Kearney, Neb. – The No. 22/21 Nebraska-Kearney football teams finishes up the regular season this Saturday (Nov. 13) with a home game against the Northeastern State RiverHawks.

The game kicks off at noon with UNK honoring 16 seniors during pregame festivities. Many of these players are "super seniors", coming back to school after losing their 2020 season due to the on-going pandemic. Fans not in Oklahoma can watch via The MIAA Network, listen to KRVN 93.1/106.9 FM or following along with live stats.

UNK (8-2) has plenty to play for in battling NSU (2-8) for the 11th time in program history. First, the Lopers can have an undefeated home season (5-0) for the first time in 12 years; UNK has won five in a row at Cope Stadium which includes last November's victory against in-state rival Chadron State. The 2009 squad, which won an NCAA playoff game, went 7-0 on Foster Field. 

Next, the Lopers are in the hunt for a playoff spot. The 28-team field will be revealed Sunday at 4 p.m. Central at www.ncaa.com with UNK currently 7th in "Super Region 3." There are several key games around the region this weekend including Henderson State/Ouachita Baptist, Southeastern Oklahoma State/East Central and Fort Hays State/Pittsburg State.

But first things first. The Lopers face and improved NSU team led by third-year head coach J.J. Eckert. The Tahlequah native played for his father, Tom, and helped the 'Hawks win the 1994 NAIA National Title and finish runner up the following season.

NSU has beaten Missouri Southern and Lincoln this season and posted 24 points in a loss at Missouri Western. They have dropped six in a row. Two years ago, in Kearney the Lopers ran for 593 yards and six touchdowns as part of a 45-10 win over NSU. That 'Hawks squad finished up 0-11 and then dropped a 2021 spring contest to FCS-member Tarleton (Texas) State.

A roster with transfers from Nebraska, Arkansas and Oklahoma State is led by 6-4 junior receiver Mark Wheeland. Catching balls from three different quarterbacks, he is up to 46 receptions for 621 yards and seven TD's. Five-nine junior Dashawn Williams is behind him with 42 snags and 381 yards.

Freshman Grant Elerick and junior Jacob Frazier have combined for 11 TD's, 17 INT's and about 200 yards per game. The ground attack averages 88 yards per week and has totaled seven rushing TD's. Finally, the NSU offense is at 15 points and 273 yards per game.

A defense that has allowed 55 red zone trips is led by defensive backs Marques Williams (69 tackles; four PBU's) and Triumphant Olatuji (64 tackles; 4.5 TFL's). NSU has registered 18 sacks, picked off five passes and recovered five fumbles. On special teams, former 'Husker Tyler Crawford is 17 of 19 on PAT's and 3 of 8 on field goal tries. He was UNL's starting punter in the final two games of the 2020 season.

The UNK-NSU series began with back-to-back match up in 1960 and 1961 with the 'Hawks winning a 1980 NAIA playoff game in Tahlequah, 14-0. The Lopers have taken the past three games by a combined score of 128-44.

  2021 Senior Day Honorees
#6 Terrell Williams (CB, Miami, Fla.)
#20 Dayton Sealey (RB, Hastings)
#22 Blake Bubak (S, Columbus)
#27 Grant Buschkoetter (P/Holder, Kearney)
#35 Quinn Brummer (ILB, Omaha)
#37 Kyler Van Housen (TE, Polk)
#39 Quintez McCray (CB, Omaha)
#42 Will Lansman (ILB, Harlan, Ia.)
#45 Travis Holcomb (OLB, Cairo)
#52 Lucas Troyer (OT, Wisner)
#58 Blake Schroeder (DE, Holdrege)
#61 Jacob Browne (C, Ft. Lupton, Colo.)
#69 Matt Krzysztalowicz (OG, Burlington, Ontario, Canada)
#72 Corey Hoelck (OT, Giltner)
#78 Shane Henderson (NG, Elkhorn)
#85 Nathan Slusarski (LS, Columbus)