, ranking sixth in rush defense (135.2) and allowing just 3.9 yards per carry.

Besides Trinidad, senior free safety Sam Kuck (Central City) is tied for eighth in tackles with 68 while senior Tommy Flanagan (Golden, Colo.), despite varying injuries, is ninth in receptions per game (4.9) and eighth in punting (39.2 avg.).

UNK steps out of conference next week to face Division II independent South Dakota Mines.