Todd Gottula

Game 1 Preview: Great Scott! Lopers Look to End Pitt State Drought

10/30/2020 1:11:00 AM

Kearney, Neb. - Ronald Reagan was President, "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie and "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel were hit singles and "Never Say Never Again" – the seventh and final time Sean Connery starred as James Bond – was the nation's top grossing moving for a fourth straight week.

It was October 29, 1983, and then-Kearney State turned eight Pittsburg State turnovers into a 27-13 road victory. The Lopers also got two touchdown passes from quarterback Brett Kuhn with running back Roger Suelter, now in the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame, running for 169 yards.

**GAME NOTES/DEPTH CHARTS**
Nebraska-Kearney	Pitt State

That is the last time the Lopers toppled the Gorillas. Pitt State became a national powerhouse in the mid-1980's and has taken the last 12 games in the series by an average score of 33-16. That included last year in with PSU out gained UNK by a 406-212 margin to record a 37-14 win at Cope Stadium.

The Gorillas picked up another win after beating the Lopers but then dropped five in a row. They closed with a home win over rival Missouri Southern State with Brian Wright, formerly of Toledo, becoming the program's 15th all-time head coach in early December. The Ohio native was interim head coach at Division I Florida Atlantic in 2013, leading the Owls to four straight wins.

Kickoff between the Lopers and Gorillas is set for 12:05 p.m. Saturday with the game being aired live locally on KSN TV (NBC). Loper fans can watch – for free – the video stream via The MIAA Network with Jayson Jorgensen and Larry Cotnoir having the call on The River 93.1 FM and 106.9 FM. Finally, live stats are available as well.

Due to COVID restrictions Carnie Smith Stadium's capacity (11,910) was capped at approximately 25%, thus the game has been sold out.

Pitt averaged 41 points and 466 yards per game last year on offense. That included a 48% success rate on a third down but a 58% red zone TD rate (26 of 45).

Sophomore Max Sexton returns after throwing for 13 TD's and completing 55% of his passes. Against UNK he was 6 of 10 for 78 yards, a 23-yard TD toss and three interceptions. Six-three junior Matt Harman saw some time in 2019 which included a 35-yard scoring pass vs. the Lopers.

Senior backs Tyler Adkins and Tucker Horak form a talented one-two punch with Pitt's second leading rusher in 2019, former QB Brandon Mlekus, now a starting free safety. Junior Bryce Murphy returns at receiver, joined by Texas Tech transfer Jake Benninghoff. Finally, four All-MIAA linemen must be replaced.

Defensively the Gorillas allowed a 28% rate on third down last fall, tops in the MIAA. Pitt also forced 19 turnovers, recorded 33 sacks and ranked fourth in both total and scoring defense.

While tackle leaders Kaden Roy and Morgan Selemaea return, the Gorillas lost four All-MIAA defenders including first-team picks Simanu'a Thomas (DL) and KiAnte Hardin (DB). Hardin (14.4 avg.) must be replaced on punt return as does receiver Lorenzo West (24.3 avg.) at kick return. Also gone are AII-MIAA punter Todd Morrow (41.8 avg.) and All-American kicker Jared Vincent (20 of 23 FG's; 53 of 53 PAT's).

Head coach Josh Lynn and his staff welcome back four All-MIAA players on offense in QB TJ Davis (Colorado Springs), back Dayton Sealey (Hastings St. Cecilia) and tackles Corey Hoelck (Giltner) and Kooper Reece (Valentine). The Lopers graduated 10 all-league selections including All-American guard Josh Stoltenberg, All-Region linebacker Sal Silvio and Atlanta Falcons signee Hinwa Allieu.

UNK rushed for a school-record 4,135 yards (338 avg.) last year while tying the Loper mark for team rushing TD's (45). Both totals were among the best in Division II, helping the Lopers go 7-5 and earn its fourth-ever postseason win, a 50-33 decision over Winona (Minn.) State in the Mineral Water Bowl.

