Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney football team plays its final home game of the 2013 season this Saturday when the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers stop by Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

Kick time is set for high noon. Prior to the start of the game, UNK's 15 seniors will be honored. As usualy, live stats and an America One video feed are available.

The game can also be heard on KRNY 102.3 FM.

This marks the second and final year Kearney (3-6, 3-5) battles the aptly named 'Rockers (5-4). Next year, UNK plays 11 MIAA schools while Mines joins the GNAC (Great Northwest Athletic Conference) in football only.

Last November in Rapid City, UNK posted a 59-7 win behind seven rushing TD's and a defensive effort that held the 'Rockers to 18 rushing yards.

Currently a rare D2 independent, Mines is 2-4 against D2 competition this fall. That includes a wild 70-48 win over William Jewell (Mo.) and a 43-35 victory against RMAC-member Black Hills State (SD).

On the flip side, Mines lost to MIAA foes Missouri Southern State, 45-20, and Fort Hays State, 63-17, as well as RMAC-member Colorado Mines, 72-6.

Offensively, Mines is averaging 39.1 points and 427 yards per game. Senior QB Evan Sanders (6-5, 230 lbs.) has tossed 16 TD's to just seven INT's while averaging 180 yards per game. Completing 59.5% of his passes, he also has five rushing TD's.
 
Backup Ben Broeker, a 6-6 freshman, is no slouch either, having 10 TD's and six rushing scores.
 
Seventeen 'Rockers have caught at least one pass with the leaders being 6-0 senior Derek Graves (37 recep., 455 yds., eight TD's) and 5-9 sophomore Cody Vallmar (31 recep., 383 yds., one TD).
 
Sophomore De'Andre Bolden (5-8, 220 lbs.) leads a ground game that aver­ages 183 yards per week and has produced 20 scores. The team's fourth leading receiver, Bolden is at 67 rushing yards per game with three TD's.
 
Defensively, Mines has given up at least 45 points in five different games. Allowing 212 rushing yards every week, SDMT has allowed 23 rushing scores as well as 30 passing TD's.
 
Sophomore LB Lucas Riebe (6-4, 210 lbs.) has a team-best 70 tackles with 5.5 coming behind the line. He also has two of the team's 13 INT's.
 
Sophomore FS John Tyler and senior backer Kayan Karatakeli each have 68 tackles with Tyler bringing back a fumble 99 yards and a pick 26 yards. Finally, junior CB Traevon Beddard has four INT's for 133 return yards.
 
On speicla teams, junior kicker Devon Jones is solid, having made 8 of 10 tries including a perfect 4 of 4 between 30-39 yards. He also has a long effort of 53 yards in a win over Dakota State.
 
On the Loper side of the ball, true frosh Luke McNitt is expected to make his fourth start at QB this fall. The versatile McNitt has a team-best six rushing scores, two passing TD's and also eight catches for 51 yards and a score.

Offensively, UNK has more than shared the load this fall as 13 different Lopers have had at least one carry, 15 different players have caught at least one pass and eight UNK players have tossed a pass.

Back in 2001, UNK had three players attempt a pass, 10 different rushers and 11 dif­ferent pass catchers.

Defensively, senior inside backers Kellen Werner (Grand Island) and Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) are zeroing in on the Loper single season tackle record in the D2 era (since 1990). Darren Gunn made 110 stops in 1990, UNK's first year as a D2 member.

Currently, Werner has 95 tackles with Kozeal at 92. The duo have combined for 14.5 TFL (3.5 sacks), four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, three PBU's and two INT's.

The Lopers close out 2013 with a road game at Fort Hays State next Saturday. That game will kick at 2:00 p.m. and is UNK's first visit to Hays in eight years.

UNK's 15 Seniors
Olukayode Akinmoladun (# 51, OG, Kansas City, Mo.)

Matt Berry (# 15, WR/QB/Returns, McCook)

Taylor Caldwell (# 48, DE, Stanton)

Jack Douglas (# 36, OLB/S, Weeping Water)

Kenny Hill (# 21, CB/S, San Diego, Calif.)

Yatta Kiles (# 3, Corner, Los Angeles, Calif.)

Brett Klein (# 88, TE, Scottsbluff)

Jake Morten (# 50, DE/DL, Loomis)

Elhadji Ndiaye (# 46, DE, Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Adam Repass-Orduna (# 35, WR/Returns, Overland Park, Kans.)

Stephan Rush (# 30, RB, Merna)

Drew Wagner (# 43, OLB, Madison)

Kellen Werner (# 18, ILB, Grand Island)

Jason Wilcox (# 95, DL, Norfolk)

Kalvin Zoucha (# 86, TE/P, Albion)