Kearney, Neb. – The last time Nebraska-Kearney played football at Missouri Southern State, Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" was one of the nation's most popular songs and "Fatal Attraction" was America's top grossing movie.
 
The date was October 17, 1987, and UNK won a defensive struggle over MSSU, 10-9. After not seeing the Lions in its first two years in the league, the Lopers hosted the Green & Gold last September and fell  by a 34-17 score.
 
UNK (0-2) leads the all-time series with Southern (0-2), 8-5. The two teams met every season between 1977-88 as members of the Central States Intercollegiate Conference with eight of the all-time games having been decided by 10 points or less.
 
This Saturday, the Lopers and Lions square off at 6:00 p.m. from Fred G. Hughes Stadium. The late start is due to this being MSSU's Athletic Hall of Fame weekend. Check the Loper schedule page for ticket and media links.
 
On April 1st, former Illinois State and Murray (Ky.) State head man Denver Johnson took over the reigns of the Lion program. A stand out offensive linemen at Tulsa and also an NFL player, Johnson most recently was assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater.
 
With Johnson's arrival, MSSU traded in its triple option attack for more of an "Air Raid" offense. The defense has also changed significantly, going from a blitz heavy scheme to a more traditional 4-3.
 
The Lions, who were hit hard by graduation, dropped their opener at home to Emporia State, 38-20, and then fell at current No. 3 NW Missouri State last Thursday, 48-7.

 
Northwestern (La.) State transfer and third-year sophomore TJ Feeton (6-2, 215 lbs.) is the starting quarterback with the backup being JUCO transfer Kyle Keller (6-3, 220 lbs.). All-MIAA return man Ty'Quan Hayes (6-1, 210 lbs.) also is a QB, a position he played at NW Missouri and Independence C.C. (KS).
 
To date, Fleeton is 17 of 40 for 189 yards, 0 TD's and four INT's, Hayes is 6 of 10 for 43 yards, 0 TD's and 0 INT's with Keller being 0 for 1. Eleven different Lions have already caught a pass, led by six-foot junior Jordan Morrison (5 recep., 58 yds.) and 5-10 junior Terell Crawford (4 recep., 18 yds.).
 
On the ground, senior Will Gregory (6-0, 210 lbs.) has team-highs in carries (25) and yards (129) along with a score.  Also, senior fullback Giresse Forchu (5-10, 220 lbs.) earned third-team all-league honors in 2014 and has four touches to date. He ran for 110 yards and a TD last year at Cope Stadium as MSSU tallied 374 yards on the ground.
 
On defense, junior free safety Johnquavious McBride (5-11, 190 lbs.) earned third-team All-MIAA hon­ors last year after making a team-best 95 tackles and picking off four passes. Currently, he is list­ed second team behind junior Idrissa Simpson (6-3, 212 lbs.).

Juniors and seniors dot the Lion two-deep, the lone exception being freshmen defensive back Terez Norman (5-10, 185 lbs.) and sophomore Robert Harding III (6-4, 190 lbs.). Senior backer Kyjuan Tate (6-2, 230 lbs.) had a team-best 25 tackles along with a forced fumble. In the secondary, junior corner Ricky Green (5-11, 180 lbs.) has two INT's and two PBU's.
 
Facing two top notches offenses, over the first weeks has Southern allowing 43.0 points and 479 yards per game. The opposition, converting 62% on third down, has thrown eight TD's and been picked off three times.
 
Hayes is among the top return man in the MIAA and as he averaged 19.4 yards on the kick return team and 13.2 yards as a punt returner in 2014. Over the first two weeks, sophomore Michael Nelson (5-10, 190 lbs.) has a team-high five kick returns for 90 yards and has returned a punt for 13 yards.
 
Sophomore Brock Renken earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2014 after making 40 of 43 PAT's and 5 of 7 field goals. So far, he is 3 of 3 on PAT's and booted field goals of 32 and 40 yards, respectively. Finally, juniors Stetson Broce (39.1 avg.) and Kye Stoneham (38.7 avg.) are the punters with Broce getting the majority of the snaps.
 
Whoever touches the ball for MSSU will be chased by Loper stand out junior linebacker Tyke Kozeal (Sargent). After having 16 tackles vs. NW Missouri, he had 15 stops (eight solo) at Washburn last Thursday and Friday. He season numbers already include two of UNK's three sacks, five total TFL's and a PBU In the end zone.
 
Kozeal needs just 32 more tackles to break Kellen Werner's career record of 316, set two years ago. Note the season and career tackle records begin in 1990, the year UNK became a Division II member.  
 
Also seeing his name in the record book is senior QB Bronson Marsh (Millard South H.S.). In 18 games as a Loper, Marsh has thrown the eighth most passes (454) in school history. And with just eight more completions, he'll past 2006 starter Kevin Arbuckle (238) for 10th on that career list.

Marsh (1,254 yards & 17 TD's) already is among the top rusher QB's in Loper lore.
 
Senior back Romero Cotton (Hutchinson, Kan.), a two-time All-MIAA selection, hopes to put his name on some lists as well.

The Lopers averaged over 200 rushing yards per game from 2012-14, reaching the end zone 59 times. UNK, working in some new faces up front, has tallied 177 yards and one rushing TD over the first two weeks.
 
Defensively, Kearney is looking for its first forced turnover of 2015. The Blue & Gold ranked 11th in turnovers gained last season, having seven INT's and recovering four fumbles.
 
On September 26th, Central Missouri (1-1) comes to Cope Stadium for 2015 "Homecoming." The game kicks at 3:00 p.m. with the Mules hosting Northwest this week.