Davis became the UNK starter midway through 2019 and went on to be the MIAA Freshman of the Year. He ran for 1,034 yards and a team-best 16 TD's while completing 56% of his passes for 861 yards and nine TD's. Sealey averaged a team-high 8.2 yards per carry last fall to rank fourth in carries (705) and rushing scores (three).

David Goodwin (1,058 yards; eight TD's) and Darrius Webb (936 yards; 10 TD's) have departed with the veterans being juniors Montrez Jackson (Trenton, Fla.) and Garrett Meyer (Omaha Gross) and sophomore Joe Stiffend (Plainfield, Ill.). A bevy of talented newcomers include junior Raphael Bell (St. Louis) and true freshman Damien Cearns (Denver).

Blocking for the Loper herd is a line led by Hoelck and Reece. The interior spots will have three new starters but they are all veterans in seniors Jacob Browne (Ft. Lupton, Colo.) and Matt Krzysztalowicz (Canada) and redshirt sophomore Hunter Hays (McCook). Hays started five games as a true freshman in 2018 for Fort Hays State.

On the perimeter UNK must replace four of its top five receivers. Sealey (10 recp., 142 yds., one TD) is back as is junior D'angelo Shepherd (Colorado Springs) and redshirt sophomores Malik Fofana (Denver), Michael Koch (Columbus), Cody Nelson (Albion), and Aubrey Marschel-Parker (Aurora, Colo.). Transfer Xavier Jackson (Chesterfield, Mo.) and true freshmen Landon Thompson (Columbus) and JerQon Conners (St. Louis) will all have roles this fall. Finally, the cruiser (tight end) spot will be handled by senior Kyler Van Housen (Polk), junior Thomas Tews (Omaha Concordia) and former o-linemen Rafael Rocha (Denver).

UNK must replace three of its top five tacklers led by Silvio (325 tackles). Previous inside backers Kellen Werner (316/'13) and Tyke Kozeal (604/'16) set new school marks for career stops. The veterans now at the spot are senior Quinn Brummer (Millard West) and junior Jacey Nutter (Thedford) with transfers Heamasi Latu III (Anaheim, Calif.) and D.J. Gross (McCook) bringing in collegiate experience. Nutter was third on the Lopers in stops (62) with Latu leading the California JUCO's in tackles (113) last fall.

Next seniors Travis Holcomb (Cairo) and Will Lansman (Harlan, Ia.) are back at the OLB spots with Delonte Dickey (Greenwood Village, Colo.) one of four true freshmen on the two-deep. Holcomb recorded 18 tackles last year with Zach Sullivan (174 career stops) having to be replaced. The secondary welcomes back senior corner Terrell Williams (Miami), senior safety Blake Bubak (Columbus) and several redshirt sophomores. Williams had a team-best 10 passes defended in 2019 as well as 42 tackles with Bubak at 62 tackles at three INT's. Transfers Jaylen Perkins (Omaha NW) and Keidre Taylor (Houston) add experience.

Finally the line wecomes back senior end Blake Schroeder (Holdrege), senior nose guard Shane Henderson (Elkhorn South) and sophomore end Tell Spies (Mullen). The trio combined for 58 tackles last fall with the newcomers including transfers Algideon Folau (Concord, Calif.) and Anthony Orajekwe (Lagos, Nigeria).

On special teams junior kicker Junior Gonzalez (Corning, Calif.) returns with redshirt sophomore Hunter Kraus (Sargent) the new punter. The specialist group is rounded out by senior long snapper Blaine Kennedy (Albion), senior holder Grant Buschkoetter (Kearney Catholic) and new returners being Bubak (punt), Stiffend (kick) and Xavier Jackson (kick).

UNK is slated to host archrival Chadron State next Saturday at Cope Stadium. The Eagles (1-1) are at South Dakota Mines this Saturday.

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