Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Northeastern State RiverHawks used the big play and took advantages of some penalties to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 31-14, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
 
The 'Hawks (1-5), from Tahlequah, Okla., saw senior running back Joel Rockmore carry the ball 18 times for a career-high 210 yards. He started the scoring with a 76-yard run seven minutes into the action and then scampered 85 yards right before halftime.
 
After running for a three-yard score early in the second quarter, junior quarterback Kevin Pantastico threw a 74-yard TD pass to receiver Matthew Butler with 8:31 left in the third quarter to finish the scoring.
 
"Unfortunately we didn't play very well in any facet of the game," said UNK head coach Josh Lamberson.  "We didn't have very good run defense, we didn't run the ball consistently when we needed to, we struggled throwing the ball, struggled in pass protection and had some critical errors on special teams."
 
NSU's second score, a 32-yard field goal by Eddie Garcia that made it 10-7, was aided by a usual run on fourth down. Punter/wide receiver Garrett Powell scooped up a low snap, ran to the right, broke a few tackles, and then came back across the field for a 14-yard gain, reaching the UNK 44-yard line.
 
Several runs by reserve back Cody Busby helped setup Garcia's successful boot. 
 
Pantastico's TD run with 10:44 left in the second quarter came after UNK was whistled for roughing the punter and for being off sides on a Garcia field goal. NSU took the points off the board, converted on 4th & 1 and scored a touchdown two plays later, making it 17-7.
 
"They converted on several third or fourth and ones and we didn't. I thought it was tough execution in all three phases and we've got to execute better. We knew that coming into the week and they out executed us at every position group," said Lamberson
 
An 89-yard kick return by senior defensive back Steven Burns Jr. (Las Vegas, Nev.) allowed UNK to tie the game at seven. On second down, senior QB Bronson Marsh (Millard South H.S.) threw an eight-yard scoring pass to junior receiver Preston Foley (Houston, Texas).

 
After Rockmore's second big run, redshirt freshman back Luke Quinn (Hamilton, Ariz.) ran for a total of 31 yards, helping UNK move down the field in a hurry. In relief of an injured Marsh, redshirt freshman Ryan McFarlin (Jacksonville, Fla.) tossed an 18-yard scoring strike to sophomore receiver Tityus Mitchell (Hastings, Fla.) with 22 seconds left in the half. 
 
Mitchell's catch was highlight worthy as he leaped up and managed to get a foot down before falling out of the back of the end zone.
 
"The kids are disappointed. They hurt and I hurt for them. We've got to do a better job of coaching, we've got to do a better job of playing," said Lamberson. "I know how hard our kids work but everyone does that in the MIAA. If you don't play your best every Saturday, you're going to get beat. We'll regroup and dust ourselves off."
 
For NSU, Pantastico finished 7 of 22 for 157 yards, one TD and no INT's. Led by Rockmore and Busby, the 'Hawks finished with 264 rushing yards on 42 carries (6.3 avg.). Defensively, NSU saw linebacker Irving Steele have a team-best nine tackles (five solo) with safety Devon Siers at eight.
 
Playing most of the first half, Marsh was 4 of 9 for 18 yards and one TD while rushing seven times for 22 yards. In his first collegiate game, McFarlin had a long run of 20 yards and was 7 of 16 for 40 yards and one TD in the air.
 
Quinn (42) led a UNK ground game that tallied 131 yards on 34 carries (4.1 avg.). On special teams, Burns had another big day, tallying 201 yards on six kick returns. Finally, junior linebacker Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) had a team-high 16 tackles with junior end Dexter Becker (Beaver City) recording back-to-back sacks.
 
UNK is at Lindenwood next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Lions fell to 1-5 after a 69-0 loss to 3rd-ranked NW Missouri State.