Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team heads to Tahlequah, Okla., for the first time in four years when it faces the Northeastern State RiverHawks this Saturday.

The season-finale for both teams kicks off at 2 p.m. from Gabe Field at Doc Wadley Stadium. For those not in attendance, they can listen live (The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM), watch live (The MIAA Network) or follow along with live stats. 

UNK (7-3) has averaged 46 points in taking the last four meetings with NSU (1-9) to lead the all-time series by a 7-4 margin. Three of those wins came in Kearney including last year's 56-10 decision. The Lopers scored 21 points in both the first and second quarters as part of a 557-yard day.

This 'Hawks team is an improved outfit as they led both Missouri Western and Washburn entering the fourth quarter before falling. NSU is coming off a 27-14 road loss at Fort Hays State and will honor its seniors prior to kick off.

Five upperclassmen start on a defense that allows 33 points and 406 yards per game. They have forced 16 turnovers and allowed just 49 third quarter points to date. The leaders are junior strong safety Jordan Lamotte (74 tackles, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles), junior free safety Johnny Jean (51 tackles, four PBU's and two interceptions) and graduate linebacker Isaac Little (3.5 sacks). 

A young offense has used three different quarterbacks with receiver Dashawn Williams at 38 catches for 474 yards and five scores with running mate Malik Andrews at 30 receptions for 431 yards and three TD's. Over the last four games the QB's have been a pair of six-foot sophomores in Ben Ward and Grant Elerick. They combine for 92 yards passing and five TD's.

Veteran Isaiah Davis (36.2 ypg, three TD's) is the top rusher with the line featuring no upperclassmen on the two-deep. The group features 6-6, 345-pound right guard Ty Earp. On special teams, sophomore Tyler Crawford handles the punting (42.1 avg.), kick off (59.8 avg.) and place kicking duties (17 for 17 PAT's; 8 for 14 field goals). His field goal makes include three from at least 50 yards.

Looking to go 5-0 in true road games this fall, UNK enters week 11 leading the MIAA in all the key rushing categories (255 ypg, 5.7 ypc & 25 TD's), plus net punting (42.3 avg.) and fourth down rate (77%; 10 of 13). The Lopers are also third in pass efficiency (149.6) and second in opponent pass completion percentage (56.6).

Super senior kicker Junior Gonzalez (Corning, Calif.), fresh off a walk-off 28-yard game winning field goal last Saturday, is withing ear shot of the career PAT record. The four-year starter has 150 makes to date; German Volker Olbrich made 156 between 1996-99. Gonzalez did go over 200 points (now 207) last week, just the seventh Loper kicker to do so. On the year, he's 40 for 40 on PAT's and 8 of 12 on field goals.

Not surprisingly QB TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) is close to another milestone as he has 53 rushing, 45 passing and one receiving TD in his career. Fellow QB's Justin Coleman (106) and Jake Spitzlberger (118) are the only other Lopers to have reached 100 career TD's. Davis has a team-best 72 points while averaging 130 yards passing and 103 yards rushing per game.

Defensively, ILB Jacey Nutter (Thedford) is up to 243 career tackles, tied for seventh in school history. Next on the list is safety Sam Kuck (254; '12); Nutter is the fifth UNK outside or inside backer to reach at least 240 career stops.

Senior safety Darius Swanson (190) and redshirt junior ILB Jimmy Harrison (114) are the other current Lopers with over 100 career stops. Outside backer Atoa Fox (92) and end Tell Spies (90) are next to join that list. Finally, co-captain and punter Hunter Kraus has an even 43.0 season average; only NAIA All-American Scott Schug (44.8 and 43.2) has had a higher mark for an entire year.

With a win in Tahlequah, UNK could get an invited to the Farmers Bank & Trust Live United Bowl in Texarkana, Ark., or the Heritage Bowl in Corsicana, Texas. The postseason field clears up once the 28-team Division II playoff field is announced on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Central at www.ncaa.com. The MIAA is hoping the winner of Emporia State and Northwest Missouri State gets into the playoffs; Pittsburg State is a lock. 

UNK Release/Depth Chart & Roster

NSU Information