Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney and Washburn football teams can agree on one thing this Saturday and that is for the weather to be nice. 

The 2016 Homecoming game kicks off at 2:00 p.m. from Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.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 at http://www.sidearmstats.com/unk/football/

As part of the "Coach to Cure MD" Day sponsored by the American Football Coaches Assocation, UNK coaches will be wearing a MD patch on the sidelines. 

In 2014, UNK (0-3) hosted the Ichabods (2-1) for its home opener. Despite being in early September, the night game featured rain, wind and temps in the 40s. Washburn used a late interception to win a defensive struggle, 10-7.

Last year in Topeka, it was warmer but the heavens opened up so much the game had to be halted. For likely the first time in the 110-year history of the program, the Lopers had to finish a contest the next day. Using a series of big plays, Washburn won the two-day event, 34-14. They now have won seven straight in the series with UNK's last win coming back in 1985.

Crete native and North Dakota State transfer Derek McGinnis has thrown 31 TD's in 14 games as WU's quarterback. He is the older brother of UNK redshirt freshman signal caller, Alex McGinnis. So far in 2016, McGinnis & Co. have beaten Lindenwood and Northeastern State at home while falling at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State.

Outscoring its opponents 50-7 in the second quarter, the 'Bods offense is converting 40% of the time on third down. McGinnis and his backups have already completed passes to 16 different teammates, led by sophomore Jake Horner (nine recep., 263 yds., two TD's) and senior Bryce Chavis (eight recep., 124 yds., two TD's).

In the backfield is senior Mickeel Stewart (6-1, 210 lbs.). He has rushed for 119 yards and two of Washburn's four ground scores. Up front, there are three underclassmen starting, including redshirt freshman center Jake Riederer (6-4, 285 lbs.).
 
Washburn starts six seniors and four juniors on defense. Many of these players were in the starting lineup last season.  
 
Linebackers Cody Heiman (29) and Austin Tillman (23) are the tackle leaders with veteran Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq (6-4, 250 lbs.) a three-year starter at one end position. He had a team-best 11.0 TFL's in 2015. 

Senior end Spenser Matthews (6-3, 245 lbs.) currently has a team-best 5.0 TFL, including 2.5 sacks. He had 11 tackles (3.0 sacks) in last year's tilt vs. the Lopers.
 
Next, sophomore Perry Schmiedeler handles punting (38.9 avg.), kick off (58.0 avg.) and place kicking duties. He made field goals of 23, 30 and 39 yards in the opener vs. NSU and is 8 for 8 on PAT's. As a punter, three of his 17 boots have gone at least 50 yards with seven having been fair caught. Of note, McGinnis (29.5 avg.) has "quick kicked" twice.
 
Also, backup corner Josh Wright (21.2 avg.) has been Washburn's best kick returner with five different players having returned a punt. Finally, the 'Bods blocked a punt vs. Northeastern State.

UNK's punt game has been solid as Springfield senior Payton Fluckey leads the league in fair caught punts (16) and ranks second in punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line (seven).
 
True freshman back Lorenz Allen (Manatee, Fla.) continues to rank among the MIAA leaders in kick return average (21.9) with junior safety George Brown (University City, Mo.) closing in on 40 career punt returns.
 
Offensively, the Lopers have had eight passing plays of 20 yards or more. True freshman receiver Kentrez Bell (Kansas City) has two of these catches with sophomore back Luke Quinn (Scottsdale, Ariz.) going 72-yards for a TD last Saturday at Northwest. That was the Lopers longest offensive play since early last October.
 
Finally, tackle monster Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) needs just 18 more stops to become the fourth player in NCAA Division II history to reach 500 in a career. He currently leads all of the NCAA in tackles (52) and is coming off a game at Northwest in which he made a career-best 13 solo tackles.
 
To stat October, the Lopers host Missouri Southern State next Saturday.