Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney football team looks to go 3-0 for the first time in seven years when it hosts the Emporia State Hornets this Saturday at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

The "Homecoming" game kickoffs off at 2 p.m. with an extended halftime featuring the 2018 Loper Athletic Hall of Fame Class. In the morning, the annual Homecoming parade will be held Downtown on the Bricks. Check the Loper football schedule page for media and ticket links.

UNK and ESU (1-1) have played 22 times previously with two long streaks dominating the series. The Lopers took the first 10 meetings but E-State has responded by taking 10 of the last 12. 

GAME NOTES/DEPTH CHARTS

Nebraska-Kearney

Emporia State

Since the series resumed in 2012, Emporia has won five of the six thanks to stellar quarterback play. Six different Hornet signal callers have combined for 2,021 passing yards (337 per game) and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 225 yards and one TD. This has allowed the Black & Gold to average 43 points against the Loper defense.

Current Emporia QB Braxton Marstall had a strong effort in last year's 45-13 win over UNK. He was 30 of 36 for 435 yards, four TD's and no INT's. The senior is among the top QB's in Division II this year with over 60 career scoring passes and 7,000 yards.

Marstall is one of eight senior starters on the Emporia offense which has gotten off to a bit of a slow start in 2018. The Hornets are averaging 24 points and 317 yards per game after downing Northeastern State, 34-7, and falling at home to nationally-ranked Pittsburg State, 34-13.

A younger Hornet defense includes linebackers Jace McDown (17 tackles), Gary Woods II (16 tackles) and Tre'Vaun Ammons (Omaha North). Sophomore end Parker Bass, an Emporia native like Marstall, has gotten off to a great start having already managed 5.5 TFL's including 3.5 sacks.

The run-heavy Lopers enter the weekend leading the MIAA in rushing offense (379.0 ypg), rushing TD's (eight) and passing efficiency (191.5). Nationally, UNK is second in rushing offense and eighth in passing efficiency.

Kearney has run 133 offensive plays with 81% of those being runs. Junior Darrius Webb (Allentown, Pa.) has a team-best four rushing scores with senior Luke Quinn (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and junior David Goodwin (Lauderhill, Fla.) having two apiece. Showing great balance, six different Lopers are between
nine and 32 carries.

That balance carries over to the passing game where junior QB Alex McGinnis (Crete) has completed passes to eight teammates. Receiver Dylan Reifies (Evergreen, Colo.) and back Dayton Sealey (Hastings) have TD receptions with former basketball standout Trey Lansman (Harlan, Ia.) having team-bests in receiving yards (123) and catches (six).

Not surprisingly, junior inside backer Sal Silvio (Kansas City) is leading the Loper defense. The 2017 honorable mention All-MIAA pick has a team-best 21 tackles (eight solo), two forced fumbles and two TFL's. He led UNK in tackles in 2017 (81) and then managed two forced fumbles in the 2018 spring game.

Overall the defense is allowing just 13.5 points per game as the opposition is averaging 2.9 yards per carry and completing 59% of its passes. UNK is still looking for its first interception of 2018 but has already recovered three fumbles. It had five all of last year.

UNK will have a daunting task next Saturday when it faces the No. 23 Pittsburg State Gorillas (2-0) on "Family Night." Pitt is at NSU this weekend.