Game 6 Preview: Lopers Looks to Reign in High Flying Mules

Todd Gottula

Football | 10/6/2023 11:10:00 AM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team will try and slow down No. 18 Central Missouri Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg.

Action from Walton Stadium begins at 1 p.m. The game is available via The MIAA Network, The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM and live stats.

UCM (4-1), led by former Loper head coach Josh Lamberson, has one of the nation's top offenses as the Mules are at 44 points and 552 yards per game. Fifth-year junior quarterback Zach Zebrowski will likely be a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist as he's at 377 yards per game with 20 touchdowns. He previously spent four years at FCS-member Southern Illinois and his father, Jim, is the current QB coach at Kansas.

Zebrowski has plenty of talented targets to throw the ball to including back Marcellous Hawkins (#8) and receivers Akrell Smith (#6), Jack Pospisil (#2) and Michael Fitzgerald (#9). Smith is at 106 ypg with seven scoring grabs while Hawkins has rushed for eight TD's. Finally, the line is led by 2022 All-MIAA right guard Gabe Clark (#77). UNK FB

The UNK defense continues to be bendable as it's allowing just 23 points and 385 yards per game. The Loper D has been on the field for 91 more plays than the offense but is stingy in the red zone (45% TD rate) and is coming off a six-sack effort vs. Washburn. Sixth-year linemen Tell Spies (Mullen) is up to eighth on the all-time sack list (13.5) with linebacker Zach Schlager (McCook) and safety Tre O'Guinn (Peoria, Ariz.) joining him as Lopers with at least 100 career tackles.

Next, newcomer and linebacker Joko Willis had an impressive 35-yard strip sack for a TD last week with fellow Georgian Quillan Felton at 21 tackles including 3.5 for loss. Finally, reserve backer Devin Guggia (Santa Maria, Calif.) is at 15 tackles with linemen Stephen Matina (Lansing, Kan.) at 14.

UCM's defense is allowing 32 points and 380 yards per game but has picked off 11 passes and recovered two fumbles. Allowing just a 34% conversion rate on third down, the unit features backers Curtis Appleton II (#1) and Cale Miller (#30) and corner Wryor Noll (#6).

The Loper O is averaging 5.6 yards per play with five different players having rushed for a score and 15 players recording at least one catch. UNK has tallied 44 first half points but 41 in the fourth quarter as the Lopers are now 10 for 12 in the red zone (nine TD's).

Individually, QB TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) needs 396 yards to join fellow signal callers Justin Coleman (10,646) and Jake Spitzlberger (11,563) as Lopers with 10,000 yards. He also needs eight more TD's to surpass Spiltzlberger's school-record of 118 (80 passing and 38 rushing).

On special teams, UNK has four blocked kicks (two PAT's and two punts) to its credit. From 2016-22, the Lopers had a total of four blocked kicks. The unit is still looking for its first swatted field goal; the last one came in 2021 at UCM thanks to linebacker Travis Holcomb.

The Blue & Gold remains on the road next weekend when it travels to rival Fort Hays State.

UNK Release/Depth Chart & Roster

UCM Notes

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Players Mentioned

#2 TJ Davis: QB; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

#22 Tre O'Guinn: DB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Fifth Year

#8 Zach Schlager: LB; 6' 1"; Graduate Student

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

#99 Stephen Matina: DL; 6' 5"; Junior

#9 Joko Willis: LB; 6' 3"; Junior

#4 Quillan Felton: DL; 6' 4"; Junior

#41 Devin Guggia: LB; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 TJ Davis
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: QB

#22 Tre O'Guinn
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Fifth Year
: DB

#8 Zach Schlager
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student
: LB

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

#99 Stephen Matina
: 6' 5"; Junior
: DL

#9 Joko Willis
: 6' 3"; Junior
: LB

#4 Quillan Felton
: 6' 4"; Junior
: DL

#41 Devin Guggia
: 6' 1"; Junior
: LB