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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

TJ Davis
Corbey R. Dorsey
37
Winner Nebraska-Kearney UNK 8-2 , 8-2
22
Central Okla. UCO 4-6 , 4-6
Winner
Nebraska-Kearney UNK
8-2 , 8-2
37
Final
22
Central Okla. UCO
4-6 , 4-6
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UNK Nebraska-Kearney 14 9 7 7 37
UCO Central Okla. 3 10 6 3 22

Game Recap: Football |

Fast Start in Edmond Equals Eighth Win; Senior Day Up Next

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis ran for 179 yards and caught a one-yard touchdown pass to help No. 25/24 Nebraska-Kearney get off to a fast start and down Central Oklahoma, 37-22, Saturday afternoon in Edmond.

The win helps the Lopers (8-2) stay in contention for one of the seven playoff spots available in Super Region 3. UNK was eighth in the most recent region rankings; No. 9 Southeastern Oklahoma State (8-2) downed No. 7 Ouachita (Ark.) Baptist today with No. 10 Washburn (8-2) winning at Pittsburg State. UNK closes on the 2021 regular season next Saturday at home against Northeastern State (2-8). That game kicks at noon.

"We were ready to go. Our focus this week was us and I'm extremely happy the way we bounced back. We could've folded our tents but didn't," said UNK head coach Josh Lynn on the KRVN post game show. "It also goes to show you what a good week of practice, preparation and overall commitment by our guys can do. That was evident today."

Winning in Edmond for the third time in program history, the Lopers grabbed first half leads of 14-0 and 21-3 with the Bronchos (4-6) making it a one possession game, 30-22, early in the fourth. A missed PAT by UCO in the third allowed for some breathing room. UNK got a three-and-out with seven minutes left and then iced things with a 52-yard TD drive. Davis (Colorado Springs) capped things with a two-yard scoring run, his 37th in a Loper uniform. That's one shy of tying the school record held by fellow QB Jake Spitzlberger (2008-11). He also pushed his season rushing total to 992 yards; he had 1,034 over 12 games in 2019. Dayton Sealey

"We went away (from the option) against Northwest Missouri … it's what we hang our hat on and our staple. It's Loper football. Win or lose, we were going to do what we do today," said Lynn.

Against a stout defense, UNK ran 49 times for 366 yards (7.5 ypc) and two scores. The total is the second highest this fall and the fourth game of at least 300 yards. Davis did the bulk of the work as he had 30 carries, tying a career-high. Redshirt sophomore back Damien Cearns (Denver) had 76 yards and a TD on six attempts with three other backs combining for 101 yards.

Davis was 4 of 12 in the air with two picks but he also had scoring tosses of 58 yards to senior back Dayton Sealey (Hastings St. Cecilia) and a 27-yard strike to junior receiver Michael Koch (Columbus). Sealey's score came on the third play from scrimmage with Koch's nifty grab making it 14-0 just five minutes in.

Offensive coordinator Drew Thatcher went into his bag of tricks when it was 3rd & goal midway through the second Davis handed it off to Sealey who went left but then handed the ball off to Koch. Davis had sneaked out to the backside and easily caught a one-yard scoring pass from the former high school quarterback.

Lefty QB Keats Calhoun paced the UCO offense by going 25 of 46 for 301 yards. He didn't throw a TD but completed 10 passes for 151 yards to senior receiver Josh Moore. Down 21-10 late in the first half, the 'Chos defense picked off Davis but did so at their own six-yard line. Two plays later ends Blake Schroeder (Holdrege) and Tell Spies (Mullen) got to Calhoun in the end zone who was subsequently called for intentional grounding and a safety. That's UNK's first two-pointer in nine years.

UNK's first second half drive resulted in another TD as seven runs churned out 72 yards with Cearns finishing things with a six-yard scamper. The insurance score came just 3:11 left and after the defense forced a three-and-out. A 23-yard completion to senior back Montrez Jackson (Trenton, Fla.) got UNK going before four runs capped the 52-yard drive.

"TJ was pretty awesome on that last scoring drive. He hit Montrez on a corner route, stepped up and ran for eight yards and then helped spring Sealey by giving extra effort and getting a block," said Lynn.

Limiting UCO 80 rushing yards on 23 carries (3.5 avg.), the UNK defense saw senior ILB Jacey Nutter (Thedford) and junior safety Darius Swanson (Aurora, Colo.) at seven tackles apiece. Both had TFL's as well. Next, senior corner Terrell Williams (Miami) had four pass breakups to go along with five solo stops with senior safety Blake Bubak (Columbus) returning from the injured list to have five tackles.

"In the fourth the defense stepped up and got a stop and then we needed a good drive. We did that and got up by two touchdowns. We made it a little bit closer than we needed to but that's our MO this year," said Lynn.

UCO's defense was led by safety Dylan Buchheit and linebacker Elijah Wood who combined for 22 tackles (18 solo).
 
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