Kearney, Neb. – For the first time in 26 years, the Nebraska-Kearney football team will play a game in the jungle at Pittsburg State.
 
Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. for Pitt's 2014 "Hall of Fame" game. Check the Loper schedule page for media and ticket links.
 
Former CSIC (Central States Intercollegiate Conference) members, Pitt has won six straight over Kearney to tie the series at eight. The last game between the two came in 2005 as the Gorillas won a playoff game at Cope Stadium, 49-20.
 
Not only is Pitt one of the powerhouse programs in Division II, having won the 2011 and 1991 national titles, but they also have one of the best home field advantages.
 
So far in 2014, the 9th-ranked Gorillas are averaging 11,249 fans at Carnie Smith Stadium. According to available records, this will be just the sixth time a UNK team has played in front of a five figure crowd. The other such games came at either Nebraska-Omaha or Portland State (Oreg.).

 
Head coach Tim Beck, a former Gorilla defensive back, has his squad coming off an impressive 35-17 victory at defending national champion NW Missouri State.
 
Behind the nation's best defense (8.7 points per game) and the MIAA's top passing offense (295.1 yards per game), the Gorillas got out to a 28-0 1st half lead. The advantage was also the result of some strong special teams play as Pitt recovered two onside kicks.
 
Defensively, this will be the third week in a row the Lopers face a strong passing attack. Over the last 19 games, senior QB Anthony Abenoja (6-3, 217 lbs.) has thrown 47 TD's to only eight INT's. Currently completing 61% of his passes, he has been sacked just 12 times all season.
 
His favorite targets, junior Marquise Cushon (5-10, 162 lbs.) and Austin Daniel (6-2, 207 lbs.), are among the best in the MIAA. Both have caught 35 passes with Cushon having a team-best 655 yards with Daniel at a team-best seven TD's.
 
The run game, using a variety of backs, averages 134 yards per week with seven scores. Lincoln native and former UNO Maverick Jeff Seybold (49.0 ypg, two TD's) ran for 1,434 yards in 2013 but has been hampered with injuries again this fall.
 
Five-nine sophomore Dre Holman has thus taken over, having team-highs in carries (30) and yards (215). Also, junior fullback Brian Poston has 36 carries for 138 yards. Finally, the line features four seniors, including 2013 All-MIAA performers Ollie Venegas (LG) and Tyler Smith (RG).
 
UNK's defense has played well all season, especially over the last two weeks as it allowed seven points to Northeastern State and 13 to Lindenwood.
 
Giving up just 9.7 points per game in the 1st half, the unit is getting a strong performance from senior end Matt Bowman. The Kearney Catholic graduate is second on the team in tackles (53) and first in both TFL's (14) and sacks (4.0).  
 
A three-year starter, he now ranks sixth in UNK history in career TFL's with 37.5. With just three more stops behind the line, Bowman will pass current St. Louis Ram Mason Brodine for fourth place.
 
In the secondary, corners Shai Harris (Glendale, Ariz.) and Famous McKinnon (Miami, Fla.) will partly be responsible in trying to slow down the Gorillas.
 

Harris has a team-best seven PBU's, along with 36 tackles, while McKinnon is coming off a game with three PBU's and two TFL's. Both are looking for their first INT's as Lopers; redshirt freshman safety George Brown (University City, Mo.) has two of UNK's four picks.
 
On defense, Pitt's numbers are a bit ridiculous as they've allowed only five offensive TD's all season (three rushing & two passing) while forcing 16 turnovers (10 INT's and six fumbles).
 
Six senior starters are part of a unit that has recorded two shut outs and held two other teams to only seven points. Six different players have also picked off a pass, led by sophomore free safety Deron Washington and senior cor­ner De'Vante Busby, who each have three.
 
Washington brought back one 98 yards for a score, one of three defensive TD's Pitt has this year.  
 
Registering 17 sacks and 35 other TFL's, the Gorilla defense features junior nose­ guard Taye Irvin (6-1, 339 lbs.) and sophomore end Heath Wilson (6-4, 237 lbs.). Irvin has five TFL's with Wilson at a team-best 3.5 sacks.
 
Next, sophomore linebacker Spencer Brown has a team-best 54 tackles with senior safety Keeston Terry making 37.
 
Over the last three weeks, UNK has managed to run for 903 yards. Now the second best rushing team in the MIAA (209.7 ypg), the Lopers "O" is led by junior QB Bronson Marsh (Millard South).
 
In 12 games in a Kearney uniform, Marsh has rushed for 1,044 yards and 13 TD's. This fall, he is second only to Ferris (Mich.) State's Jason Vander Laan in rushing yards by a D2 QB.
 
Ironically, both Marsh and Vander Laan have had 114 carries and nine TD's. Marsh has 616 yards with Vander Laan at 719.
 
Junior Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.) joined Marsh with a 100-yard day last Saturday. The 2014 197 lbs. national wrestling champ is averaging 74.0 yards per game and has a team-best 116 carries. He would like to reach the end zone a few more times; his only rushing score this year was a 49-yard scamper at Central Missouri.
 
In the air, Marsh has thrown six TD passes, two to junior Allen Sampson (Tampa, Fla.) and two to junior Cougar Williams (Hanford, Calif.). Williams is expected to take the field this week after missing the last two due to injury.
 
On November 1st, UNK returns home to host rival Fort Hays State. Game time will be announced Sunday or Monday.