Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt freshman quarterback Ben Broeker threw four touchdowns as the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers beat Nebraska-Kearney, 34-26, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
 
A Division II independent, Mines ends the season at 6-4 (3-4 vs. D2 competition) while the Lopers slip to 3-7 with one game remaining.
 
Replacing sophomore starter Evan Sanders early on, Broeker (6-6, 225 lbs.) finished 25 of 38 for 261 yards and no INT's. He also rushed 15 times but gained just seven yards.
 
His favorite target was senior receiver Derek Graves, a transfer from FCS-member Idaho State. The 6-0 Graves had 11 catches for 110 yards and the first two TD grabs (seven and nine yards) of the game.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, the 'Rockers pulled a big trick to start jump start a 16 play, 96-yard scoring drive.
 
Facing a 4th and 1 from their own 13-yard line, Mines called for a fake punt. Running towards his right and with a wall of blockers in front of him, sophomore punter John Keating ran 15 yards for a surprising first down.
 
Later, Broeker completed a 13-yard pass on 3rd and 12 and then a roughing the passer call on the Lopers gave Mines another first down. Finally, Broeker capped the five minute drive with a seven-yard TD pass on 3rd and goal.
 
Another surprise came when Mines went for two and converted. Using the "swinging gate" formation, holder Cody Vallmar barely got across the goal line for the 8-0 lead.
 
To start the second half, Mines marched 80 yards in seven plays to lead 15-0. The big plays were a 42-yard run by Chris Sawdey and a 20-yard catch by Graves on 3rd and 4.
 
UNK tried to rally as senior end Elhadji Ndiaye (Brooklyn, N.Y.) sacked Broeker and the loose ball was recovered by fellow end Matt Bowman (Kearney Catholic).
 
Seven straight runs followed, the last being a three-yard TD scamper by freshman QB Luke McNitt (Kearney H.S.). However, the ensuing PAT was missed, keeping it a two score contest.
 
Five minutes later, Mines was on the move again, starting with a 22 yard pitch and catch from Broeker to Graves. On 2nd and 6 from the Loper 32-yard line, Broeker hit receiver Tim Crenshaw, who made a Loper miss and then went the distance for a 22-6 'Rocker lead.
 
The back and forth action continued as UNK took the ensuing kickoff and used nine straight rushes to move down the field. Converting two 3rd downs along the way, the Lopers saw sophomore back Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.) finish things with a four-yard TD run.
 
The next drive also produced points as Mines needed 15 plays to move 52 yards. The 'Rockers converted on 3rd down three times, as well as 4th and 1 from the Loper 42. Kicker Devon Jones capped things with a 44-yard field goal to make it 25-12.
 
Mines defense then forced a three and out and the offense responded with more production, this time getting a 25-yard TD pass to receiver Xavier Matthews on 3rd and 8. For the day, SDMT was 7 of 20 on third down.
 
UNK needed just three plays to cut into the deficit as McNitt hit senior WR Adam Repass-Orduna (Overland Park, Kans.) for 13 yards and then found senior back Stephan Rush (Merna) open from 49 yards out.
 
A failed on-side kick attempt led to another field goal by Jones, this one being a 37 yarder. The Lopers didn't score the next time they got the ball but did get on the board with 1:35 left when Rush caught a six-yard pass from sophomore Tyler McKeone (Lexington).
 
Besides Broeker and Graves, Sawdey (82 yads) paced a Mines rushing attack that ended with 162 yards on 45 carries.  Corner Brian Smith had 11 tackles with linebacker Jay Lata at 10, including an 11-yard sack.

Finally, the 'Rockers recovered two fumbles and picked off a pass.
 
McNitt (87), Cotton (82) and sophomore back Daniel DeShazer (85) each rushed for 80 yards with UNK finishing with 254 as a team.  In the air, McNitt was 11 of 23 for 121 yards. Repass-Orduna was one of six Lopers to catch a pass, finishing with a team-high four.
 
Defensively, redshirt freshman ILB Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) had 13 tackles, pushing his season total to 105. Senior ILB Kellen Werner (Grand Island) had nine, giving him 104 for the fall.  

In UNK's Division II era (1990-present), Darren Gunn holds the single season tackle mark with 110.
 
Also, Bowman had 11 stops, including 2.5 for a loss of eight yards. He also returned a fumble for seven yards. Finally, junior tackle Jack Wardyn (Palmer) had eight tackles, including a three-yard sack.
 
UNK plays at Fort Hays State next Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The Tigers were at Central Missouri late Saturday.