Kearney, Neb. – The football game between Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Western State scheduled for this Saturday (Nov. 21) at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field has been canceled and will not be made up.
 
The Lopers (2-0) were notified by the Griffons (0-2) late Thursday night about the change in plans. The Griffons did not have enough available student-athletes at one position group that would allow the game to be played safely. Both schools had Nov. 14 games called off due to the on-going COVID pandemic.

"We chose to cancel Saturday's game simply for safety," said MWSU vice president for intercollegiate athletics Dr. Josh Looney. "This is a result of prior injuries combined with the three positive student-athlete tests along with the ripple-effect of contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of individuals within a position group. The health and safety of our student-athletes will always be prioritized as we navigate protocols associated with this pandemic."

MWSU, UNK and Pittsburg State partnered to form an alliance that allowed the three Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association members to play a partial 2020 schedule that began in late October.
 
UNK now gets some time off before starting winter conditioning in January and then spring ball in mid-March. The 2021 season starts with a home date against Missouri Southern State (Sept. 2 or Sept. 4).