Todd Gottula

Game 5 Preview: #23/19 UNK Hosts Rival Fort Hays State

9/29/2022 2:23:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. - The 23rd/19th-ranked Nebraska Kearney football team faces longtime rival Fort Hays State under the lights at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium this Saturday night.

TJ Davis

The 68th all-time meeting between the two kicks off at 7 p.m. It'll be "Military Appreciation Night" with Platte Valley Auto being the Game Sponsor. 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.

In a series that dates back to 1926, the Tigers (1-3) have been a thorn in the side of the Lopers (3-1) for the past 17 years, taking 11 of the last 12 meetings including the past nine. During UNK's MIAA era (20212-present), the Lopers have led Hays five times at the half only to see the Tigers rally for the win. The Blue & Gold still lead the series by a 34-32-1 margin.

One of those halftime leads, 21-7, came last year in Kansas as UNK had several 21-point leads in both the first and second halves but the Tigers won, 42-35. All-Region quarterback Chance Fuller and receiver Manny Ramsey led the way. In two games against the Lopers, Fuller has thrown for 780 yards and six touchdowns with Ramsey at 13 catches for 251 yards and two scores.

Fuller, with nearly 70 career TD passes, was injured in a season-opening loss at Northwest Missouri and hasn't returned to the lineup. His status for Saturday night is unknown; fellow Lamar High (Arlington, Texas) graduate Jack Dawson has taken over and has four TD tosses to date. Besides Ramsey, the FHSU offense features 2021 All-MIAA picks Hunter Budke (TE) and Adrian Soto (RB), a pair of 6-7 tackles and has fumbled 14 times so far (nine lost). Atoa Fox

Defensively, the Tigers are young with six underclassmen starting. They are allowing 27 points per game and have forced six turnovers. Six-seven reserve end Jeremiah Jackson-Trotter leads the MIAA in sacks (5.0) with Kansas State and fellow end Gaven Haselhorst at 23 stops (4.5 TFL's). He is one of nine transfers on the Tiger defensive two deep. Next, junior ILB Markel Williams (29) and sophomore S Mason Perez (27) lead the team in stops. Finally, Hays has actually out scored the opposition, 113-107, so far.

UNK enters week five tops in the MIAA in scoring defense (15.3). The Loper "Blue Wall" has been stingy in the red zone and on both third and fourth downs in the past two games. Central Missouri was 4 of 15 on third down and 1 of 5 on fourth down with three drives ending inside the Loper 33-yard line. They also settled for two short field goals, much like Washburn did a week earlier. The red zone rate stands at 67% (8012) with the red zone rate a solid 42% (5-12).

Allowing just seven TD's to date, the unit's top tacklers are inside backer Jimmy Harrison (35), strong safety Tre O'Guinn (29), inside backer Jacey Nutter (28) and free safety Darius Swanson (24). Nutter (5.0) and Harrison (4.5) leads the team in tackles for loss with Swanson first in the MIAA in pass breakups (seven). He also has both of UNK's interceptions, pushing his career total to six. Only eight other Lopers since 1998 have had six career picks.

UNK's offense is first or second in the league in seven categories including rushing (302.5 ypg), rushing TD's (10) and passing efficiency (144.5). The Lopers are 6 for 6 on fourth down and have a 56% (9 of 16) red zone TD Rate.

QB TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) needs just 153 more passing yards to be the fifth Loper to reach the 4,000-career mark. Last week he became the third UNK rusher to reach 3,000 career mark (3,061). He's also up to 83 career TD's (47 rushing, 35 passing and one receiving). Fellow QB's Justin Coleman ('00/107) and Jake Spitzlberger ('11/118) reached the Century mark in their storied careers.

Scoring 49 first quarter points, the offense has hit six passing plays of at least 24 yards so far. Each catch has come from a different player; nine receivers, three backs and a tight end have a reception so far from Davis and redshirt freshman Sean Johnson Jr. (Orlando, Fla.). Finally, six different back have combined for 581 yards and four rushing TD's. The "Antelope Stable" is averaging a healthy 5.5 yards per carry as well.

UNK heads to Missouri Western State next Saturday at 4 p.m. The Griffons (2-2) are at Northwest Missouri (3-1) Saturday afternoon.

UNK Release/Depth Chart & Roster

FHSU Release/Depth Chart & Roster

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