Kearney, Neb. - For the first time since October 1990, the Nebraska-Kearney football team heads to Emporia, Kans., to take on the Emporia State University Hornets.

Kickoff from Francis G. Welch Stadium is set for 6:00 p.m. Thursday night. This is the only MIAA game scheduled for Thursday this week.

Loper fans not making the trip South can hear the KRNY 102.3 FM broadcast by going HERE. For a price, you can watch the 18th all-time meeting between UNK and ESU by going HERE

Finally, ESU's live stats page is available HERE.

A senior-laden 2012 Hornet squad had a banner season, going 10-2 and posting a win over D2 power Texas A & M-Kingsville in the Kanza Bowl.

Seventh-year head coach Garin Higgins, who led NW Oklahoma State to NAIA national runner up finishes, has 14 starters back from a squad that recorded a 58-35 win over UNK last September at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

Beating the Lopers for a fifth straight time but still trailing the series by five games (11-6), ESU got out to leads of 24-0 and 34-7 before tacking on two defensive scores. Quarterback Tyler Eckenrode (30 of 43 for 367 yards and four TD's) and receiver Shjuan Richardson (15 recep., 204 yds., three TD's) were the individual headliners.

This year's Emporia offense is led by 2012 All-MIAA receiver Ray Ray Davis (61 recep., 899 yds., eight TD's) and sophomore QB Brent Wilson. In beating Fort Hays State 43-13 last Thursday night, Wilson went 21 of 29 for 301 yards and three TD's.

Most of his passes fell into the hands of 5-10 junior WR Austin Willis (9 recep., 216 yds., three TD's). He caught 26 balls all of last season for 329 yards and two TD's.

A veteran ground game is paced by 5-9 junior back Jordan Tice (320 yards & two TD's) and 5-8 senior Dozie Iwugwa (385 yds. & six TD's in 2012). Up front, there is no senior starters but three juniors, including tackles Aaron Blunt (6-5, 300 lbs.) and Clayton Brown (6-7, 310 lbs.).
Emporia feasted on turnovers in 2012, picking off 24 passes and recovering 10 fumbles. UNK, which had seven turnovers in its opening loss to Washburn, will see a unit that  now includes six senior starters and a pair of transfers from FCS power North Dakota State incorner Deveon Dinwiddie and linebacker Deshawn Dinwiddie.

The Hornets have also welcomed in transfers from Texas (reserve linebacker Tariq Allen) and UConn (reserve end Neil Shortell) as well.

Senior SS Chris Poston earned second-team All-MIAA honors last season after recording 57 tackles (5.7 TFL) and picking off four passes. Six-one senior backer Jordan Sanders also made the all-league team as he made 97 tackles, including seven behind the line of scrimmage.

On special teams, junior Eli Kuhns will handle both the kicking and punting duties. He made six field goals over 40 yards last fall. In the return game, Deveon Dinwiddie is the Hornet to watch.

For UNK, the Lopers young skill players get an experience boost this week as fourth-year sophomore RB Dalton Sealey takes to the field for the first time in a Kearney uniform. Joining the program in January, the St. Cecilia graduate missed all of fall camp and last week due to injury.

Sealey earned all-conference honors for Hastings College in 2010 as he ran for 659 yards and six TD's. For St. Cecilia in 2009, he ran for 1,892 yards and 32 TD's to earn first-team Class C1 all-state honors.

The ground game has been a constant for the Lopers of late. Rushing for at least 180 yards in nine of the last 10 contests, UNK had six different players carry the rock against Washburn with the leader by sophomore QB Bronson Marsh (20 attempts for 84 yards and one TD).

Defensively and on special teams, two newcomers received varsity numbers this week in true freshmen corner Damien Wilson and walk-on junior kicker Jonathan Lara.

Wilson, wearing No. 33, gives the Lopers another option in the secondary while Lara, a 2011 Shrine Bowl participant, has been impressive in limited practice sessions. He'll wear jersey number 38.

The Schuyler Central H.S. graduate played soccer for Hastings College before transferring to UNK.

UNK hosts 2012 MIAA champ Missouri Western State next Saturday. That "Homecoming" game will kick off at three.