Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Juniors Bronson Marsh and Romero Cotton each ran for 112 yards and the defense came up with a goal line stand as Nebraska-Kearney beat Lindenwood, 31-13, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
 
The Lopers (2-5, 2-5) have now won two straight and have beaten the Lions (1-6, 1-6) two years in a row. This also is the 100th career win for UNK head coach Darrell Morris.
 
Kearney scored the game's first 24 points and finished with 240 rushing yards. They came into the week as the MIAA's second best rushing team at just over 200 per game. 
 
Marsh (Millard) had scoring runs of two, seven and 43 yards among his 19 carries. This is his second straight week over 100 yards and his effort today gives him 1,044 in his brief UNK career. Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.) had a 25-yard run among his 24 carries to reach his 112-yard output.

Last year, both Cotton and then-QB Luke McNitt (now a tight end at UNL) ran for over 100 yards vs. Lindenwood.

 
Morris became UNK's head coach in 2000 and is now 100-60. He joins Claire Boroff (169/1972-99) and Al Zikmund (121/1955-71) as Loper coaches with 100 victories.
 
A 35-yard pass from Marsh to redshirt freshman Tityus Mitchell (Hastings, Fla.) setup the day's first score, a 33-yard field goal from freshman Brendan Wentling (Grand Island).
 
The Lopers next possession was a short one as Marsh hooked up with junior Allen Sampson (Tampa, Fla.) from 30 yards and a 10-0 lead.

The short field was setup by a 16-yard punt return by redshirt freshman George Brown (University City, Mo.) and an ill-advised kick return by Lindenwood, giving them the ball at their own seven-yard line.
 
Long runs by Cotton and Marsh were part of the next scoring drive, lasting nine plays and covering 65 yards. Marsh called his own number on 2nd and goal; he now has nine rushing TD's on the year.
 
Late in the 2nd quarter, UNK was marching towards another score but the Lions forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball at their own 31-yard line. Their first six drives had resulted in six punts and total of 43 yards. However, after the turnover, they marched down the field with a mixture of short runs and short passes.
 
With the 1st half clocking running down, Lindenwood had it 1st and goal at the UNK 4-yard line. After an incompletion and a one-yard run, UNK was called for two penalties. That moved the ball to the one.
 
But, another incomplete pass and a run that went nowhere on 4th down ended the drive. Sophomore ILB Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) was the first to make the hit on 4th down.
 
The Lions had another three and out to start the second half, once again giving UNK great field position. After a holding penalty made it 1st and 20, Marsh made up the difference by running 43 yards up the middle for a 24-0 lead.
 
Greg Coble returned the ensuing kickoff 79 yards with Wentling making the tackle. The Loper defense held once more as Graham Lindman's passes on 3rd and 4th down from the 10-yard line fell incomplete.
 
On the day, Lindman was 21 of 42 for 211 yards, no INT's and no TD's. He was sacked four times, twice by senior end Matt Bowman (Kearney Catholic).

 

Coble was one of seven Lions to catch a pass, having five for 73 yards. On the ground, junior back Lavorrie Johnson had 21 carries for 68 yards and three-yard score with 25 seconds left.
 
Besides the running game, Marsh was 10 of 13 for 157 yards, one TD and no INT's. He completed passes to five teammates with Sampson having four for 64 yards.
 
Kozeal and junior safety Greg Sherwood (Alta Loma, Calif.) were both in on eight tackles while Bowman finished with four TFL's, totaling 14 yards, and forced a fumble.

Finally, redshirt freshman corner Famous McKinnon (Miami, Fla.) had two TFL's and three PBU's with redshirt freshmen Wyatt Anderson (Arapahoe) and Devontay LeFlore  (Omaha Central) both having two tackles for loss.
 
UNK is at nationally-ranked Pittsburg State next week. The Gorillas upset top-ranked NW Missouri State today in Maryville, 35-17.