Kearney, Neb. – For the first time since 1988, Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern State will play each other in football.

The game kicks off at 3:00 p.m. this Saturday from Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. The late start is due to UNK's "Homecoming" festivities. Check the Loper football schedule page for tickets and multimedia links.

The Lopers (0-2, 0-2) and Lions (0-2, 0-2) played every year from 1977-88 when the two were members of the CSIC (Central States Intercollegiate Conference).

UNK won the first four games in the series before Southern toook the next three. The Lopers then won four of the last five matchups with eight of the games having been decided by 10 points or less.

Back in 1988 in Kearney, the Lopers tallied 14 points in both the second and third quarters to erase a 3-0 deficit. Southern didn't help its cause by throwing seven INT's, three going to Loper defensive back Rusty Conrad.

Finishing with 515 yards, UNK saw QB Russ Harvey go 14 of 27 for 259 yards, four TD's and one INT. His favorite target was tight end Paul Reilly, who had seven catches for 176 yards and two scores.

The chances of MSSU throwing seven INT's this week isn't great as the Green & Gold runs the triple option. Under head coach Daryl Daye's direction, the Lions ran for 42 scores and averaged nearly 400 yards on the ground to go 7-3 in 2013.

Nearly every starter is back from that squad that has suffered losses to Emporia State, 53-28, and NW Missouri State, 40-14.

Through two games, Southern is averaging 194.5 rushing yards with six TD's. Junior Michael Nelson leads in carries (28), yards (158) and TD's (three) with junior Giresse Forchu having two scores and 62 yards.

Junior Jay McDowell is 2 for 15 for 118 yards and three INT's. Last year, he averaged 86 yards per game, tossed five TD's and completed 56% of his passes. McDowell has a pair of tall receivers to throw to in juniors Anthony Cannon (6-3, 200 lbs.) and Jocqui Davis (6-1, 185 lbs.).

Finally, up front, senior center Caleb Benner and senior right tackle Austin Wolfe were both 2013 honorable mention All-MIAA picks.

Defensively, eight starters are back from a group that gave up just 326 yards per game and held six teams under 21 points. Senior linebacker Dalvin Taylor earned all-league accolades after having 47 tackles (seven TFL), including two sacks. In nine games, sophomore nickel Johnquavious McBride managed 49 tackles and three PBU's to also be named honor­able mention All-MIAA.

So far in 2014, Southern is giving up 222.0 rushing yards per game, allowed the opposition to complete 67% of their passes and covert half their 3rd downs (14 of 28). Taylor has a team-best 19 tackles with tackle Ryon Phillips having 2.5 TFL's for 11 yards. Phillips isn't listed on this week's two-deep.

On the UNK side of the things, the offense ranks sixth in the MIAA in rushing at 160.5 yards per. Both running back Romero Cotton (77.5) and quarterback Bronson Marsh (62.0) are among the league's top 10 rushers.

Last week vs. Washburn, Marsh moved into third place on the Loper QB career rushing list. In just seven games, Marsh has rushed for 553 yards and six TD's. Cotton could reach a mile stone this week as he enters Saturday with 956 yards as a Loper. Running for 801 last year, he is averaging 101.0 yards per week as UNK's featured back (nine games).

Defensively, the Lopers rank second in the MIAA in the red zone, allowing opponents just three scores in seven chances (42.9%). UNK also is fifth in total defense (375.5 ypg), sixth in rushing (154.4 ypg) and tied for sixth in scoring (20.5 ppg).

Aiming for a better showing on third down, the Lopers are led by sophomore ILB Tyke Kozeal (Sargent), who is tied for the MIAA lead in tackles with 26.

Starting corners Shai Harris (15 tackles & two PBU's) and Famous McKinnon (12 tackles) have been solid on the perimeter with senior co-captain Jack Wardyn having already registered three TFL's.

At one end spot, senior Matt Bowman has 144 career tackles. He'll be just the ninth Loper linemen or defensive end since 1990 to reach 150 stops. The Kearney Catholic graduate currently has made 11 tackles (three solo) and recovered a fumble.

Next week, UNK travels to Central Missouri to face a talented Mules squad. UCM (1-1) is at Northwest this week.