Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team looks to stop a two-game losing streak to Northeastern State when the RiverHawks come to Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field this Saturday.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and the game is dedicated to "Local Heroes" and sponsored by the Nebraska Lottery. Check the Loper schedule page for media links; note this week's game airs live on KRVN 880 AM.

NSU (0-7) has beaten UNK (2-5) by scores of 31-21 and 31-14 the past two years. Leading the all-time series 4-3, the 'Hawks have rushed for four touchdowns and 458 yards against the Loper "D" the past two seasons.

Despite surrendering over 100 yards the past two Saturday's, UNK still ranks 19th in Division II in rush defense (101.4 yards per game). The Lopers are also among the national leaders in sacks (19) and opponent third down conversion rate (33.3%).  
 

While UNK has just nine seniors and a graduate student on its current roster, NSU is even younger. Twenty-seven underclassmen dot the 'Hawks two-deep including seven along the offensive line. The new starting QB is true freshman Cade Yeager (6-1, 210 lbs.) who has started the past three weeks.

A native of Broken Arrow, Okla., Yeager is 39 of 100 for 557 yards, five touchdown and five interceptions. Averaging 186 yards per game, he already has the fourth most carries (25) on the team. Backed up by FCS transfer and junior Blayne Armstrong (6-3, 225 lbs.), Yeager led two TD drives vs. NW Missouri State last Saturday.
 
Talented senior receiver Gary McKnight Jr. (6-1, 200 lbs.) has caught 22 balls for 496 yards and three TD's. His per game average of 71.0 yards ranks eighth in the MIAA. Next, NSU runs for just 50 yards per game but senior Ra'Keim Abdul (6-0, 195 lbs.) had a big effort vs. UNK last fall and has rushed for 620 yards and two TD's over the last 16 games.
 
The line features redshirt senior left tackle Brian West (6-3, 285 lbs.). Finally, the UNK defense will look to up its forced turnovers (five INT's and two recovered fumbles) as NSU has committed an MIAA-high 20 to date.
 
On the other side of the ball, senior middle linebacker

La'More Wise (6-0, 235 lbs.) has some of the top individual defensive numbers in the conference. He's at 70 tackles (48 solo), four forced fumbles, four TFL's and two PBU's.
 
Next, redshirt freshman safety Coleby Evans is at 48 tackles (28 solo), including 4.0 TFL's. Fellow safety and junior Devon Siers (5-10, 175 lbs.) has one pick and 35 tackles (22 solo). Overall, NSU has allowed 21 rushing scores and gives up 5.5 yards per carry.
 
The 'Hawks will face a UNK offense led by sophomore QB Steve Worthing (Elkhorn South) and sophomore back Thomas Russell (Millard West). The pair are among the MIAA's top rushers, combining for 679 yards and three scores on 209 carries.
 
That deliberate ground game helps the Lopers rank among the league leaders in time of possession (30:52) and fourth down conversions (47%/9 of 19).
 
In the air, Worthing is about to crack UNK's career Top 10 in yards, attempts and completions. Over 17 games, the fourth-year sophomore is 232 of 448 for 2,813 yards. He already ranks seventh in career rushing yards by a Loper QB (387).
 
Thanks to the work up front, the defense has allowed just two runs over 20 yards all season. Both happened last Saturday at Central Oklahoma when UNK was focused on stopping the Bronchos deep passing game.
 
While Loper opponents have completed 21 passes of 20 yards or more, only four have resulted in scores. UNK has picked off five passes for 115 yards (23.0 avg.) and one score while breaking up 26 other pass attempts (3.7 per game).
 
Co-captain and fifth-year safety George Brown (University City, Mo.) recorded his second pick of the season last Saturday at UCO. Now tied for the team lead in INT's with junior corner Malik Webb (Roper, N.C.), Brown's 16 yard return was the second longest of his career. Since 2005, Brown is one of only five Lopers to have managed six or more picks in a career.
 
On October 28th, UNK heads to suburban St. Louis to face the Lindenwood Lions (2-5).