Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney football team ventures to the Show-Me State Saturday night for a game with the 8th-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons.

This is UNK's first-visit to St. Joseph, Mo., and Spratt Memorial Stadium since 1998. The game kicks off at 6:07 p.m. as this is the "MIAA Game of the Week".

The game will be seen on live television in parts of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma; check below for channels airing the broadcast (NOT available in Nebraska or on any satellite system). Neil Harwell and former NFL player Rich Baldinger will be on the call.

UNK Athletics worked with Charter Communications to get the game aired locally but a late technical issue developed. 

As usual, Dave Jenner and DJ Johnson will have the call on KRNY 102.3 FM. Fans can also watch the action, for a price, by logging on to UNK's America One page or keep track of the game with live stats.

Note, the America One broadcast will be the live t.v. feed.

The Lopers (0-2, 0-2) lead the all-time series with MWSU (2-0, 1-0), 16-6, but the Griffons have won the last three between the two. Those wins came between 1996-98 as the UNK and Mo. West played three non-conference games, two being in St. Joe. 

This Griffon squad -- featuring 15 senior starters -- is among the nation's best at running the ball, thanks to senior back Michael HIll (189.5 ypg) and veteran QB Travis Partdridge (6-4, 230 lbs.). Hill was a second-team All-American last year with Partridge, son of MWSU head coach Jerry Partridge, currently completing 69% of his passes with five TD's.

He ran for 520 yards last year, reaching the end zone eight times. On the perimeter, Partridge looks for Hall (31 catches in 2011), receiver Tyron Crockrom (5-11, 175 lbs.) and tight end Reggie Jordan (6-3, 235 lbs.).

Up front, three Griffons earned All-MIAA honors last yer, led by senior right tackle Malcolm Allen (6-4, 310 lbs).
A star-studded defense features senior end David Bass (6-5, 275 lbs.), a 2011 All-American who recorded 20.0 TFL (14.5 sacks), senior strong safety Shane Simpson (6-0, 190 lbs.), a 2011 1st-team All-MIAA pick and senior end Ben Pister (6-4, 280 lbs.), a 2011 2nd-team All-MIAA pick.

In 2011, Western finished with 39 tacks, 21 INT's for 331 return yards and nine forced fumbles. Last week, the Griffons shut out Division II newcomer William Jewell, holding the Cardinals to 33 rushing yards on 34 attempts. On August 30th against a tough Central Missouri team, Western had three INT's and four sacks in getting out to a 35-7 lead.

UNK's young offense has done a good job of spreading the ball around the first two weeks as 11 different players have already caught a pass and nine Lopers have carried the ball at least once.

Senior Tommy Flanagan (42.0 ypg) currently leads the team in rushing while ranking second in receiving yards per game (39.0). He also has caught one of the Lopers seven TD passes and is averaging 39.6 as the team's starting punter.

BYU transfer O'Neill Chambers hopes to have another big week in the return game. Leading UNK in all-purpose yards (274/137.0 avg), he's already had a 51-yad kick return, a 53-yard punt return and a 24-yard catch.

Defensively, UNK is still looking for its first INT of the season after picking off 22 passes in 2011. Senior free safety Sam Kuck is leading the team in tackles (20) and needs just 16 more to be the 12th Loper since 1990 with 200 career stops.

The Lopers return home September 22nd when three-time national champ NW Missouri State visits. The game, slated for a 4:00 p.m. start, is part of 2012 Homecoming festivities.

Channels that Carry MIAA Game of the Week
KSMO-TV (Kansas City)-----available to 100% of the Kansas City market.  It is broadcast over the air on Channel 62 and it is found on most cable systems (Time Warner, Comcast, etc.) on Channel 10

Eagle Cable (Western Kansas)-----Channel 15

Cox (Kansas) Cable System-------Channel 22

Cox (Oklahoma) Cable System-------Channel 3

Mediacom (Columbia, Springfield, Jefferson City, etc.)-------Channel 22

Suddenlink (Northwest Missouri) Cable ----------Channel 19