Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern State football teams will meet for the 15th time this Saturday, October 1st, at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

The game kicks off at 2:00 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.

This is a series that began in the 1970's when both schools were members of the CSIC (Central States Intercollegiate Conf.). UNK holds an 8-6 edge with nine of the games having been decide by 10 points or less. 

One of those close games came last September in Joplin. Current quarterback TJ Fleeton had two one-yard scoring runs and tossed a 73-yard TD pass late in the third quarter as part of a 24-14 win.

MSSU held UNK to 276 yards of total offense, the second straight season the Lopers failed to reach the 300 yard mark against the Lions. Back in 2014, the Green & Gold won in Cope Stadium, 34-14, when they ran a traditional triple option offense.

Under second year head coach Denver Johnson, Missouri Southern is now throwing the ball more with Fleeton (180 ypg and four TD's) and Memphis transfer Brayden Scott (89 ypg and two TD's).

Former option QB Scott Lathrop (24 recep., 161 yds.) is MSSU's top receiver to date with four others having caught at least nine balls. Senior Josh Hadley (41.0 ypg) is the top back with Fleeton second on the team in rushing attempts (45) and net yards (150).

Overall, nine upperclassmen start on a MSSU offense that has four TD's in 12 red zone trips and converts 36% on third down.

Defensively, an experienced group features six seniors and two juniors. Opponents are 19 for 19 (16 TD's and three field goals) when reaching the red zone and have tallied 69 second quarter points.

Senior tackle Stephan Randall has four of MSSU's 21 TFL's and two of the team's 3.5 sacks. Senior end Travelle Smith also is a force, having two TFL's, a fumble recovery and forced fumble.

The tackle leader is junior linebacker Justin Leiger (31) with a secondary including true freshman corner Keith Beverly (19 tackles and four PBU's).

On special teams, junior Brock Renken is back at kicker. Over the last 15 games, he is 33 of 34 on PAT's and 11 of 20 on field goal tries. Finally, senior punter Stetson Broce (37.2 avg.) has seen 11 of his boots land inside the 20-yard line. However, one of his punts has been blocked.

Loper senior Payton Fluckey continues to be among the MIAA leaders in fair caught punts (18) and punts in inside the 20-yard line (nine). Last Saturday, he also uncorked a season-long 50 yarder.

UNK also continues to be among the league leaders in kick return average (19.3). Three different Lopers have been the primary guys back at the goal line, led by true freshman back Lorenz Allen (21.9).

This trio hopes to snap Kearney's long drought of a kick returns without a score. UNK hasn't brought back one to house since the 2007 season opener, a string of 398 returns.  
Offensively, the Lopers ended one long streak late last Saturday vs. Washburn. In scoring 14 points over the final 5:05 of regulation, UNK had scoring drives of 17 and 15 plays, respectively.

Since joining the MIAA in 2012, the Lopers had only one other scoring drive of 15 plays or more. That came in a 2013 win over Southwest Baptist (15 plays, 99 yards). And the 17 play jaunt down the field was the longest scoring drive by a Blue & Gold offense in six years.

A big reason why UNK was so effective was the play of sophomore back Luke Quinn (Scottsdale, Ariz.). He had four TD's against the Ichabods, including strong runs of 10 and 15 yards and an acrobatic 25 yard catch in OT. Quinn now has five of UNK's 12 TD's this year, ranking among the conference leaders in points per game (7.5).

 

Another play maker was junior receiver Malcolm Moore (Excelsior, Minn.). He had 10 catches for 69 yards and caught the game-tying TD pass with five seconds left. The Iowa Western C.C. transfer is the first Loper to have a double digit catch total in the MIAA era. He now leads UNK in catches (14) on the season.

Defensively, Sargent inside backer Tyke Kozeal leads all of the NCAA – FBS, FCS, Division II & Division III – in tackles with 70 (36 solo). The fourth D2 player to reach the 500 career tackle mark, Kozeal is averaging a healthy ## tackles per game since the start of the 2015 season.

His next goal is to break David Cunningham's school record for TFL's (53.0). With a team-best 5.5 this fall, Kozeal's career total stands at 42.5.

Finally, senior Antwan Hadley (Lake Wales, Fla.) is among the MIAA leaders in passes defended (seven). The corner turned safety has a team-best six PBU's and also an 87-yard INT return for a score.

Next Saturday, UNK heads to nationally-ranked Central Missouri. The Mules (3-1) have a showdown with No. 1 NW Missouri State at Arrowhead Stadium.