Game 7 Preview: Another Tough Test Awaits

Kearney, Neb. – It'll be another nationally-ranked game for the Nebraska Kearney football team when fast-paced Emporia State visits Ron & Carol Cope Stadium this Saturday afternoon.

Kickoff between the #22/13 Lopers (5-1) and #32/- Hornets (4-2) is set for 1 p.m. at Foster Field with this week's sponsor being the Nebraska Lottery. Those not attendance can listen live (The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM), watch live (The MIAA Network) or follow along with live stats.

Last year in Kansas UNK rallied from deficits of 14-0 and 21-7 to win 42-35. The Hornets ran 109 offensive plays – most by a Loper opponent in 10 years -- and churned out 609 yards but saw four drives end inside the Loper 26-yard line (one interception and three turnovers on downs). The Loper offense averaged 8.2 yards over 63 plays with quarterback TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) throwing three touchdowns and running for another.

The Blue & Gold lead the all-time series 19-12 and have taken the last two games, both held in Kansas. UNK hasn't beaten E-State at Foster Field since the 2014 season finale which was one of the coldest home games in recent memory.

Emporia is led by southpaw QB Braden Gleason who ranks sixth nationally in passing yards per game (308). He had 16 TD's to just one INT while also rushing for a team-best five scores. The fifth-year junior is one of 12 returning All-MIAA selections for the Hornets who reached the 2021 Farmers Bank & Trust Live United Bowl in Arkansas.

Back Cannan Brooks ran for 151 yards and two scores in last year's loss to the Lopers and forms a 1-2 punch with Billy Ross Jr. A deep receiving corps features Corey Thomas (5-10) and Tyler Kahmann (6-3) who both have five TD catches. Finally, the line features three returning All-MIAA players.

E-State is averaging 41 points in victory and 13 in defeat. They missed a PAT and two field goals in a 14-13 home setback to MIAA leader Pittsburg State, beat rival Washburn on the road, 42-35, and fell at Central Oklahoma by a single score, 21-13.

Defensively, they are allowing 21 points and 344 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry. The unit has forced 10 turnovers (seven INT's and three fumbles) and has five returning all-league picks. Senior linebackers Dawson Hammes (48) and Cade Harelson (47) lead in tackles with rover Jaedon Pool at 35 stops and five PBU's. Finally, end Jordan Williams is at a team-best 4.0 sacks. Hammes, Pool and Williams combined for 22 tackles (3.0 TFL) in last year's game vs. UNK.

In the kicking game, freshman Caden Dodson has replaced 2021 All-MIAA selection Sam Dobbins and has promptly gone 11 for 11 on PAT's and 3 for 4 on field goal tries. Six-six punter Ross Brungardt (43.7 avg.) earned second-team accolades last fall.

UNK is 18-4 dating back to December 2019 and currently leads the MIAA in all four rushing categories (yards, yards per carry, TD's and carries) and in fourth down conversions (100%; 6 for 6). Head coach Josh Lynn also has a squad that is committing the second fewest penalties in the league (42.3 ypg), ranks third in both net punting (40.6 avg.) and net kickoffs (42.7 avg.) and is third in both scoring (16.5) and total (338.5 ypg) defense.

Davis, the current MIAA Offensive Player of the Week, is up to 90 career TD's (50 rushing, 39 passing and one receiving). Former QB's Justin Coleman (107) and Jake Spitzlberger (118) are the only Lopers ahead of him in that category. Next, he is about to join all-time leading rusher Mike Miller as the only UNK players to have three 1,000-rushing yard seasons in a career. Davis currently has totaled 773 yards, second most among all NCAA QB's (Gage Porter, 857, Southern Nazarene, Okla.).

UNK's balanced attack features 14 players with at least one catch and eight different ball carries outside of Davis. That group has combined for 851 yards (5.4 ypc) and seven TD's with the Lopers at 18.6 yards per catch thanks to a series of big plays. The longest receptions to date are to Illinois senior Joe Stiffend (64 yards) and California junior Bailey Torres (51 yards).

Limiting foes to 28% (5 of 18) on fourth down and to a 57% completion rate, the Loper defense also has 24 PBU's and six picks. Safety Darius Swanson (Aurora, Colo.) leads in both categories --- three and seven – with 10 teammates having broken up at least once pass. Finally, UNK has twice as many sacks as opponents with NG Ovahdyah Ben-Israel (Morris, Ill.) and ILB Jimmy Harrison (Hobbs) combining for 4.5 to lead the way. Not surprisingly, All-MIAA end Tell Spies (Mullen) has a team-best four QB hurries.

The Lopers head to Lincoln University (0-6) next Saturday. The Blue Tigers host No. 7/6 Pittsburg State this week.

UNK Release/Depth Chart & Roster

ESU Release/Depth Chart & Roster

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Players Mentioned

#99 Ovahdyah Ben-Israel: DL; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#2 TJ Davis: QB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#50 Jimmy Harrison: ILB; 5' 10"; Senior

#35 Zane Schawang: RB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#92 Tell Spies: DL; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#24 Joe Stiffend: WR; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

#1 Darius Swanson: S; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#16 Bailey Torres: WR; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#99 Ovahdyah Ben-Israel
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DL

#2 TJ Davis
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: QB

#50 Jimmy Harrison
: 5' 10"; Senior
: ILB

#35 Zane Schawang
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#92 Tell Spies
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: DL

#24 Joe Stiffend
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: WR

#1 Darius Swanson
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: S

#16 Bailey Torres
: 5' 10"; Junior
: WR