Kearney, Neb. – For just the second time in school history and for the first time since 1994, the Nebraska-Kearney football team will play at Central Oklahoma.

This Saturday's game from Edmond and Wantland Stadium kicks off at 2:00 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media and ticket links.

UNK (0-4) and the Bronchos (0-4) have met just four times previously with UCO winning three of them. Last October in Kearney, UCO out gained UNK by a 421-358 margin but posted a 49-0 win.

The 'Chos, with six rushing TD's, also had an 89-yard pick six and a seven-yard scoring drive setup by a long kick return. UNK, meanwhile, fumbled the ball out of the end zone for a touchback, had a kick return for a TD called back due to a penalty and had a 26-yard field goal blocked.
 
Back in 1979, the Bronchos rushed for 345 yards and out cored then-KSC 14-0 in the fourth quarter to advance in the NAIA playoffs, 42-22. UCO ended the year as national runners up.
 
In going 8-4 and reaching a bowl game in 2014, UCO was 3-0 in games decided by 10 points or less. Led by MIAA Freshman of the Year Chas Stallard, a 6-0, 210 lbs. quarterback, the 'Chos had an MIAA-best plus 14 turnover margin.
 
This fall, UCO has lost all four of its games by 10 points or less and has a minus six turnover margin.
 
Offensively, UCO returns nine starters from a group that averaged 28 points in 2014 but sophomore back Jake Gandara (1,121 rushing yds.; 13 rushing TD's; 39 recep., 286 yds.) was lost for the year in the first game due to injury. The 'Chos also lost top receivers Christian Hood and Marquez Clark to graduation.
 
Stallard threw for eight TD's and rushed for nine more last fall in completing 64% of his passes. In 2015, he has thrown five TD's, four INT's and averages 204 yards per game. Completing 56% of his passes, Stallard is UCO's second leading rusher with 205 yards and a score. His net total has been hurt by 10 sacks. 
 
Sophomore Clay McKenzie (5-11, 200 lbs.), averaging 6.0 yards per carry and with four TD's, is now the top back with junior J.T. Loper (5-9, 175 lbs.) having 28 grabs for 303 yards and a TD. Finally, right guard Landon Chappell (6-2, 285 lbs.) is UCO's only senior starter on an offense that leads the MIAA in time of possession (32:25).

 
Seven starters returned from a defense that allowed 23 points and 400 yards per week. UCO led the MIAA in turnover margin last season as they had 16 INT's and 11 recovered fumbles.
 
In 2015, the opposition is averaging 214 rushing yards per week and has reached the end zone eight times. That puts UCO 10th in the MIAA in rush defense and 11th in total defense (448 ypg).
 
Six-three, 220 pound senior backer Malcolm Howard has a team-best 54 tackles (20 solo), including 3.5 TFL's. He tallied 72 tackles and four PBU's in 2014.
 
Next, junior backer Ben Jones had a team-high's in TFL's (4.0) and sacks (2.0) and a 15-yard fumble recovery for a score. Finally, senior corner Levonte Douglas has seven PBU's and one of UCO's two picks.
 
On special teams, junior Seth Hiddink is one of the MIAA's top kickers, having made 5 of 6 field goals and 8 of 10 PAT's this year. His three pointers include makes of 42 and 43 yards, respectively. He had 39 PAT's and 13 made field goals in 2014.
 
Next, Luper is averaging 22.5 yards on 12 kick returns and a healthy 11.6 yards on eight punt returns. UNK is among the best in the league in punt cover, allowing 10 yards on eight returns.
 
Also, junior Christian Fullham is averaging 37.9 yards per boot with nearly half his attempts landing inside the 20-yard line. He did have one punt blocked, for a 12-yard TD return, in the loss to NW Missouri.
 
While UNK has yet to win a game in August or September since joining the MIAA in 2012, the Lopers are a combined 7-5 in October over the last three years. That includes at least two wins each season.
 
To continue that trend, Kearney aims to get an offense going that is averaging 8.8 points and 239.8 yards per game.
 
Seniors Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, Kans.) and Bronson Marsh (Millard South H.S.) have combined for 352 net rushing yards with each reaching the end zone once. Marsh has completed a pass to 13 different teammates with both of his scoring passes caught by Tityus Mitchell (Hastings, Fla.). The third-year sophomore should return to action this week after missing the Central Missouri contest due to injury.
 

UNK's defense has held its own, ranking fifth in the league in total (386.0 ypg) and rush (148.0 ypg) defense. The Lopers also have been better on third down over the last two games, seeing Missouri Southern State and Central Missouri convert 38% (13 of 34) of the time.
 
One of those stops on third down resulted in a forced fumble by junior linemen Peyton Lange (Elkhorn). Last week, "Big Red" dropped into coverage, picked off his second career pass and rumbled 89 yards for an unlikely score.
 
Behind Lange is sophomore inside linebacker Tyke Kozeal (Sargent), who needs just five more tackles to surpass Kellen Werner's career record of 316. Note career tackles at UNK begins with the 1990 season or the year the Lopers moved into Division II.
 
Kozeal is averaging 14.5 stops per game and also leads the team in TFL's (7.5) and sacks (2.0). Five others have been involved in a sack, including ends Dexter Becker (Southern Valley H.S.) and Josh Papa (David City) and linebacker Andrew Jensen (Gretna).
 
UNK returns home on October 10th to face Northeastern State. The Riverhawks (0-4) host 3rd-ranked NW Missouri State tomorrow.

Next week's game will honor Military and Service personnel and kicks off at 2:00 p.m.