Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney football team begins the 2016 season this Thursday, September 1st, at Missouri Western State in St. Joseph.

The game 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 football season pass. Finally, live stats will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/missouri/football/

Not only is this the kickoff to the 2016 campaign but the Griffons are debuting a refurbished Spratt Memorial Stadium. The 7,500-seat venue, which opened in 1979, went through $8 million in renovations in the offseason, including the installation of the second largest Jumbotron in NCAA Division II.

The Lopers have had success against MWSU over the years, leading the all-time series 16-10. However, the Griffons have had the upper hand of late, winning seven in a row over UNK. That included last year's 34-17 decision at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

That November 7th game saw running backs Raphael Spencer (251) and Josh Caldwell (153) combine for 404 yards and four TD's as Mo West used a seven-minute fourth quarter touchdown drive to thwart a Kearney comeback.

Spencer (108.0 ypg and seven TD's) has graduated but Caldwell, a 5-11, 200 pound sophomore, returns. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry in 2015 and finished with six rushing scores.

Junior Skyler Windmiller (6-3, 190 lbs.) will lead the Griffon offense for a third straight season. Throwing for 296 yards and two TD's in a 2014 win over UNK, the Kansas native completed 49% of his passes last year for 1,701 yards (213 per game), nine TD's and 11 INT's.

His top three targets have departed with junior wide out Dijuan Ussery (5-11, 195 lbs.) being the most experienced Griffon pass catcher. He caught 23 balls for 402 yards and four TD's in 2015 and also returns punts and kicks. 

While All-American Michael Jordan and fellow corner Sam Brown have departed, four of the top five tacklers return from a defense that allowed 19.7 points per game in 2015 and forced 25 turnovers.

Junior Cody Lindsay (6-2, 210 lbs.) made 56 tackles last fall, including 15.0 TFL's and a team-best 7.5 sacks. His running mate, senior Darian Bass (6-4, 225 lbs.), registered 62 stops and picked off three passes for 42 yards. Next, junior free safety Jonathon Owens (5-11, 190 lbs.) had the second most tackles -- 85 -- on the Griffons while also having four INT's.

Finally, junior strong safety Donte Watkins (5-11, 185 lbs.) is coming off a 59-tackle campaign. In the trenches, Papillion senior Mackenzie Wischmann (6-6, 225 lbs.) and senior end Daylon Harper (6-4, 250 lbs.) are among the three slated starters.

Looking to beat MWSU for the first time since 1988, UNK will counter with a two-deep that features 22 players that have never appeared in a D2 game. One of those is third-year redshirt freshman QB Steven Worthing. The 2016 co-captain's last appearance in a game came during the quarterfinals of the 2013 Nebraska State playoffs.

Among the many new skill players Worthing will be getting the ball to are redshirt freshman back Thomas Russell (Millard West H.S.), true freshmen Kentrez Bell (Kansas City) and Lorenz Allen (Manatee, Fla.), junior college transfer receiver Malcolm Moore (Iowa Western C.C.) and graduate transfer receiver D'Andre Hood (Bacone College, Okla.).

UNK's experienced skill players are senior tight end Julian Navarrette (11 recep., 122 yds., two TD's), senior receiver Preston Foley (14 recep., 225 yds., two TD's), junior tight end Sam Brauer (15 career recep., 153 yds., one TD) and sophomore back Luke Quinn (565 all-purpose yards).

This young group works behind an o-lline with four seniors, including co-captain Luke Browne (Ft. Lupton, Colo.). 

Defensively for the Lopers, preseason All-American linebacker Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) amassed a career-best 23 tackles vs. the Griffons last year. Averaging 13.03 tacklers per game in his career, Kozeal could reach the rare 600 career tackle mark by season's end.
 

In front of Kozeal, UNK added some much needed girth along its line with the addition of several newcomers and by moving some players to the position. 

Former tight ends Tanner Lusk (Beatrice) and Tye Spies (Mullen) will see work this year with junior Devin Hernandez (Ord) returning to the fold after missing the end of 2015.Two-year starter Sam Stoltenberg (Creighton Prep H.S.) is the veteran with redshirt sophomore Jacob Bartling (Elm Creek) emerging at the end of last season.

Finally, the many newcomers include transfers Romeo Bryant (Inglewood, Calif.), Spencer Cook (Sharpstown, Texas), Gavin Leach (Zebulon, N.C.) and Jordan Ingraham (Miami).

Finally, two-time honorable mention All-MIAA safety George Brown (St. Louis) highlights a secondary that is full of upperclassmen. The two-year starter has amassed 100 tackles, 12 PBU's and three interceptions over the last two seasons while also returning punts. 
 
Also on special teams, the Lopers welcome back senior punter Payton Fluckey (Springfield) and junior kicker Brendan Wentling (Grand Island H.S.). Both are multi-year starters.

On Thursday, September 8th, UNK hosts current 24th-ranked Emporia State. The Hornets host top-ranked and defending national champion NW Missouri State this week.