Game 7 Preview: Lopers Look to Slow Down UCO

Kearney, Neb. – Another high-octane offense awaits the Nebraska Kearney football team when it plays at Central Oklahoma this Saturday.

The game, Homecoming for the Bronchos, kicks off at 2 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

Last year in Kearney, these teams combined for 79 points and 1,064 yards of offense. UNK held on for a 47-32 win as UCO committed six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles).

The '

Chos lead the all-time series 4-2, including a 1979 NAIA playoff quarterfinal win. That season, then-Central State University bested then-Kearney State College, 42-22. CSU finished as national runner up.

Currently, both squads enter with 2-4 marks. UCO has been snake bitten, having suffered its losses by a combined 21 points. That includes late setbacks to Fort Hays State (42 seconds left) and Missouri Western State (1:28 left). The 'Chos did tally 16 points, and recovered an on-side kick, in the final 3:29 to upset Emporia State, 53-52.

UCO is led by an offense averaging 31 points and 423 yards per game. Despite the losing record setting running Jake Gandara and Clay McKenzie to injuries, the ' Chos rank fifth in the MIAA in total offense.

UNK will have all eyes on senior receiver J.T. Luper. The 5-9, 175 pound speedster has eight TD's and averages a Division II-best 162 yards per game. A 2015 All-MIAA pick on both offense and special teams, he torched Emporia for four scores and 230 yards.

Throwing him the ball is fifth-year senior Chas Stallard (6-0, 210 lbs.). The 2014 MIAA Freshman of the Year, Stallard enters Saturday with 62 career TD's (40 passing and 22 rushing) and a school-record 7,623 yards of total offense. He currently is UCO's leading rusher while completing 61% of his passes for 15 TD's and 293 yards per game.

Last October in Kearney, Stallard was 14 of 24 for 282 yards, four TD's and four INT's. He has thrown only two picks this year.

Defensively, UCO is allowing 31 points and 448 yards per game. Allowing the opposition to convert 46% on third down, the 'Chos have two INT's and no recovered fumbles.

Senior strong safety Riley Galyon (5-11, 190 lbs.) has a team-best 58 tackles (35 solo) and two PBU's. Fellow senior and free safety Omari Cole (5-11, 190 lbs.) has 14 stops, three PBU's, a forced fumble and blocked kick.

Having 32.0 TFL's to date, UCO is led in this area by junior OLB Alex Figueroa (6-4, 240 lbs.) with seven (2.0 sacks). Overall, the former Miami Hurricane has made 22 tackles. Up front, junior Carson Smith (6-2, 315 lbs.) has 12 tackles, including 4.5 TFL's.

On special teams, Luper is averaging 23 yards a kick return and four on the punt return team. Next, true freshman Alex Quevedo (6-0, 165 lbs.) has made 20 of 22 PAT's and 3 of 5 field goals. His made field goals include efforts from 42 and 46 yards and he also has 11 touch backs on kickoffs. Finally, sophomore punter Jay Tedesco (6-1, 192 lbs.) has a 41.4 average. He's placed 11 punts inside the 20-yard line and had one attempt blocked.

UNK, looking for its second MIAA road win this year, still has a defense ranked 11th nationally in stopping the run (86.0 yards per game) and is 20th in sacks (18). The Lopers (updated 2-deep) also are second in the MIAA in yards per carry allowed (2.6) and passing TD's allowed (eight).

28317 — **Sophomore Thomas Russell is averaging 79 yards per game**

Individually, fifth-year safety George Brown (St. Louis) has been in on 21 tackles this fall. That gives him 151 in his career, making him just the 42nd Loper since 1990 to reach 150 career stops. Showing UNK's tradition at free and strong safety, he's the eighth safety on that list.

The Lopers are led in tackles at the moment by inside backers Sal Silvio (49) and Ty Botsford (41). They've combined for 12.0 TFL's (3.5 sacks), two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one INT, one PBU and one QB hurry. Four other ILB's have managed 26 tackles (3.5 TFL's).

On the other side of the ball, Kearney ranks third in the MIAA in time of possession (31:12). The Lopers have gone over the 30-minute mark in four games, just missing out on five (29:55) last Saturday vs. Central Missouri. In 2015 and 2016 (22 games), UNK reached 30 minutes eight times.

Not surprisingly, the Lopers have logged these minutes behind 258 rushing attempts (43.0 per game), the third most in the MIAA. That's also exactly double the pass attempts (129) on the season.

Sophomores Thomas Russell (123) and Steve Worthing (67) continue to be among the league's busiest ball carriers with Russell on pace for 226 carries which would rank sixth in school history.

In the air, junior Alex Harms (20.0) and Sedarius Young (19.6) are among the MIAA leaders in yards per catch. Young (Orlando, Fola.) has a team-best two receiving scores with Harms (North Platte) having the long reception of the year, a 76 yarder at Missouri Southern.

UNK returns home net Saturday (Oct. 21) to face the Northeastern State RiverHawks (0-6). NSU hosts No. 1 Northwest Missouri State this weekend.

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Players Mentioned

#44 Ty Botsford: ILB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#4 George Brown: DB; 6' 2"; Senior

#48 Alex Harms: TE/LS; 6' 2"; Junior

#6 Famous McKinnon: DB; 5' 8"; Junior

#25 Thomas Russell: RB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#32 Sal Silvio: ILB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#11 Steve Worthing: QB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#10 Sedarius Young: WR; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#44 Ty Botsford
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: ILB

#4 George Brown
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DB

#48 Alex Harms
: 6' 2"; Junior
: TE/LS

#6 Famous McKinnon
: 5' 8"; Junior
: DB

#25 Thomas Russell
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: RB

#32 Sal Silvio
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: ILB

#11 Steve Worthing
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: QB

#10 Sedarius Young
: 5' 11"; Junior
: WR