Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team's 2017 home finale will be a battle in the trenches as the run-minded Lopers host the run-minded Pittsburg State Gorillas this Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

The game kicks at 2 p.m. with nine seniors or graduate students (see the list below) being honored prior to the coin flip. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

UNK (3-6) and Pitt (5-4) lead the MIAA rushing attempts, both having over 400, and run the ball well over 60 percent of the time. These offenses also are among the Division II leaders in time of possession, UNK at 32:50 and Pitt at 32:59.

Riding a three-game win streak, the Gorillas have held its last three opponents to 10 points. That includes two-time defending national champion Northwest Missouri State. Pitt ended the Bearcats' 38-game win streak last Saturday, 20-10, thanks to six forced turnovers and an offense that churned out 179 yards on the ground.

In a series that dates back to 1974, Pitt has won the past nine meetings to grab an 11-8 lead. The Gorillas scored 24 points in the second quarter last fall to post a 52-21 win. Pitt ran 49 times for 308 yards (6.3 per carry avg.) and four touchdowns while limiting the Lopers to 49 rushing yards and three short scoring runs. 

Currently, Pitt averages 212 rushing yards per game, second best in the MIAA. UNK is among the national leaders in rush defense, allowing just under 100 yards per game. Central Oklahoma (194) and Washburn (189) have had the most success on the ground against the Loper defense this year.

Senior back Michael Rose (97.0 ypg) leads with backup Tucker Horak (363 yards) also one of Pitt's punters. Junior John Roderique (6-5, 225 lbs.) and senior Thomas LePage (6-3, 204 lbs.) have started games this year at quarterback and both have beaten UNK. The pair have combined for over 400 rushing yards and one TD.

In the air, LePage has seven of the team's nine TD tosses with senior Austin Panko (24 recep., 330 yds., three TD's) and sophomore Lorenzo West (23 recep., 334 yds., three TD's) the top receivers. Panko also averages a team-best 6.9 yards per carry and is the starting punt returner with West one of the starting kick returners.

Over the last three games, a young Pitt defense given up just 30 points. During this stretch, a unit with one senior starter has forced nine turnovers and 14 punts, made nine fourth down stops and allowed 798 yards (266.0 ypg). On the season, Pitt is giving up 23 points and 368 yards per game. They have forced 19 turnovers and have a 52% TD red zone rate (13 of 25).
 
Safeties Josh Hornback (6-2, 177 lbs.) and Marcus Brantley (5-10, 187 lbs.) rank first and second in tackles, having 56 and 55, respectively. Hornback is tied for the team lead in INT's (two) with Brantley have to fumble recoveries for 29 yards. The lone senior starter is linebacker Ethan Fugitt (6-2, 236 lbs.). He has made 42 tackles (3.5 TFL's) and is one of 13 Gorillas to have registered a sack.
 
Pitt has one of the MIAA's top kickers in sophomore Jared Vincent (5-10, 183 lbs.). He has booted 14 field goals with a long effort of 47 yards coming against Fort Hays State. With the offense having a 43% red zone TD rate (15 of 35), Vincent has made a three pointer in every game. On PAT's, he has converted 25 of 28.
 
The Gorillas have used two punters in junior right footed Carter Anchors (36.0 avg.) and Horak (38.2 avg.), a lefty. Lining up together, they've combined for 11 punts inside the 20-yard line and each has had a punt blocked. Finally, Pitt's punt block team may be the best in the league as they've knocked down four. One went for 25 yards and a TD in a close win over Central Oklahoma.
 
The Loper offense (current 2-deep) comes into Saturday averaging 441 yards and 29 points over the last three weeks. Those marks were 254 yards and 13 points in the first six games of the fall.
 
Graduate transfer Darrien Daniels (St. Louis) has brought another dimension to the ground game of late. The former Central Arkansas Bear ran for 122 yards last Saturday at Lindenwood after 78 yards the week before against Northeastern State. As a slot receiver, Daniels has 12 catches for 198 yards while managing 105 yards on five kick returns. 
 

Ground leader Thomas Russell (Millard West) sat out last week due to injury but should return to the field this week. He is among the MIAA leaders in carries (149) and yards (70.4 per game). Another back to watch is redshirt freshman Dayton Sealey (Hastings St. Cecilia), who now has team-highs in rushing TD's (five) and yards per carry (5.1). He also is averaging 17.2 yards per catch.
 
Now with 19 games under his belt, fourth-year sophomore Steve Worthing (Elkhorn South) is on UNK's all-time list for passing yards (10th/3,181), completions (10th/267) and attempts (8th/500). He also has the sixth most career rushing yards by a Loper QB with 471.
 
The UNK defense not only has been good at stopping opponents' ground game (3.1 yards per carry) but also has recorded 25 sacks, second most in the MIAA. Thirteen players have managed a half sack with sophomore end Hinwa Allieu (4.5), sophomore nose guard Jordan Ingraham (3.5) and junior outside backer Cliffond Taylor (3.0) the leaders. Since joining the MIAA, the most sacks Kearney has logged in a year is 30 (2012).
 
After forcing eight turnovers the first eight weeks, UNK recovered two fumbles and had three INT's in the loss at Lindenwood last Saturday. Since becoming an MIAA member, that is just the fifth game with four or more forced turnovers. Kearney has averaged about one takeaway per game since 2012.
 
Junior reserve corner Malik Webb (Roper, N.C.) is among the MIAA leaders in passes defended (eight), INT's (three) and INT return yards (105) with junior end Jacob Bartling (Elm Creek) and sophomore inside backer Sal Silvio (Kansas City) both having two forced fumbles. Silvio also has two fumble recoveries.
 
UNK closes out 2017 at No. 6 Fort Hays State (9-0). The Tigers are at No. 8 NW Missouri (8-1) this Saturday in a de facto MIAA title tilt.


2017 UNK Seniors
Sam Brauer (TE, 2012-17)
George Brown (S/Punt Return, 2013-17)
Spencer Cook (DL/DE, 2016-17)
Darrien Daniels (RB/WR, 2017)
Justin James (CB, 2016-17)
Ryan McFarlin (QB, 2014-17)
Sam Stoltenberg (DL, 2013-17)
Brendan Wentling (K, 2014-17)
Cameron Winston (S, 2016-17)