Kearney, Neb. – Another week, another tough game for the Nebraska-Kearney football team.

A look at this week's AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Top 25 poll finds the Lopers first four opponents; NW Missouri State (3rd), Missouri Western State (6th), Washburn (18th) and Emporia State (24th).

These clubs are currently a combined 12-0; next week's opponent, Lindenwood, is 2-1 with Central Arkansas, which hosts UNK October 12th, 2-2 and ranked 13th in the FCS (formerly I-AA). Of note, one of UCA's losses came at Colorado, 38-24.

The Lopers (0-3, 0-3) head to one of Division II elite programs this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. when they take on NW Missouri State (3-0, 2-0) at Bearcat Stadium.

As usual, Loper fans can hear the KRNY 102.3 FM broadcast by going HERE. For a price, you can watch the game via America One. Finally, the Northwest live stats area is HERE.

Northwest is a D2 juggernaut, owning 24 MIAA titles, winning three national titles and finishing as national runner up four times. Since 2009, they are 24-2 at home with the average winning score being 47-16.

This will only be the 10th all-time meeting between UNK and Northwest in football. The 'Cats hold a 6-3 edge in a series that started in 1928.

Making a trip to Maryville for the first time since November 1989, a beyond short-handed Loper team battled Northwest last year at home before falling, 37-13.

In that game, senior Matt Berry moved from his collegiate position of wide receiver to his high school position of quarterback. With about four practices under his belt, he finished 18 of 29 for 163 yards, one TD and no INT's while rushing 21 times for 85 yards and a score.

Northwest used an 86-yard fumble return for a score – one that Kearney fans will dispute forever – to lead 10-0 at the half. Berry tossed a 15-yard scoring pass to linebacker turned running back Cody Anthony late in the 3rd quarter to make it a 13-7 ball game.

However, scoring passes of 42 and 78 yards helped the Bearcats open things up and then Lincoln North Star grad Brady Bolles finished the scoring when he ran 16 yards for a TD with 51 seconds left.

Currently, Bolles and senior Trevor Adams are part of a QB tandem that is a combined 59 of 108 (70.9 completion pct.) for 766 yards, five TD's and one INT.

Thirteen different players have caught at least one pass, led by 6-3 Clint Utter (81.3 ypg & two TD's) and 6-2 Reuben Thomas (39.3 ypg & one TD).

A potent ground game features Bolles (53.3 ypg & three TD's) and backs Robert Burton (62.7 ypg & two TD's) and Billy Creason (49.0 ypg & four TD's). Overall, Northwest is averaging 40 points per game and has committed just two turnovers.

The Bearcats are no slouch on defense either as they are allowing the opposition to complete just 55% of its passes while also having a 45% red zone TD rate (5 of 11).

Junior inside backer Eric Reimer leads the team in tackles (23) with 14 of those being of the solo variety. Next, 2012 second-team All-MIAA Mike linebacker DJ Gnader has made 21 tack­les in three games while also breaking up six passes.
 
Other players who earned All-MIAA honors in 2012 are senior corner Brian Dixon, junior end Matt Longacre (Millard West) and junior corner Travis Manning.

While the 'Cats lost two All-MIAA special teams performers in kicker Todd Adolf and return man Jordan Simmons, they've already blocked two punts for scores and have possibly the league's best punter in junior Kyle Goodburn (42.2 avg.).
 
The Lopers punter, junior Davis Brendel, has been solid of late, averaging 41.1 yards in 14 attempts. Having a long boot of 61 yards, six of his kicks have landed inside the opponent 20-yard line.
 
Sophomore QB Bronson Marsh and the UNK offense hope Brendel isn't used too much Saturday. Kearney is coming off a 500 yard showing against Missouri Western State but hopes to get the production cranked up earlier this week.
 
The Lopers have scored 34 points after halftime so far this year but have yet to get on the board in the first quarter.  Overall, UNK's 10 first quarter drives have resulted in four punts, three turnovers, two turnovers on downs and one TD.
 
No doubt, Northwest will be covering Marsh as soon as he gets off the bus. The Millard South High grad is averaging 342.0 yards of total offense per week as he has had a hand in 70% of UNK's plays.
 
One of many Bear Creek (Colo.) High grads to play football for UNK, sophomore Nate Burns is the leading receiver to date with 15 catches for 123 yards.
 
Also on the perimeter, Kearney hopes to get a spark this week from junior receiver/returner Andre "Squeak" O'Neal, who will be making his debut in the Royal Blue & Old Gold. He led Arizona Western in TD catches last fall with seven.  
 
A running back by committee includes senior co-captain Stephan Rush (Merna), who has the team's longest run from scrimmage (23 yards) outside of Marsh.
 
The Loper defense has been solid after the break the past two weeks, giving up just seven points to Western and three points to Emporia State.
 
Besides inside backers Tyke Kozeal and Kellen Werner, who've combined for 64 tackles, UNK is getting solid play from sophomore box safety Dillon Loschen (23 tackles) and ends Matt Bowman and Elhadji Ndiaye (combined 35 tackles, including 6.0 TFL).
 
Corner Damien Wilson recently became the 10th true freshman to receiver a varsity number. Three first-year Lopers – Payton Fluckey, Noah Housh and Luke McNitt -- have already played and Wilson could be the next.
 
The October 5th game vs. Lindenwood will kick off a little after 2:30 p.m. since it is the "MIAA Game of the Week." The contest will be shown live throughout Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri; UNK officials are working on getting the game broadcast in Nebraska.