Kearney, Neb. – It'll be a Homecoming of sorts when the Nebraska-Kearney football team travels to Central Missouri this Saturday, October 8th.

Josh Lamberson was a Mules assistant from 2010-2014 and this will be his first visit to Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field as Loper head coach. The MIAA game kicks off at 1:00 p.m.

The contest can be heard live locally (KRNY 102.3 FM) and over the internet at www.krny.com. To watch the action, log on to UNK's Stretch Internet page; cost is $9.95 or $69.95 for a season pass. Finally, live stats will be available HERE

UNK (0-5) and UCM (3-2) have met only seven times previously on the gridiron. The series dates back to 1970 with the Lopers picking up wins over the Mules in 1973, 21-13, and in 2012, 24-18.

The victory four years ago was UNK's first road win in the MIAA. Wide receiver-turned quarterback Matt Berry spearheaded a rushing attack that tallied 332 yards with the Loper defense holding the Mules to -31 yards on the ground. 

Last fall, UCM outscored UNK 35-0 over the second and third quarters as part of a 38-7 victory. Out gaining the Lopers 494-138, the Mules got 246 yards and three TD's from current senior QB Garrett Fugate with current junior receiver Kyle Echols having five catches for 58 yards and one TD. In 2014, Echols had three catches for 145 yards and two TD's in a 45-28 win.

 
A Mule prolific offense is averaging 31 points and 441 yards per game. UCM is converting 45% on third down have scored at least 30 points in all four quarters.
 
Fugate (6-3, 210 lbs.) currently leads the MIAA in passing yards per game at 304.6. Completing 60% of his passes, he has thrown 10 TD's to six INT's. Last season, he tossed 18 TD's, six INT's and averaged 261 yards per game.
 
His favorite target is junior Jaylen Zachery (6-0, 185 lbs.). A dynamic returner as well, Zachery has caught 26 balls for 389 yards and six scores. He amassed 933 yards and five TD's as a sophomore.
 
Echols (20 recep., 281 yds., one TD) is also a big threat with the tandem of senior Gabe Vandiver (5-10, 190 lbs.) and junior Xavier Washpun (5-10, 205 lbs.) combining to average 92 yards per game with five TD's. Finally, four juniors start up front, including left guard Chris Gomez (6-3, 310 lbs.).
 
Former Missouri Western State defensive coordinator Wes Bell moved over to UCM this past summer. His 3-4 alignment has forced eight turnovers and 11 sacks.
 
Only two seniors start in linebackers Josh Powell (6-3, 265 lbs.) and Jack Cronin (6-3, 250 lbs.). Powell missed the first two games but has 3.0 TFL over the last three weeks. Meanwhile, Cronin has made 17 tackles (3.0 TFL).
 
Next, junior corner Montenze Latimore (35) and sophomore linebacker Michael Tannehill (33) rank first and second, respectively, in tackles. Latimore also has four PBU's and one INT for 48 return yards.

Inside, reserve end J.R. Alexander (6-0, 220 lbs.) has 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles with redshirt freshman end Wyatt Hendrix (6-5, 230 lbs.) at 2.0 sacks and two PBU's.
 
Zachery is among the most dangerous return specialists in the country, currently averaging 19.8 (punt) and 26.8 (kick) yards a return. He already has two returns for scores this year; a 94-yarder (kick) at Missouri Western and a 73-yarder at Pitt State (punt). As a sophomore, Zachery averaged 22 yards a kick return and had a 79-yard punt return for a TD vs. Northeastern State.
 
Next, Papillion sophomore Billy Greco is among the best kickers in the MIAA. He is 19 for 19 on PAT's and 5 of 6 on field goals with a long boot of 37 yards. In 2015, Greco made 17 field goals and was 43 of 47 on PAT's.
 

Finally, redshirt freshman Logan Offner has a 37.9 average with four punts landing inside the 20-yard line. As a cover unit, UCM has blocked one punt.
 
Two years ago in the 'Burg, UNK led 14-7 at the half as three-time national wrestling champ Romero Cotton had a 49-yard TD run in the first quarter and Bronson Marsh tossed a 23-yard scoring pass right before halftime.
 
UCM tallied 17 third quarter points to regain control and went on to win by 17 points. The game featured 921 yards of total offense and 42 first downs.
 
The Lopers had 31 first downs last Saturday in a 24-14 loss to Missouri Southern State. For the second straight week, the run game got going as sophomore back Luke Quinn (Scottsdale, Ariz.) had 117 yards on 30 carries.
 
Among the MIAA scoring leaders, Quinn became the first UNK back in one year to reach the 100-yard mark. He also joins Cotton, Marsh and back Ricky Trinidad as the only Lopers to have 30 carries in an MIAA game.
 
In the air, redshirt freshman QB Steve Worthing (Elkhorn South H.S.) is seventh in the league in total offense per game (221.8 ypg). Besides seven TD tosses, Worthing has rushed for 141 net yards with a long scamper of 23 yards.
 
Over the past two weeks, junior WR Malcolm Moore (Excelsior, Minn.) has become Worthing's favorite targets. He has caught 18 balls for 155 yards and two TD's. That includes a game-tying TD with five seconds to go in the 47-44 triple OT loss to Washburn.
 
Defensively, All-American candidate Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) continues to terrorize the opposition to the tune of an NCAA-best 16.4 tackles per game. That large total includes a team-best 7.5 TFL's.
 
Kozeal is fast closing in on the school record for career TFL's. Big defensive tackle David Cunningham managed 53.0 TFL's from 1994-1997; Kozeal currently has 44.5.
 
Hard hitting safety Dallas Vaughn (St. Louis), a first-year starter, has the second most stops on the Lopers with 36 while senior corner/safety Antwan Hadley (Lake Wales, Fla.) has a team-best six PBU's. He also has one of UNK's two INT's.
 
With Zachery such a dangerous threat, it'll be on the Kearney cover teams to stop him. UNK is allowing 8.9 yards a punt return with the majority of senior Payton Fluckey's boots having been fair caught.
 
Junior kicker Brendan Wentling (Grand Island H.S.) and the kick cover team are allowing teams only 19.9 yards a return with the long covering just 40 yards.
 
UNK returns home on October 15th to host the Central Oklahoma Bronchos.