Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team heads to Emporia State on Saturday afternoon to take on the fast-paced Hornets.
 
It's "Homecoming" at E-State with the game kicking off at 2 p.m. from Francis G. Welch Stadium. The game is available via The MIAA Network, The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM and live stats.  

UNK leads the all-time series by a 14-12 margin but ESU has won four of the last six meetings. Since the series resumed in 2012, the average scores has been 40-24 with only three of the last 10 games being decided by a touchdown or less. 

For the fourth week in a row, UNK (2-6) is facing a team that is ranked, has been ranked or is receiving votes for the AFCA Top 25. The Hornets (5-3) were No. 24 last week before suffering a 77-27 loss at No. 16 Central Missouri.

Last year at Cope Stadium, the Hornets high-flying offense got off to a quick start and never let up in a 44-21 win. Veteran back Billy Ross Jr. ran 16 times for 150 yards and two scores with Canaan Brooks at 85 yards and two touchdowns. In the air, lefty quarterback Braden Gleason was 27 of 41 for 276 yards and one score which was a 65-yarder to Corey Thomas (seven recep., 110 yards) on E-State's second offensive play.

Gleason is up to 10,963 yards of total offense in his career with 107 touchdowns. He's completing 72% of his passes this year with 26 TD's to just two interceptions. His favorite targets are Tyler Kahmann (762 yards, 11 TD's) and Jaylen Varner (750 yards, nine TD's) with Ross Jr. (74 ypg, five TD's) again in the backfield. Emporia averages 36 points and 474 yards per game as they convert 42% on third down and 80% in the red zone.

UCM threw up 976 yards (659 passing and 32 rushing) last week but the Hornets still have one of the MIAA's top defenses. They are allowing 27 points and 447 yards per game and have picked off 15 passes, recorded 13 sacks and have a 56% red zone TD rate.

Emporia forced UNK to punt seven times last year with this year's unit led by end Rylan Miller (7.5 TFL's), linebacker Chance Rodriguez (49 tackles, two INT's) and defensive backs Jaaron Joseph (45 tackles, two INT's) and Montrell Wilson (nine PBU's, two INT's). On special teams, veteran Ross Brungardt is averaging 43.0 yards per punt with 12 efforts travelling at least 50 yards.

UNK's defense continues to frustrate opponents in the red zone. Last week, Missouri Western was stopped at the Loper six (turnover on downs) and 14 (missed field goal) yard lines. The Griffs had another drive stall at the 28-yard line that resulted in a blocked field goal. On the year, UNK has had 19 red zone stops; nine made field goals, four missed/blocked field goals, four turnovers on downs, one fumble recovery and one INT. Overall, UNK's 71% red zone rate ranks second best in the MIAA.

Veterans Tre O'Guinn (52), Zach Schlager (50), Armani Webster (40) and Tell Spies (37) rank one through four on the team in tackles. Spies has team-highs in TFL's (8.0), sacks (4.5) and blocked kicks (three) with Schlager first on UNK in solo stops (28). Finally, O'Guinn and Webster have combined for two INT's and five PBU's.

Offensively, Davis is up to 117 carer scores (58 rushing, 58 passing and one receiving). He needs two more TD's to pass Jake Spitzlberger's record of 118 (38 rushing and 80 passing). Davis had two TD tosses last Saturday, his 18th straight game with at least one scoring pass. Three newcomers – Severyn Foster (Lincoln SE), Cole Brown (Dallas, Ga.) and Reggie Anderson (Gaithersburg, Md.) – rank one through three in catches, receiving yards and scores. The trio has combined for 49 receptions, 757 yards and nine TD's.

UNK hosts Lincoln University in a non-conference game next Saturday at Cope Stadium. The Blue Tigers (0-8) fell at home to Eastern New Mexico (4-5) on Thursday night, 62-17.
 

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