Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior quarterback TJ Fleeton had a hand in three touchdowns and Missouri Southern State scored 14 first quarter points to defeat Nebraska-Kearney, 24-14, Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
 
This was the 15th all-time meeting between the Lions (1-4) and Lopers with 10 having now been decided by 10 points or less.
 
Earning its first win since a 24-14 victory over UNK last September, MSSU saw Fleeton throw a 23-yard scoring pass to senior receiver Anthony Cannon with 4:42 left in the first quarter. That capped the Lions best drive of the day, a nine-play, 75-yard effort. 

 

Just two minutes later, Fleeton scored from a yard out to cap four-play drive and make it 14-0. A 41-yard punt return by senior receiver Scott Lathrop gave the Lions great field position.
 
With just six minutes left in the game, Fleeton found true freshman receiver Josiah Bennett on a slant and the 6-7 freshman went 56 yards for a 24-7 lead.

A second-year starter and a transfer from FCS-member Northwestern (La.) State, Fleeton finished 16 of 33 for 195 yards, those two TD's and no INT's. Bennett proved a tough matchup and tallied 159 yards on only five catches.
 
UNK had big advantages in offensive plays (94-67), total yards (427-299) and time of possession (36:10-23:50) but had four drives stall inside the Lion 41-yard line. Those potential scoring drives ended due to an interception, fumble, missed field goal and blocked field goal.
 
Missouri Southern turned those two turnovers into three points and some good momentum. 
 
"We talk about turnovers all the time. It's at the top of our plan to win, along with making good decisions from the quarterback position," said UNK head coach Josh Lamberson. "Obviously, very disappointed with the final score. From week to week, we've got to be better than the week before. I don't think we were today."
 
Defensively, Kearney held MSSU to 44 rushing yards on 30 carries, had six pass breakups and five tackles for loss. The Lopers also forced Lions QB Brayden Scott to fumble at the goal line late in the second quarter, preventing a 21-7 deficit.
 
Sophomore running back Luke Quinn (Scottsdale, Ariz.) had the best day by a Loper running back in two years as he had 30 carries for a career-best 119 yards. He also caught five balls for 19 yards.
 
Next, receivers Malcolm Moore (Excelsior, Minn.) and Blake Holtmeier (Kearney Catholic H.S.) had eight catches apiece with Moore scoring late in the first half and totaling a team-high 86 yards. A Nebraska transfer, Holtmeier had 72 yards, including a 10-yard scoring reception with 3:32 left on the clock.

 

"The guys had a great week of practice but unfortunately couldn't come out here and finish. We got 30 first downs, ran 94 plays and gave up only 44 rushing yards. But at the end of the day you've still got to score points," said Lamberson. "We didn't finish on the offensive side, whether that was a drive, at the end of the half or even at the end of the game. There were missed opportunities and silly penalties that pushed us back."
 
UNK got the ball two more times after Holtmeier's first collegiate TD but one drive covered just two yards and the other 48 before time expired.
 
Redshirt freshman QB Steve Worthing (Elkhorn South H.S.) ended 25 of 48 for 213 yards, two TD's and one INT. He also rushed 10 times for a career-high 71 yards. The Lopers tallied a season-best 214 rushing yards on 46 carries (4.7 avg.).
 
Defensively, Sargent linebacker Tyke Kozeal had a team-high 12 tackles (seven solo), including 2.0 TFL's, a PBU and fumble recovery. Two MSSU players had 12 stops apiece, including linebacker Justin Legier.
 
Finally, redshirt freshman safety Dallas Vaughn (St. Louis) had two PBU's and seven stops, sophomore corner Famous McKinnon (Miami) had four tackles and a PBU and Omaha redshirt freshman linebacker Zach Sullivan was one of six Lopers with three tackles.
 
"Thirty carries from Luke Quinn is absolutely fantastic. He knew coming in we were going to ask him to carry a load," said Lamberson. "Still very proud of our guys, their effort and resolve. No one went out there trying to lose the game today. We're frustrated with some mistakes but that's 18 to 22 year olds trying to play the best they can possibly play. Sometimes when you want something so bad, you choke the life out of it. We didn't relax and give ourselves a chance."
 
The Lopers are at Central Missouri next Saturday. The Mules (3-2) likely will fall from the national rankings after a 42-17 loss to No. 1 NW Missouri State Saturday night. That contest was held at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.