Game 2 Preview: #11 Lopers Host #29 Gorillas

9/7/2022 2:25:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The 11th/12th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney football team faces 29th-ranked Pittsburg State in a key NCAA Division II game Thursday night at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

This is first of six home games for the Lopers (1-0) who went 5-0 last year at Foster, the first unbeaten home slate since 2009. UNK is looking for its first win over Pitt (1-0) at home since 1982.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. with fireworks set for after the game. Fans not in attendance can following along via The MIAA Network (for a price), The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM and live stats. Last year's home opener was delayed 2.5 hours due to weather; this year's game calls for hot and likely gusty winds for at least the first half.

UNK knocked off the mighty and storied Gorillas in each of the last two years in Kansas, 31-26 and 28-17. Amazingly, the Lopers are 7-6 all-time at Pitt but 3-8 at home.

Both of those games went down to the wire with quarterback TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) throwing a 44-yard touchdown pass to super senior back Montrez Jackson (Trenton, Fla.) with 11 minutes left in the fourth to put the Lopers ahead for good. A three-yard run by Davis with three minutes left secured the win. Pitt finished up 8-3 with the other setbacks coming by one and two points, respectively.

UNK Release/Depth Chart & Roster

PSU Release/Depth Chart & Roster

Each team has plenty of graduate students, super seniors, redshirt seniors and redshirt juniors dotting the two-deep. Last Thursday, UNK used a big fourth quarter to win at Missouri Southern State, 24-7, with Pitt using the big play to down Central Missouri, 21-10, at home.

The Gorillas, led by third-year head coach Brian Wright (15-5 career record), have plenty of returning All-MIAA selections including linebacker Morgan Selemaea. He missed most of last fall due to injury, an ailment that happened against UNK. The WILL is a rare three-time All-MIAA pick.

He's part of a defense that gave up just 19 points and 341 yards per game last year. The Gorillas also forced 17 turnovers and allowed just 3.5 yards per rush. Other notables on this unit include safety Brandon Mlkeus, linemen Zeke Wall and linebacker P.J. Sarwinski.

Sophomore Chad Dodson Jr. made his second career start at QB last Thursday and hit TD passes of 27, 53 and 71 yards. Talent receivers include Bryce Murphy and Elijah Harris with back Caleb Lewis running behind a big line (avg. weight 320 lbs.).

In three games against Pitt, Davis has rushed 62 times for 272 yards (90.6 avg.) and five scores. He's also thrown for 352 yards and three TD's. While he had his 13th career 100-yard rushing effort last Thursday, the Lopers also got a combined 205 yards from four backs. That included a big 76 yards from redshirt freshman Zane Schawang (Waverly).

The veteran Loper "D" shut down MSSU to the tune of 187 yards. They got 10 tackles from junior inside backer Jimmy Harrison (Hobbs, NM), seven more from junior safety Tre O'Guinn (Peoria, Ariz.) and racked up 7.0 tackles for loss (2.0 sacks). Finally, All-American safety Darius Swanson (Aurora, Colo.) had a rare pick six in the fourth to secure the victory.

UNK has another tough game next Saturday, heading to No. 26 Washburn (1-0). The Ichabods head to UCM this week.

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