Kearney, Neb. – The No. 21/21 Nebraska-Kearney football team is in the postseason for just the 11th time in its 115-year history as the Lopers (9-2) take on No. 11/13 Western Colorado in an NCAA playoff first round game Saturday (Nov. 20) at 2 p.m. Central in Gunnison, Colo.

The game from the Mountaineer Bowl is a "Super Region 4" matchup with the winner advancing to take on either second-seeded and No. 26/-- Angelo (Texas) State or seventh-seeded and No. 23/25 Minnesota-Duluth next Saturday (Nov. 27) in the second round. ASU (9-2) hosts UMD (9-2) at 1 p.m. Central.

Fans not in Colorado can watch via The RMAC Network, listen to KRVN 93.1/106.9 FM or following along with live stats.

Both UNK (2011) and WCU (1997) snapped long playoff droughts this fall. The Lopers are in for the fifth time with this being only the second road game (at UMD, 2009; second round). The Mountaineers are 0-3 all-time in the playoffs with each game being on the road. 

At an elevation of 7,750 feet, the Mountaineer Bowl is the highest football stadium in the country. UNK has had success against Western, winning the last eight between the two and leading the all-time series, 11-6. Most of the previous contests were Rocky Mountain Athletic Conf. (RMAC) affairs; the Lopers were a member of that league from 1996-2011.

Everyone will be watching UNK's high-octane offense against the stubborn and blitz-happy WCU defense. The units are led by the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) and the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Will Lydle (#99), a nose guard.

UNK ranks in the MAIA top three in nine different categories including first in rushing yards (265 per game) and passing efficiency (204.5). The Lopers average 36 points a week and have 41 red zone trips.

A senior-laden Western defense ranks second in D2 in sacks (46) as they give up just 15 points and 287 yards per game. The hold opponents to 2.6 yards per carry, have held seven teams to fewer than 18 points and have allowed only 22 red zone trips. Once teams get inside the Mountaineer 20-yard line its not easy to score (eight touchdowns and three field goals).

Lylde (#99) has a team-best 9.5 sacks with the other All-RMAC selections being linebackers Lane Farris (#54) and Wyatt Buhr (#57) with linemen Anthony Johnston (#93) the RMAC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Farris has 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, Buhr has a team-best 57 tackles with Johnston one of 16 'Neers with at least a half sack.

They'll face a unique UNK offense led by Davis, D2's most efficient passer (186.5) and the third best running QB in all of college football (1,039 yards). Outside of a loss at Northwest Missouri (13 points), the Loper offense has scored at least 28 points in every game

Kearney's entire o-line (Kooper Reece, Hunter Hays, Jacob Browne, Matt Krzysztalowicz and Corey Hoelck) received All-MIAA accolades with backs Montrez Jackson (third-team) and Dayton Sealey (first-team) and receiver Michael Koch (h.m.) also being tabbed.  

The Western offense is paced by first-team All-RMAC back Josh Cummings (#26). The Fairbanks, Alaska product has 16 rushing TD's – the same amount as Davis – and averages 108 yards per game. He is the team's bell cow as he has nearly half of the team's 467 carries.

Cummings and 6-3 junior QB Connor Desch (#4) work behind a line led by All-RMAC picks Joey Orrino (#70) and Clayton Martin (#71). Desch has 20 TD's to nine interceptions, been sacked 26 times and distributes the ball to three receivers. That trio is made up of Cole Riters (#81), Damian Macias (#2) and Malik White (#3). They've combined for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 scores. Western averages 36 points and 389 yards per week and tallied nearly 60% of its point in the first half. Finally, they have 35 TD's in 49 red zone trips.

The Loper "D" has recorded two shut outs and held three others to fewer than 17 points. UNK has forced 15 turnovers, registered 17 sacks and holds opponent QB's to a 55% completion percentage, among the best marks in the MIAA.

Junior strong safety Darius Swanson (Aurora, Colo.) represents UNK on the All-MIAA first-team. He has tallied 83 tackles (5.0 TFL), picked off three passes and broken up six more. End Tell Spies (Mullen) and OLB Atoa Fox (San Diego) were tabbed second-team all-league as they've combined for 12 tackles for loss with end Blake Schroeder (Holdrege) and ILB Zach Schlager (McCook) named third-team All-MIAA. Those two have combined for 82 tackles.

Finally on special teams, WCU's Alec Fonseca (#19) is a 2021 first-team All-RMAC pick at kicker. He's 51 of 52 on PAT's and 9 of 14 on field goal tries. UNK counters with second-team All-MIAA punter Hunter Kraus (Sargent). The second-year starter is averaging nearly 40 yards a boot with 10 efforts landing inside the opponent 20-yard line.

 

UNK Weekly Release/Depth Chart & Roster

WCU Weekly Release/Depth Chart & Roster