Kearney, Neb. – For the first time in a decade, one of Division II's premier programs will visit the Nebraska-Kearney football team at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field this Saturday.

The Pittsburg State Gorillas, eight-time playoff participants since 2000 and the 2011 national champions, will square off against the Lopers at 1:00 p.m.  

UNK officials are encouraging fans to wear pink; if fans buy a day-of ticket Saturday, they'll receive free admission to that night's Top 25 volleyball showdown between UNK and Central Missouri.

If fans cannot be in Central Nebraska, there are several ways to follow the game.

Pitt (4-3), nationally-ranked until back-to-back losses to Emporia State (19th) and NW Missouri State (3rd), last came to Kearney in 2005. That was an NCAA Division II playoff game and won by PSU, 49-20.

After not playing the Gorillas in 2012 and 2013, UNK (0-7) ventured into "The Jungle" last October and led 21-13 in the third quarter. The lead came on the strength of scores of 34, 74 and 75 yards.

Pitt, behind senior QB Anthony Abenoja, scored 23 unanswered points to win 36-21. That marked the seventh straight win over the Lopers, giving the Gorillas a 9-8 series lead.

Offensively this year, a young Pitt crew is averaging 33 points and 419 yards per game.

Senior receiver/return man Marquise Cushon (5-10, 162 lbs.), a 2014 All-American, has 24 catches for 309 yards with 6-2 junior receiver Levi Copelin at 23 receptions for 333 yards and two scores.

Former UNO Maverick and Lincoln Southwest High graduate Jeff Seybold Jr. is third on the team in grabs (15 for 174 yards and three TD's) while also having team-highs in carries (100) and yards (479).

Six-four redshirt freshman John Roderique Jr. and six-three sophomore Thomas LePage have tried to replace Abejona.

Roderique, previously at FCS-member Sam Houston State, has run for nine TD's and averages a team-best 77.7 yards per game on the ground while completing 60% of his passes for 1,264 yards, nine TD's and seven INT's.

Slated to start for an injured Roderique, LePage is 14 of 33 for 85 yards, one TD and four INT's. He also has rushed 35 times for a net total of 43 yards.

Five returning defensive starters earned All-MIAA accolades last fall and this group is allowing 28.3 points and 410 yards per game. Having 21 sacks and nine INT's, Pitt has given up 70 first quarter points or 35% of its total.

Junior safety Deron Washington has a team-best 64 tackles, along with seven PBU's. Also in the secondary, junior corner Darnell Walker Jr. has an MIAA-best five INT's for 86 yards, not to mention 24 tackles.

Also, junior end Heath Wilson has a team-high 5.0 sacks with senior linebacker Colby Hall at 3.5. Finally, the front four features 6-1, 339 lbs. senior Taye Irvin, a 2014 third-team All-MIAA pick.
 
Cushon, a three-time All-American triple jumper, is a dangerous return specialist, having brought back 12 kicks for 277 yards (23.1 avg.) and six punts for 62 yards (10.3 avg.). Next, Copelin has a 16-yard TD return off a blocked punt; the Gorillas also have another block to their credit.

In the punt game, freshman Carter Anchors averages 39.5 yards per boot with four landing inside the 20-yard line. Both LePage (42.0 avg.) and Roderique Jr. (29.0) have "quick kicked" with junior Chad Lavin having made 5 of 7 field goals and all 30 of his PAT's.
 
UNK will have either senior Bronson Marsh (Millard South H.S.) or Tyler McKeone (Lexington) run the offense on Saturday.
 
Marsh currently ranks 10th in the MIAA in total offense at 179.3 yards per game. On October 10th vs. Northeastern State, Marsh was injured late in the first half.

Last year in Pittsburg, he hit senior Cougar Williams (Hanford, Calif.) and sophomore Tityus (Hastings, Fla.) for long TD passes while running 34 yards for the game's first score. Marsh finished with nine completions and 56 rushing yards.

McKeone made this third career start last week and tossed a TD pass to junior tight end Julian Navarette (Queen Creek, Ariz.). In 14 career appearances, McKeone is 39 of 63 (61.9%) for 333 yards, three TD's and six INT's. He also has rushed 44 times for 145 yards (3.3 avg.) and two scores.
 
Behind Marsh or McKeone, senior Kevin Lane Jr. (Carson, Calif.) became the fourth Loper to lead the team in rushing when he went for 70 yards, on 14 carries, in St. Charles. As a club, UNK has two rushing TD's in 2015 and averages 122 yards per game.
 
In the pass game, Marsh, McKeone and redshirt freshman Ryan McFarlin (Jacksonville, Fla.) have combined to throw completions to 15 different teammates. Williams, in six games, has a team-high 24 with Mitchell at 15 and junior newcomer Preston Foley (Houston, Texas) at eight.
 

After a one handed interception on an attempted screen pass last Saturday, junior defensive end/linemen Peyton Lange (Elkhorn H.S.) leads the MIAA in INT return yardage at 122. That is the most by a Loper since All-American corner Arthur Hobbs had 295 four years ago.
 
Lange, with a team-best two picks, also has 31 tackles, 4.5 for lost yardage. Fellow veteran ends Bryan Luna (La Crescenta, Calif.) and Dexter Becker (Beaver City) have combined for 49 tackles and eight TFL's. Inside, junior Tanner Johnson (Rushville) and sophomores Sam Stoltenberg (Creighton Prep H.S.) and Wyatt Anderson (Arapahoe) have provided 51 stops.
 
This work up front has helped UNK rank third in the MIAA in first downs allowed (19.6), fifth in total defense (401.1) and sixth in rushing defense (173.3).
 
While senior Steven Burns Jr. (Las Vegas, Nev.) didn't get a chance to return a kick last Saturday, he still has the best kick return average (26.3) in the league.

Also on special teams, junior Payton Fluckey (Springfield) has the second most boots inside the opponents' 20-yard line (11) while ranking first in fair caught punts (18).
 
UNK heads to rival Fort Hays State on Halloween. That is the "MIAA Game of the Week" and will be shown on live t.v. in select markets. The Tigers host 3rd-ranked NW Missouri State this week.