Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney football team plays a rare night game when the Washburn Ichabods visit Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field on Thursday, September 11th.

The game kicks off at 7:00 pm. With night classes in session, fans are encouraged to park on West campus (lots 14, 20, 22 & 27) and walk to the stadium. There will be no shuttle service like in previous night contests.

For audio, video web streaming, live stat and ticket links, visit the UNK football schedule page.

This will be the 23rd all-time meeting between the Lopers and Ichabods on the football field with Kearney leading the series, 14-8.

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UNK and Washburn played every season from 1963-69 and then again from 1976-88 when the two were members of the CSIC (Central States Intercollegiate Conference). The Lopers won 12 of the first 14 games but Washburn has won six of the last eight meetings, including the last five.

Two notable UNK records have been set against Washburn. In 1982 in Topeka, Luke Van Matre ran 23 times for a current school-record 307 yards. Three years later in Kearney, Ted Murray tied the school-record for TD catches (three) while setting a school-record, since broken, for receiving yards (246).

Last year in the season opener for both teams, the visiting Ichabods raced to a 24-6 halftime lead and then tacked on 20 more points in the 3rd quarter to post a 58-13 win.

Quarterback Mitch Buehler was 16 of 29 for 273 yards and three TD's with receiver Jordan Hart catching three balls for 150 yards and two scores. Hart busted the game open in the 2nd quarter with scoring grabs of 55 and 68 yards.

Washburn also got 69 yards rushing and one score from Sean McPherson with the defense picking off three passes. On special teams, kicker Justin Linn booted field goals of 41 and 50 yards with Isaac Wright returning a blocked punt 18 yards for a score to start the 2nd half.,

Buehler, Hart, McPherson and Linn all return in 2014 with senior receiver DaJuan Beard and senior back Vershon Moore among the best at their positions in the MIAA. A young offensive line features sophomore right tackle Michael Miller, a 2013 honorable mention All-MIAA selection.

Defensively, three All-MIAA players graduated with 13th year head coach Craig Schurig, a Colorado School of Mines graduate, having four returning starters on this side of the ball. Senior free safety Calvin Kenney (63) and junior strong safety Shay Wooten (36) are the top returning tacklers.

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For UNK, current junior QB Bronson Mash ran 20 times for 79 yards and one TD in the loss. In the air, he was 16 of 30 for 163 yards. As a team, the Lopers averaged 4.0 yards per carry and finished with 187 yards.

Besides Marsh, junior safety Boone Anderson reached the end zone when he brought back a pass 26 yards midway through the 4th quarter.

Last Thursday night at No. 1 NW Missouri State, UNK fell 31-7 in a game that was tied at seven late in the first half. Junior running back Romero Cotton ended with 74 yards on 15 carries with the Loper defense forcing four punts, recording three sacks and picking off a pass.

Cotton (5-11, 210 lbs.) has been the featured back the past eight games. During that stretch, he has five scores and is averaging 103 yards per game.

He'll now be joined in the backfield by former Washington Husky Dezden Petty (5-11, 220 lbs.), forming a tandem that could become the "Bruise Brothers."

UNK also has the services of junior Kevin Lane (5-9, 175 lbs.) and redshirt freshman Caleb Lundgren (5-10, 195 lbs.), who both played at Northwest.

Senior Davis Brendel led the special teams in Maryville by averaging 44.4 yards on eight punt attempts while also rushing nine yards for a 1st down on a fake punt.

Defensively, eight newcomers (four transfers and four redshirt freshmen) made at least one tackle. Sophomore inside backer Tyke Kozeal had a team-high 16, the fifth straight contest he has had 10 or more.

Among the new faces, redshirt freshman George Brown (University City, Mo.) brought back a pick 16 yards with junior corner Shai Harris (Glendale, Ariz.) at 10 tackles and a PBU.

Washburn, meanwhile, had leads of 17-0 and 24-0 at home against Lindenwood but fell by a 44-38 score. The Lions used a 97-yard kick return for a score and four rushing TD's to earn the win.

Moore rushed for 110 yards with Buehler going 26 of 49 for 293 yards, four TD's and two INT's. Beard had six catches but three went for TD's (three, eight and 24 yards)

UNK remains at home next week when Missouri Southern State stops by for Homecoming. The game will kick at 3:00 p.m. due to the weekend festivities.