Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Lindenwood junior quarterback Ben Gomez threw for 480 yards and six scores as the Lions got out to a big lead to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 49-28, Saturday afternoon in St. Charles, Mo.
 
This was a battle of two of the MIAA's new teams. The Lions, a former NAIA school, improve to 4-1 (3-1) after finishing up a four-game home stand.

Meanwhile, the Lopers are 0-5 with their opponents record now a combined 22-3.
 
Scoring TD's on six of their first eight possessions, the Lions finished with 616 total yards. Each of their seven scoring drives covered at least 55 yards.
 
Gomez, averaging 297 yards per game coming in, went 27 of 45 and recorded scoring passes of nine, 10, 23, 26, 37 and 62 yards. He did throw one interception and was sacked once.

Backup Taylor Jasin the came in and completed 5 of 8 passes for 31 yards. Eleven different Lindenwood players caught at least one pass with junior Andrew Helmick doing the most damage, having six grabs for 200 yards and two TD's. 

Behind junior WR/QB Matt Berry (McCook), UNK 's second offensive drive resulted in a score as sophomore running back Cody Anthony (Alliance) rumbled in from 25 yards out. That capped an 11 play, 82-yard drive.
 
However, that would be the Lopers only points until the fourth quarter as Kearney's next eight possesions resulted in four punts, a lost fumble, an interception and two turnovers on downs. 

In the second half, true freshman Sean Flanagan (Golden, Colo.) was UNK's signal caller, the fifth different player to be at that spot this season.

He is believed to be the first Loper true freshman to play QB in a game since the 1960's. 
 
Once Flanagan got his feet wet, he helped UNK score three touchdowns on three straight drives, totaling 207 yards. The scoring plays were runs of two and three yards by Flanagan and a five-yard pass to redshirt freshman receiver/back Austin Smith (Aurora).
 
Thanks to its showing late, UNK racked up 459 total yards. Flanagan was 9 of 17 for 167 yards while leading the Lopers on the ground with 24 carries for 99 yards.

Over the first two quarters, Berry managed to run for 39 yards and pass for 51.
 
Junior Shad Bride (St. Johns, Ariz.) led the Loper backs with 10 carries for 50 yards with junior tight end Brett Klein (Scottsbluff) having three receptions for 45 yards. Finally, Smith was one of six other Lopers to catch a pass, finishing with three for 25.
 
Senior free safety Sam Kuck (Central City) had a team-high eight tackles with junior corner Ryan Lendrum (Carlsbad, Calif.) making seven stops and picking off Gomez thanks to senior end Dex Schwieger (Aurora) tipping a Gomez pass. 

Finally, redshirt freshman OLB Greg Sherwood (Alta Loma, Calif.) recorded another sack, as did junior OLB Drew Wagner (Madison).
 
UNK hosts Truman State next Saturday. The Bulldogs lost to Fort Hays State, 37-23, today to drop to 3-2 (2-2 MIAA).